News outlets are reporting that the southwest toyota group pulled all their ad dollars from ABC and gave them to a competitor on the same time slots. This was to punish ABC for covering the brake and gas pedal recalls. I guess they don’t like people talking about 8 million cars being recalled.
I agree with a number of you guys in that State Farm just wants some free press. State Farm would have put this in the press in 2007 if they really did show a statistical trend.
Teddy, yes we should buy American made – which means ‘Made in the USA’ by any company that wants to invest in plants and hire Americans to build their product. Toyota and Honda probably invest more money and create more jobs for Americans in the US than the Big 3. My sister’s Yukon and my parents Mercury Grand Marquis were made in Canada, my Chrysler was made in Mexico with a Mitsubishi engine, transmission and electrical system and my nephew’s Chevy was made in Mexico. My Mercury Villager was made at the Nissan plant in Smyrna, Tennessee my ladyfriends Toyota, my neighbor’s Toyota truck and my best friends Honda are all made in the US. Toyota even subcontracts most of their engine blocks and transmission casings to the GM plants in Alabama and Mississppi. You buy a Big3 vehicle and they close a US plant and use their profits to build a plant overseas. You buy a Toyota or Honda and they invest the profit in the US to hire more Americans. So think about what you mean when you say buy American. However, GM and Ford seem to be waking up the fact that they must invest more of their money back in the US.
This really should come as no surprise. We’ve watched all of these auto companies do the same thing, find a problem and wait until it becomes a BIG problem to do anything about it.
In order for SF to identify this trend in 2007, they would habe to have data from prior year models. I thought this recall was for the 2009-2010 models.
If Hartwig’s organization is using State Farm’s policy count to determine market share, they then are way off.
Where everyone else but Farmers writes up to four vehicles on a policy, State Farm (and Farmers) write a separate policy for each vehicle they insurance.
This article is an obvious press release by State Farm to puff themselves up to the public.
The question that needs asking is why hasn’t Sate Farm made these allegations public through some other channel, or why haven’t they formed a policy within their own organization regarding Toyota? The answer is because it is Bee Ess.
Just another opportunity for the “McDonald’s” of the insurance world to swing their weight around and get free press in the process.
Last American car I owned was in the shop more than it was on the road. It had a faulty everything from air conditioning to computers to water pumps. All that under 50,000 miles. State Farm can use all the good press they can get so I can’t blame them for trying to get it. Still think they stink.
I hear so many Japanese car owners whine that they had big problems with the last American car they owned in the 1980’s.
I wonder if any of them will go back to American cars now and not consider buying another Japanese brand until the 2020’s because of all of the problems with their Toyota.
IMHO, virtually all cars available today are well built and durable (yes even Chryslers). Since even the bullet proof Toyotas are not infallible, why not give our American car companies another chance?
Toyota didn’t pull their ads because of anything ABC or any other network did. They pulled their ads because they didn’t want their ads to solicit more negative talk, thus wasting millions of dollars when they would be better spent when all of the day’s top stories are off on to something else.
Hey, Dad. Check your figures again. By either policy count or premium volume, State Farm has 18 to 20% national auto ins market share. And not “everyone” writes multi-car policies. Your own “Puffery” is showing. Hartwig is correct in that SF is probably the only auto or homeowner carrier to have credible nationwide data. I am surprised to hear SF make a public statement on this. They usually are mum on public controversies. Odd.
Full disclosure, I worked 40+ years for one of SF’s competitors. I have no love lost for big red!! They are a worthy competitor however.
Many, if not most, “Japanese” vehicles are now made in the US. One of my Japanese cars was made in the US about 5 years ago. My other Japanese vehicle was made in Japan in the 90’s. The one made in Japan has twice the miles on it as the American made car and no problems. The one made in America has already had work done under recall. Maybe the problem with Toyota is that they started making their cars in America.
State Farm tracks their claims as far as what they are and cause, thats the reason their data is credible. Not to mention they have the largest market share. I’m continuously amazed by ‘insurance people’ who dont really understand their own industry. Oh and I also work for one of SFarms competitors.
I have had State Farm since 1975. I have always had all my vehicles on the same policy. Currently I have 4 vehicles insured under State Farm. Not sure what you are talking about with each vehicle having to be written under the a different policy. Not True.
You are right. I am an licensed agent. Sometimes, it is an agent of creating his/her own way. We do not write a policy for each vehicle in one housdhold for a same owner due to stackable liability issues.
