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Memo shows Toyota employees in Japan raised concerns

The Detroit News -- Toyota Motor Corp. turned over to Congress today a 3 1/2 -year-old memo written by employees in Japan raising questions about the company's safety record.

The Oct. 3, 2006, memo was requested by Rep. Ed Towns, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee after it was first published by the Los Angeles Times.

"If senior Toyota officials ignored important safety concerns raised by their own employees, it calls into question Toyota's corporate priorities and its commitment to safety," Towns wrote Monday to Toyota's North American chief Yoshimi Inaba, giving them a noon deadline today to turn over the memo.

The Detroit News today obtained an English translation of the two-page memo.

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Submitted Mar 10, 2010 By: dwgt.net

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TruckVet Veteran Author Houston Posts:268 Points:434,260 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:59:27 PM Ignore TruckVet Report Abuse This is disappointing news for Toyota.
JimTee All-Star Author Tampa Posts:909 Points:789,115 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:58:21 PM Ignore JimTee Report Abuse This story has not come to an end yet...
djgunrunner Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:4,819 Points:1,384,665 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:57:12 PM Ignore djgunrunner Report Abuse And the plot thickens even more.
must87searcher Champion Author Maryland Posts:4,162 Points:811,750 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:55:14 PM Ignore must87searcher Report Abuse It is true that te businesses have to take risks with the buyers. Often they make good selections, but there is for sure to be mistakes in some. Toyota has made a big mistake in one. It sure will take a while for Toyota to get its sales up again.
methaneman All-Star Author Minnesota Posts:834 Points:795,810 Joined:May 2002	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:51:40 PM Ignore methaneman Report Abuse If toyota wants to sell inn this country, they better learn our culture as we had to learn theirs. They cannot stick their heads in the sand and yoddle thru their butts "we got no saftey problems we know of."
netman044 Champion Author Texas Posts:3,844 Points:646,060 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:45:40 PM Ignore netman044 Report Abuse Toyota isn't spotless to say the least but the "safety" investigation is turning into a publicity opportunity for the committee members.
scrounger Champion Author Vancouver Posts:8,439 Points:2,242,590 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:38:10 PM Ignore scrounger Report Abuse so..............next co0ngress will want them to shut down all their North American production???
SSchmidty Champion Author Illinois Posts:4,332 Points:819,365 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:36:18 PM Ignore SSchmidty Report Abuse Oh-no, can any "company-paid-for tests" have any creditability? No!!
tnsilvertip Champion Author Tennessee Posts:1,199 Points:444,890 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:36:07 PM Ignore tnsilvertip Report Abuse "star" deceiver has a good point about line workers not being listened to. In every organization you can probably find some memo written by someone regarding every preceived defect/problem. That doesn't mean the corporate chain didn't work, just that one or two letters a storm doesn't make. On the other hand, I am pretty sure that Toyota top management helped them get into the mess they are in now.
CaliberMan71 Veteran Author Ohio Posts:357 Points:111,060 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:35:57 PM Ignore CaliberMan71 Report Abuse People are quick to point out GM recalls and Chrysler recalls and Ford recalls, but to them I say, Toyota was suppose to be above the rest. Toyota is suppose to be the best. Reality is they are not. Buy American,Buy Big 3!
TXGasPriceSpy Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:2,686 Points:504,520 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:35:46 PM Ignore TXGasPriceSpy Report Abuse Be smart. Buy a Ford.
zeddieiv Champion Author Columbia Posts:3,568 Points:1,065,495 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:33:25 PM Ignore zeddieiv Report Abuse Buy Ford
wildredbill Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:2,430 Points:344,050 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:30:53 PM Ignore wildredbill Report Abuse (AP) "General Motors Co. said Monday it will recall 1.3 million Chevrolet and Pontiac compact cars sold in the U.S., Canada and Mexico to fix power steering motors that can fail."
rsm315 All-Star Author Detroit Posts:831 Points:218,555 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:30:36 PM Ignore rsm315 Report Abuse Support your local community BUY AMERICAN
Zonk Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,583 Points:1,150,315 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:24:07 PM Ignore Zonk Report Abuse Top management change was made at Toyota in 2009. Maybe too late.
Zeke33 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:2,840 Points:967,380 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:23:59 PM Ignore Zeke33 Report Abuse How many cars have been recalled by GM?
POLELANE Champion Author Ohio Posts:6,320 Points:719,320 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:23:07 PM Ignore POLELANE Report Abuse the burning memo; guess they don't shred in Japan as quickly as in Detroit
suzyq2007 Champion Author Dallas Posts:2,809 Points:779,075 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:22:17 PM Ignore suzyq2007 Report Abuse Probably some employees who were in trouble
Patch44 Champion Author Buffalo Posts:3,768 Points:901,885 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:19:28 PM Ignore Patch44 Report Abuse Maybe a top management change needs to be done at Toyota!
trojanbuck Champion Author Dayton Posts:3,880 Points:795,715 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:18:44 PM Ignore trojanbuck Report Abuse I've got a Toyota now, but those Fords are looking better every day.
GLCSHADOW All-Star Author Oregon Posts:637 Points:1,144,320 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:17:34 PM Ignore GLCSHADOW Report Abuse It would be interesting to see how many vehicles percentage wise have problems. Is it 5% of their inventory or .05% or even less? Where should the line be drawn?
afghaned Champion Author Hamilton Posts:4,367 Points:311,800 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:15:27 PM Ignore afghaned Report Abuse Where are the articles on the Ford, GM, Honda & Nissan recalls???
bbreff Champion Author Atlanta Posts:5,174 Points:1,639,120 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:14:18 PM Ignore bbreff Report Abuse And they still did nothing...
