Toyota Quality Updates:

Common Cents proudly brings you today's "Toyota Quality Updates". As always be sure to check back to get the latest breaking Toyota Quality Updates:

Toyota voluntarily recalled more than 1.1 million 2005 through 2008 model Corolla sedans and Matrix hatchbacks on Thursday over faulty engine-control computers that could cause the vehicles to stall in traffic. The huge recall — Toyota's 15th in 2010 — came just two days after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it was ratcheting up its investigation of the stalling problem. NHTSA said it has received 163 complaints.  Toyota blamed the faulty computer — called an electronic control module, or ECM — for the stalling and said it will replace them in the recalled vehicles. The company said it has three unconfirmed reports of crashes, including one involving an injury.  Owners will be informed of the recall by mail in September, then will get a second letter when dealers have the parts for the repair.  Toyota spokesman John Hanson said he couldn't estimate the cost of the recall.  Of all of the 5.8 million cars that Toyota has recalled since Jan. 1, this is the first that involves a problem with the engine computer. Toyota continues to defend the ECM against allegations that it might be at fault in some sudden-acceleration incidents, which have already prompted two huge Toyota recalls for mats that can jam the gas pedal and pedals that can stick open.  Some auto-safety advocates say it raises new doubts about the ECMs.  "If you can get it wrong on stalling, you can get it wrong on unintended acceleration," says Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety in Washington, D.C.  And Sean Kane of Safety Research & Strategies said the stalling problem is similar to runaway car problems in that the computers don't always create diagnostic trouble codes that let mechanics or investigators figure out what went wrong. "The heart of the problem is really their inability to detect the problem."  But Toyota's Hanson said the stalling issues are not at all linked to unintended acceleration. And he says "in no case" have electronics failures been connected to an instance of unintended acceleration.  Toyota has known about the stalling problem for years.

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  Previous Toyota Recall Updates

• Toyota finishes in 21st place in latest JD Powers survey
• Toyota STOPS sales of Camrys and 7 other recalled models
• Corolla - Steering Problems affect 2009 and 2010 models 
• Updated Lexus recall list
• PRIUS:   Brake problems with Toyota's hybrid
• Toyota recalls 3.8 million cars on floor mat issue  
• Tragedy Aug. 28 was at least the fifth fatal crash in the U.S. over the last two year
• So far 102 reports, 13 crashes, 5 deaths and 17 injuries...  
• NY Times: President of Toyota apologizes 
• Toyota Recalls 97,500 Corollas and Scions for brake malfunction 
• Toyota Recalls 688,314 Sedans over defective parts   
• Toyota Recalls 259,119 Camrys in China
• Toyota Recalls 2006 - 2007 Yaris Models  
• Toyota to Recall more than 1.35 million cars worldwide
• Toyota Recalls 214,500 Lexus vehicles in USA 
• Toyota Recalls 58,000 cars in Canada
• Toyota Recalls 533,000 Pickup Trucks and SUVs due to 11 accidents and 6 injuries 
• Toyota California Plant that manufactures Corolla and Tacoma to close in March
• Millions of Toyota &and Lexus vehicles w/ throttle control problems
• Feds launch probe on 2000 - 2001 Toyota Tundras
• Toyota Sales:  DOWN 16.1% in September
• Lexus GX-460 wins Consumer Reports "DON'T BUY" award