Maybe what I am afraid of today: COVID and, well, just about everything else if I’m honest, is not what I’ll be afraid of in the future. That’s my definition of good news.
I just reread this 2010 post about my car, a 2009 RAV4, and a serious acceleration issue that was making the evening news. Over 11 years ago and at that time I swore I would never buy another Toyota again.
It seems like my cars have been provoking me whether I own them in 2010 or rent them in 2021. I had forgotten about this “recall” uproar that seemed, at the time, to be threatening anyone’s interest in buying certain models of Toyota. “Seemed, at the time,” is the operative phrase and may be helpful to rein in the predictive window of my current stable of fears and maybe yours as well. This is why I am reposting it. Whatever we are afraid of right now, may not be what we are fearful about in a few years. Would you have predicted after reading this that….
The car that is in the shop now October 2021, as I drive this keyless rental (One more day they SAY) is my 2014 RAV4, which I bought just 4 years after writing this screed.
Anyway, Read on. I also just discovered that one of my categories for my 972 posts is “Rants and Raves”. I believe I have more rants than raves which will surprise no one.
Dear Toyota People,
I received your email yesterday, January 28th, 2010, to come on down to your showroom to buy a new RAV-4, Camry, or Corolla.
Are you kidding?
I already have one I can’t drive without risking life and limb and now you want me to come on down to buy yet another one?
A week ago I heard on the news that there was a massive recall of vehicles from Toyota and that it included the 2009 Rav-4 that I purchased in September. I called your service department the next day. They put me on hold. They came back on the line.
“Um…we haven’t heard about this recall but if we had we can tell you that we don’t yet have a “fix” for the accelerator problem that caused the first recall two months ago.”
They said they could do the maintenance on my vehicle, though, if I’d like to come in for that.
I’m afraid to drive this red bag of bolts, people! You can’t go in for the 5 thousand mile service if you are afraid you are going to get to the service bay crashing through the showroom glass en route.
I’ve seen the video on the TV of the accidents caused by this sudden acceleration. I’m not asking how these TV stations got this video of the car speeding down the highway with the voice-over of the 911 caller screeching, “It’s out of control!” but I think it’s a safe bet it’s not Toyota footage.
Here’s my real problem aside from my Cujo Toyota RAV-4.
It’s how you are handling this crisis.
I’m your customer and have received nothing from you about this situation. I’m getting my information from a TV reporter who is getting text messages from Toyota corporate headquarters advising owners of these recalled vehicles to keep on driving these cars.
Whaaaat?
Then, the reporter gets behind the wheel of one of these vehicles and demonstrates what Toyota is recommending a driver to do if they encounter this sudden acceleration problem. Put your foot on the break, don’t pump it, just steady pressure put it in neutral, and drive to the side of the road.
Nice to know I can steer in neutral, really. It’s comforting. Are you aware “REVERSE” is one click up from “Neutral??
I’d like to see the video of that.
Since purchasing the vehicle, I’ve been inundated with follow-up telephone calls: from corporate Toyota to take a telephone survey of the customer experience at Toyota; from the salesman from the dealer reminding me to fill out the online customer service survey, hopefully with “good things to say” about him; calls from the sales manager of the dealership hoping I was satisfied with my buying experience at the dealership. Then, the emails started to flow in as well, and then direct mail. Service reminders, sales promotions, special events, and deals.
I emailed your customer service manager yesterday to say “Hello” and would Toyota mind text messaging their customers along with the TV reporters about this recall.
When I saw in my email “IN” box a message from the dealer, I foolishly thought “At last, some guidance on this mess”.
But, no, it was a sales pitch to buy a new Toyota RAV-4 or Camry or Corolla. There were some “good deals”. The good deal part does not surprise me at all. Who in their right mind wants to buy an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) masquerading as a car?
But, I am surprised and disappointed that despite having my telephone number, my address, my email address, the only contact I have had from you is a pitch to buy a new vehicle.
Was the head of Toyota Customer Service involved in one of these fatal crashes caused by this sudden and unexplained acceleration? If so, my condolences.
If not, then, I’m here to tell you that he is asleep at the wheel and texting at the same time.
Better wake him up before he drives your company off the cliff.
Plus, to add to your problems, J.D. Salinger died yesterday, author of “Catcher in the Rye”, so that means there’s no Holden Caulfield to catch you as you fall.
©Pat Coakley 2010
It’s been 10 days of 2021 rental car so far. Maybe I need to go to the car wash to improve my attitude. I’ll bring my wide-angle lens.
