2/7/2010 6:00:00 AM Havasu Toyota dealer has parts No ‘hysteria’ in Mohave County over recalls, Anderson saysNo ‘hysteria’ in Mohave County over recalls, Anderson says
KINGMAN - With upwards of eight million of its vehicles facing recalls for faulty gas pedals and floor mat issues, times have certainly been better for car manufacturer Toyota.
Yet so far, the reaction of Toyota customers in Mohave County has been fairly sedate, compared to the screaming headlines currently circulating through the national media.
"There hasn't been any hysteria," said Jason Anderson, the owner of Anderson Toyota in Lake Havasu City. "We've received phone calls and they're mostly just requesting information."
With the sole Toyota dealership in Mohave County, it falls to Anderson to replace the thousands of floor mats and accelerators in vehicles affected by the recall, which include some of Toyota's most popular brands, such as the Camry and Corolla. Fortunately, Toyota has already provided replacement part shipments, and the dealership is now accepting appointments for service work.
"We're asking customers to call us and make an appointment or go online at our Web site and make an appointment and we'll get it done as fast as we can," Anderson said. "It's right at thirty minutes."
Anderson added that 75 of his dealership's 280 new vehicles have been taken off the lot until their accelerators are fixed. As they are, he said, the vehicles will be reintroduced into the fleet.
"Normally in a recall situation, they'll release notifications to the owners via mail, but in this case, they're bypassing any notification ... as far as that accelerator pedal," he said.
According to national reports, Toyota has currently issued two recalls covering 14 models manufactured over the past six years. The first recall covers floormats that may trap the gas pedal, causing the vehicle to continue accelerating after the driver has eased off it. The second recall covers a similar problem related to the pedal itself, where the pedal will get stuck on its own and fail to return to the idle position.
In addition, preliminary reports from Japan on Thursday suggested that a third recall may soon be underway after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recorded more than 120 complaints from owners of the 2010 Prius.
According to those complaints, some third-generation Priuses are apparently experiencing brief loss of braking control when traveling over uneven roads or potholes.
"I have not heard anything from Toyota on that yet," Anderson said.
For now, Anderson is advising affected customers to either call the dealership at (928) 764-2886 or visit their Web site at www.andersondeals.com and click on the purple button at the top of the page to schedule a recall appointment.
Recall maintenance is provided free and is available to any affected Toyota models, not just those purchased at Anderson.
Current maintenance hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, though hours may be extended due to demand.
According to Toyota, the following vehicle models are subject to recall due to potential sticking gas pedals:
Certain 2009-2010 RAV4s; certain 2009-2010 Corollas; 2009-2010 Matrix; 2005-2010 Avalon; certain 2007-2010 Camrys; 2010 Highlander (except hybrids); 2007-2010 Tundra; 2008-2010 Sequoia.
The following vehicle models are subject to recall due to the potential for floor mat pedal entrapment:
2007-2010 Camry; 2005-2010 Avalon; 2004-2009 Prius; 2005-2010 Tacoma; 2007-2010 Tundra; 2008-2010 Highlander; 2009-2010 Corolla; 2009-2010 Venza; 2009-2010 Matrix; 2006-2010 Lexus IS 250; 2006-2010 Lexus IS 350; 2007-2010 Lexus ES 350.
Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, February 11, 2010
Article comment by:
No name provided
In response to Localguy, how are we to do business locally when the business left town???? I cannot support my Toyota dealership when they left me high and dry to move to Havasu. While we are on the subject of supporting local businesses, has anyone been to the Ashley Store here in Kingman. My husband went in there the other day to buy a file cabinet. They had a floor model on sale and when he went to purchase it, a person came out of the back and changed the tag and proceeded to tell my husband that he would have to order one and it would take 6-8 weeks for it to come in. Needless to say we went to Las Vegas and purchased one the same day. Is it any wonder that there aren't any customers in the store. And another instance, I went to STAT to purchase a pair of bandage scissors and the very rude salesperson said they didn;t have any. She didn't even offer to order a pair for me. And another instance, I went to have my oil changed at a LOCAL place (because my Toyota dealership is no longer here. When the clerk finally got off a personal phone call (5 minutes of waiting) he told me it would be 45-60 dollars!! We got my oil changed for half that on the same day we went to Vegas to purchase the file cabinet. The list could go on and on. Any other BUY LOCALLY Stories out there?
Posted: Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Article comment by:
kak
Oh what a feeling....
Not even the holier then tho Toyota is perfect.
Thats what happens when car makers forget the product an go for the sales numbers.
This is just the beginning. We'll find out how great the quailty has gone away as time goes by.....wont we.
Posted: Monday, February 08, 2010
Article comment by:
No name provided
I agree with Publius. Anderson Toyota as well as their Chrysler store are both a prime example of make a quick buck at any cost, whether it's lying to a customer or cheating aloophole on the taxpayers.
Posted: Monday, February 08, 2010
Article comment by:
Localguy
Yea Publius thats a great way to support the local economy, take your car to another state for service work. Support your local economy and school systems, do business locally!!
Posted: Monday, February 08, 2010
Article comment by:
Publius
Too bad Anderson left Kingman for a $4.0 million dollar real esate deal/subsidy from the City of Lake Havasu City. Their move had nothing to do with car sales or service. Take your car to Henderson in protest.
