If You Can't Trust Toyota, Who Can You Trust?

I have had two Toyotas in my life: an older model Camry (eighties) and a later model Corolla (nineties). I loved those cars.

The credo among other Toyota owners I have known was "You have to shoot a Toyota to kill it." That used to be true.

Had the Corolla not been rear-ended by a guy talking on his cell phone in one hand, and reaching for his earpiece with the other hand (to this day I have no idea which appendage he was actually driving with), I would still have that car. And it would still be running.

But that Toyota axiom is no longer true. The more I hear about the Toyota recalls and all the problems - sticking gas pedals, brakes that don't work - the more my faith and trust in Toyota is shattered.

My trust and faith in Ford, Chevrolet, Nissan and other car companies was killed a long time ago.

It's extremely important, at least to me, to have faith and trust in my car. It is a symbol of independence to have your own mode of transportation, but even more important is for that car to be reliable and trustworthy.

The recent Toyota problems have me wondering about the very manufacturing process.

Are the problems a result of shoddy workmanship or faulty manufacturing? Is it a result of disgruntled employees who feel they don't get paid enough or aren't respected by their employers?

It has been known to happen. One employee or, sometimes, several employees are not happy with their work situation. Maybe they have already tried other means to get their message across but their pleas fall upon deaf ears. So they take matters into their own hands and corrupt whatever product or service it is they are providing.

It isn't pretty but it is pretty sad when hard workers have to take such extreme measures to have their voices heard. Though I feel it is unethical, I can empathize with employees who feel they have no alternative but to do damage to the company they work for. Sometimes, a person feels they have reached a point beyond ethics: the end of their rope, as it were and there is no other choice to bring about positive changes than to do some serious damage.

It is tragic and frightening when the damage they do involves the safety of others.

That is not to say that is what happened with Toyota.

If it is a manufacturing problem, why was the issue not caught at the factory? Don't they test out things such as brakes and gas pedals before cars are shipped? If not, shouldn't they?

Regardless of the reasons behind why faulty brakes and gas pedals have been found in Toyota cars, Toyota's reputation is now tarnished. Trust and faith in the quality and safety of Toyota cars have been broken.

Those are two items that, once broken, cannot be easily repaired. It'll take more than new brakes or gas pedals to re-earn the trust this American once placed in the Toyota name. It'll take a lot more than a mere mechanic.

Once I get my Mazda Protegé paid off, I hope to never have to buy another car again. Toyota or otherwise.