Recall repairs are under way at one Augusta-area Toyota dealer.
Milton Ruben Toyota reported tonight that about 50 Toyota owners have brought in recall letters to schedule service.
Toyota sent letters Monday to customers who bought vehicles affected by two recalls.
The Japanese automaker is recalling about 8.5 million vehicles globally over floor mats that can trap gas pedals, sticking gas pedals and brake problems.
Technicians at the Washington Road dealership have been working on both the accelerator-pedal and floor-mat issues involved in that recall of some Toyota cars and trucks.
According to the dealership, it takes about 90 minutes to reshape and modify accelerator pedals to solve the floor mat problem. The sticking accelerator pedal takes only 30 minutes to resolve.
Milton Ruben reports that none of the customers arriving for service actually encountered any of the problems that prompted the recall.
The dealership reported last week that it would not work on for-sale cars on its lot until customers had received repairs. The automaker has prohibited the sale of recalled vehicles until they've been repaired.
Please let me state unequivocally that I did not buy my Toyota from Milton Rubin. Nor did I buy it in Augusta, or Georgia, or the CSRA. But with all due respect to Milton Rubin, who didn't cause any of the recall problems, I have a $20,000 car that right now, is worth nothing and that I am afraid to drive. That is terrible. I do have great compassion for all the dealers, who had nothing to do with any of this mess, and are suffering tremendously. They, too, are the powerless victims of this, along with the buyers.
Corgi, I could be wrong but I think the dealers get to bill the repairs to Toyota. It's a hassle for them especially since they aren't working on their new ones but I'm pretty sure they get paid. If I'm right, at least its not a total loss for them.
Don't worry about your Toyota value, it will rebound with a venegance once this is out of the limelight in a few weeks. It's like when the stock market drops, you have "lost" money but really haven't lost it until you sell it.
Are you saying you bought a new car, and you are automatically worried about it's value. I purchase a car to drive not to re-sell it. Vehicles aren't investments. I wouldnt' call my new toyota worthless, nor am I scared to drive it. People love to pounce all over manufacturers, just like you obviously love to be scared by the news. I'm shipping mine to Europe this week regardless. I will seek to get the recall services done, but if I can't, oh well. Not a big deal. They are only recalling millions of vehicles to avoid any further liability. Heck, we've already had one jerk in Augusta claim that their gas pedal made them run into a school. It's best for them to just do a mass recall, because there are people like that out there that will use Toyota as an excuse as long as they can.
BTW, I'm about to pull the trigger on a few thou of Toyota stock. Usually I stick to mutual funds, but this is too hard to pass up.
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