Toyota Truck Recall
Quality Image 'Finished' Due To Defective Models
 

Recently the Toyota truck recall probably hit Toyota hard enough to kill its image of being a quality auto company. Reports say the company faced the biggest crisis that has ever happened in the auto industry. The company recalled 2.3 million cars ranging across its 8 top vehicles after a defect appeared in the accelerator pedal. The world's second largest auto company temporary halted the sales and manufacturing of the defective models which surprisingly accounted for more than half of its US deliveries.
 

Toyota's reputation for long-term quality might be finished. Maryann Keller, senior adviser at Casesa Shapiro Group LLC in New York was quoted by the news agencies. She said "People aren't going to buy Toyotas. It doesn't matter which model. What's happened is sufficient to keep people out of the stores". During the Toyota truck crisis, Toyota's American depositary receipts fell as the 2.3 million cars including the top-selling Camry and Corolla were recalled to fix the flaw. Five North American plants of Toyota sat idle due to the controversy.
 

According to analysts Toyota lost 20,000 vehicle sales a week during the crisis. According to analysts, the defective models accounted for 70 percent of Toyota sales and about 56 percent of overall US auto sales. The defect found in the vehicles, could in rare instances, mechanically stick the accelerator in a depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. Surprisingly though, there have been no incidents, accidents or injuries reported resulting from the defect.

We (quality people) know that Toyota is one of the leaders in quality field; and now we wonder how this Toyota Truck Recall happen; where is design for six sigma; supply chain management programs ...etc.
 

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