Owners of Toyota Cars in Rebellion Over Accidents Caused by Sudden acceleration.

[HemiEd]

Owners of Toyota Cars in Rebellion Over Series of Accidents Caused by Sudden Acceleration


Anyone else been following this story? They had a pretty graphic show on nightline about it last night.


http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Runawa...ory?id=8980479

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."


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Department of Transportation: underlying defect causes accelerators to stick.

More PhotosSafety 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.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OF THE RUNAWAY TOYOTAS STORY.

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

Watch the full report tonight on 'World News with Charles Gibson' and 'Nightline'.

"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.

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2...at-recall.html

[Pushead2]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Close, very close.

[JD10367]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

yeah, and it is a Japanese designed part, that they had built by an American company.

OMG!!11! So it's not only a sneak attack, it's a SLEEPER CELL version of it!!! Dammit!!

[whoaskew]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Glad you and your girlfriend were not hurt. Did anyone give you the floor mat BS?

No, I didn't hear anyone blaming the floor mats. Hell, I hired a lawyer immediately after and haven't even heard from him since November.

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Have you read this whole thread? I would be interested in your take on some of the comments in here, since you actually have experience with this issue.

Well, people keep posting what they would have done in the situation, but the truth is, noone knows until they are in it. It is easy to say "just throw it in neutral" when you are sitting in your computer chair, but the fact of the matter is that when you hit your brakes, you expect the car to stop. By the time you realize the brakes aren't slowing you down, it is already too late.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by whoaskew

No, I didn't hear anyone blaming the floor mats. Hell, I hired a lawyer immediately after and haven't even heard from him since November.




Well, people keep posting what they would have done in the situation, but the truth is, noone knows until they are in it. It is easy to say "just throw it in neutral" when you are sitting in your computer chair, but the fact of the matter is that when you hit your brakes, you expect the car to stop. By the time you realize the brakes aren't slowing you down, it is already too late.

Hmmm....interesting. That's the drum I've been beating through this whole thread, I know there's been at least a couple people who insisted the brakes would be able to overpower the engine.

[007]

Originally Posted by mmaddog

Most of my neighbors all work for Toyota here in Georgetown...what most of them are saying is to take it to your dealership and have them look at it. Not sure how good your relationship is with the dealer you purchased the car from. but make an appointment with them. (I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to sell you on a model that isn't being recalled)

Have you seen an indication of problems with the car?

mmaddog
*******

Not a one. I have been very happy with it.

[007]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Hmmm....interesting. That's the drum I've been beating through this whole thread, I know there's been at least a couple people who insisted the brakes would be able to overpower the engine.

That is where it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. You would make them smoke for certain but I would think you would be able get stopped and shut off the car.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Guru

That is where it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. You would make them smoke for certain but I would think you would be able get stopped and shut off the car.

Once hydraulic fluid reaches a certain temperature, it fails. And it doesn't take as long as you think it would with the kind of friction we're talking about here. It may vary depending on the amount of power the car has and the speed you're traveling at as well, but from the pics of whoaskew's incident it doesn't appear that he was going very fast.

[whoaskew]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Hmmm....interesting. That's the drum I've been beating through this whole thread, I know there's been at least a couple people who insisted the brakes would be able to overpower the engine.

I agree with you and I think everyone else is missing the proverbial "elephant in the room." In real life we are not all "professional drivers on a closed track" like the disclaimer says at the bottom of every car commercial.

Give me an infinitely long road, and I am sure the brakes would eventually slow the engine down, or I'll run out of gas, or something else will happen to make the car eventually stop.

In the real world, there is an unlimited supply of idiot drivers in front, behind, and besides you, as well as some more in the oncoming lane. There are also street poles, parked cars, and in my particular case brick buildings that would put a quick end to any engine and brakes tug-o-war experiments.

[Pushead2]

Originally Posted by whoaskew

I agree with you and I think everyone else is missing the proverbial "elephant in the room." In real life we are not all "professional drivers on a closed track" like the disclaimer says at the bottom of every car commercial.

Give me an infinitely long road, and I am sure the brakes would eventually slow the engine down, or I'll run out of gas, or something else will happen to make the car eventually stop.

In the real world, there is an unlimited supply of idiot drivers in front, behind, and besides you, as well as some more in the oncoming lane. There are also street poles, parked cars, and in my particular case brick buildings that would put a quick end to any engine and brakes tug-o-war experiments.

this

[ILWarpaint]

Originally Posted by Brock

Really, all of this is just simple-minded, irrational hatred for superior products, brought on by unjustified feelings of loyalty toward dying, deadhead companies. Dead from the neck up. All it really elicits from me at this point is a chuckle.

Where's Brock?

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by ILWarpaint

Where's Brock?

