Sudden acceleration in Prius, other Toyota cars?
Not a hybrid problem howeverSince 2003 as many as 2000 Toyota owners have reported problems with sudden acceleration, including at least one Prius owner, reports ABC.
6 independent investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, however, have not found any problems with Toyota's vehicles that would cause sudden acceleration.
Toyota, on the other hand, speculates that a combination of driver error and loose floor mats is responsible.
Regardless, very interesting how ABC chose the Prius as the centerpiece to this story when the problem, if there is actually a problem, appears independent of Toyota's hybrid technology.
Labels: Hybrid Vehicles, toyota prius
posted by Dahcredyns at
8:23 AM
6 Comments:
I wonder how much the oil companies and other scum are lining their pockets to say these things?
that would be one angle.
still, many movies and tv shows have prius hybrids in them, as they must attract some sort of attention.
thus, using a prius on the face of this story might be the best way for ABC to draw interest, and advertising dollars.
Here is a great example of how the 'monster' is actually the news media. Its 34/7 'gotta have those ratings' is like a shark that has not eaten in 2 weeks and will do or say ANYTHING no matter how inaccurate or misleading, in order to scare the public. Fear is how the media generates over 50% of all its ratings! Studies have shown that when 'fear' is the motivating factor, viewers will watch TV MORE...listen to the nonsense that spews from Cable dare I call it 'news' ha ...
The Prius III is a wonderful car! Its not perfect but for now its darn near close to it :)
great points on fear. totally agree with the prius sentiment as well.
How could Toyota/Lexus not include this simple safety override into their "drive-by-wire" system (when the Germans certainly did.....)?! And how could any such system be officially approved and certified without it by any manufacturer?!
October 7, 2000
Smart Gas Pedals May Solve Floor-Mat Problem
By Christopher Jensen
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/07/smart-gas-pedals-may-solve-floor-mat-problem/
(excerpts):
Some automakers – primarily European — are using an unusual method to reduce the chances of unintended acceleration from something like a floor mat getting tangled up with the accelerator: smart gas pedals.
If the vehicle is moving and both the gas and brake pedal are being pushed at the same time the computer tells the engine to ignore the gas pedal.
“It is an additional safety feature,” said Thomas Plucinsky, a BMW spokesman. “The brake takes precedence.”
i largely agree, but i'm sure it has something to do with costs.
is this included on all european autos, are just the expensive ones?
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