Toyota have just admitted there is a problem with the brakes on their Prius;

[url="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8497471.stm"]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8497471.stm[/url]

I have also been contacted this afternoon by a jounalist from the BBC no less, wanting to find out about why Toyota UK say no one has has this issue in the UK when quite clearly that is not the case!! I guess they found me because I use my Prius as a taxi? I have rung Toyota on their recall line and got a call centre in Africa who didn't have a clue and just kept reading an out of date statement saying there is no issue!!!

So, anyone here from Toyota just want to give me some correct and upto date advice? I use my car for my job, the council is concerned and an African call centre with out of date advice is not really the way forward. Or shall I call the BBC back a tell it is I've experienced it - everything including the p**s poor customer service?

Any idea who these guys are (on the press statement).

Michael Valvo on 01737 367264 or by e-mail at michael.valvo@tgb.toyota.co.uk
Erica Haddon on 01737 367308 or by e-mail at erica.haddon@tgb.toyota.co.uk
David Crouch on 01737 367307 or by e-mail at david.crouch@tgb.toyota.co.uk
Scott Brownlee on 01737 367266 or by e-mail at scott.brownlee@tgb.toyota.co.uk

[quote name='johalareewi' post='968266' date='Feb 4 2010, 01:33 PM']Any idea who these guys are (on the press statement).

Michael Valvo on 01737 367264 or by e-mail at michael.valvo@tgb.toyota.co.uk
Erica Haddon on 01737 367308 or by e-mail at erica.haddon@tgb.toyota.co.uk
David Crouch on 01737 367307 or by e-mail at david.crouch@tgb.toyota.co.uk
Scott Brownlee on 01737 367266 or by e-mail at scott.brownlee@tgb.toyota.co.uk[/quote]


Dunno. Should I know them? Are they for Joe Public to ring or just for the journo's?

They are on the press release.
Have done a google and got...

Name Michael Valvo; Location London; Bio PR Manager for Toyota and Lexus in..
Name Scott Brownlee; Bio Head of PR for Toyota and Lexus in the UK

Maybe they can help you get somewhere?
If not, you have the BBC.

[quote name='johalareewi' post='968272' date='Feb 4 2010, 01:49 PM']They are on the press release.
Have done a google and got...

Name Michael Valvo; Location London; Bio PR Manager for Toyota and Lexus in..
Name Scott Brownlee; Bio Head of PR for Toyota and Lexus in the UK

Maybe they can help you get somewhere?
If not, you have the BBC.[/quote]


Well, I've been rung by Mr Brownlee who was very polite and very helpful. I won't go into the in's and out's of the conversation other than my personal impression is that things are moving very quickly and Toyota are struggling to keep up. I don't believe they are going to sweep things under the carpet and Mr Brownlee did have a comprehensive knowledge of the brake 'issue'.

To conclude - watch this space.

Thanks for the info.

[quote name='Grumpy Cabbie' post='968300' date='Feb 4 2010, 04:26 PM'][quote name='johalareewi' post='968272' date='Feb 4 2010, 01:49 PM']They are on the press release.
Have done a google and got...

Name Michael Valvo; Location London; Bio PR Manager for Toyota and Lexus in..
Name Scott Brownlee; Bio Head of PR for Toyota and Lexus in the UK

Maybe they can help you get somewhere?
If not, you have the BBC.[/quote]


Well, I've been rung by Mr Brownlee who was very polite and very helpful. I won't go into the in's and out's of the conversation other than my personal impression is that things are moving very quickly and Toyota are struggling to keep up. I don't believe they are going to sweep things under the carpet and Mr Brownlee did have a comprehensive knowledge of the brake 'issue'.

To conclude - watch this space.
[/quote]


I've chatted to Scott Brownlee on Twitter as well. He's the guy who's also been doing all the media interviews on TV and Radio over the last few days. I think Toyota are having an awful time and its a bit of a whirlwind for them, especially with the new information about the software update on the New Prius coming out of Japan yesterday. We live in a Global village now and there is more than one of us checking both here and Priuschat for info as it comes out. That said I dont think it was a great idea to say it wasnt a problem in the UK and Europe when clearly it is.

Thanks for that info cabbie.

Not sure if there is a mod around but we could do with merging all 3 (?) threads into one to make it abit easiler to keep to to speed with developments.

So, whos contacting watchdog ?