Toyotas Suddenly Accelerate; Owners Up In Arms

[UCF w00t]

And the saga continues. Slashdot actually picked this one up...

Refusing to accept the explanation of Toyota and the federal government, hundreds of Toyota owners are in rebellion after a series of accidents caused by what they call "runaway cars."

Safety analysts found an estimated 2000 cases in which owners of Toyota cars including Camry, Prius and Lexus, reported that their cars surged without warning up to speeds of 100 miles per hour.

Toyota says the incidents are caused by floor mats becoming stuck under gas pedals, but owners say that's not what happened to them.

"I'm absolutely certain that in my situation, it was not the floor mats," Elizabeth James told ABC News. She was driving her Toyota Prius outside Denver, CO when she says it suddenly shot up to 90 miles an hour, even though her foot was on the brake and not the gas pedal.

"I kept going faster and faster," James said. "And all of a sudden& my foot was pressing on the brake super, super hard and I wasn't slowing down."

James and some other Toyota owners suspect the accidents have been caused by some kind of glitch in the electronic computer system used in Toyotas that controls the throttle.



Toyota officials refused to talk with ABC News about the incidents, but posted a statement from executive Bob Daly on its website last night that said: "Some news reports suggest there may be other causes of unintended acceleration, speculating about electronic engine control systems, braking performance or electro-magnetic interference among other theories. There is no evidence to support these theories."

http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=8980479

And there could be a double meaning with the title that I just noticed, hah.

[Xanthos]

With DBW, there are a lot more things that control your throttle than the gas pedal. And Toyota's response is absolutely typical. "There's no evidence. Have a nice day."

Could have at least given a "we'll look into it."
- X

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by Xanthos

With DBW, there are a lot more things that control your throttle than the gas pedal. And Toyota's response is absolutely typical. "There's no evidence. Have a nice day."

Could have at least given a "we'll look into it."
- X

Yep.. instead we get:

F**K JOO DORPHIN F**K JOO WAIRUU~!

[Chronomaro]

I've known that it wasn't the floor mats since last year. Toyota has no idea and if they don't start taking it seriously, they'll be worse off than GM was(already might be with trends in Japan).

If it weren't for me being sensitive about those who lost friends and family members, I say it'd make a great Chevy ad since they are constantly comparing themselves to Toyota now. "Our cars don't try to kill you" or "Fully functional floor mats" maybe.

[tones2SS]

That's funny.
All these people that are up in arms!! These are probably the same people that thought "American" cars were crap!!?!?
How's that recall treating ya?!?! lol lol lol

[67 Convertible]

I thought the car mat excuse sounded a little shady, it's happened to often.
If your car started surging and going faster and faster, wouldn't you just throw it into neutral and brake? I wouldn't recommend shuting it off, you'd lose power steeing and brakes, but am I missing something? Your gonna let your car go 100 mph and plow into a person, another car, or a bridge abutment? I'd throw it into neutral, brake and let the engine blow before I killed myself or someone else. Maybe it's just me, or I don't fully understand the problem.

[Xanthos]

Originally Posted by 67 Convertible

I thought the car mat excuse sounded a little shady, it's happened to often.
If your car started surging and going faster and faster, wouldn't you just throw it into neutral and brake? I wouldn't recommend shuting it off, you'd lose power steeing and brakes, but am I missing something? Your gonna let your car go 100 mph and plow into a person, another car, or a bridge abutment? I'd throw it into neutral, brake and let the engine blow before I killed myself or someone else. Maybe it's just me, or I don't fully understand the problem.

A lot of people do not know that you can place an automatic transmission car in neutral while it is in motion. In fact, last winter at one of our guard drills we had a "winter driving safety" lecture (stupid, but manditory) and I added that if you start sliding, placing the car in neutral can help regain traction. Everybody was convinced that it would only work on a manual transmission - I guess they didn't learn and practice quickly throwing the car in neutral in drivers ed like I did.
- X

[Revo1]

Toyota driver:

"WHAAAAAT?? My car *shudder* A-A-A-ACCELERATES??? I'm scared, hold me..."

[a_Username]

Originally Posted by 67 Convertible

I thought the car mat excuse sounded a little shady, it's happened to often.
If your car started surging and going faster and faster, wouldn't you just throw it into neutral and brake? I wouldn't recommend shuting it off, you'd lose power steeing and brakes, but am I missing something? Your gonna let your car go 100 mph and plow into a person, another car, or a bridge abutment? I'd throw it into neutral, brake and let the engine blow before I killed myself or someone else. Maybe it's just me, or I don't fully understand the problem.

... You don't understand why people don't throw it into neutral or why people are making fuss about a car that could potentially kill you and many others?

[Supermans]

Originally Posted by a_Username

... You don't understand why people don't throw it into neutral or why people are making fuss about a car that could potentially kill you and many others?

If the Prius's electronic system is causing the problem, remember that neutral is controlled by the same electronic system...That is why hitting the brake would not work either.. Also I don't think the key can be turned without placing the car in park as well.. SOmething to think about when the car suddenly starts to hit 90-120 uncontrollably. The only thing they can do if none of th eabove works that will slow it down is pull up the parking brake however that could cause a serious accident as well.

[67 Convertible]

Originally Posted by a_Username

... You don't understand why people don't throw it into neutral or why people are making fuss about a car that could potentially kill you and many others?

I didn't say that I don't understand why people are making a fuss (where did you get that from?). This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.

What I did say was that if my car suddendly surged and was going faster and faster and I can't stop it, I would put it into neutral and brake to avoid getting killed.

[a_Username]

Originally Posted by 67 Convertible

I didn't say that I don't understand why people are making a fuss (where did you get that from?). This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.

What I did say was that if my car suddendly surged and was going faster and faster and I can't stop it, I would put it into neutral and brake to avoid getting killed.

Oh ok. But the way it looks you meant like "Those guys are idiots. They should just throw it in neutral to get it to stop." You made it sound like that is a normal thing to do lol.

[a_Username]

Originally Posted by Supermans

If the Prius's electronic system is causing the problem, remember that neutral is controlled by the same electronic system...That is why hitting the brake would not work either.. Also I don't think the key can be turned without placing the car in park as well.. SOmething to think about when the car suddenly starts to hit 90-120 uncontrollably.

Well neutral would prevent any further increase in MPH. You'd still rev it up like crazy, which would most likely blow the engine. It seems the computer can differentiate between gears, it just doesn't know how much throttle is too much.

[67 Convertible]

Originally Posted by a_Username

Oh ok. But the way it looks you meant like "Those guys are idiots. They should just throw it in neutral to get it to stop." You made it sound like that is a normal thing to do lol.

Nope not calling anyone idiots....Just sayin if my car kept accelerating and I couldn't prevent that, I would try anything (like putting it in neutral to prevent increasing speeds) rather than hit something at 100 mph.

Originally Posted by a_Username

Well neutral would prevent any further increase in MPH. You'd still rev it up like crazy, which would most likely blow the engine. It seems the computer can differentiate between gears, it just doesn't know how much throttle is too much.

Exactly my point, and I'd rather blow the engine (which I stated) than get killed or kill someone.