What’s Up With All The Toyota Recalls?

Toyota has long been thought of as one of the most reliable car brands, but everywhere you look, there is news detailing major recalls of vehicles from the brand. We can’t be quick to label Toyota as a bad brand as it’s a numbers game more than anything else, but when a manufacturer sells as many cars and trucks as Toyota, you’re bound to run into issues.

The Start of Toyota’s Recalls

Toyota sold 2,112,941 vehicles in 2020, making it the number one selling manufacturer for the ninth year in a row.

In 2009, Toyota was in the hot seat when news broke about incorrect floor mats – a massive recall followed. The mats didn’t fit properly or came loose and got stuck, which led to uncontrolled acceleration. It forced Toyota to recall 3.8 million vehicles in the United States.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) put pressure on Toyota to recall more vehicles. For potential consumers, it left a haze of confusion about the brand’s alleged reliability. You had to wonder – is Toyota a bad car manufacturer? The answer is no, but signs pointed toward issues over quality control. Other car brands like Chevrolet, Ford, and Hyundai were produced well-performing vehicles.

Recalls Across Multiple Brands

In 2020, Toyota faced another significant recall. Reports from CNN in January showed that it was 700,000 vehicles, and the number skyrocketed to 1.8 million in March, which included brands from the Sequoia to the Tacoma. The list goes on.

The recall explains that vehicles may stop operating, leading to the engine to stop working. The dashboard might light up and the car could stall, increasing the chances of a crash. Of course, Toyota doesn’t want to be associated with low-quality cars, and they went into damage control mode to recall more cars and lower the chances of anyone getting hurt.

Using Parts Across All Makes and Models

Why are the recalls expanding? When we look at a Wharton University investigation, one part of the issue is the parts themselves. To cut costs, many cars will use the same parts across several platforms and manufacturers, leading to a possible issue with other cars if there’s an issue with one car. This explains the vast number of cars in these recalls.

New technology is making the issue worse. Cars were once mechanical systems, and in modern times, cars are mechanical systems integrated with electronic systems.

Using parts across several makes and models is a cost-cutting measure to make cars more affordable. However, it means the problems will affect many makes and models.