It’s an understatement to say the new car industry has had a tumultuous run of late. General Motors and Chrysler are closing a record number of dealers. GM killed the Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Geo brands. After a failed sale to Penske, GM then pulled the plug on Saturn.

Chrysler was sold to Fiat, Saab to a Dutch company, Volvo to a Chinese carmaker, and Hummer to a heavy machinery company. Isuzu left North American altogether at the beginning of 2009, and Toyota kicked off 2010 with a rash of recalls that marred the carmakers’ previously pristine image.

Our sympathies go out to the owners and employees of the franchises and the manufacturing plants. We never want to see someone lose a business or a job. But at the same time, it seems no one has reached out to the motorists who are caught in the middle of all these changes.

We see the effects every day. We’re fielding more phone calls then ever before from new clients who say, in various ways, that they’re calling because the turmoil has made them wary. Some have tried to remain loyal to their dealer, only to walk into an atmosphere thick with tension or thin on customer service. Others have had to find a new provider: Their dealer has already closed. And in the past two months, we’ve seen record waves of Toyota clients, even though the dealer had nothing to do with the faulty accelerator pedal.

Given all these signs, we thought now would be an ideal time to give you, the consumer, some practical advice

Posted by Mike

on how to handle the whirlwind of change:

1) Steer clear of the uncertainty. Turn to Star Auto Authority for your car care needs. Hear me out before you condemn this as a shameless self-promotion. For more than 25 years, we’ve competed directly with dealers. We hire technicians who are experts in specific vehicle makes. One may be a Toyota and Honda expert; another a Pontiac and Saturn expert; a third a Saab and Volvo expert. Within our facility, we have a team of experts that can diagnose, repair and service your vehicle just like the dealer. We invest thousands upon thousands of dollars in sophisticated diagnostic equipment that enables us to diagnose your late-model car—be it a BMW, Volkswagen or Saturn—just like the dealer would. (We like to think we do an even better job, but you can be the judge of that.) When the technical expertise is the same or better, you don’t need to worry about the future of your dealer. We’re here for the long haul.

2) New car? Seek our help with your new car warranty. We offer a little known service to our clients through which we’ll take their cars to the dealer for them if/when we detect a warranty repair. For example, if you bring your new car to us for an oil change and we notice an oil leak, we can take the car to the dealer for you (at no extra charge) and have them make the warranty repair. This is done at no charge to you. Because we work with dealers all over Chicagoland every day, we have a network of allies who would be only too happy to help a client in need.

3) Weigh your car-buying options. If you’re in the market for a new car, you’re in a good position to negotiate a stellar deal on a Pontiac, Saturn, or any other discontinued make. But before you sign the papers, understand what you’re getting into. You will want to find a reliable independent auto shop like Star Auto Authority because your dealer is likely to be less and less accessible. In some cases, larger dealers that sell multiple makes may continue to service and support your vehicle. In other cases, such as with Saturn, they are creating a network of Saturn Authorized Service Providers. (They are required by law to honor their vehicle warranties. But there’s no guarantee it will be easy or close.)

4) Be patient when it comes to repairs. As the car makes are phased out, so will the parts inventory used to repair these vehicles. In the past few months, we’ve already seen the change with Saab parts. They are more scarce than before, and we have to source them from warehouses that are farther away than before. All parts are C.O.D., and the return policy is: No returns. This means that certain repairs may take longer, so please be patient. They’re doing their best, and if you choose a quality shop, they’ll go to great lengths to locate the part you need. To make your life easier, choose a shop that offers free or inexpensive loaner cars.

5) Don’t skimp on preventive maintenance. The easiest and most cost-effective way to avoid needing a repair is to perform routine maintenance. And by this, we mean more than oil changes every 3,000 miles. We mean hitting your major service intervals, too, usually at 30,000, 60k and 90k miles. Consult your service advisor and make sure they’re being proactive with your maintenance. As an added assurance, look at the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual.

If you keep these five tips in mind, you’ll sail down the highway smoothly whether you’re driving a Saab or a non-discontinued Honda. And if you have any lingering question, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re your go-to for the straight scoop.

Although Toyota is coming under fire from all angles, we’ll leave the jabs to the late-night talk show hosts and news analysts. We just want to keep you up to speed (no pun intended) on the latest news regarding the recalls.

Posted by Jack

The good news in all this is that Toyota announced today its engineers have developed a way to reinforce the accelerator pedal assembly in the 2.3 million recalled vehicles, and repairs will begin this week. Parts to reinforce the pedals are being shipped to Toyota dealers, and dealer training is under way.  Many dealers will work extended hours to complete the recall campaign as quickly as possible.

What should you do if your Toyota has been recalled? Wait for further notice. In a video news release to consumers, Toyota Motor Sales USA President Jim Lentz says owners will be notified by mail when to set up a dealer appointment. Some owners are affected by this recall and the floor mat recall, and the carmaker is hoping to coordinate a single trip to the dealer for you. They ask that you wait to contact the dealer until your receive your letter in the mail.

However, if that seems painfully slow, you can read all about the recall on Toyota’s web site, or you can call their hotline at 800 331 4331. You can also call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 888 327 4236. Of course, we are always here for you, too. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need some guidance or information.

