Toyota recalls will cost Vietnam owners more

Analysts have estimated that only a small number of Toyotas will be recalled for accelerator pedal problems and most of the recalls will affect only Camry models.

At the World Business Forum, Toyota’s president apologized for the need to recall millions of cars around the world due to faulty accelerator pedals.

On January 21, Toyota provided its solution and its campaign to recall the cars and fix the problems. According to the Japanese manufacturer, its suggested solutions have been accepted by US agencies.

Prior, Toyota released a notice that there was a problem with its accelerator pedals, which can make cars suddenly increase in speed. The problem occurs with the RAV4, Corolla, Matrix, Avalon, Camry, Highlander, Tundra and Sequoia models.

It is estimated that 1.8 million cars need to be recalled worldwide, mostly sold in North America and Europe. 5.6 million cars will be recalled in the US market, two million cars in Europe.

A Vietnamese car importer has estimated that some 600 Camry models in Vietnam may be recalled.

A Saigon Tiep Thi source revealed that Toyota Vietnam does not take responsibility for these imports because it did not import the recalled models.

After word of the car recall campaign spread, owners contacted car import agents to ask about procedures. The agents responded that they are awaiting information from the US companies that imported the cars. Recalls can only begin when instructions are received.

K. from HCM City purchased a Camry 2.5 manufactured in 2010. He notes that if he brings the car to the US to fix the problem, he must pay some two thousand dollars for transportation since Toyota sales agents have refused to pay the charges for clients.

K. added that he can pay the fee, but the import-export procedures are problematic and he would have to wait at least one month to get the car back.

The car recall campaign has been estimated to cost $500 million, according to Reuters. Vietnamese clients would also have to pay an additional $120,000 for transportation.

Toyota admitted the problem only several days ago, but US government agencies charge that a lot of car owners over the last five years have reported cases in which cars suddenly increased in speed.  Last August, a family of four died in a car accident after they suddenly could not control the car’s speed.

VietNamNet/SGTT

Tags: Toyota Vietnam, Vietnam automotive