Toyota “Sticky” Pedal Recall Doesn’t Affect Toyota Hybrids

Toyota Motors is dealing with what may one day be considered the most tumultuous period in the company’s history, resulting mostly from widely publicized safety issues related to slippery floor mats and more recently (and significantly) “sticky” gas pedals. While both defects have led to unexpected acceleration, the latter, though considered rare and affecting fewer vehicles, is the the hardest to remedy and most disruptive to car owners and Toyota’s operations. With that said, if Toyota is looking for a bright side in this, it can be proud that as a leading hybrid car manufacturer, the Toyota Prius as well as hybrid versions of the Highlander and the Camry have all received clean bills of health. While there are also conventional models to evade the Toyota recall and the suspension of production and sales, it’s interesting that none of the Toyota hybrids are subject to the stigma. Should we be surprised to hear green car advocates claim this as another victory in the battle for energy-efficiency and better gas mileage? It’s probably more luck than a technological superiority of Toyota hybrids that explains why they can still be driven confidently on highways and out of dealerships. But, some may find it ironic that very recently Koei Saga, managing officer of Toyota, downplayed the future significance of hybrids, predicting that the gas engines will never be replaced entirely. Although, Toyota has generally been considered a maker of reliable and safe automobiles, in recent history it has arguably been the Prius and other hybrid models that have grown Toyota’s reputation, especially in terms of being an innovator. As evidenced by the Wikipedia entry I found listing the Toyota Prius among models impacted by the defective pedal issue, Toyota should be worried that it’s diminishing reputation will be passed along to its most reputable vehicles. In fact, they might want to edit that article to reflect the facts, especially now that competition is increasing in the hybrid sector.

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