Comments on: Toyota Gets Accelerator Recall Right

By: Jason

Jason — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:36:41 +0000

Chris – You’re saying a 92 year old woman couldn’t respond in time, and therefore the car is at fault? Any chance that the woman had no business driving a car in the first place? (That’s my vote.)

By: chris

chris — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:41:28 +0000

I love all the collective denial posted above, I love my Tundra too and it’s apparently a no brainer to shift to neutral and turn the car off in case of a problem except I also know a 92 year old woman who just had a smash-up in her corolla because the electronic throttle control floored the car and she didn’t have time to do anything but hit the car in front of her and a pedestrian……

Feb. 12 (Bloomberg) — Former regulators hired by Toyota Motor Corp. helped end at least four U.S. investigations of unintended acceleration by company vehicles in the last decade, warding off possible recalls, court and government records show.

By: Admin (Jason)

Admin (Jason) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:39:46 +0000

Kat – Glad everyone is OK. I think the new floormats, reshaped pedals, and (depending on the model) the brake-idle failsafe “smart throttle” enhancement will all help to prevent this type of thing from happening. In the meantime, you can pull out your driver’s floor mat or zip-tie it into place to prevent this from happening.

By: Kat

Kat — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:12:43 +0000

This happened to us. We were passing a car and the thing just gassed it.
My husband tried the brakes, nothing!!.. we were coming up on a turn going 65 mph …he put it in netural…and tired to turn the turn..we skidded off into a ditch….thank God it stopped. The first thing my husband said was: “I think the rug rode up onto the peddle”
We knew nothing about the recalls.
At that time we had just bought a new 2007 Tundra.

We have never gotten a recall slip…I’m scared to death to drive it now.

By: Admin (Jason)

Admin (Jason) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:13:15 +0000

Jeff P – That’s just it – no mechanic, no Toyota engineer, or anyone working for NHTSA has ever managed to replicate the issue. It’s NEVER happened during any of the 6 investigations. The best MIT could do was get it to malfunction when it was exposed to a strong magnetic field, but that’s a condition that can’t be replicated in the real world. It’s a strange situation.

By: Mickey

Mickey — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:12:14 +0000

Must be a slow day for some. The point is not to swerve away from the deer and end up going over the side. The buck was traveling from the median to the outside lane. All 3 deers were in the outside lane when the buck decided to turn to the inside lane and leaped where I hit him when he was coming down to his feet. I stayed in my lane period. The thing I did wrong was hit the brakes thus putting the front end down where the deer missed the bumper but found the radiator. Knowing to stay in the lane vice swerving keeping control of the situation vice not knowing to put a vehicle in neutral when it takes off. Called keeping your senses under pressure. So what you’re saying is Toyota shouldn’t use the resident expert (engineers) and use just a general doctor sort of speak (Top Mechanics). Basically a handyman to fix the job instead of a plumber. Now we know why you are a pro at hitting deer.

By: Jeff P

Jeff P — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:57:14 +0000

Trying to get people to change their oil is hard enough so do you really think that they will get the recall done. They are too busy to do the simple stuff that could be catastrophic. Ford’s recalled the same list of vehicles in the late 90’s – 2000. I bet its those people complaining about their vehicles that did not get it fixed the first time. The same thing will happen with Toyota. The owners will say it works fine so why mess with it. So why point the finger at another company? Yes there is a problem, will the people get it fixed? Could be as simple as water shorting out a computer but they will probably not be able to tell after the accident due to the rescuers. Mickey the point you hit a deer I’m sorry but I do not see the resemblance. I have hit 4 so I must be a pro right. I have yet to hit a deer and need a tow truck. Its called damage mitigation. Don’t square up on it and no sudden sharp steering wheel movement. Think of it as if it was a 1000lb + moose, hitting it squared will more than likely put it in the vehicle with you. If you have to hit it try to clip it and spin it. There’s my fathering speak of the day. I would almost bet it is a water intrusion issue with a connector or the computer is causing this throttle issue. Having MIT engineers investigate it isn’t the answer. They designed it with this flaw and didn’t see it the first time so why would they see it the second or third. Have you ever worked with a engineer? Talk about trying your patience, give it to a couple top notch mechanics and they will find it. I’m going to go and pressure wash my engine now. Good day.

By: Admin (Jason)

Admin (Jason) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:42:52 +0000

Justin – Very good point. I think that *something* is going on. Unlike the L.A. Times, I’m not ready to declare Toyota’s system faulty. While the reported incidence of unintended acceleration is higher than normal, MIT engineers tested the system and had a hard time finding how it was failing. Again, I’m not saying there isn’t an issue, but I’m wondering if there aren’t some other factors at play here. Toyota has the oldest average customer, for instance. NHTSA could have changed their reporting procedure. Publicity surrounding this issue could have encouraged Toyota owners to report problems while owners of other manufacturer’s vehicles did nothing. Etc.
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Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to brush this off. It’s just hard to point the finger at the system when there’s no evidence of a problem aside from a higher number of claims. It’s a tricky situation. If I could have anything, I would like to see an independent lab test a handful of these vehicles to see if they could replicate the error. Once that’s been done and a problem has been found, I’ll be the first one to call for a fix. Until then, I have a hard time saying the system is flawed. Frankly, it’s tough to believe that this issue isn’t 95% driver error.
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As for the Ford cruise control fires, I think Ford definitely could have handled it better. The initial evidence was circumstantial, much like Toyota’s potential throttle issue. However, NHTSA found the problem quickly enough during one of their first investigations back in 1992. Ford continued to use the parts after the 1992 recall, and I’m not sure why. I’m sure it’s a fine example of what can go wrong when there’s poor communication in a big corporation and penny-pinching in the engineering department.

By: Mickey

Mickey — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:00:36 +0000

Anonymous again you show you dragged butt. The resemblence is doing the right thing under pressure Jack! Something you apparently know nothing about. Losing control. Ready hip, hip, who cares. As far as the pedal sticking I never had the issue in both vehicles. Now add that to your count. Now go back and read it again and maybe some intelligence might just show up. Doubt it when you’re as bright as a 40 watt bulb.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:29:33 +0000

Three cheers for Mickey! Ready hip hip, who cares! Did you pedal stick? No. So where is the resemblance?