If you’ve been watching the news at all the past 2 weeks, you know that Toyota has recalled several million vehicles because of a potential gas pedal sticking problem.  I say “potential” because from what I’ve seen and read, the problem only affects about “8 out of 1 million” pedals, according to an interview with a CTS representative, the company that manufacturers the pedal for Toyota.

Regardless of whether you think this issue is a serious one, or whether you think it’s been totally blown out of proportion, the media has been having a field day.  I’ve seen interviews on the national news (NBC) that included a crying pregnant woman saying “It’s not right what they’re doing” to a doctor that had his Toyota dramatically towed and saying “I will never buy another car from them.”  Other people are saying they won’t drive their Toyota until they get some kind of  “guarantee” from Toyota the problem is fixed.

To top it off, I’ve also seen websites and blog posts bringing up the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor during WWII and saying that anybody that buys anything Japanese gets what they deserve.

Geez!  Can we all take a deep breath here?

First of all, it’s a car folks.  It’s a mechanical device and mechanical devices wear out, break, or fail.  That’s a plain and simple fact of life.  Where do people get the idea that life comes with a 100% guarantee?

I just don’t understand the hysterics.  Some of the people interviewed on the news said they were afraid to even ride in a Toyota now.  Why?  I don’t get it.

We all know that airplanes fall out of the sky every once in a while.  It’s a terrible tragedy when it happens, but it DOES occasionally happen.  Why aren’t people afraid to get on an airplane?  It’s the same thing.

We all see the scenes of terrible traffic accidents every evening on the news.  More people are killed on America’s highways than die in airplane accidents.  People get in car crashes, pedestrians and bicycle riders get run over.  It’s terrible.  Why wouldn’t you be scared to death about getting anywhere near a highway?  It’s the same thing.

Did you know that over 1,000 people in the US die from electrical shock every year?  Everything from trying to pry out a piece of toast with a knife to simply using the microwave.  Over 1,000 people every year.  Why aren’t people scared to death of using electrical appliances?  It’s exactly the same thing.

Face it, life is risky.  The only “guarantee” you can get that you’ll never get hurt from any kind of mechanical (or electrical) device is never to use any – and even that is not 100%.  Even people living in third world countries without all the conveniences that we American enjoy still die from various types of accidents – everything from getting kicked in the head by a farm animal to falling out of a tree.

The only “angle” I can think of, the only “motivation” I can see is possibly a legal one.  I would really be interested to see how many of the people that have appeared on the national news all emotional and stuff are actually part of a lawsuit trying to get millions of dollars for “pain and suffering.”

One of the things that used to make this country great was our self reliance, our ability to deal with whatever life (or unscrupulous or inept manufacturers) threw our way without trying to play “the victim” in front of a jury.

If you own a Toyota, drive it or park it.  Your choice.  But understand that even if you trade it for a different kind of car, it’s still a mechanical device and mechanical devices occasionally malfunction and/or fail.

Life gives you opportunities, not guarantees.  Understand the risk inherent in everything you do.  That’s right, there’s risk in EVERYTHING you do.  Balance that risk against the benefits.  In other words, make an informed choice and then accept responsibility for your choices.

I know this was more of a rant but I wanted to get it off my chest.  Thanks for listening.

Hiram

Full disclosure:  I drive a 1998 Toyota Camry with close to 250,000 miles on it.  It wasn’t affected by the recall and it’s easily been the best car, and longest lasting car,  I’ve ever owned.  I wouldn’t consider myself a Toyota “fan” but quality and reliability speaks for itself.

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