Toyota isn't out of hot water just yet, although many people have conveniently forgotten their accelerator issue after BP went all "Look at me! I'm dangerous, too!" For those who don't recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been dealing with another problem regarding some ToMoCo products: a stalling issue with up to 1.2 million 2005-2007 Corollas and Matrixes (Matrices?). That means possibly beating dead-horse Pontiac some more, since the Vibe was a brand-engineered Matrix.
As for the update: our Toyota Warning level has been elevated from "Preliminary Evaluation" to "Engineering Analysis" (one step below Recall) due to the cars still stalling at any speed and not being able to restart. To your battle stations!
Word from the safety agency is that over 160 complaints have come in about a situation where "the engine can stall without warning at any speed and not restart" due to a faulty ECU. Although Toyota doesn't seem to think it's a problem, I'd venture to say engine cut-off on a highway or intersection might be a major problem.
Toyota says the issue stems from either cracks in solder joints on, or defective coating of, the ECU circuit board. According to some commenters, the repair could cost owners up to $1,000. And the hits keep coming...
By Phil Alex
Source: NY Times
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