I didn’t hear anyone dispute that this announcment was a way for SF to swing their weight around the public forums,as they appear readily proud to do. (Big doesn’t necessarily mean good).
As an IA, I compete with the so-called “Big Red” every day. I match them by price, and blow away their watered-down coverage forms on a regular basis.
I would suspect you responders sticking up for SF are inside people at one of their closer competitors who employ captive agents that peddle their limited product portfolios.
I am auto agent, Texas. Brother has 2004 Prius…Also has St. Farm. exited car in driveway…car kept going slowly…jumped into vehicle…slammed on brake…car accelerated drastically into garage, crashing into other car pushing into and thru back garage…12000 covered 14000 uncovered…at the time 3 years ago, there were web articles about similar losses…St farm took under advisement..no action…so, I gather they have been collecting info…This makes sense with their desire to “take over the world” mentality…lowering standards to get production up to snuff…and still be electronically superior
I own a chrysler 300c. It is a 2006 and has only been in the shop for a leaky transmission drain plug. I get 25 miles to the gallon on the hwy, and 13 in town and it has 348 horse power. First non GM car I ever bought and still have no problems now, or in the past.
Japanese auto buyers are part of the economic problem in this country since the 60’s and always have something negetive about American cars. Keep our dollars in this country and tou will see better products. Send it overseas and you will see what you get for a cheap price.
I would buy an American car….if they wern’t such huge pieces of crap. I have gone through 3 Ford’s and a Chevy. They all sucked! The gear shifter on my 87 Ranger kept on popping out of the socket everytime I went into 3rd gear. Still under warrenty, I took it into the dealer and they said they fixed it but the third month into it, the shifter started getting loose again. Finaly one day it just popped out of the socket and left me stuck in 2nd gear.
Fords are the biggenst pile of junk on the road and I’ll never buy one again.
My wife and I have 2 Toyota’s and just bought a 07 Honda Civic this weekend. My Tacoma has just over 215,000 miles on it and still runs as strong as the day I took it off the show room floor. Our Accord has 165,000 miles and still going strong. No major problems or shop time at all.
I don’t get it, we can build a space shuttle but we can’t make a car worth a sh*t.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Toyota makes the best foreign car out there, but are they really better. I know someone that loves their toyota and says it’s run great and it’s the best car, blah blah blah. Well the funny thing is, he put a new transmission in it, outside of warranty. Been in the shop a couple of times for problems. I own a Honda Civic. Motor runs descent but the rest of it is junk. $400 for the power window, $400 for the power door locks, $250 for the oil pan leaking, $100 for upper motor mount, back door lock still needs repair, timing belt is due, should I go on…? Owned Nissans, motor problems in truck, major rattles in both, especially the Armada. Transmission lines have leaked twice on Armada and never took it off road, back window defrost broke, brake problems due to rotors for over a year until they recalled them, radio recall, third brake light stopped working. Seen other Armada’s on the road and their’s don’t work either. Bought a GMC truck. Owned over a year now. Great truck!! I might take it by the shop just so it knows what one looks like. LOL So when people say Foreign is better, asked what they’ve had repaired. A transmission is pretty expensive and I’ve known Honda Van owners that have had new transmissions put in. I do agree with the one poster that said, they were good before American’s put them together. Out of all the foreign vehicles I’ve owned, the only one without a problem was the Japanese based Honda. So buy American unless you find that diamond in the ruff Japanese built one. Look for the J in the VIN.
AS if there is enough people paying attention at State Farm to make this statement. Artical would be more convincing if it read. “State Farm pulls letter previously sent to warn of US Gov. of…. Yep just want some free press and try to get good will. Bunch of Kooks!
Baxter – damn man, were you thrashing your vehicles into the ground? Up keep and oil/transmission oil changes???
I’ve never had any issues with the japanese cars that I’ve owned. Just regular wear and tear. I’ve bounced my Tacoma 4X4 all over the hills and mud boggs and never have had an issue with anything breaking on me.
For years the BIG 3 made hunks of junk. I remember seeing rusty cars at dealerships. When more and more people started buying Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc., the BIG 3 came to realize they need to improve thier product b/c consumers have options now. I prefer to buy American, but in the end, all I want is a car that’s reliable
If they thought it was so important, why wait two years to say we told you so and the gov’t did nothing? Get real Kip, everyone is tired of State Farm’s BS
Allan, I change the oil every 3,000 miles and get all my work done at the dealership as they know the cars best. Oh, on my civic the check engine light is on 90% of the time. They think it’s something with a sensor in the gas tank area, so if I want them to pull the exhaust, gas tank and tear it apart to replace the sensors, I can fork out more hundreds of dollars. I take very good care of my cars. Actually when people would see my 2000 Civic they thought it was brand new, well until recently now that the paint is fading badly (garaged park and covered at work).
