Are Toyota & Lexus still safe to drive?

According to the Japan Times newspaper, Toyota has finally agreed to repair accelerator/ gas pedals for almost 4 million Toyota cars in the U.S. that were involved in Toyota's biggest ever recall recently. The recalled vehicles include the Camry and the bigger Avalon sedans, the Prius hybrid, the Tacoma and Tundra pickup trucks, also the Lexus IS250, IS350 and ES350 sedans. Frankly, I don't recall ever knowing a more serious recall by any car makers in the history of automobile.

Earlier this month, Toyota was arguing with the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) over the sudden acceleration's claim, which has led to the fatal accident that killed a California Highway Patrol Officer and his family in a Lexus ES350 sedan, and eventually the recall of millions of Toyota cars. Toyota was accused of misleading the public by blaming the accidents solely on the improperly installed floor mats, and claimed that no defect exists in Toyota cars. The LA Times further wrote that there have been at least 1000 cases of Toyota cars' accidents reported since 2001 due to sudden accelaration, some were fatal.

What exactly went wrong, Toyota? One may ask. Isn't Safety still job #1 at Toyota, as the ads often promised? Most consumers may not be awared that in August this year, Toyota was invloved in another biggest ever recall, in China. Almost 700,000 units of Camry, Vios, Yaris and Corollas were recalled there over electric window malfunction that could cause short circuits or even fire.

Last week, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in America released a list of Top Safety Picks for 2010 cars, and for the first time in a long time, no Toyota or Lexus cars are on the list. The reason is simply that the cars failed the tougher test for roof strength. Ford led the safety pick with two Ford cars and four Volvos, VW and Subaru were next on the winner list with five cars each, followed by four Chryslers, two Hondas, the Mercedes Benz C class, and even KIA's small car Soul. A real slap on the face for Toyota.

With most of Toyota's models sold at premium prices all over the world, as in Indonesia, it made us wonder - are we paying too much for Toyota cars? Well, no comment. Our hope is for Toyota to face the facts and keep their cars safe. As the Chinese said, we should grow wiser through every incidents in life, be it good or painful ones.

Consumers may give second chance to a leading car maker for mistakes it made once, and handled well, but not more than that, that I am pretty sure.