With the reasons behind the huge Toyota recall still engulfed in some sort of a milky mist, all the Japanese carmaker really needed was an US government official throwing more stones. And along came Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood, who after calling Toyota a bit "safety deaf," managed to scare Toyota owners even more, by giving them a little piece of advice: "stop driving it (the Toyota) and take it to a dealer."
Of course, Toyota felt offended by the comment and, by using unknown resources, managed to get LaHood to correct himself. In a new comment made public late yesterday, LaHood said he only meant that owners should get their cars fixed as soon as possible. Too late for the public...
"I was at the gym when that was announced and people were freaking out. They were on the treadmill. I can't drive my car, how am I going to get home?" Lauren Fix, an independent auto writer told CNN.
...not too late for Toyota, apparently, who issued the following statement:
"We appreciate Secretary LaHood’s clarification of his remarks today about Toyota’s recall for sticking accelerator pedals. We want to make sure our customers understand that this situation is rare and generally does not occur suddenly. In the rare instances where it does occur, the vehicle can be controlled with firm and steady application of the brakes."
...and then, the very enlightening conclusion:
"Our message to Toyota owners is this – if you experience any issues with your accelerator pedal, please contact your dealer without delay. If you are not experiencing any issues with your pedal, we are confident that your vehicle is safe to drive."
...not too late for Toyota, apparently, who issued the following statement:
"We appreciate Secretary LaHood’s clarification of his remarks today about Toyota’s recall for sticking accelerator pedals. We want to make sure our customers understand that this situation is rare and generally does not occur suddenly. In the rare instances where it does occur, the vehicle can be controlled with firm and steady application of the brakes."
...and then, the very enlightening conclusion:
"Our message to Toyota owners is this – if you experience any issues with your accelerator pedal, please contact your dealer without delay. If you are not experiencing any issues with your pedal, we are confident that your vehicle is safe to drive."
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