The January 21 recall affected eight vehicle models:

• Avalon (2005-10)
• Camry (2007-10)
• Corolla (2009-10)
• Highlander (2010)
• Matrix (2009-10)
• RAV4 (2009-10)
• Tundra (2007-10)
• Sequoia (2008-10)

The hybrid versions of the Camry and Highlander are not affected by the recall, and neither are Camry, RAV4, Corolla and Highland vehicles with VINs that begin with “J.”

Read the latest from Toyota.

Read Toyota’s FAQs regarding the recall.

Toyota says it has pinpointed the issue that could cause accelerator pedals in recalled vehicles to stick in a partially open position. The issue involves a friction device in the gas pedal, which is designed to provide the proper “feel” by adding resistance and making the pedal steady. The device includes a shoe that rubs against an adjoining surface during normal pedal operation.

Posted by Angi

Much to Toyota’s dismay, though, routine wear and environmental conditions may cause these neighboring surfaces to stick and release, instead of operating fluidly. In some cases, the pedal can become slow to return to the idle position, or the pedal could stick in a partially open position. Toyota says the latter happens in rare cases, but that is the driving force behind the recall.

Toyota’s solution for vehicles owners is this: A precision-cut steel reinforcement bar will be installed into the assembly that will reduce the surface tension between the friction shoe and the adjoining surface. The carmaker says it has confirmed the effectiveness of the newly reinforced pedals through rigorous testing on pedal assemblies that had previously shown a tendency to stick.

Separately from the recall for sticking accelerator pedals, Toyota is in the process of recalling vehicles to address instances in which floor mats have trapped the accelerator pedal. The company is notifying owners about how it will fix this issue, and in cases when a vehicle is covered by both recalls, Toyota intends to remedy both at the same time.

Read the latest from Toyota.

Read Toyota’s FAQs regarding the recall.

America's best-selling car is among those being recalled.

Toyota’s supplier, CTS Corp., is cranking out new accelerator pedals in its Elkhart, IN plant in a mass effort to address the issue that caused Toyota to recall 2.3 million vehicles in the United States and countless more in Europe and China and to halt the sale of affected vehicles.

Toyota said it has worked closely with CTS Corp. on the revised gas pedal design, which eliminates the possibility of the pedal becoming worn and sticking open. The carmaker and CTS continue to test ways to repair, rather than replace, the pedals that are already on cars on the road and in dealership showrooms.

As the modified parts ship across the country, it is unclear whether they’re going to Toyota’s stalled production lines or to dealership service centers for new and recalled vehicles.

To make matters worse for the carmaker, it recalled an additional 1.1 million vehicles this week for problems with an unsecured or incompatible floor mat causing the accelerator pedal to stick open. This is related to an October recall in which 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles were recalled. The newly recalled vehicles are:

• Corolla (2009-10)
• Highlander (2008-10)
• Matrix (2009-10)
• Venza (2009-10)

In the floormat recall, Toyota will initially instruct dealers on how to reshape the accelerator pedal. As replacement parts become available, the dealer will install those at no cost to the client. (Clients who have had their pedal reshaped will have the opportunity to have it replaced once parts are available.) For information, you can call Toyota at 800 331 4331. (Of course, you can always contact us by email or phone at 847 816 0011.)

Read Toyota’s FAQs on the new recall.

Read the latest from Toyota.

Posted by Mike

On the heals of its decision to voluntarily recall 2.3 million vehicles, Toyota is temporarily halting sales of the eight affected models, including the Toyota Camry. The carmaker announced the recall on Jan. 21 because of a problem that could cause the gas pedal to stick.

According to Toyota, there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. The company says a sticking accelerator pedal is unusual, and it rarely occurs suddenly. The problem will usually develop gradually and can occur when the accelerator pedal mechanisms become worn. Warning symptoms include: the pedal becoming harder to press, the pedal returning slower when released, or sticking in a partially depressed position.

Company spokespeople say Toyota has investigated isolated reports of the sticking gas pedal. The pedal recall and suspension of sales affect these models:

• Avalon (2005-10)
• Camry (2007-10)
• Corolla (2009-10)
• Highlander (2010)
• Matrix (2009-10)
• RAV4 (2009-10)
• Tundra (2007-10)
• Sequoia (2008-10)

The Camry and Highlander and hybrids are not involved, and neither are Camry, RAV4, Corolla and Highland vehicles with VINs that begin with “J.”

Because of the sales suspension, Toyota is expected to stop production of new vehicles at the following facilities for the week of February 1:

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Canada (Corolla, Matrix, and RAV4)
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (Sequoia and Highlander)
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky – Line 1 (Camry and Avalon)
• Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (Camry)
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (Tundra)

If you believe your vehicle is affected or if you have any questions, you can call Toyota at 800 331 4331. (Of course, you can always contact us by email or phone at 847 816 0011.) This recall is separate from the campaign announced in October in which a loose floormat could become lodged under the gas pedal and cause it to stick open.

Read Toyota’s FAQs on the new recall.

Read the latest from Toyota.