Toyota logo
Toyota’s recall of 2.3 million vehicles is sending shockwaves through the automobile industry. We look at why a company that has built its reputation on customer service and problem-solving is in so much trouble now and whether those strengths could help it get back on its feet.
Jeffrey Liker is professor at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering and co-author of "The Toyota Way
Ken Bensinger is reporter at The Los Angeles Times and co-author of a series of investigative reports on Toyota’s runaway cases.
Today's Takeaway: What the Mortgage Settlement Means
Comedian Baratunde Thurston on 'How to Be Black'
Today's Takeaway: Focus on Violence Syria
In-Depth Look at the Situation in Syria
Today's Takeaway: Big Night for Rick Santorum
Some Combat Restrictions for Women Lifted
Newly-Discovered Recordings Shed Light on a Young Malcolm X
'Tebow Bill' May Allow Home-Schoolers to Play on High School Teams
Is Our Constitution Out of Date?
Today's Takeaway: Multi-Billion Dollar Foreclosure Settlement Imminent
The show is a co-production of WNYC Radio and Public Radio International, in collaboration with The BBC World Service, New York Times Radio and WGBH Boston.
Major funding provided by:
Comments [1]
After listening to, and reading much on the Toyota acceleration problems, it seems to me it is next to impossible to figure out just how bad the problem is. There are so many people today who will jump on any bandwagon that might get them some money through a law suit, I think it is difficult to find the bottom line here. It is a fact that the three big Japanese car companies have been a BIG thorn in the side of the American auto makers for years now. The Japanese have been making better cars and their repeat sales and owner satisfaction are testimony to that. The American auto industry is loving this. The story of the woman I saw on Brian Williams' NBC nightly news last night is a case in point to what some people will testify to. It is not possible that if she had done all of the things she said she did that her car would keep accelerating, traveling 6 mi. on the freeway up to 100 mi. per hr. during her adventure. The real problem for me is that so many people are willing to believe without question many of these unlogical stories. There is no doubt in my mind that Toyota has a problem, but it is not near the problem we are making it.
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.