He washed his hands of this issue, since he is so very wrong.

They had an interview with the biggest Toyota dealer in Chicago last night. He said he did not have a single customer shop his place yesterday. Wow, that has got to hurt.

[ILWarpaint]

Yeah, that has to hurt. This can actually affect ALL car dealers (new and used).

Regardless of whether you are a Toyota dealer, if you have any of the recalled vehicles in your sale inventory, IADA urges you not to sell them until we are able to provide further guidance. The federal law does not specifically prohibit the sale of used vehicles subject to a recall as it does for new vehicles. However, sale of a vehicle with the knowledge that it was subject to a recall could expose you to significant liability. If the vehicle is involved in a collision, you could be sued for negligence for selling a vehicle that you knew, or should have known, was subject to recall.

[vailpass]

Got this e-mail from Budget today:

Yesterday Budget announced that it was removing all of the vehicles identified for recall by Toyota from its corporate fleet in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. This step was taken to protect the safety of our customers, which is always our top priority.

It is important to note that the safety problems that have led to Toyota’s recall of certain vehicles are believed to arise out of usage over time. Accordingly, we believe that all of the Toyota vehicles in our fleet are safe, given the regular maintenance and the low mileage of our overall fleet.

We also want to reassure you that the affected Toyotas represent only a small percentage of our overall fleet, so we expect to be able to fulfill all projected demand and you can continue to make reservations with complete confidence for any rental occasion. Our fleet strategy emphasizes diversity so that we are able to respond to the full range of vehicle rental needs of our customers, as well as to reduce our risk from any issues arising out of any individual manufacturer.

We further want to emphasize that only certain Toyota makes and models, in addition to the Pontiac Vibe, are affected by the recall. Those Toyota vehicles that are not affected will continue to be offered for rental; however, if you are uncomfortable driving a Toyota vehicle, we will make every effort to offer you an alternative vehicle if one is available.

Our commitment to customer safety is also behind our decision to offer what we believe is the youngest and lowest-mileage fleet in the vehicle rental industry. Whether you place as high a premium on safety as we do, or whether you just like driving new cars, either way Budget continues to be your best car rental choice.

Thank you for continuing to choose Budget for your vehicle rental needs.

Sincerely,


Thomas M. Gartland
Executive Vice President

[ILWarpaint]

"however, if you are uncomfortable driving a Toyota vehicle, we will make every effort to offer you an alternative vehicle if one is available."

:^)

[Bill Lundberg]

How not to return your Toyota:

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/83184417.html

Man’s truck strikes BR Toyota dealership

• By KATIE KENNEDY
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Jan 31, 2010

A man who attempted to return his recalled Toyota pickup truck to All Star Toyota on Airline Highway on Saturday crashed into the dealership building when his allegedly faulty accelerator stuck, the Baton Rouge Police Department reported.
The crash caused extensive damage to the truck involved, but no major injuries were reported, said Lt. Todd G. Lee Sr., chief of administrative services for the Police Department.
Mikel Valviva sought to return his truck to the dealership at 9150 Airline Highway, saying he no longer wanted it because of the recall on the accelerator, Lee said.
The dealership’s manager, Joe Costanza, offered to repair Valviva’s truck and loan him a car in the meantime, Lee said.
Matt McKay, owner of the All Star Automotive Group, said Costanza explained to Valviva on three separate occasions on Saturday that the dealership could not refund his money for the truck.
McKay said the process during the recall requires dealerships to provide a loaner car while the recalled vehicle is repaired.
Valviva refused the offers and tried to leave the dealership, but his gas pedal stuck, Lee said. The truck accelerated forward, striking the building, Lee said.
EMS personnel treated Valviva and his passenger for minor injuries on scene, Lee said.
McKay said a cosmetic column on the building received only minor damage.
Costanza confirmed Valviva’s truck is one of the models included in the recall, Lee said.
The investigating officer found no evidence the incident was intentional, Lee said.
“He didn’t have enough evidence to say that definitively,” Lee said.
McKay said he had “no comment” when asked if he believed the incident was accidental.
This is the first report of an accident caused by a faulty accelerator on a Toyota in the Greater Baton Rouge area, Lee said.
McKay said Valviva bought the truck in March 2009, and he had “no previous complaints or issues with the gas pedal.”
Attempts by The Advocate to reach Valviva on Saturday afternoon were unsuccessful.
Toyota Motor Co. said Tuesday it was suspending the sale of eight models and recalling more than 2 million cars because the gas pedals could become harder to press, slower to spring back or stuck.
Sean Kane, director of Safety Research and Strategies, a consumer group that conducts research into motor vehicle safety issues, said his firm has identified 2,274 incidents of sudden unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles leading to at least 275 crashes and 18 deaths since 1999, the Associated Press reported.