I’m surprised that State Farm coming out with this information can receive so much negative response from those supposedly in the industry. Do any of you think that any company (State Farm or otherwise) who had this information would not put out a release in this situation? For those that think it should have been released in 2007 at the time of the letter, that is not their job. It is the job of the NTHSA among others.
I’m glad all the agents that State Farm has OWNED, have found a forum to cry together in. I encourage all of you to call 1-800-I-GOT-OWNED-BY-STATEFARM, when your respective companies go under. A telephone operator will be standing by to assist you in finding a position with our company. Because, like a good neighbor, state farm is there.
BHO and his Chicago crime buddies are putting squeeze on Toyo, trying to boost GM and Chrysler sales and futher support the unions thugs they owe their political lives to.
Um, Trucker – there are other car companies besides GM, Ford or Chrysler brands. So, it’s no gurantee that if this conspiracy theory of yours were true, that people would be buying US.
Bill, in Texas it is all carrier’s responsibility to report loss trends on any vehicle. The rating symbols for comprehensive and collision are set by the TDI and they want to know about any data on any vehicle that would effect the loss statistics on it. If that vehicle’s problems can be isolated to a particular portion of the VIN for identification purposes then, it can be assigned a higher priced rating symbol.
They could not confirm how serious the issue really was – because State Farm only sold $50,000 Bodily Injury and $10,000 property damage limits to all of those clients that were in accidents.
I don’t see how that would matter. If they have collision coverage on the car, they’d be able to see a trend pretty easily. Liability covers the property damage and injury caused by the runaway car.
News outlets are reporting that the southwest toyota group pulled all their ad dollars from ABC and gave them to a competitor on the same time slots. This was to punish ABC for covering the brake and gas pedal recalls. I guess they don’t like people talking about 8 million cars being recalled.
I agree with a number of you guys in that State Farm just wants some free press. State Farm would have put this in the press in 2007 if they really did show a statistical trend.
Teddy, yes we should buy American made – which means ‘Made in the USA’ by any company that wants to invest in plants and hire Americans to build their product. Toyota and Honda probably invest more money and create more jobs for Americans in the US than the Big 3. My sister’s Yukon and my parents Mercury Grand Marquis were made in Canada, my Chrysler was made in Mexico with a Mitsubishi engine, transmission and electrical system and my nephew’s Chevy was made in Mexico. My Mercury Villager was made at the Nissan plant in Smyrna, Tennessee my ladyfriends Toyota, my neighbor’s Toyota truck and my best friends Honda are all made in the US. Toyota even subcontracts most of their engine blocks and transmission casings to the GM plants in Alabama and Mississppi. You buy a Big3 vehicle and they close a US plant and use their profits to build a plant overseas. You buy a Toyota or Honda and they invest the profit in the US to hire more Americans. So think about what you mean when you say buy American. However, GM and Ford seem to be waking up the fact that they must invest more of their money back in the US.
This really should come as no surprise. We’ve watched all of these auto companies do the same thing, find a problem and wait until it becomes a BIG problem to do anything about it.
In order for SF to identify this trend in 2007, they would habe to have data from prior year models. I thought this recall was for the 2009-2010 models.
… was able to determine the problem much sooner than the bureaucrats.
Boo Hoo State Farm……………..Take a Hike.
I know someone who bought a new 2006 Toyota she got rid of after one year because of this issue. Dealer couldn’t fix problem.
If Hartwig’s organization is using State Farm’s policy count to determine market share, they then are way off.
Where everyone else but Farmers writes up to four vehicles on a policy, State Farm (and Farmers) write a separate policy for each vehicle they insurance.
This article is an obvious press release by State Farm to puff themselves up to the public.
The question that needs asking is why hasn’t Sate Farm made these allegations public through some other channel, or why haven’t they formed a policy within their own organization regarding Toyota? The answer is because it is Bee Ess.
Just another opportunity for the “McDonald’s” of the insurance world to swing their weight around and get free press in the process.
