This article is over 13 years old

News

Houston Toyota Owners Unsure What to Do

Still reeling from its decision to recall millions of vehicles, Toyota is now deciding what to do about brake problems with its top selling Prius Hybrid. The Prius isn’t on the recall list, but that could change. For now many Toyota owners including people here in Houston aren’t sure what to do. Bill Stamps has more.

Share

Listen

To embed this piece of audio in your site, please use this code:

<iframe src="https://embed.hpm.io/70708/19136" style="height: 115px; width: 100%;"></iframe>
X

At the Sterling McCall Toyota off the Southwest it appeared to be business as usual. No line of unhappy car owners. No line in the lobby demanding that their car be fixed immediately. I was told the spokesman for the dealership wasn’t there.

Across town at TOYO Cars — a repair shop specializing in Toyota’s — manager Syed Amir says he’s had people come in and ask him about the recall.

“I have people who are my customers that have asked questions of concern, but none of them have had any of the problems that have been showing up on the media, or any of the problems that Toyota is talking about.”

Amir isn’t allowed to work on the recalled vehicles — only dealerships — but he still tries to answer customer’s questions.

“And my answer is: I don’t know anything any differently than what they know and as much as I have known any of my customers and people that I’ve talked to have never experienced any of these problems. And I do have a few customers that are driving those late model cars, including myself, I drive a Tundra and have not experienced any of these problems.”

While talking with Amir Martina Cartwright a long time customer stopped in to get her Toyota fixed. Her car isn’t on the recall list but even if it was she said it wouldn’t change her opinion of the automaker.

“I love Toyotas it changes nothing. I think they’re great cars I just think in the last few years they may have some design issues, but they’re really good cars. This is a 1998 and it has been running us good except for one problem with the battery and a little ding on the side, other than that the car’s got 150 thousand miles and it’s a good car. It’s a reliable car.”

Despite the current problems with the vehicles, Cartwright says she’d buy another Toyota in a heartbeat.

Today in Houston Newsletter Signup
We're in the process of transitioning services for our Today in Houston newsletter. If you'd like to sign up now, fill out the form below and we will add you as soon as we finish the transition. **Please note** If you are already signed up for the newsletter, you do not need to sign up again. Your subscription will be migrated over.