Sudden Unintended Acceleration cases hit close to home

At latest count, there are now 9.5 million vehicles being recalled by the Toyota Corp. for “Sudden Unintended Acceleration” defects. Your columnist is just one of the 9.5 million.

Your logical question could be, “How can a former General Motors Corp. employee be affected by a Toyota recall?” The GM-Toyota relationship began in the early 1970s when the Japanese carmaker came to General Motors seeking an alliance in building automobiles in the United States.

This resulted in a GM car assembly plant in Fremont, Calif., coming under mutual ownership with Toyota at 51 percent, having operational responsibility. It should be added that this plant in California had been producing the worst quality products in any of the GM operations.

In a relatively short time, the Fremont installation was turning out first-class products. Subsequently, the plant was used as a training ground for future GM plant managers.

Fast-forward to recent time when Fremont was building the Matrix for Toyota and the Pontiac Vibe for GM. Now, the Spaulding 2009-10 Pontiac Vibe is being recalled along with the Matrix and seven other Toyota brands.

Six months ago, I encountered a Sudden Unintended Acceleration twice in successive stops. The “stops” were accomplished with two feet firmly pressed on the brake pedal.

At the time this surprise was blamed on shoes becoming entangled with the carpet-savers. There was never another problem with this otherwise faultless motorcar.

Now, learning of the Vibe recall in the press, a phone call was made to the Pontiac service department. After finally reaching a live person and relating my experience, I was placed on “hold” for several minutes and told, “There have been no complaints from Pontiac Vibe owners about Sudden Unintended Acceleration. If you have any further problems, take the car into your dealer for inspection.”

I will take the car to the dealer, but this responsible driver, who has already suffered one Sudden Unintended Acceleration experience, is not going to endanger my fellow Charlestonians in any way. This automobile will be off the street until a factory-fix is completed.

The 9.5-million-vehicle Toyota recall includes cars and trucks sold in the United States, China and Europe. It involved campaigns associated with Sudden Unintended Acceleration. It does not involve any problems in the home country, Japan.

It is appreciated that Akio Toyoda, the chief executive of Toyota Motors Corp. has apologized – during a time out from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “I feel very sorry that we have caused our customers unease. We are now working to grasp the facts so that we can deliver an explanation as quickly as possible that will remove our customers’ unease.”

In an interview on ABC News, Toyoda said he “believes Toyota cars are safe to drive and the steps the company is taking will ensure that the cars are even more safe.”

In the meantime, Toyota drivers (not Pontiac Vibe drivers) were given advice if they experience Sudden Unintended Acceleration:

1. Step on the brake pedal firmly with both feet and shift the transmission into neutral to stop the vehicle.

2. Drivers unable to shift into neutral should turn the engine off. In vehicles with a traditional key ignition, turn off the power but don’t remove the key.

Obviously, Toyota acknowledges there is a problem. In an unprecedented action, the company has stopped production of eight brands and advised dealers not to sell those brands out of inventory. But the only advice to owners of those products is the above two points and that “your car is safe.” But, if you DO have a problem, see your dealer.

It is reported General Motors and Ford Motor Co. have plans — and extra rebates — for Toyota owners. This unusual move to take advantage of a competitor’s problems is contrary to longtime, unwritten understandings to not profit by a competitor’s mistakes.

Ford and GM will have recalls in the future — it is inevitable. Any man-made machine does not always perform as intended. When that happens, watch for others to seize the moment and capitalize on competitors’ miscues.

In any case, Toyota’s reputation for producing high-quality cars and trucks is taking a hit. Maryann Keller, chief executive of Maryann Keller & Associates in Stamford, Conn., said, “Were they blind to the change underfoot, and were their systems incapable of being effective now that they are global? This may cause reassessment of the perception of the company.”

George G. Spaulding is a retired General Motors executive and distinguished executive-in-residence emeritus at the School of Business at the College of Charleston. He can be reached at 2 Wharfside St. 2A Charleston, S.C., 29401.