| As Japanese automaker Toyota gets ready to | | | | automaker has shown time and time again that |
| become the world's largest automaker, more | | | | it is the leader in the production of quality |
| and more units are being recalled. Recently, | | | | vehicles. |
| the automaker announced that they would be | | | | |
| recalling 34,400 Lexus units in the United | | | | According to Toyota, no accident related to |
| States due to potential cracks in the fuel | | | | the discovered problem has been reported. The |
| pipes. | | | | automaker further announced that new fuel |
| | | | pipes will be used to replace the old ones on |
| This is the most recent setback that the | | | | the vehicles that they will recall. A cracked |
| automaker has faced this year. For months, | | | | pipe line is a very potentially harmful |
| Toyota which has been known for its reliable | | | | problem that could lead to serious accidents. |
| vehicles has recalled hundreds of thousands | | | | |
| of vehicles due to varying mechanical | | | | Although recalls have been announced by the |
| problems. As a result of their recalls, the | | | | automaker, they still managed to sell more |
| reputation of the company is being put at | | | | vehicles for this year. This shows that |
| risk. New studies are showing that Toyota and | | | | consumers trust Toyota's product even with |
| Lexus has both dropped in the rankings when | | | | the massive recalls. Consumer Reports even |
| it comes to perceived reliability of their | | | | went as far as rating Toyota's V6 Camry and |
| vehicles. | | | | the V8 Tundra below the industry average. Jim |
| | | | Lentz, now the head of Toyota's US division, |
| The latest recalls involve 2006 model year | | | | called that an embarrassment for the |
| versions of the Lexus GS 300, IS 250, and IS | | | | automaker. |
| 350 in the United States. Apart from the | | | | |
| vehicles being recalled in the United States, | | | | Experts though have an explanation regarding |
| the Japanese automaker also announced that | | | | the massive recalls. With Toyota experiencing |
| they would recall 215,020 vehicles in Japan | | | | increased demand year after year, they are |
| including certain Lexus models. Cars built | | | | forced to react immediately. This means that |
| between December 2003 and December 2005 is | | | | their assembly plants are not ready for the |
| the subject of the recalls. | | | | massive demand which in turn results to sub |
| | | | par quality of parts being produced. Still, |
| Lexus has always been at the top of the | | | | many consumers trust that Toyota will be able |
| rankings when it comes to consumers' review | | | | to cope immediately and return to |
| of their reliability. In several studies, the | | | | manufacturing quality vehicles and auto parts |
| luxury division of the world's second largest | | | | such as Lexus radiators. |