MONROE - The recent troubles of Toyota hasn't affected customer trust at Ruda Chevrolet-Toyota-Scion, Monroe.
Owner Bill Ruda said customers have been understanding about the automaker's problem about sticky accelerator pedals.
"I haven't heard any of our customers say they want out of their cars," Ruda said. "I think they're concerned, but they've also been understanding."
Still, Ruda said the news did hurt the Toyota name.
According to the Associated Press, Toyota recalled 4.2 million cars and trucks in North America, Europe and China to fix accelerator pedals that can get stuck or are slow to return when released, potentially increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls do not involve Toyota models made and sold in Japan.
Ruda said customers have called his dealership to find out if their vehicles are affected by the recall and if they will be fixed.
Ruda said parts to repair the defective vehicles will be arriving at his dealership soon, possibly as early as this week, he said.
Toyota will send certified letters to customers to let them know their vehicles are part of the recall, Ruda said. The letter will tell the owners to contact their dealership for repair work.
Ruda said his dealership will take appointments before people receive their letters.
According to the Associated Press, eight models in the U.S. are affected by a recall involving faulty gas pedals: The 2009-10 Corolla compact car, the 2009-10 Matrix hatchback, the 2005-10 Avalon full-size sedan, the 2007-10 Camry mid-size sedan, the 2010 Highlander crossover, the 2007-10 Tundra pickup, the 2008-10 Sequoia SUV and the 2009-10 RAV4 crossover. Crossovers are SUV-like in size but sit on a car frame instead of a truck frame.
There are some exceptions. Not all models of the Camry, RAV4, Corolla and Highlander are affected by the recall. All of these models produced in Japan, and some produced in the U.S., have accelerators made by another parts supplier whose components are not known to be problematic. Some of these vehicles can be identified by checking the vehicle identification number, or VIN.
All Matrix, Avalon, Tundra and Sequoia models listed above are included in the recall.
Toyota has issued two recalls to fix problems of unintended acceleration. The current recall surrounds a flaw in the gas pedal system and affects 2.3 million vehicles in the U.S.
In November, Toyota issued a separate recall of 4.2 million vehicles due to a risk of the driver-side floor mat trapping the gas pedal. That recall affects the following models: The 2007-2010 model year Toyota Camry, 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon, 2004-2009 Toyota Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma, 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra, 2007-2010 Lexus ES350 and the 2006-2010 Lexus IS250/IS350.
That recall is still ongoing, and last month, Toyota expanded it by 1.09 million vehicles across five models: 2008-2010 Highlander, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Venza, 2009-2010 Matrix, and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe, which is made by a joint venture of Toyota and General Motors Co.
The Avalon, Camry and Tundra models listed above - encompassing about 1.7 million vehicles - are covered by both recalls. Toyota says it intends to fix vehicles covered by both recalls in one visit.
Toyota has directed customers to www.toyota.com/recall. They can also call the Toyota Customer Experience Center at (800) 331-4331.
Owner Bill Ruda said customers have been understanding about the automaker's problem about sticky accelerator pedals.
"I haven't heard any of our customers say they want out of their cars," Ruda said. "I think they're concerned, but they've also been understanding."
Still, Ruda said the news did hurt the Toyota name.
According to the Associated Press, Toyota recalled 4.2 million cars and trucks in North America, Europe and China to fix accelerator pedals that can get stuck or are slow to return when released, potentially increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls do not involve Toyota models made and sold in Japan.
Ruda said customers have called his dealership to find out if their vehicles are affected by the recall and if they will be fixed.
Ruda said parts to repair the defective vehicles will be arriving at his dealership soon, possibly as early as this week, he said.
Toyota will send certified letters to customers to let them know their vehicles are part of the recall, Ruda said. The letter will tell the owners to contact their dealership for repair work.
Ruda said his dealership will take appointments before people receive their letters.
According to the Associated Press, eight models in the U.S. are affected by a recall involving faulty gas pedals: The 2009-10 Corolla compact car, the 2009-10 Matrix hatchback, the 2005-10 Avalon full-size sedan, the 2007-10 Camry mid-size sedan, the 2010 Highlander crossover, the 2007-10 Tundra pickup, the 2008-10 Sequoia SUV and the 2009-10 RAV4 crossover. Crossovers are SUV-like in size but sit on a car frame instead of a truck frame.
There are some exceptions. Not all models of the Camry, RAV4, Corolla and Highlander are affected by the recall. All of these models produced in Japan, and some produced in the U.S., have accelerators made by another parts supplier whose components are not known to be problematic. Some of these vehicles can be identified by checking the vehicle identification number, or VIN.
All Matrix, Avalon, Tundra and Sequoia models listed above are included in the recall.
Toyota has issued two recalls to fix problems of unintended acceleration. The current recall surrounds a flaw in the gas pedal system and affects 2.3 million vehicles in the U.S.
In November, Toyota issued a separate recall of 4.2 million vehicles due to a risk of the driver-side floor mat trapping the gas pedal. That recall affects the following models: The 2007-2010 model year Toyota Camry, 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon, 2004-2009 Toyota Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma, 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra, 2007-2010 Lexus ES350 and the 2006-2010 Lexus IS250/IS350.
That recall is still ongoing, and last month, Toyota expanded it by 1.09 million vehicles across five models: 2008-2010 Highlander, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Venza, 2009-2010 Matrix, and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe, which is made by a joint venture of Toyota and General Motors Co.
The Avalon, Camry and Tundra models listed above - encompassing about 1.7 million vehicles - are covered by both recalls. Toyota says it intends to fix vehicles covered by both recalls in one visit.
Toyota has directed customers to www.toyota.com/recall. They can also call the Toyota Customer Experience Center at (800) 331-4331.