Trouble For Toyota

This, on top of three straight months of sales declines. IHT (10.17.07):

"Consumer Reports magazine says that 'bug-ridden redesigns' caused Toyota Motor of Japan to drop unexpectedly to third, from first, in its annual vehicle reliability rankings.

Consumer Reports removed high-end versions of three Toyota models - the Camry and Lexus GS sedans and the Tundra pickup - from its list of recommended vehicles, released Tuesday, and said it would stop recommending new or redesigned Toyota vehicles without data showing that past years' versions were reliable."

Toyota drops to third in annual ranking of vehicle reliability

"It is the first time since the current format of the ratings began in 1996 that a version of the Camry, which is the best-selling car in the United States, has not been recommended."

But that's not all. Financial Times (10.17.07):

"Toyota said on Wednesday it was recalling more than 470,000 vehicles in Japan in its fifth recall this year, highlighting the carmaker’s struggle to deal with quality problems as it expands globally.

The move brings the total number of vehicles the carmaker has had to recall in Japan this year to more than 594,000."

Toyota recalls 470,000 vehicles in Japan

Ouch. That friends, makes for a pretty shitty week, eh?