By Jim Meachen
MotorwayAmerica Editor

(February 2010) We think Toyota's fall from grace — and sales — will be more precipitous in 2010 than most analysts predict.

We think this because Toyota's leadership continues to make mistakes, continues to cover up problems, continues to stand aloof from the rest of the industry. We think this because we feel there are more problems lurking in the future, and we don't think the sudden acceleration problem has been solved. There are electronic issues that haven't been addressed.

Just ask Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak who determined that sudden acceleration in his Prius — Prius has sudden acceleration problems? — was due to faulty electronics, not a floor mat or a sticking accelerator pedal.

Toyota's crash back to earth could be devastating for the company, especially in North America where it sells more vehicles than anywhere else on the planet.

The arrogance and aloofness was shown this week when Toyota's CEO, Akio Toyoda, decided not to testify before Congress, and instead will send junior officials. If there was one place Toyoda needed to be this year, it was in a chair sitting in front of a group of Congressmen investigating the Toyota acceleration, braking and steering problems.

Granted, looking at things realistically, the chance of your Camry experiencing sudden acceleration are probably on a par with you getting hit by a bus while crossing the street. But the point is if you are not convinced that you won't still experience sudden acceleration even after all the so-called fixes you probably aren't going to buy a Camry.

Why buy a car with a potential problem that could lead to serious injury or death, no matter if it strikes just one in 50,000? Be safe and buy a Honda, or a Ford, or a Hyundai.

Toyota has made things worse by ignoring complaints, pushing potential large problems under the rug. For example, it has supposedly addressed braking issues with the 2010 Prius. But what about the sudden acceleration issue raised by Wozniak? And what about the myriad of complaints registered over earlier-year Priuses?

Maybe Toyota thinks it can't afford to be totally honest. Maybe Toyota doesn't have a definitive answer for all the issues that are cropping up in its vehicles and simply can't admit it. The bottom line is these quality control problems started several years ago and were not addressed, and now it's too late for a band-aide fix.

Toyota's band aides may work in the short term, but they won't cover up new problems as they arise. And we predict you haven't seen or heard the last of sudden acceleration and out-of-control steering.

First, Toyota needs to come clean on every issue.

It needs to address every legitimate complaint that has arisen in the last few years openly and honestly.

Then it needs to rebuild from the ground up returning to those attributes that made it one of the most revered companies in the world.