Toyota recall views vary on campus
Barbara Beaser
Posted on: 2/17/10 Section: News
Product recalls are not uncommon. Painkillers, toys, pet food, tires, and vehicles have all been on the list at some point. The latest, a massive recall of some popular Toyota models, has been named the downfall of the company by some at PCC.
"Toyota does have some nice, dependable cars but in recent years they've gone downhill. They've traded their integrity and quality for style," Raja Nittianandan, a criminal justice major, said.
Silva Boghosian, majoring in anthropology, agrees.
"As of the latest news, I won't buy a Toyota. My brother just got in an accident with his Toyota Camry," Boghosian said. "They're building cars so fast with little thought for safety."
Psychology major Victor Lam sees the recent events more optimistically.
"I don't have a Toyota, but since they're recalling it, I think they're going to make it better," Lam said.
This is the second big recall for Toyota in the last couple years. The first was a floor mat recall, which was in 2007. The company said the floor mat could become stuck underneath the pedal, causing acceleration.
That fact doesn't worry Dean of Math Carl Main.
"Toyota is a good company, and I wouldn't be worried about things. Their reputation has been long standing, and every company has recalls now and then," Main said.
The ways in which companies deal with recalls varies. In 1982, 31 million bottles of Tylenol were recalled after several people died from ingesting cyanide-laced capsules. The result was a new, tamper-proof bottle and an open acknowledgement that there had been a problem.
"I'm fascinated by the fact that we're more concerned about the Toyota recall than other things that have actually killed a lot more people," Social Sciences Professor Lee Coltman said.
Also up for debate is how well Toyota handled the situation.
"I believe Toyota could have been more proactive in addressing the recalls. They waited a bit too long, and as a result had a PR nightmare," said David McCabe, Coordinator of the Teacher Prep program. "I think as a consumer, we aren't aware of too many of the tragedies relating to the issue that would prevent us from buying Toyotas in the future. This time next year, it will simply be a footnote in consumer history."
Education major David Plunkett disagrees that the company mishandled the recall.
"The thing that I respect about Toyota is how they made a commercial saying sorry. GM would never do that," Plunkett said.
Contributing Reporters: Karen Yu, Jacqueline Moore, Han Le, Richard Truong, Ivette Gonzalez, and Natalie Sehn Weber
"Toyota does have some nice, dependable cars but in recent years they've gone downhill. They've traded their integrity and quality for style," Raja Nittianandan, a criminal justice major, said.
Silva Boghosian, majoring in anthropology, agrees.
"As of the latest news, I won't buy a Toyota. My brother just got in an accident with his Toyota Camry," Boghosian said. "They're building cars so fast with little thought for safety."
Psychology major Victor Lam sees the recent events more optimistically.
"I don't have a Toyota, but since they're recalling it, I think they're going to make it better," Lam said.
This is the second big recall for Toyota in the last couple years. The first was a floor mat recall, which was in 2007. The company said the floor mat could become stuck underneath the pedal, causing acceleration.
That fact doesn't worry Dean of Math Carl Main.
"Toyota is a good company, and I wouldn't be worried about things. Their reputation has been long standing, and every company has recalls now and then," Main said.
The ways in which companies deal with recalls varies. In 1982, 31 million bottles of Tylenol were recalled after several people died from ingesting cyanide-laced capsules. The result was a new, tamper-proof bottle and an open acknowledgement that there had been a problem.
"I'm fascinated by the fact that we're more concerned about the Toyota recall than other things that have actually killed a lot more people," Social Sciences Professor Lee Coltman said.
Also up for debate is how well Toyota handled the situation.
"I believe Toyota could have been more proactive in addressing the recalls. They waited a bit too long, and as a result had a PR nightmare," said David McCabe, Coordinator of the Teacher Prep program. "I think as a consumer, we aren't aware of too many of the tragedies relating to the issue that would prevent us from buying Toyotas in the future. This time next year, it will simply be a footnote in consumer history."
Education major David Plunkett disagrees that the company mishandled the recall.
"The thing that I respect about Toyota is how they made a commercial saying sorry. GM would never do that," Plunkett said.
Contributing Reporters: Karen Yu, Jacqueline Moore, Han Le, Richard Truong, Ivette Gonzalez, and Natalie Sehn Weber
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