Auto Recalls: Good or Bad for Business?
Whenever we hear or receive a notice from our car dealership that we have to bring our vehicle in in order to address a recall that has been issued, the general reaction is pretty positive (with a slight chance at annoyance). However, lately, it seems that there have been a lot of auto dealers recalling their cars in order to fix problems. While it doesn’t cost the current auto owner anything to bring their vehicle by the dealership, it certainly makes them wonder whether or not they made the right decision to purchase their current vehicle (especially if it is being attacked by recalls).
ABC News recently printed an article chronicling some of the largest recalls in the U.S. auto industry. The following are just a few examples from the article, starting with the most recent auto recall:
- January 26- Japan’s Toyota Motor corp. suspends U.S. sales of eight recalled car and truck models, including the best-selling Camry sedan in an effort to fix gas pedals that can stick and cause unintended acceleration.
- January 21- Toyota announces U.S. recall of 2.3 million vehicles to fix faulty accelerator pedals, its second large recall in four months in the United States.
- October 13, 2009- Ford Motor Co. adds 4.5 million older-model vehicles to a long list of those recalled due to a defective cruise control switch that can cause fires, pushing Ford’s total recall due to faulty switches to 14.3 million. The series of recalls, which began in 1999, becomes the largest cumulative recall in the history of the United States.
- September 29, 2009- Toyota recalls 3.8 million U.S. vehicles to address problems with a removable floor mat that could interfere with the vehicle’s accelerator and cause a crash. The recall, which on Nov. 25 is expanded to 4.3 million vehicles, is the larges in its history.
Should any of these make drivers nervous, or should the drivers be glad that the auto corporations are catching these things in an effort to make us safe? In the end, it seems that doling out a bunch of recalls isn’t so bad for business after all. In fact, it seems as if most people think that it is the responsible thing to do and shows that the auto giants care about the little people behind the wheels of their cars. What do you think?
For more information about car repair or to find a reputable auto repair shop, contact Pinnacle Automotive Servicetoday at 919.828.3113.
| General
