Due to Toyota’s recall of the newer models of the Venza, Corolla, Matrix and Prius vehicles, Conn’s Zipcars have disappeared.
Zipcar, the worlds most recognized car-sharing company, arrived on campus in the fall of 2008 as an alternative method of transportation.
The company relies on 30 different car makes and models to run its business, including the Toyota Matrix and Prius. But during the week of February 8, Conn Zipcar users found that reservations were not only difficult to come by, as can happen, but that they were virtually unavailable.
It was, according to the reservation website for the campus, impossible for weeks on end.
Toyota has cited accelerator issues as the cause of the recall.
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement that the car company was slow to deal with safety problems. According Minnesota Public Radio, LaHood stated that it took government pressure to force Toyota to recall millions of its most popular vehicles.
Complaints of the potential for pedals to get stuck in the floor mats spurred a mass recall of 8 million Toyota vehicles worldwide in January. Some claimed that too-rapid growth had led to a decline in Toyota vehicles’ quality, the Washington Post reported.
On January 29, Zipcar announced they would not allow reservations for recalled cars until Toyota had resolved the problem, emphasizing “the safety of our Zipsters is our top priority.”
According to The Economist, Toyota made the unprecedented move, upon announcing a second round of vehicle recalls, of shutting production at six plants in North America and withdrawing from sale several models while it figured out what had gone wrong with its accelerator pedal.
The Toyota recall impacted only six percent of the total Zipcar fleet, but resulted in the loss of both Conn’s Matrix and Prius model Zipcars.
On Friday, the Matrix was returned to campus. The Prius, however, remains at an undisclosed dealership waiting for repair but is expected to return to campus in a timely manner.
Japan’s transport minister, Seiji Maehara, has reprimanded Akio Toyoda, chief executive of the company, for failing to act swiftly enough in recalling faulty vehicles. Toyoda made his apologies for Toyota’s mistakes, but keen students of Japan’s ritualized acts of obeisance noted that while Toyoda apologized and accepted responsibility for the firm’s failings, he did not bow deeply in shame, as is custom.
Students on campus should not expect to feel the recall’s effects too deeply. Zipcar representative Nancy Scott emphasized, “Toyota is working to make sure these vehicles are fixed appropriately and we are working closely with them.”
As of February 10, this was Zipcar’s response to Connecticut College student concern:
“Unfortunately at this time there are currently no cars available here because both of the cars that were available before have been pulled off the market due to the Toyota Recall until further notice. I apologize about any inconvenience this may bring.”
