A certified auditor working at the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) plant in California that's run jointly by General Motors and Toyota has stepped forward to file a lawsuit alleging that her managers knowingly permitted defects on cars to go unfixed. Katy Cameron claims that her superiors routinely overlooked problems including broken seat belts, faulty headlights, inadequate braking, mirrors falling off, engine oil leaks and steering wheel alignment problems, though there's no evidence that any of these have resulted in an accident. Cameron's lawsuit not only alleges that her managers failed to report these defects, but that she was also routinely harassed for being a whistleblower. The Associated Press reports that she is now on medical leave receiving treatment for stress, depression and other mental problems resulting from being mistreated at the NUMMI plant.
The NUMMI plant produces the Toyota Corolla, Toyota Tacoma and Pontiac Vibe, and while it's considered a joint-venture between Toyota and GM, the plant is run using Toyota's manufacturing process. From what we can tell, it operates much like a training ground where GM managers can go to learn Japanese manufacturing techniques. Thus, these allegations appear to be aimed more at Toyota than GM. The response from Toyota has been that it's "tackling quality problems as a top priority," while GM wasn't aware of the lawsuit at the time the linked article was written.
Toyota's sterling reputation for quality has been tarnished lately with recalls becoming more common and Consumer Reports removing a few of the Japanese automaker's vehicles from its recommended list. We imagine their must be tremendous pressure at the plant level to fix any quality issues that arise, which could encourage managers to make some questionable decisions. While we don't know for sure what happened at the NUMMI plant in California, the idea that some managers would choose to hide defects rather than report them doesn't seem that far fetched considering the pressure to be perfect.
[Source: AP via Wheels.ca via ImportCarCanada, photo via Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Brian St. John @ Nov 21st 2007 10:38AM
Once again, we're reminded that a corporation is a corporation is a corporation. Profit trumps EVERYTHING.
Avinash machado @ Nov 21st 2007 10:47AM
So I guess Toyota might be regretting its decision to grow so fast.
Menice @ Nov 21st 2007 10:51AM
ya hang out with the dogs, your bound to get fleas.
J.Crew @ Nov 21st 2007 11:15AM
Yeah, but this plant has been around for a long time, prior to all of its current growth related issues.
It is Toyota that runs its production system at this plant so I don't think this dog has any fleas from hooking up with GM... it may have gotten into the garbage on its own, eaten something bad and it is now pooping out Toyota made CRAP!! ha ha
willem @ Nov 21st 2007 11:39AM
Given Toy's loss of control over reality, a lot of people are realizing what a number of us knew already: that Toy never made a worthwhile vehicle and relied heavily on trade inequity and misinformation to become what it is today.
9600baud @ Nov 21st 2007 12:20PM
Except hanging out with GM is not quite like hanging out with a dog. Its more like making sweet sweet unprotected love with a herpes-infested leper.
Hondai @ Nov 21st 2007 10:51AM
I've gotta tell ya, as a Honda Pilot and Hyundai Azera owner, Toyota has lost credibility n my eyes compared to Honda and Hyundai. Both my vehicles are flawless after two years/45,000 miles (approx). and we couldn't be happier. My brothers 05 Camry has had two unexpected shop visits and he is majorly disappointed. He drove my wife's Azera while his Camry was in overnite and stated he wished he had bought an Azera. Go figure.
Menice @ Nov 21st 2007 10:54AM
who got accused of passing a joint?
John @ Nov 21st 2007 10:56AM
I have a 2004 Nummi built Corolla and it has some uncharacterstically unToyota-like qualities. The water pump and pulley tensioner were replaced under warranty and in general it has a ton of creaks/sqeaks (brakes in reverse/TSB on it) and things going out of alignment (power windows). I always wonder if I got a Japan version, whether it would be in better shape.
Overall though, it has been very reliable and most of these were annoyances more than anything. Can't fault the genes...
AlexP @ Nov 21st 2007 7:30PM
... There was no Japanese 04 Corolla.
Quarry @ Nov 21st 2007 11:18AM
A great man once said " Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. "
geo.stewart @ Nov 21st 2007 11:21AM
"The Associated Press reports that she is now on medical leave receiving treatment for stress, depression and other mental problems resulting from being mistreated at the NUMMI plant. "
gotta wonder.
wouldnt mind hearing the other side of the story before passing judgement.
Whitie @ Nov 21st 2007 11:29AM
Agreed 100%. There is always a 2nd side to every story. Good thing some of us are not as willing to jump to conclusions.
Corey L @ Nov 21st 2007 11:54AM
3rd that.
Ben H. @ Nov 21st 2007 12:11PM
A good way to get out of the "spotlight" of harassment.
What would you do?
Eddie @ Nov 21st 2007 11:24AM
She's being treated for "stress, depression and other mental problems resulting from being mistreated"?
Sounds like a champion to me.
I didn't know Toyota and GM were using live subjects as crash test dummies!
What's that? She assembles the vehicles you say? Oh crap. Someone should use some legal process to make sure she didn't screw up any parts on anyone's vehicles...
Bob-omb @ Nov 21st 2007 11:29AM
The thing that makes this hard to believe is that they produce the Corolla and the Tacoma, arguably the most reliable cars in their respective classes.
psarhjinian @ Nov 21st 2007 11:34AM
Hiding defects is suprising in any plant, especially Toyota's, which has generally given incentives to employees to do just that.
If things like this are happening at NUMMI, it's to cover up mistakes made by NUMMI's management. I'm expecting to find out the plant management has been called on the carpet for defect rates or cost, and is trying to control one or the other by sweeping it under the rug. Either way, GM and/or Toyota need to crack down on plant *management* there right away.
It's not a Toyota thing, or a GM thing. It's a NUMMI thing.
People underestimate the affect that plant management has in the quality process. The local plant determines production engineering, sourcing of parts, operational QA and labour relations, all of which have a huge impact on the quality (especially the *initial* quality) of a product.
Take the Grand Prix for example: it used to be--by quite a margin--the lowest-quality W-Body. People used to blame Pontiac drivers' being harder on their cars, or servicing them less frequently, but when GM moved it from Fairfax, Kansas to Oshawa, Ontario, it's quality rating moved up to match the Ontario-built Impala and Regal/Century.
You'll see the same con- or divergence in quality in many other closely related models: the Matrix (Cambridge, Ontario) and Vibe (NUMMI, California), as well as Mazda6 (Flat Rock, Mich.) and Fusion (Hermosillo, Mex.). People who complain about Consumer Reports' rating rebrands differently usually haven't paid attention to the fact that the products in question are made at different plants.
elprogramer @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:33AM
You sir, are of a mind unequaled here. I congratulate and commend you for actually understanding the issue here.
And I'm entirely serious, people really don't understand how much local management has in the process.
Whitie @ Nov 21st 2007 11:38AM
I've worked at multiple assembly plants for Ford and GM, including NUMMI. I have a seriously hard time believing this story at face value. The people I know bust their pick to make vehicles to the highest quality standards. That's the only way a company is going to survive these days.