Toyota retains loyalists despite recalls

PRINCETON, N.J., March 2 (UPI) -- A survey of U.S. consumers found 61 percent of respondents indicated Toyota Motor Corp.'s recent recalls had not lowered their confidence in the company.

Sixty percent of respondents in the survey indicated Toyota vehicles were safe, but one in six indicated they had crossed Toyota cars off their lists of perspective vehicle purchases.

The numbers with positive views of the company are stronger among Toyota owners, 74 percent of whom indicated their confidence in the Japanese automaker had not slipped due to the recalls of October and January involving 6 million U.S. vehicles.

Eighty-two percent of Toyota owners indicated they believed Toyota's cars were safe, researchers at Gallup said Tuesday.

The survey results were based on 2,021 interviews conducted Feb. 27-28. The results include a margin of error of plus and minus 3 percentage points, Gallup said.