Dana coughs up $25M to Toyota over rusty Tacoma frames

When an automaker is forced to issue a recall, the defective part or feature is generally the fault of the automaker or of an OEM supplier it contracted to. In the case of the Toyota Tacoma – part of a 110,000-unit recall in 2009 – the problem appears to have been traced back to the supplier. And now the supplier is forced to pay for its mistakes.

The company in question, according to reports, is Dana, the Ohio-based OEM contractor supplying (among other components) axles and driveshafts for automobiles, commercial trucks and heavy equipment. In this case, it supplied the frames for the Tacoma pickup which were found to rust when exposed to road salt.

Although in 2010 Dana sold the plant that manufactures the frame to Mexican conglomerate Grupo Porza’s Metalsa subsidiary, since the component in question was built prior to the sale (from 1995 to 2000), Dana has reportedly been forced to shell out $25 million to Toyota over the issue.

Toyota Previews Low-Cost Small Car with Etios Sedan and Hatchback at New Delhi Show

When we first heard about Toyota’s plans to introduce a compact car developed specifically emerging markets such as India and the South American region, our mind went to a Japanese version of the Renault-Nissan group’s low-cost Dacia Logan. And true enough, Toyota’s new Etios concept that was unveiled at the New Delhi Show is exactly that – it even looks a bit like the Logan too.

Toyota showed off both a five-door hatchback and a four-door saloon version of the Etios that will go on sale initially in India towards the end of the year. The production Etios will be offered with two newly developed petrol engines, a 1.2-liter and a 1.5-liter unit, while a diesel option could follow after.

Etios chief engineer, Yoshinori Noritake, said at the show: “I visited many Indian cities and homes to learn the market and to hear from the consumer directly. Over four years, more than 2,000 engineers have been involved in the development of the Etios, and each has devoted his or her best effort with no compromises. I am convinced in my heart that the Etios offers joy of ownership and quality of life to consumers in India.”

Toyota alliance in India that’s called “Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private, Ltd” will produce the Etios from late 2010 at its second plant, which is now being built specifically for the new car.

The Japanese automaker expects annual sales in India to reach 70,000 units while exports in other emerging markets such as Russia and the South American region are planned.

U.S. intensifies investigation into Toyota Corolla stalling

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is intensifying its investigation into stalling Toyota Corollamodels. According to the Associated Press, the agency has opened what it calls an engineering analysis into 1.8 million Corolla and Matrix models sold between 2005 and 2007. So far, NHTSA has received around 163 complaints about stalling in those vehicles, and the government seems to believe the problem may be due to a faulty coating on the vehicle’s circuit boards. It’s also possible that a crack could develop in a particular glass coating in the vehicle.

NHTSA hasn’t gone so far as to issue a recall in this particular case as its research into the problem is ongoing. Previously, investigators were only looking into Corolla and Matrix models produced in 2006, though the recent expansion indicates that the issue may be more widespread than previously believed.

Last we heard, Toyota was considering a voluntary fix for the problem, though since then nothing has come up in terms of a proposed solution from the carmaker. Back in March, NHTSA said that the problem doesn’t pose any danger to drivers.

Toyota recalling 94,000 2011 Sienna minivans over brake light bracket issue

Toyota has issued a voluntary recall for approximately 94,000 2011 Sienna minivans produced before the beginning of November 2010. The recall is a result of a Stop Lamp Switch Bracket placed near the parking brake. When the parking brake is fully applied it may deform the switch bracket. This could result in the brake lights remaining lit or even partial engagement of the brakes resulting in a reduction of brake effectiveness over time.

No other vehicles have been affected by the issue and no accidents or injuries have been reported as of a result. Owners of affected vehicles will receive a notice in the mail by the middle of January, which contains instructions on how to handle any affects they might feel if their switch bracket has been deformed. A second notice will be sent out in February to inform customers that replacement parts are now available and appointments can be made with local Toyota service departments. Hop the jump for the full details.

Toyota teases FT-86 II concept for Geneva

Subaru has already confirmed that it’s sports car being jointly developed with Toyota is coming to the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Now Toyota is getting into the action by announcing today that its version of the jointly developed sports car, the FT-86, will be there… and it will be an evolution of the concept shown back in 2009 at the Tokyo Motor Show. The updated version is called the Toyota FT-86 II and promises to be our clearest view yet of what the production vehicle will look like.

Toyota is also going so far as to say that the FT-86 II will prove the automaker has a “reborn passion for sports car driving.” If the FT-86 II can evoke memories of Celicas, Supras and even a hint of the legendary 2000GT, then we say build it as fast as you can.

Toyota to repair 650,000 Prius models globally over coolant risk

Toyota has announced that it will voluntarily repair 650,000 Prius models for a fault in the hybrid cooling system. According to Reuters, a glitch in the vehicle’s coolant pump could cause the vehicle to overheat and lose power, though no accidents or injuries have been reported in association with the problem to date. It’s worth noting that this isn’t an official recall in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it’s a service action.

