What a difference a year can make, right? Toyota, a company that was once considered the cream of the crop in the automotive world, is in the middle of potentially reputation-changing dilemma. The company even claimed the world’s largest car manufacturer position in 2008, largely due to the equivalence of the Toyota brand with high quality and dependability.

Fast forward two years and the company’s brand name hold a different position. Will Toyota’s current problems with defective gas pedals on a number of Toyota and Lexus models and malfunctioning breaks on the newest Prius model forever tarnish the company’s reputation?

Comments, though later retracted, from U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood have not helped Toyota’s brand situation. The company has been under the microscope with what is known, what has been hidden and what other problems may arise. And what about upcoming lawsuits? Future manufacturing problems?

I think it is safe to say that Toyota is far from being out of the woods, but do you think the company is doing enough to save its position as a reputable, reliable auto maker? How could they better communicate and reassure their publics?

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