Buy American
I tried, but the only cars made in America are Japanese. LOL
Last American car I owned was in the shop more than it was on the road. It had a faulty everything from air conditioning to computers to water pumps. All that under 50,000 miles. State Farm can use all the good press they can get so I can’t blame them for trying to get it. Still think they stink.
I hear so many Japanese car owners whine that they had big problems with the last American car they owned in the 1980’s.
I wonder if any of them will go back to American cars now and not consider buying another Japanese brand until the 2020’s because of all of the problems with their Toyota.
IMHO, virtually all cars available today are well built and durable (yes even Chryslers). Since even the bullet proof Toyotas are not infallible, why not give our American car companies another chance?
Toyota didn’t pull their ads because of anything ABC or any other network did. They pulled their ads because they didn’t want their ads to solicit more negative talk, thus wasting millions of dollars when they would be better spent when all of the day’s top stories are off on to something else.
Hey, Dad. Check your figures again. By either policy count or premium volume, State Farm has 18 to 20% national auto ins market share. And not “everyone” writes multi-car policies. Your own “Puffery” is showing. Hartwig is correct in that SF is probably the only auto or homeowner carrier to have credible nationwide data. I am surprised to hear SF make a public statement on this. They usually are mum on public controversies. Odd.
Full disclosure, I worked 40+ years for one of SF’s competitors. I have no love lost for big red!! They are a worthy competitor however.
Many, if not most, “Japanese” vehicles are now made in the US. One of my Japanese cars was made in the US about 5 years ago. My other Japanese vehicle was made in Japan in the 90’s. The one made in Japan has twice the miles on it as the American made car and no problems. The one made in America has already had work done under recall. Maybe the problem with Toyota is that they started making their cars in America.
State Farm tracks their claims as far as what they are and cause, thats the reason their data is credible. Not to mention they have the largest market share. I’m continuously amazed by ‘insurance people’ who dont really understand their own industry. Oh and I also work for one of SFarms competitors.
I have had State Farm since 1975. I have always had all my vehicles on the same policy. Currently I have 4 vehicles insured under State Farm. Not sure what you are talking about with each vehicle having to be written under the a different policy. Not True.
Tx Lady,
You are right. I am an licensed agent. Sometimes, it is an agent of creating his/her own way. We do not write a policy for each vehicle in one housdhold for a same owner due to stackable liability issues.
TXlady and CY, they do write separate policies for each auto in certain states.
I didn’t hear anyone dispute that this announcment was a way for SF to swing their weight around the public forums,as they appear readily proud to do. (Big doesn’t necessarily mean good).
As an IA, I compete with the so-called “Big Red” every day. I match them by price, and blow away their watered-down coverage forms on a regular basis.
I would suspect you responders sticking up for SF are inside people at one of their closer competitors who employ captive agents that peddle their limited product portfolios.
I am auto agent, Texas. Brother has 2004 Prius…Also has St. Farm. exited car in driveway…car kept going slowly…jumped into vehicle…slammed on brake…car accelerated drastically into garage, crashing into other car pushing into and thru back garage…12000 covered 14000 uncovered…at the time 3 years ago, there were web articles about similar losses…St farm took under advisement..no action…so, I gather they have been collecting info…This makes sense with their desire to “take over the world” mentality…lowering standards to get production up to snuff…and still be electronically superior
I own a chrysler 300c. It is a 2006 and has only been in the shop for a leaky transmission drain plug. I get 25 miles to the gallon on the hwy, and 13 in town and it has 348 horse power. First non GM car I ever bought and still have no problems now, or in the past.
Japanese auto buyers are part of the economic problem in this country since the 60’s and always have something negetive about American cars. Keep our dollars in this country and tou will see better products. Send it overseas and you will see what you get for a cheap price.
I would buy an American car….if they wern’t such huge pieces of crap. I have gone through 3 Ford’s and a Chevy. They all sucked! The gear shifter on my 87 Ranger kept on popping out of the socket everytime I went into 3rd gear. Still under warrenty, I took it into the dealer and they said they fixed it but the third month into it, the shifter started getting loose again. Finaly one day it just popped out of the socket and left me stuck in 2nd gear.
Fords are the biggenst pile of junk on the road and I’ll never buy one again.
My wife and I have 2 Toyota’s and just bought a 07 Honda Civic this weekend. My Tacoma has just over 215,000 miles on it and still runs as strong as the day I took it off the show room floor. Our Accord has 165,000 miles and still going strong. No major problems or shop time at all.
