106,000 1st Generation Toyota Prius Hybrid Cars Being Recalled Globally

Toyota’s struggle appears to be never ending, be it the image-battering recalls or penalties for fatalities in their cars. Now, the nature’s fury in the form of March 11th Tsunami and earthquake adds to its woes.
While Japan was reeling under a serious disaster akin to the Hiroshima & Nagasaki in the aftermath of the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, Toyota had not fared any better with a broken supply chain of key automotive parts.
The latest in the news is, Toyota is recalling 106,000 first-generation Prius hybrid cars globally. The recall is over an issue of faulty steering. It is alleged that the defect is caused by a nut that might come loose. There had been one minor accident reported related to the issue, in the US.
According to the Toyota Motor Corp. this recall would affect:

• 48,000 Prius vehicles in Japan, starting with the first Prius models that went on sale in 1997, and those manufactured during 2003
• 58,000 vehicles sold abroad, including 52,000 Prius cars in the US, 1,200 in Great Britain and 800 in Germany

According to Toyota, the loose nut in the electric-power steering over a long time can lead to a state where the vehicle would need greater force to steer it. The problem can be fixed by putting in better nuts and the fix would require just around four hours.
How the safety recalls have battered Toyota’s reputation?

• In the US and Canada, Toyota had recalled 34 Venza and 16 Sienna 2011 model vehicles to replace an insufficiently treated drive-shaft
• According to Toyota, the drive-shaft could break and cause the vehicle to stall
• Over the last two years, Toyota had announced recalls totaling to more than 14 million vehicles
• While its reputation came under a cloud of doubt, it faced lawsuits worth millions of dollars in the US

Amidst all the accusations, Toyota remains optimistic. Toyota hopes to be back to a ninety percent of production before the tsunami struck, in Japan by June which is much faster than was initially thought possible.

By the 28th of January in 2010, Toyota had announced recalls of:

• Approximately 5.2 million vehicles for the pedal entrapment/floor mat problem
• An additional 2.3 million vehicles for the accelerator pedal problem
• Approximately 1.7 million vehicles are subject to both as certain Lexus and Pontiac models were affected
• Toyota widened the recall to include 1.8 million vehicles in Europe and 75,000 in China
• The total number of cars recalled by Toyota stood at 9 million worldwide

The silver lining
On the 8th of February in 2011, in collaboration with NASA, the NHTSA released its findings into the investigation of the Toyota drive-by-wire throttle system. After a 10 month probe, NASA and NHTSA scientists found no electronic defect in Toyota vehicles. Driver error or pedal misapplication was found responsible for most of the incidents. The report concluded that Toyota’s problems were mechanical but not electrical which included sticking accelerator pedals and pedals caught under floor mats.
Information given above is not intended as legal advice. You may continue your lemon law claim or any other contention with your automobiles by contacting Florida lemon law attorneys of Krohn & Moss Ltd., or Call 1-800 US LEMON® (800-875-3666) toll free, to reach Krohn & Moss for your FREE initial consultation.

The Florida Lemon Law – A Consumer Protection Law

A car is one of the most common consumer buys. Purchasing a car is one of the most expensive propositions most of us make after a house. Even if we buy a car almost every five or ten years, we cannot boast that we know everything about the car we purchase. As the years are passing, a car on the road is becoming increasingly complex due to the technology growth that is occurring in the auto industry by leaps and bounds and we are at a loss with so many systems and processes to comprehend. And the models of the cars available in the market today are mind boggling, to start with. This puts us all in a state that we come to heavily rely on the advice and mercy of a car salesman. That is why we need the intervention of lemon laws, in case we are taken out on a long ride over a lemon car.
If you are living in the state of Florida and have bought yourself a car in the state of Florida, there are laws that protect you with your investment.

The Florida lemon law

In addition to any dealer or manufacturer warranty, Florida’s Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act, also known as the Florida lemon law, provides new automobile buyer’s protection from obviously defective new automobiles.
The Florida lemon law states that:

• If after three repairs for the same problem a dealer is unable to fix your Florida lemon car, you have to notify the manufacturer
• You must report the problem with the Florida lemon to the dealer within the first 18 months of your ownership or 24,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

Under the Florida lemon law, when you buy or lease a new motor vehicle, you must receive a Florida lemon law booklet explaining your rights.

Does the Florida lemon law cover used cars?

The Florida lemon used cars are NOT protected by the Florida lemon law, which is why:

• It is extremely important that you should thoroughly inspect a Florida used car before purchasing it
• The warranties expressly provided by a dealer with a Florida used car are very important documents which entitle you to your Florida lemon law rights
• The manufacturer’s active warranty is a very important document as it entitles you to your Florida lemon law rights as a Florida used car owner
• As a Florida used car buyer, you should closely inspect the tires, suspension, engine, drive train, steering, brakes, and the interior of the Florida used car
• As a Florida used car buyer you should take a mechanic to inspect the Florida used car you intend to buy

Why is the number of miles on a Florida used car important?

Since the Florida used cars are “used”, the number of miles on them is important.

• Under the Florida lemon law, vehicles with lower mileage on the odometer are more valuable than those with higher mileage on the odometer
• Under the Florida lemon law, a vehicle’s odometer cannot be altered, disconnected, or tampered with
• Under the Florida lemon law, if the odometer reading appears odd, check the odometer statement available with the current owner
• Check with the title number or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to get a complete history of the vehicle since its manufacture, at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
• Under the Florida lemon law, unless the notice of vehicle’s previous use is included with the title, the resale of taxicabs, police vehicles, for-hire vehicles or rebuilt vehicles is prohibited

Problems associated with car repairs rank number one in consumer complaint
Problems associated with repairing a car rank the highest in consumer complaints, according to the Office of Florida Attorney General.
According to the Florida lemon law:

• All repair shops in Florida must register with the State of Florida
• For repairs that cost more than $50, the repair shop must provide the consumer with a written estimate
• The shop must also contact the consumer before exceeding the estimate by $10 or 10%, whichever is greater
• After any repair work is completed, the repair shop must provide a legible copy of the repair invoice showing the work done
• After any repair work is completed, the repair shop must provide a legible copy of the itemized description of parts and labor charges along with the warranty, if any

The Florida lemon law – Used car or New Car Repossession by Creditors
Since You can buy a new vehicle or a Florida used vehicle on credit, you should remember that:

• Creditors retain significant rights over the vehicle if you do not honor the loan agreement
• If you default on your loan, the creditor has a right to seize the vehicle, at his own discretion without prior notice
• After repossession, the creditor may keep the vehicle in lieu for the unpaid debt or resell it
• Either ways, you must be informed by the creditor
• You have the right to demand that the vehicle be sold
• Any money received from the sale beyond the amount of the debt be returned to you
• If the vehicle is to be sold at a public auction you must be notified of it, in advance
• When the vehicle is sold, the sale must be conducted in a commercially reasonable manner
• When the vehicle is sold, the price must approximate the vehicle’s fair market value
• The creditor may reinstate the your credit
• He can even allow you to buy the vehicle back

The directives given above are not intended as legal advice. You may pursue your lemon law claim or any other dispute with your automobiles by being in communication with Florida Lemon Law Attorneys of Krohn & Moss Ltd., or Call 1-800 US LEMON® (800-875-3666) toll free, to reach Krohn & Moss for your FREE initial consultation.