heysailor Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:4,665 Points:1,358,095 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:07:58 PM Ignore heysailor Report Abuse Surprise, surprise, surprise! Looks like the Japanese copied this aspect of our business as well.
star_deceiver Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,001 Points:704,500 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:07:13 PM Ignore star_deceiver Report Abuse Yup, nobody listens to the average line-worker.
OnEmptyMO Champion Author St. Louis Posts:1,958 Points:629,835 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:07:04 PM Ignore OnEmptyMO Report Abuse Sounds familiar doesn't it!
Mr.Dirt Champion Author Albany Posts:4,993 Points:1,785,390 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:06:06 PM Ignore Mr.Dirt Report Abuse cover up
BOBBY1983 Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,540 Points:310,825 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 6:01:01 PM Ignore BOBBY1983 Report Abuse FINE text deleted
paulydel Champion Author Delaware Posts:4,223 Points:466,730 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:57:16 PM Ignore paulydel Report Abuse Every manufacturer has their day.
carefrey All-Star Author Orlando Posts:980 Points:221,005 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:54:54 PM Ignore carefrey Report Abuse It is a crying shame that they knew all along and did nothing about it!
Cyberkedi Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,297 Points:1,569,535 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:52:50 PM Ignore Cyberkedi Report Abuse One more reason why my next car is going to be a Ford - and NOT a Toyota!
DrivingFool2 Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:3,481 Points:647,790 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:51:56 PM Ignore DrivingFool2 Report Abuse This is truly inscrutable
muchdutch Veteran Author Wisconsin Posts:369 Points:609,440 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:49:02 PM Ignore muchdutch Report Abuse The Japanese automakers may be in the same position soon that ours were a year ago.
DellDude2 Champion Author Nashville Posts:3,994 Points:1,152,460 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:48:43 PM Ignore DellDude2 Report Abuse Toyota had better get a grip on things soon, else that "T" logo will make people think "Trouble" instead of "Terrific".
Bud122CA Champion Author California Posts:2,975 Points:679,480 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:48:08 PM Ignore Bud122CA Report Abuse This is exactly why we should hold Toyoda responsible. Only way to get his attention is to hit his wallet..... HARD.
WilW Champion Author Atlanta Posts:7,347 Points:1,723,395 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:41:37 PM Ignore WilW Report Abuse Uh oh!
pliskin Champion Author Syracuse Posts:3,204 Points:979,160 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:40:30 PM Ignore pliskin Report Abuse But like here in the US, they're simply peons, and who's going to listen to them? Isn't that the way it usually goes?
rjoeh Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,795 Points:1,583,840 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:38:29 PM Ignore rjoeh Report Abuse Safety should always be a corporations first concern when it relates to product interaction with customers. When a company ignores this... they assume liability for damages....
kidrockTX Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:3,854 Points:508,370 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:36:26 PM Ignore kidrockTX Report Abuse we only need U.S. cars in the U.S.
beachbumCA Champion Author Riverside Posts:4,069 Points:767,500 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:33:53 PM Ignore beachbumCA Report Abuse Looks like they went to the same school and the American auto business.
Kato51 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,844 Points:1,276,970 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:33:27 PM Ignore Kato51 Report Abuse Toyota has dropped a long way in a short period of time. It may be a long trip back if they ever are able to recover from it all.
lembs All-Star Author San Francisco Posts:781 Points:652,920 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:32:37 PM Ignore lembs Report Abuse the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many. profits above everything else. that's the corporate culture in most big corporations these days.
jwduke1 Champion Author Iowa Posts:11,320 Points:2,220,410 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:21:06 PM Ignore jwduke1 Report Abuse Wow, things are not looking good for Toyota!
RichardoB Champion Author Fayetteville Posts:2,971 Points:1,067,185 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:12:56 PM Ignore RichardoB Report Abuse To save money, they sacrificed their reputation. They may well end up following GM's path to financial ruin.
amearly Champion Author Michigan Posts:7,201 Points:1,497,345 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:12:11 PM Ignore amearly Report Abuse Sounds familar ? How many times has that happen here in the US plants?
4warned Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,243 Points:1,257,935 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:08:21 PM Ignore 4warned Report Abuse This is turning into a bad story. Greed once again wins out.
sojurner_436 Veteran Author Ohio Posts:398 Points:187,510 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:07:20 PM Ignore sojurner_436 Report Abuse Toyota's reputation has taken a real back step...will they ever recover? Maybe someday....
ozzy4one Sophomore Author Portland Posts:100 Points:2,151,075 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 5:01:02 PM Ignore ozzy4one Report Abuse This is going to to get a whole lot worse before it get's better.
Hazelnut Champion Author Greensboro Posts:1,881 Points:754,305 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 4:58:15 PM Ignore Hazelnut Report Abuse At the expense of loyal Toyota owner's lives? Why? Because dead men tell no tales!
pdcarver Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,284 Points:245,595 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 4:57:47 PM Ignore pdcarver Report Abuse drip, drip, drip
bills55 Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,173 Points:302,975 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 4:56:46 PM Ignore bills55 Report Abuse Gosh who would of believed this?
sillywagon Champion Author New York Posts:5,246 Points:527,495 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2010 4:54:21 PM Ignore sillywagon Report Abuse Sounds like Toyota has not been concerned with its customers. That should be the first priority. I will be interested in the book about this whole Toyota mess when it comes out.