I don’t get it, we can build a space shuttle but we can’t make a car worth a sh*t.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Toyota makes the best foreign car out there, but are they really better. I know someone that loves their toyota and says it’s run great and it’s the best car, blah blah blah. Well the funny thing is, he put a new transmission in it, outside of warranty. Been in the shop a couple of times for problems. I own a Honda Civic. Motor runs descent but the rest of it is junk. $400 for the power window, $400 for the power door locks, $250 for the oil pan leaking, $100 for upper motor mount, back door lock still needs repair, timing belt is due, should I go on…? Owned Nissans, motor problems in truck, major rattles in both, especially the Armada. Transmission lines have leaked twice on Armada and never took it off road, back window defrost broke, brake problems due to rotors for over a year until they recalled them, radio recall, third brake light stopped working. Seen other Armada’s on the road and their’s don’t work either. Bought a GMC truck. Owned over a year now. Great truck!! I might take it by the shop just so it knows what one looks like. LOL So when people say Foreign is better, asked what they’ve had repaired. A transmission is pretty expensive and I’ve known Honda Van owners that have had new transmissions put in. I do agree with the one poster that said, they were good before American’s put them together. Out of all the foreign vehicles I’ve owned, the only one without a problem was the Japanese based Honda. So buy American unless you find that diamond in the ruff Japanese built one. Look for the J in the VIN.
Makes me think twice about wanting to ride The Bullet Train when I visit Japan next year.
AS if there is enough people paying attention at State Farm to make this statement. Artical would be more convincing if it read. “State Farm pulls letter previously sent to warn of US Gov. of…. Yep just want some free press and try to get good will. Bunch of Kooks!
Baxter – damn man, were you thrashing your vehicles into the ground? Up keep and oil/transmission oil changes???
I’ve never had any issues with the japanese cars that I’ve owned. Just regular wear and tear. I’ve bounced my Tacoma 4X4 all over the hills and mud boggs and never have had an issue with anything breaking on me.
For years the BIG 3 made hunks of junk. I remember seeing rusty cars at dealerships. When more and more people started buying Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc., the BIG 3 came to realize they need to improve thier product b/c consumers have options now. I prefer to buy American, but in the end, all I want is a car that’s reliable
If they thought it was so important, why wait two years to say we told you so and the gov’t did nothing? Get real Kip, everyone is tired of State Farm’s BS
Allan, I change the oil every 3,000 miles and get all my work done at the dealership as they know the cars best. Oh, on my civic the check engine light is on 90% of the time. They think it’s something with a sensor in the gas tank area, so if I want them to pull the exhaust, gas tank and tear it apart to replace the sensors, I can fork out more hundreds of dollars. I take very good care of my cars. Actually when people would see my 2000 Civic they thought it was brand new, well until recently now that the paint is fading badly (garaged park and covered at work).
Not sure what to tell ya. Bad luck maybe?
I’m surprised that State Farm coming out with this information can receive so much negative response from those supposedly in the industry. Do any of you think that any company (State Farm or otherwise) who had this information would not put out a release in this situation? For those that think it should have been released in 2007 at the time of the letter, that is not their job. It is the job of the NTHSA among others.
I’m glad all the agents that State Farm has OWNED, have found a forum to cry together in. I encourage all of you to call 1-800-I-GOT-OWNED-BY-STATEFARM, when your respective companies go under. A telephone operator will be standing by to assist you in finding a position with our company. Because, like a good neighbor, state farm is there.
BHO and his Chicago crime buddies are putting squeeze on Toyo, trying to boost GM and Chrysler sales and futher support the unions thugs they owe their political lives to.
Um, Trucker – there are other car companies besides GM, Ford or Chrysler brands. So, it’s no gurantee that if this conspiracy theory of yours were true, that people would be buying US.
Bill, in Texas it is all carrier’s responsibility to report loss trends on any vehicle. The rating symbols for comprehensive and collision are set by the TDI and they want to know about any data on any vehicle that would effect the loss statistics on it. If that vehicle’s problems can be isolated to a particular portion of the VIN for identification purposes then, it can be assigned a higher priced rating symbol.
They could not confirm how serious the issue really was – because State Farm only sold $50,000 Bodily Injury and $10,000 property damage limits to all of those clients that were in accidents.
Crooks.
I don’t see how that would matter. If they have collision coverage on the car, they’d be able to see a trend pretty easily. Liability covers the property damage and injury caused by the runaway car.