"In related news, Toyota admitted today that the rampant-acceleration problem is connected to the electronic accelerator control system. Apparently they have discovered that radio interference is causing the problem. Listening to a heavy-metal station will cause the car to accelerate out of control, and the suggested fix is to immediately tune to an easy-listening station, which will slow the car..."

Wow....scary shit....

http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2010-03...by-chp-another

Runaway Toyota Prius stopped on I-8 by CHP patrol car

Read more: http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2010-03...#ixzz0hdE0tzYv


A Toyota Prius, which was apparently speeding out of control due to a stuck accelerator, had to be slowed and stopped by a California Highway Patrol vehicle Monday, according to a CHP officer spokersperson.

The car, which was traveling eastbound on Interstate 8, was reportedly stopped by the patrol car, which drove in front of the runaway hybrid and engaged its brakes. The CHP was in communication with the male driver, who is traveling at about 90 miles per hour eastbound on I-8.

Radio traffic indicated the driver was unable to turn off the engine or shift the car into neutral.

The CHP considered using a spike strip to help slow the car, but was concerned it would cause the driver to lose control and crash. The car was finally stopped successfully near Descanso without injury.

U.S. transport regulators have linked 52 deaths to crashes allegedly caused by sudden, unintended acceleration in Toyota cars.

Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. said Thursday it was following up information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that Toyota drivers have experienced unintended acceleration even after receiving the repair involved in the accelerator pedal recall.

The NHTSA has received more than 60 complaints from Toyota drivers who say their cars have sped up by themselves after being fixed to correct the problem. Toyota said most of these reports have yet to be verified but it is committed to investigating them.

An executive vice president, Takeshi Uchiyamada, said the Toyota brand was in “a serious crisis,” acknowledging the company must improve monitoring of consumer complaints and respond more quickly during crises.

Toyota has been widely criticized, especially in the U.S., where most of the recalls have happened, as slow and unresponsive, and doubts are growing it may not be transparent or forthright about defects.

“The path to regaining trust remains tremendously difficult,” Uchiyamada said. “But I would like to work with all of you.”

Toyota’s recalls have received widespread media attention in Japan, but loyalty to the company remains relatively strong.

The only models being recalled in Japan are hybrids, including the popular Prius, the nation’s top-selling car for 10 straight months, which is being repaired for an anti-lock braking glitch.

But Toyoda has repeatedly said the company’s rapid growth abroad may have gotten in the way of maintaining the highest standards of quality control.

Tearful and his voice catching with emotion, Toyoda thanked workers for their support and promised that Toyota would rise again if the ranks stood together.

“I thought I was protecting everyone, but I realized I had merely been protected by everyone,” he said.

Mitsuru Kawai, 62, a plant worker for more than 40 years, said Toyota will pull through the crisis, although he has never seen anything quite like it before.

“We went through the oil shock, the burst of the ‘bubble’ economy, and we’ve had recalls. But we’ve gone through all those hardships,” he said. “Overcoming all that has helped make Japan stronger, and I am going to keep working.”

Read more: http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2010-03...#ixzz0hdE3BvEh

I honestly want to get rid of my Toyota now. I've had enough of my local dealership telling me my car doesn't qualify for the recall and then checking the VIN on Toyota's site and them saying it does.

I wish I had options now. Mother ****ers.

You can always sue somebody.

I don't understand how that is possible.

I think they are just saying that the chatter over the police radios was this.

Oh I get that part of it, what I don't understand is this 'was unable to turn off the engine or shift the car into neutral' business. Either the driver didn't know how (which is inconceivable) -or- the car wouldn't let him/her do it (which is also inconceivable). WTF is going on here?

"There is nothing wrong with Toyotas!"

http://activerain.com/image_store/up...7154278664.jpg

I don't care what kind of computer is controlling the accelerator, but there's not a chance in hell it could override turning the ignition to off or not allow it to shift to neutral.

Although there have also been issues about the ignition, since a lot of cars now use the "bushbutton-start" and many people don't even know how to shut the car off in an emergency.

Give me a key ignition and a friggin' accelerator with a rod through the floor any day.

Toyota is full of crap. They tried to say it was just because of the floor mats at first. Come to find out, that is a load of crap.

http://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/..._Incidents.png

Nuff said.

What the **** does that prove dumbass? Nothing, nothing at all.

I think it says more about older drivers than Toyotas.

From what I have read even putting the car in Neutral does help as it is the computer glitching..