Prius unintended acceleration: Can Wozniak be wrong?
Next up, a cruise control glitch?Over the last few days I've come across a few references to some problems that Steve Wozniak, Apple Co-Founder, has had with his latest Toyota Prius. This morning I finally read a story thanks to an e-mail from reader Steve.
Wozniak claims he can easily repeat a situation in cruise control when he can make the the Prius unintentionally accelerate. Fortunately, the situation can be controlled with braking, assuming the report is true. Ultimately, in Wozniak's professional opinion, the Prius cruise control software needs an upgrade.
Despite his claims of repeatability, Wozniak was not able to convince either Toyota or the NHTSA that there is a problem. Moreover, Toyota claims it investigated Wozniak's claim - an assumption I'm making as Toyota responded that they investigate all complaints - but was not able to find any evidence of such a problem.
I don't get it. If Wozniak can repeat the issue at will, how can neither Toyota nor the NHTSA find a problem? Is Wozniak tricking the system in a way that only one of the world's most infamous software engineers would attempt? Anybody have any more details on how Wozniak can force the Prius to accelerate unintentionally while in cruise control?
Labels: toyota prius
posted by Dahcredyns at
9:03 AM
8 Comments:
From what I've seen, Wozniak brings his Prius up to 83 mph in cruise control, at which point it accelerates until you reach 97 mph.
I wonder if he's on a race track when he does this?
Yeah, maybe his local sheriff's department might want to ask him a few questions about that!
Maybe that's why Toyota doesn't take the issue seriously because you shouldn't be cruising at 83+ mph?
I suspected their might be such an angle. Thanks for the info Mike.
Let's see; 83 mph. That's about how fast you have to drive on Interstate 10 going into L.A. when traffic is light. Any slower and 18 wheelers or someone in a Hummer will be riding your bumper flashing their lights. I am not kidding - I travel this route frequently.
I think Wozniak lives near San Francisco - at least I think he might?
that's true, tom, but anytime i've ever driven the 10 in the '80's i've done so without the cruise control on.
you can definitely average 80+ on the 10 in light traffic, but you will have to change a lot of lanes regularly while hitting many slowdowns.
it's just easier in such conditions not to use cruise control, at least in my opinion.
Dahcredyns you are so right but why on earth do you take all the fun out of life. I mean at 69 years old how else do you think I get my kicks, LOL
Now for the news. I CAN NOT believe how some Senators and House members are giddy with the beating Toyota is taking. They do realize that Toyota builds products here in the states don't they? Oh that's right I forget; people in Washington are not like real Americans. Darn this makes me angry.
Tom G.
I think it's when he's in Cruise and playing the Crash Car Bandicoot app on his iPhone at the same time. Whenever he tries to overtake, his foot hits the pedal. Now he's trying to blame Toyota. Tut-tut.
Read more Zet Cars News
Wozniak does not know how to operate his Prius equipped with dynamic radar cruise control. His comments indicate the system is operating properly / the vehicle accelerates on its on BECAUSE he tried to increase the speed with his cruise control while a vehicle was within a pre-determined safe range. When that vehicle moved over, his Prius NOW accelerated to the rate he had previously set. OPERATOR ERROR / Please read the owners manual and not blame others for your lack of information
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