Filed under: Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota
Toyota whistleblower joined by civil suit over father's death
A faulty seatbelt that traps an occupant in a vehicle and leads to his death is a horrible tragedy. If the defect were given a pass at the manufacturing plant, it goes beyond tragic to criminal. Toyota is now facing two lawsuits in California, both centered around manufacturing defects that may have been ignored at its joint-venture New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant. We reported earlier on the first lawsuit filed by Katy Cameron, a NUMMI worker who alleges that vehicles with serious problems were passed out the door, even though the NUMMI plant purportedly subscribes to the "Toyota way" of manufacturing. Instead of empowering workers to spot and correct defects, even stop the assembly line to make things right, management at the NUMMI plant allegedly discouraged Cameron by demoting her.
A second lawsuit has also been filed by the Singh family, who are blaming the seatbelt latch in their 2002 Corolla for the death of Raminder Singh. The Singhs were involved in an accident that led to an engine fire, and while 19-year-old Gurinder Singh was able to exit the vehicle, his father remained trapped by his seatbelt despite Gurinder's efforts to unlatch it.
A spokesman for Toyota has been quoted as saying, "as heart-rending and tragic as this collision was, Toyota has an altogether different view of the facts." The facts will hopefully come to light during this civil trial, which heard opening statements on Tuesday.
Thanks for the tip, Jon!
[Source: Money/CNN]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Luis 12:46PM (11/29/2007)
When it rains it pours...
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Palmolive 6:30PM (11/29/2007)
. . . you mean Autoblogs' redneck Toyota bashing?
Europa 6:38PM (11/29/2007)
@ palmolive
Yes, Autoblog is biased against Toyota. It probably should have mentioned that Nummi is also a GM plant producing GM vehicles. But its also a BLOG(keyword) run by AOL. Calm down, don't take it to seriously.
Mark 6:44PM (11/29/2007)
ain't that the truth...
Luis 6:49PM (11/29/2007)
@Palmolive...you are aware Toyota is involved in NASCAR,right? do I need to say it?
TheThirdMan 7:06PM (11/29/2007)
AOLweblogs is written by underpaid kids mostly without journalism degrees. They basically leech of other sites or blogs and haphazardly put together a story without the slightest bit of fact checking. Those names you see on the right are 'bloggers' that make this site what it is. They get paid for each story that gets posted, they have an incentive to make it controversial so that they can get their commission.
Oh and. . .
@Luis
NASCAR != Rednecks
Peter 12:51PM (11/29/2007)
Innocent until proven guilty.
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Whitie 6:58PM (11/29/2007)
I seldom (this may be the first time) side with anything Toyota. I have to say, though, that "reporting" accusations like they are fact is a low point for this blog. Unless this woman is a qualified auto engineer, I really don't care what the hell she thinks.
Shame on you AB, please save your multiple blog "reports" for when there is some substance to these accusations. Then we'll have plenty to talk about.
Jason 12:52PM (11/29/2007)
"at its joint-venture New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant. "
I like how you neglect to mention that the other half of the joint-venture is General Motors.
I guess it sounds better if you leave the involved party out, right? Bias much?
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Jeremy 7:35PM (11/29/2007)
You did read the part where it says that "even though the NUMMI plant purportedly subscribes to the "Toyota way" of manufacturing."
All GM is allowed to do with the vehicles produced there is make body adjustments and different badges. Not much they can control over those processes. It is a Toyota plant.
MoonRover 6:02PM (11/29/2007)
Toyota actually runs the plant, not GM. The Plant model was set-up on Toyota manufacturing principles and run by Toyota in order for GM to learn their manufacturing process. Simply put, Toyota cuts corners in every stage of the process to make as much dough as possible, neglecting build quality and safty. Employees at Toyota plants around the country are complaining about the same problems......
Temple 6:16PM (11/29/2007)
Wrong, its a GM-Toyota plant run by both companies; NUMMI was originally a GM plant before the joint venture started. Also has UAW representation.
Autoblog is filled with Toyota-haters; just another example of selective reporting, and reason why you don't go to blogs for 'news'.
Frank 11:56AM (11/30/2007)
You are incorrect. Yes, the plant is a joint operation and does have UAW members working there but the way they make cars and the QA, etc. are ALL Toyota. That's why in the past they had some very highly regarded products coming out of there. GM is not telling them how to do anything there - they're just happy to be getting the Vibe (and previously the Prism).
Sean Flanagan 12:59PM (11/29/2007)
All Toyota needed was a healthy Raminder, and they couldn't even handle that...
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The Penguin 1:04PM (11/29/2007)
Toyota doesn't care about their customers, but rather their customer's money, and it is now going to come back and bite them hard.
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Apu 1:09PM (11/29/2007)
Yeah, Toyota is making General Motors look bad. I mean, like, the General only does charity work for their customers and doesn't ask for any money.
The Penguin 1:46PM (11/29/2007)
Where in the article did it mention the General?
Pat Duncan 5:07PM (11/29/2007)
I agree with you about Toyota not caring.. In May 2007
I purchased a 2007 Toyota Corolla that came from the NUMMI plant .. This vehicle has several safety fault's & letter's to Toyota USA & complaint's filed with the BBB, NHTSA & the Fla State Attorney General via the Lemon Law have been unsuccessful no one believes these problem's or cares..This car is not safe & will be a 48 mth disappointment.. Too bad so sad for this senior citizen..
Temple 6:24PM (11/29/2007)
Right, and the big3 does? Ford & Firestone intentionally hides tire defects and killed dozens of people, and both GM and Ford have engines that catch on fire. Really now. . .
http://www.leftlanenews.com/gm-recalls-trucks-over-engine-fire-concerns.html
http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-recalls-12-million-more-trucks-over-fire-risk.html
Pete 1:15PM (11/29/2007)
I'm sorry, but that plant is 90% Toyota. Ever really look at the Toyota...er...Pontiac Vibe...
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