It’s a problem when a car’s accelerator pedal sticks.
And when 40,000 Toyota-owning Brooklynites are in danger, it’s a big fat debacle.
Many of those cars were sold at Bay Ridge Toyota — the borough’s leading dealership — which is now scrambling to get its vehicles into the service shop amid an influx of calls from angry and scared customers concerned about the ongoing recall of at least seven models.
In short, it’s not a great time to be a Toyota dealer.
Dave Pisciotta, the dealership’s general sales manager, said that business is “a little quiet” right now. Sure, there’s a week-long backlog for service appointments, but few new customers entering the front door.
Those that do are greeted with big fliers on many cars reading, “Not Affected” by the recall. Dealers shook hands and smiled at customers as always, playing a part in regaining customers’ trust and conveying the “mom and pop” image of the family-owned dealership.
“We all have families and children, and we don’t want our customers to get hurt,” Pisciotta said. “Toyota has been making cold calls, sending e-mails and holding meetings to try and get everyone informed.”
The public relations campaign doesn’t stop with smiling faces either. The dealer’s Web site offers a public apology from the president of the company, ways to schedule appointments and details on the recall.
But with every manufacturer’s gargantuan error comes backlash for local dealerships like this one. Pisciotta doesn’t take kindly to General Motors advertisements offering deals to buy up leases on Toyotas and special finance options.
“It’s a cheap shot!” he said, referring to the Manhattan-based Potamkin General Motors dealership that offers $1,000 cash back in an advertisement on Toyota leases toward one of its own vehicles. “Coming from a company that three months ago was bankrupt.”
Pisciotta promised to book a free service appointment for every victim, but the process isn’t a picnic. Twelve-year-old Anthony Yuan and his mother (who wished not to be named) waited four hours last Thursday to have the pedals on their new RAV4 fixed, just two weeks after they bought it.
“I’m scared for my safety,” the mom said. “The service appointment wasn’t as quick as they said it would be, but I don’t care. I just want me and my son to be safe.”
Pisciotta agreed. In the end, he said that the recall will be just a hiccup if Toyota handles it well.
“Toyota has more money than God,” he said.
