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I'm wondering if the furore over Toyota and Honda recalls may be a bit over the top. My 2006/56 Focus has had two recalls, one for loss of braking effectiveness and the other a potential electrical fire. It also had an ABS/ESP unit failure fixed under warranty. I have now just received a recall for my 2007 Grande Punto: possible fracture of steering column bracket and loss of steering. How scary is that? I have seen nothing in the general press about this or the Focus problems. Seems to me that recalls happen all the time. Have Toyota just been unlucky or have they handled things badly?
Asked on 1 May 2010 by J.D., London W7
Answered by
Honest John
To get things into proportion, my reader feedback is a couple of
complaints about Jazz window switches needing to be replaced and a total of three complaints about sticking Toyota accelerator switches compared to never-ending complaints about VAG window/central locking ECUs inside the driver's door (for about 15 years) and more than 100 complaints of ATE TEVES Mk 60 ABS/ESP pressure sensor failures in 3 - 5 year old Golfs, A3s, Alteas, Leons. Toledos, Octavias, BMW 1s, BMW 3s, Volvo S40/V50s and Mazda 3s. Masses more complaints of collapsing front suspension on Mercedes W210 E
Class through rust, tearaway steering racks on Cavaliers, SAAB 900s and early 9-3s, failing PAS on Vauxhall Merivas. Seems that VOSA is reluctant to recall anything German or anything where the recall will cost the manufacturer big money.
complaints about Jazz window switches needing to be replaced and a total of three complaints about sticking Toyota accelerator switches compared to never-ending complaints about VAG window/central locking ECUs inside the driver's door (for about 15 years) and more than 100 complaints of ATE TEVES Mk 60 ABS/ESP pressure sensor failures in 3 - 5 year old Golfs, A3s, Alteas, Leons. Toledos, Octavias, BMW 1s, BMW 3s, Volvo S40/V50s and Mazda 3s. Masses more complaints of collapsing front suspension on Mercedes W210 E
Class through rust, tearaway steering racks on Cavaliers, SAAB 900s and early 9-3s, failing PAS on Vauxhall Merivas. Seems that VOSA is reluctant to recall anything German or anything where the recall will cost the manufacturer big money.
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