It’s time for Toyota to roll out the crisis management plan, as the Japanese automaker joins the recent string of manufacturers forced into massive product recalls. Here are the details, from a USAToday story:
Last Thursday in the U.S., Toyota said it will recall 2.3 million Toyota-brand cars and trucks, back to 2005 models in some cases, for potentially faulty throttle pedal assemblies.
The throttle pedals, supplied by a Canadian facility of CTS Automotive, can wear prematurely and stick open. General Motors’ 2009-10 Pontiac Vibe is to be recalled, too. It is similar to the Toyota Matrix and was built for GM’s defunct Pontiac brand by Toyota at a California factory.
Toyota says it has not yet figured out how to fix the problem, which an ABC News report last Thursday tied to the deaths of four persons.
Clearly an issue that has caused death is a serious threat to an organization’s reputation. Toyota will have to convince both their current and potential customers that they have made things right before they can return to business as usual.
The BCM Blogging Team
https://www.bernsteincrisismanagement.com/