Category Archives: Consumer Information

Toyota Workers Raised Safety Concerns in 2006 Memo

Written On March 8, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Toyota just can’t get out of the headlines. Now more bad news as reported in the Los Angeles Times: Several Toyota workers sent a memo to their bosses in 2006 warning that the auto company was too focused on meeting demand rather than meeting safety standards (my paraphrase). The memo pointed out that from 2000 [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News

Drivers Complain That Toyota’s Fixes Didn’t Work

Written On March 5, 2010 By Bob Kraft

It appears that Toyota may not be out of the woods yet. More than 50 owners have complained to safety officials that they are still experiencing runaway acceleration even after their vehicles were repaired by Toyota for sticking throttles. So far as I know, these continuing problems have not been verified by the government or [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News

U.S. May Set Rule Requiring Brake Override System

Written On March 4, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The Obama administration is considering requiring all automobiles to contain a brake override system intended to prevent sudden acceleration episodes like those that have led to the recall of millions of Toyotas, the Transportation secretary, Ray LaHood, said Tuesday. This was reported in the New York Times, and excerpts of the article follow.
This sounds like [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News

Diabetes Drug Avandia Harmful to Heart

Written On February 22, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The diabetes drug Avandia, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, has been found to cause heart attacks and heart failure. Confidential government reports supposedly call for the drug to be taken off the market. The Dallas Morning News has consolidated several news articles on this subject, and here are excerpts:
The reports, obtained by The New York Times, say [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Prescription Drug Claims

More Trouble for Toyota — Possible Corolla Recall

Written On February 17, 2010 By Bob Kraft

When will the bad news end for Toyota?! Now there is talk, as reported at TheWeeklyDriver.com, of a recall of the Corolla — Toyota’s most popular vehicle. The problem apparently lies in the power steering of 2009 and 2010 models. More than 35 million Corollas have been sold since the model was introduced in 1966. [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News

NHTSA Says Toyota Acceleration Defect Linked to 34 Fatalities

Written On February 17, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Here’s the latest roundup of Toyota recall news reports:
NBC Nightly News (2/15, story 7, 0:25, Williams) reported, “Federal safety officials said today the number of deaths that could be linked to sudden acceleration of Toyotas is now up to 34, based on consumer complaints they’ve received. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration says it’s normal [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News

Insurance Rates Not Accelerated by Toyota Recall

Written On February 15, 2010 By Bob Kraft

With the big auto recalls from Toyota, Honda, and other companies in the news recently, people are wondering how the recalls or defective parts might affect their insurance coverage. The ABC News Web site had a good article about the questions consumers are asking of their insurance carriers. Here are a few excerpts:
Many drivers of [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Insurance Information, Vehicle Law or News

Generation 2 Crib Recall: CPSC Says Stop Using Your Crib Now

Written On February 10, 2010 By Bob Kraft

This important press release from the Consumer Product Safety Commission was issued today:
Generation 2 Worldwide and “ChildESIGNS” Drop Side Crib Brands Recalled; Three Infant Deaths Reported
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing the recall of all Generation 2 Worldwide and “ChildESIGNS” drop side cribs. CPSC is warning parents and caregivers [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices

Toyota Announces Recall of More Than 400,000 Hybrids

Written On February 10, 2010 By Bob Kraft

I know this is becoming the “Toyota Recall Blog,” but this is important information for anyone who drives a Toyota or Lexus. The problems that have been announced can lead to very serious accidents. If you have one of the recalled vehicles please get it repaired immediately.

Heavy coverage of Toyota’s safety issues is continuing, with [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News

Congressional Investigators Question NHTSA’s Vigilance and Toyota’s Fix

Written On February 10, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Here’s a wrap-up on Toyota stories from yesterday:
The CBS Evening News (2/8, story 4, 2:00, Hatton) reported, “On Wednesday, congressional hearings will look into when the company and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration knew something was wrong with Toyota’s vehicles. State Farm Insurance alerted the government as far back as 2007 about sticking gas [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News

Toyota Planning to Recall 300,000 Prius Cars?

