Arthur Wheaton, an expert on the automotive industry and senior extension associate at Cornell University’s ILR School, comments on the potential impact of Toyota’s most recent recall of 2.8 million cars.

He says: “The Toyota recall of 2.8 million cars worldwide is another example of the complexity facing automakers. While Toyota has a good reputation for quality, nearly all automakers face recalls.

“The 670,000 Toyota Prius recalls will have some impact on Toyota’s reputation but it will not be significant. The timing may be fortunate for U.S. domestic manufacturers as Ford launches the C-Max as a direct competitor to the Prius. The National Highway Transportation Safety Board tries to hold automakers to a high standard for passenger and driver safety. The recalls do not impact every vehicle but they do keep automakers accountable for building higher quality and safer vehicles.”