Toyota suspends sales of 2007 RAV4's in Australia

[mustang84]

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleD...=45079&vf=2

Toyota has again been hit by an embarassing fault in a new model, with all Australian dealers being ordered to stop selling the new V6-powered RAV4 compact 4WD.

The RAV4 V6 launched only a fortnight ago to join the four-cylinder model launched in early 2006. A problem relating to the engine follows shortly after Toyota Australia's Aurion TRD resumed sales in October after an investigation into an engine failure.

Toyota Australia spokesperson Mike Breen says the RAV4's 3.5-litre V6, which is shared with the Aurion, Kluger, and Tarago, is not operating "as smoothly as would be expected", and there appears to be an issue with the engine's electronic managment control system.

The problem was detected in a couple of company demonstration models and the decision was made to stop customer deliveries as a "precautionary measure". "There has been no customer feedback," says Breen.

Breen says the problem does not constitute a recall. "It is not safety related so it isn't a product recall."

The latest problem has come only days after one of the Japanese group's directors admitted the company's response to vehicle quality problems "was not perfect".

Toyota, which has grown to be the world's largest carmaker mainly on the strength of product reliability, issued the freeze order on the RAV4 V6 following concerns about the car's drivability. Details of the exact fault were not available last night, but a Toyota spokesman said it was not a safety-related issue.

[Drew Dowdell]

not operating "as smoothly as would be expected",

has to be a massive understatement for them to halt sales.

[siegen]

Breen says the problem does not constitute a recall. "It is not safety related so it isn't a product recall."

[Paolino]

I just don't get it.

Seriously. They just need to list all the crap that's happened to them in the past 2-3 years, and broadcast it on tv. Someone do it... get one of those public access channels LOL

[AxelTheRed]

I just don't get it.

Seriously. They just need to list all the crap that's happened to them in the past 2-3 years, and broadcast it on tv. Someone do it... get one of those public access channels LOL

Yeah, but it isn't hip to pick on imports.

[SuperSport623]

how much would it cost to make a commercial and buy superbowl ad space?!?!

[K.C.]

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleD...=45079&vf=2

Funny how the article says they became the worlds biggest automaker because of vehicle reliability. I think that line needs to be changed to say, "because of perceived vehicle reliability".

[Cadillacfan]

Yeah, but it isn't hip to pick on imports.

Yeah, if you pick on the imports, you'll be branded an inbred, gun-toting, homophobic, anti-semetic racist redneck who hates the environment and supports the war in Iraq because you want to bring the word Jesus to those "A-rabs". Oh.. and apparently, you like shooting mexicans crossing over the border because "derrr takin' our jorbs!"

It's probably not a good time to do that now. Wait until people start getting hurt and then you'll have more of a chance.... unfortunately.

Edited November 2, 2007 by Cadillacfan

[Micah Pie]

20s to 30s suburban white male living in cookie cutter house (one looks like the next), financing his everthing including his botox-silicone wife with credit cards, driving "4x4 offroad T.uR.D."s with 18" chrome runflats through heavy commuter traffic. Feels REALLY masculine in his big bulky vehicle. Puts all his cargo in the cre...family cab. Drives with giant air-beak (aka tailgate) for no other reason than to be a man's man. Puts preferably a "patriotic" sticker on his asian truck.

Edited November 3, 2007 by Micah Pie