So the gas pedal is a little sticky.
Why are people freaking out about Toyota?
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Wednesday that people should “stop driving” Toyotas affected by recalls. Later in the day, he apparently calmed down and said this was “obviously a misstatement.”
Toyota has been slow to address its problems and has brought much of this hysteria upon itself.
People are now terrorizing themselves with mental images of cars careening out of control. Just last week, though, they were content to give dangerous manufacturing defects nary a thought.
There are so many recalls, it’s impossible to recall all the recalls.
Few will remember, for instance, the SlyDog retractable dog leash sold by Dollar General Stores nationwide, until they were recalled in September 2008.
Let’s say you drive your Toyota Corolla to the park with your pooch.
Your gas pedal didn’t stick. And you’re thinking that you just did some really smart shopping at the dollar store, when suddenly the clasp connected to your dog’s collar breaks, and the leash snaps back toward your face.
“Facial cuts, a broken tooth, displaced eye lens, and a bruised collar bone,” were some of the horrific consequences of this product, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Troll through the commission’s website, , and marvel at some of the really bad things that can happen due to common product defects.
Besides dangerous cars and faulty tires, the world is rife with batteries that overheat, window blinds that strangle, tiny parts that choke infants, and toys coated with lead paint, not to mention tainted foods that can make you puke for days on end.
This is good news for Toyota because eventually, there will be a bigger recall that will make everyone forget about its gas pedal recalls.
Here are some tragic scenarios reported over the past several months that we’ve already forgotten:
Let’s say that instead of driving your potentially defective Toyota, you ride your bike. But it’s a Cannondale with a suspension fork made by J.D. Components of Taiwan. The “fork can lose alignment causing the front wheel to turn unexpectedly,” the commission reported May 19. “This can cause the rider to lose control of the bicycle and crash.”
You’ve hauled your 2009 FX10 Yamaha snowmobile to the woods with your Toyota Tundra truck without incident. But suddenly, your snowmobile is careering toward a tree. “A bolt in the right front A arm can loosen in the suspension/steering system, resulting in the sudden loss of steering control,” the commission reported Jan. 27.
You drive your Toyota Matrix to the archery range. No problem. You’re enjoying some target practice with your new Eagle 5 Rifle Crossbow, made in Taiwan. Suddenly, an apple balanced on the head of a small boy standing 80 paces away splits into half. “The trigger mechanism becomes loose after 30 shots,” the commission reported Jan. 19 “The crossbow will automatically discharge on its own.”
You drive your Toyota Prius to the hardware store and pick up some books: “Lowe’s Complete Home Wiring,” “Sunset Home Repair Handbook,” and a few similar titles. “The books contain errors that could lead consumers to incorrectly install or repair electrical wiring, posing an electrical shock or fire hazard,” the commission reported Jan. 8.
You drive your Toyota Rav4 to the ocean for some scuba diving. Your gas pedal didn’t stick. But something else did: The gage on your “Cressi Ellipse Black MC5 Regulator.” You’re down 90 feet and it says you’ve still got plenty of air to come up. “The inaccurate reading on the gauge poses a drowning hazard to divers,” the commission reported Dec. 23.
You drive to the mall and buy a skull-and-crossbones necklace at Spencer Gifts LLC, a chain based in Egg Harbor Township, N.J. “The skull and metal clasp of the necklace contain high levels of lead,” the commission warned on Jan. 29. Hey, at least it’s shaped like the symbolic warning for poison.
You do not drive your Toyota Avalon to Starbucks. You stay home with your Starbucks Barista Blade Grinder. “The grinder can turn on unexpectedly, posing a laceration hazard,” the commission reported June 16.
You stay home to mow the lawn with your liquid-cooled Toro Z Master Z580, made by The Toro Co. of Bloomington, Minn. “The coolant overflow container can become over-pressurized and cause hot coolant to spray on the operator,” the commission reported on October 22.
You take your Graco stroller, by Graco Children’s Products Inc., of Atlanta, from the back of your Toyota Highlander. You’re no longer worried about a sticky gas pedal. You’re worried about your child getting sunburned. But suddenly you hear a ghastly shriek. “The hinges on the stroller’s canopy pose a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard,” the commission reported Jan. 20.
You drive to Home Depot and buy a beige patio umbrella. “The patio umbrella and its pole could tip over and strike consumers,” the commission reported May 28.
You safely drive your Toyota Sequoia to the ski slopes, but the bindings on your skis are made by Salomon USA of Ogden, Utah. “The toe component of the ski bindings could fail causing the binding to release unexpectedly,” the commission reported Nov. 19. “This could cause the skier to lose control.” One broken leg and one injured knee have been reported, alleging defects with certain models.
You drive home in your Toyota Camry for a hot bath in your whirlpool tub made by Crane Plumbing LLC of Dallas. “The drain covers in the tubs can entangle a bather’s hair causing the bather’s head to be held under water, which can result in drowning,” the commission reported June. 23.
Stuff happens. But at least if your Toyota’s gas pedal sticks you can hit the brakes or shift into neutral.
Al Lewis: 212-416-2617, al.lewis@dowjones.com or .