According to the report, the way the electric water pump is designed can allow air bubbles into the system, a development that can slow coolant circulation and increase the heat build-up in Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive components. if the overheating problem isn’t tended to in a timely fashion, it could trigger a warning light and cause the vehicle to slip into limp mode.

The repair notice covers 2004-2007 model year Prius vehicles, 378,000 of which were sold in the U.S.. Toyota will repair the problem free of charge starting in December, and Prius owners can expect to be notified of the campaign shortly. The Japanese automaker is also stressing that it has changed the coolant pump design in the Prius since 2007 and that none of the company’s other hybrid vehicles are affected by the problem.

Toyota FT-86 to be called FR-S when it reaches production?

It’s been awhile since we’ve heard anything on the tasty little Toyota FT-86 Concept, but it looks like we may finally have an idea of what the car will be called when it hits showrooms. If the rumors buzzing around the Toyobaru forums are to be believed, the Japanese manufacturer won’t resurrect any of its fabled names from the company’s past. Instead, it’s possible that the sportscar may carry an FR-S badge. Toyota just filed a trademark application for the name, so there’s a good chance that this particular internet whisper may have some meat to it.

We haven’t completely decided where we stand on the FR-S name, partly because we had become so accustomed to calling the front-engine, rear-wheel drive heathen the FT-86. In the end, though, we don’t really care what’s on the car’s badges so long as it makes it to production as an affordable, strong-performing coupe. Toyota could use something with a pulse in a big way, and a spiritual successor to the AE-86 Corolla would be just the ticket.

Review: 2011 Toyota Sienna Limited

My wife and I? Not minivan people. It isn’t for lack of appreciation. After all, we have three kids, so we’re acutely aware of the advantages gained from lots of interior space. We get our three rows in a different form factor; one that’s admittedly less practical but doesn’t make us feel like we’re flying the white flag of suburban surrender in the garage.

For our annual summer vacation, we decided to see how more sensible people roll. Our ride for the week was the latest monument to family-friendly practicality: the 2011 Toyota Sienna Limited (stickering at a significant $44,919 as tested). Its mission: schlep the author, his wife, our seven-year-old daughter, four-year-old son, 11-month-old son and the rather daunting pile of related detritus up to Cape Cod for a five-day getaway. Would everything fit easily? Would it actually be pleasant to drive? Would we be beset with secret minivan jealousy forever after? All those answers and more after the jump.

Japan’s production of small cars down 30.3% for November

2011 Toyota Corolla – Click above for high-res image gallery

November’s automobile production, not to be confused with total sales, has dropped by 6.7 percent in Japan as compared to a year ago. According to data published by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, November 2010 automobile production hit 802,009 total units. However, the overall drop fails to tell the whole story.

Japan’s production of standard cars – vehicles with an engine that displaces two liters or more – shot up 3.7 percent year-on-year in November. Likewise, truck production rose by 3.3 percent to 101,853 units and bus output increased by 11.7 percent, hitting 10,348 units. So, larger vehicle’s fared well, but how about the small autos?

Overall, passenger car production dropped off by 8.2 percent, falling to 689,808 units. Output of small cars – vehicles with an engine that displaces between 660 cc and 2.0 liters, just outside the tiny Kei car class – declined by 30.3 percent and mini cars (under 660 cc) were down 4.2 percent. Though production numbers have no direct connection to sales, the reported figures seem to suggest that Japan’s enthusiasm for smaller autos, which are likely to be more fuel efficient than larger vehicles, is waning.

L.A. Times Investigation Claims Toyota Has Been Keeping a Lid on Potential Safety Problems

In the wake of Toyota’s recent recall of a record 4.26 million vehicles in the United States because the gas pedal can get stuck in the floor mats and cause sudden acceleration, the Los Angeles Times has posted an article that portrays the Japanese automaker as a company that has habitually delayed or even covered up safety recalls and tried to put the blame on human error in cases where owners claimed vehicle defects.

The lengthy LA Times story investigates several cases going back almost a decade and examines how Toyota has dealt with recalls that concern safety issues in recent years.

Among the cases reported is a “dangerous steering defect in vehicles including the 4Runner” that was allegedly known by Toyota for years before a recall was issued in Japan in 2004, while it took the company another year or so to address the problem in the States, despite “having received dozens of complaints from drivers.”

The newspaper notes that Toyota tried to avoid problems by paying cash settlements to people who claimed “their vehicles went out of control, sometimes causing serious accidents”, according to consumers and their lawyers.

The LA Times report also finds that the sudden acceleration issue is not a new one and that it has been around for nearly a decade as a computerized search of NHTSA records found that Toyota has issued a total of eight recalls in relation to this problem since the beginning of 2000.

To its defense, Toyota sent a written statement to the newspaper saying that it has done its best to keep government officials and consumers informed about any potential safety problems with its vehicles.

“Toyota has absolutely not minimized public awareness of any defect or issue with respect to its vehicles,” the company told the LA Times.

You can check out the complete LA Times story by clicking the link below.

Source: LA Times – Thanks for the tip Obsidian!