Toyota Probe: Automaker's Electronics Didn't Cause Acceleration Problems

[PBS Poll-435]

First Posted: 02/ 8/11 03:35 PM Updated: 02/ 8/11 03:50 PM
The AOL Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/08/toyota-probe-electronic_n_820364.html

WASHINGTON (By John Crawley and David Lawder) - A government investigation showed no link between electronic throttles and unintended acceleration in Toyota Motor Corp vehicles, a victory for the world's top automaker battered by recalls over runaway vehicles.

Some safety advocates and congressional investigators questioned whether software-driven throttles also played a role in unintended acceleration complaints.

"There is no electronic-based cause for unintended high-speed acceleration in Toyotas," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.

Toyota, which has put electronically controlled throttles in its vehicles since 2002, has consistently said those systems were safe.

[dkofos]

1. It's fucking magic, it just happens. Hope you don't die or kill someone else.

[Godhumor]

2. I think it more of "this particular invented cause wasn't actually an issue"

Not an "Ooh, nothing went wrong, you're imagining things."

[Tesha]

3. No, it's not "fucking magic".

It was a combination of:

o Floor mats

o Sticky throttle pedals

o Driver errors of various sorts

Tesha

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. When the chatter went silent on this, I tended to think this would be the end result

I teach in the field and watching some of the pundits here and elsewhere was truly amusing.

[Tesha]

6. Mr. Tesha writes life-critical embedded and realtime software for a living...

...so as the story was developing, we discussed this
at great length. ;)

I will, however, add one more item to my list that
I forgot earlier:

o The very poor human factors associated with
some of the Toyota automatic transmission
shift-gates, making it much tougher than it
needed to be to "quickly find neutral".

Tesha

[PBS Poll-435]

8. My opinion on the "story" changed when I heard that cosmic rays might be to blame

:P

[WinkyDink]

4. As an owner of two Toyotas, I admit to past fears. But isn't it interesting how these stories just..

...stopped?

[customerserviceguy]

7. It's created a buying opportunity

There are leftover Priuses from 2010 that Toyota is giving $1,000 rebates on. They won't be doing that when gasoline is $5-6 a gallon later this year.

[Imagevision]

9. Toyota did pay out 12 million+ for that sighway patrol officer who killed himself and family...

[PBS Poll-435]

10. Double stacked "all weather" floormats

To keep the Lexus nice and clean. Dealer bought insurance through the LCCS program and leased the car that way too.

That is why TMS had liablility, even though the dealer should not have done what they did.

[Imagevision]

11. Toyota got a pas from Obama remembering how this story seemed to fade as people kept dieing

[PBS Poll-435]

12. Super Confused

The Obama Administration (aka Sec. LaHood) initially said it was unsafe to drive Toyotas.

Then they corrected that while still insisting there was a problem (hinting at electronics).

Now they have completed a 180 degree reversal.


Just so confused!

[dionysus]

16. i knew someone would blame it on obama somehow...

:rofl:

[PBS Poll-435]

17. And it is just spelled so pretty-like!

:hi:

[Union Scribe]

13. Well...good luck, then.

[mod mom]

14. NPR reported they only tested 9 cars when 1/100,000 were having the problem.

They said it was inadequate testing.

[peekaloo]

15. Curious

My sister owns a Toyota that experienced the opposite effect(which happened just as this story was surfacing), car wouldn't accelerate beyond 20 mph, so she takes it in to her dealer. Without hesitation they say it's the electronic brain and it needs to be replaced. She panics thinking it's going to cost a butt load but is told by the technicians not to worry, Toyota is picking up the tab.

Must have put hers in backward. :sarcasm: