Phony investigative journalism: CNN vs Toyota
Here’s today’s “investigative journalism” from CNN:
I won’t waste your time linking to this crap…
Auto manufacturer Toyota warned dealerships in 2002 that Camry owners were complaining about throttles surging and recommended adjustments in an electronic control unit to fix the problem, according to a document obtained by CNN.
The technical service bulletin went to every U.S. Toyota dealership in late August 2002 after some customers reported their vehicles were speeding up unexpectedly.
“Some 2002 model year Camry vehicles may exhibit a surging during light throttle input at speeds between 38-42 mph,” the bulletin states. “The Engine Control Module (ECM) calibration has been revised to correct this condition…”
The internal Toyota document was given to CNN by a group of attorneys now seeking a nationwide class-action lawsuit against the company. Clarence Ditlow said the document — not previously made public — indicates Toyota knew much earlier about an electronic connection to sudden acceleration problems. He also said the bulletin was apparently ignored or hidden from the public not only by Toyota, but also by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. – emphasis added.
“The government is really hiding this information from the consumer,” Ditlow told CNN. “They’re in a conspiracy with the auto industry to keep these out of the public’s sight…”
Tim Howard and his legal team say they plan to appear in federal court in San Diego, California, later this week, trying to persuade a federal judge to combine the 88 individual lawsuits so far filed against Toyota into a single class-action litigation.
You expect a herd of sleazy lawyers to descend upon any incident that looks like a potential meal ticket. That’s how they grab their 30% piece of litigation.
You don’t expect a news organization to reprint the press release from those lawyers as if it’s a triumph of investigative journalism.
At CNN, apparently, there is no one with enough knowledge of automobile repair to say, “TSB’s are commonplace.” Every manufacturer issues dozens every year. For 2 reasons: to ensure their cars run as promised and to keep their own lawyers happy by acknowledging prior information about corrections, updates and changes required.
At CNN, apparently, there is no one who ever heard of GOOGLE. Because that is how I found the same “secret” document – in 30 seconds. On a page recording the Toyota TSBs from 2002. Spend a little time, I imagine you can find it in a number of locations.
Better yet. Talk to the service manager at any car dealership. You pick one! Ask him how many TSBs he receives in a year, any brand?
You’re right. I picked a make and model at random, Cadillac DTS 2006.
Found 44 TSBs. Which probably is about average.
keaneo
March 23, 2010 at 9:03 am
I think the CNN article was written by folks who drop their BMW off – tell ‘em to touch it up and polish it – and drive off.
There isn’t a Car dealer’s service department that doesn’t have a monster book – or database, nowadays – stuffed with every possible tweak and touch-up sent down the line from on high at corporate.
They are model-specific, date of manufacture-related, change orders every time there’s a change in vendors. I wouldn’t expect a journalist to know this. I would expect one to ask.
moss
March 24, 2010 at 2:20 pm