Written On February 9, 2010 By Bob Kraft

According to published reports, Toyota is planning to recall some 300,000 Prius vehicles worldwide to repair a brake problem. The manufacturer supposedly will notify the U.S. and Japanese governments today. Toyota has already recalled more than 7 million other cars for repairs in the U.S. and other countries over a sticky accelerator and floor mats that can [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Vehicle Law or News

U.S. Starts Inquiry Into Prius Brake Problems

Written On February 5, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Poor Toyota. The company finally comes up with a proposed solution to the sticking throttle problem, and now they have a brake problem with the hugely popular Prius model. Here are excerpts from an article in the New York Times about the Prius problems:
No sooner had Toyota dealerships begun to repair accelerator pedals on millions [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Vehicle Law or News

Toyota Unveils Plans to Fix Pedal Problem

Written On February 2, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Here are more details about Toyota’s proposed solution to the sticking throttle problem, courtesy of the American Association for Justice news release:
The Chicago Tribune (2/2, Bensinger, Channick) reports, “Hoping to put the brakes on a public relations disaster, Toyota Motor Corp. revealed plans Monday to fix a sticking gas pedal that halted sales and production for [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Vehicle Law or News

Toyota Says It Will Start Fixing Recalled Cars

Written On February 1, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Toyota has announced (finally) that it will begin repairing defective throttles almost immediately. Here are excerpts from an article in the New York Times:
Toyota Motor on Monday said repairs to accelerator pedals in millions of recalled vehicles would begin later this week as it tried to reassure customers and show that it had the situation [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News

Toyota Suspends Sales of Selected Vehicles

Written On January 26, 2010 By Bob Kraft

This press release is from Toyota:
TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 26 — Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced that it is instructing Toyota dealers to temporarily suspend sales of eight models involved in the recall for sticking accelerator pedal, announced on January 21, 2010.
“Helping ensure the safety of our customers and restoring confidence in Toyota are very important [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Vehicle Law or News

Toyota Knew of Throttle Problem Last Year

Written On January 26, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Confirming some suspicions, and according to USA Today, Toyota says it knew there were problems with accelerator-pedal assemblies from supplier CTS late last year, but not enough to warrant a recall. Here are excerpts from the article:
The automaker says it hurriedly announced last Thursday a planned recall of 2.3 million Toyotas, back to 2005 models, because [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices

Graco Recalls Strollers After Amputation Injuries

Written On January 22, 2010 By Bob Kraft

In a story appearing on at least 335 news websites, the AP reported, “About 1.5 million Graco strollers sold at Wal-Mart, Target and other major retailers are being recalled after some children’s fingertips were amputated by hinges on the products.” Five children “had their fingertips severed and two children received cuts on their fingertips.” In an [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices

Product Recall Info for McNeil Medicines

Written On January 21, 2010 By Bob Kraft

McNeil Consumer Healthcare has had to recall so many different products recently the company has set up a special Web site to inform consumers of the details. Visit McNeilProductRecall to learn more about recalls of Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, Rolaids, Simply Sleep, and St. Joseph medications.

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices

Latest Crib Recall Due to Strangulation and Suffocation Hazards

Written On January 20, 2010 By Bob Kraft

I’m beginning to wonder if there are any safe drop-side cribs. Every few weeks we see another big recall. The latest, announced this week, involves cribs from Dorel Asia, sold at K-Mart, Sears and Wal-Mart stores nationwide. Here is information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Dorel [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices

CPSC Urges Parents to Discard Children’s Cheap Metal Jewelry

Written On January 14, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The AP (1/13) reported that CPSC chairman Inez Tenenbaum “issued an unprecedented warning Wednesday to parents: Don’t give your children cheap metal jewelry. And if they already have some, toss it because it could contain hazardous levels of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium.” Although “it did not carry the force of law, the announcement [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices