Gary says, "The conclusion by the Santee Sheriff's dept was the over sized rubber floor mat was the cause of the accident."
Bad conclusion.
I already posted that with two men in the front seat, there was no way the floormat could have not been pulled loose by a man fearing for the death of himself, his wife, and his daughter.
The floormat was NOT stuck. I don't care what anyone says or concludes - the scenario that he could not get down there and remove that floormat from the accelerator is an impossible scenario to believe.
Just terrible. Ive jumped into so many rental cars in the past and just taken off without becoming familiar with it until Im away from the airport driving down the freeway. Never thinking at all about any dire consequences. Im going change that.
So your belief, is that it was a screwed up computer control issue? Which I can believe. That means Toyota has some serious problems to over come if you are correct. We know it was not the sticking pedal excuse as the Lexus was built in Japan with Denso not CTS throttle unit. You don't believe it is a floor mat or a throttle control device, which is what Toyota would like to have the NHTSA sign off on so they can go back to selling cars.
I may have found one problem with turning engine off - ACC position for UA incidents. . My manuel says: "If the engine should quit while driving, you can bring vehicle to a stop with normal pedal pressure. There is enough reserved vacuum for one or two stops --- BUT THAT IS ALL."
Comparing Microsoft, or even Apple's OS to the real-time engine/transaxle control firmware in a car is not even like comparing apples to oranges, more like comparing apples to elephants.
The Camry hybrid is not recalled or sales of it restricted. Toyota uses common parts to save money. That is why so many different vehicles are affected with unintended acceleration. It is hard to believe that the hybrid has a different accelerator. It does have a different computer. The hybrid computer has to change between battery and engine power and back. I believe that untended accelerationn is a result of a software glitch and not an accelerator problem. Time will tell if the fix of the pedal changes anything.
Toyoda prefers an Audi. That makes sense. They have brake over ride. In your link the Dave Letterman clip has a funny Toyota moment as well. Both great. Has Leno the car guy jumped on Toyota yet?
If turning the engine OFF is successful then you're not likely to need a vacuum replenishment. Besides which I believe the new BA, Brake Assist, will use the ABS pumpmotor brake fluid pressure reservoir/accumulator for additional braking force.
I was served up an E Class ad before the Letterman clip. All about the car automatically keeping your in you lane, automatically stopping if you get too close to the car in front, telling you to pull over if you are drowsy.
let's start here with a picture a of trapped pedal. The driver may not have known it was stuck because it was underneath. trapped pedal still think it can't happen?
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
Here is video I had found and saved of San Diego TV News Report about accident from Set 2, 2009. News station does in report indicate car was a loaner while his car was repaired. I forget which dealership mentioned that gave the loaner to them. Seems they do speak with representatiuve from that dealership for a response. Does not verify if push button ignition. Car mat issue - car mats would more than likely be left in place as dealership gave - at least my more likely guess & so therefore would hopefully assume car mats were attached to pegs for keeping/assuring mat in proper place.
Note - some of what presented I will not comment on. TV station selected. Was only video I found regarding the accident.
"Removal of the mat was difficult because the bottom edge of the accelerator pedal had melted to the upper right corner of the mat."
Also, "Upon removal of the pedal from the vehicle, the rotational motion of the pedal assembly was confirmed to still be operational. The return action was smooth and unencumbered."
NHTSA has done 6 initial investigations into UA in Toyota products and at least one more thorough investigation. While they didn't conclude anything, nor rule anything out, floor mats were they only thing they could tie the problem to. Bottom line, this is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Right now, we have too many people guessing, with the media playing it's usual role designed to attract viewers by hyping and scaring as many people as possible.
>Consumer Reports is consumer advocate. Maybe this is why. And they are well respected.
I'm with larsb on that one. Consumer Reports has been biased since Ralph Nader was on it--he's the one who ruined the US small car movement by attacking the Corvair. Remember it?
Here are a couple videos+ website taking apart both pedals Denso, CTS - regarding the Toyota pedal. Appears Sequoia only model demonstrated - but is a recall model. Have found none for other models
Below is what Toyota instructs us owners per newsroom that I cut and pasted. I did have to add numbers instead of bultets since did not copy over correctly. Forgot I had this saved. Duh moment for me . __________
What if you experience a sticking accelerator pedal while driving? Each circumstance may vary, and drivers must use their best judgment, but Toyota recommends taking the following actions:
(1) If you need to stop immediately, the vehicle can be controlled by stepping on the brake pedal with both feet using firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brake pedal as it will deplete the vacuum utilized for the power brake assist.
(2)Shift the transmission gear selector to the Neutral (N) position and use the brakes to make a controlled stop at the side of the road and turn off the engine.
(3)If unable to put the vehicle in Neutral, turn the engine OFF. This will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost.
(4)If the vehicle is equipped with an Engine Start/Stop button, firmly and steadily push the button for at least three seconds to turn off the engine. Do NOT tap the Engine Start/Stop button.
(5)If the vehicle is equipped with a conventional key-ignition, turn the ignition key to the ACC position to turn off the engine. Do NOT remove the key from the ignition as this will lock the steering wheel. _________
"Right now, we have too many people guessing, with the media playing it's usual role designed to attract viewers by hyping and scaring as many people as possible. "
he, that's what the internet is for at time of Great Recession: cheap entertainment,
Shutting off the engine would be the last thing I would do if nothing else works.
Steps to handle any sudden accelerating vehicle is number 1
GET THE CAR IN NEUTRAL.
It doesn't matter what kind of auto trans it is if you are in regular drive Neutral is just one slot up. If it is a gated shifter and you are in 4-3-2-1 or a manuamatic in the manual mode then you may have to move it to the side to get into regular drive but once in Drive neutral is just one shot up.
As soon as the car is in neutral start braking hard. Don't pump the pedal give firm solid pressure. You will still have power brakes at least for a little while but at WOT you will probably lose them rather quickly. You need to get the speed down before you lose those power brakes. Once you speed is dropping and you feel to be more in control try to pull off to the side of the road put your hazzards on too.
Once you are off to the side of the road and slowed down to a walking pace then it would be ok to turnoff the engine. You can wait to you come to a complete stop but by now you probably don't have any power brakes left so shutting the engine off at a walking pace shouldn't matter.
>Consumer Reports is consumer advocate. Maybe this is why. And they are well respected.
I just watched CR's David Champion being interviewed on the evening news, NBC I think it was, and he sounded more like a lobbyist for toyota in the way he dodged answering the question about "Are these cars safe."
He is supposed to be an advocate for the consumer and to do that he would need to answer honestly instead of dodging the question.
This is absolutely one of worst damaged vehicles I have seen in long time - so, so very tragic. Wow - I am speechless. I was very affected by this. These individuals had so many more years ahead of them. Now they are gone. If any of you bloggers are relatives please, please know I am thinking of you and my deepest sympathy is sent to you for your loss.
Thank you for passing along this report. I have saved it to my personal files as well as my bookmarks.
Oh, oh seems like CR is maybe playing politics & and corporate liability protection? Was a big loaded question, Maybe all involved could get asked this question - DHSTA, Toyota, ??? etc.
Also must apologize as I recall I got a response regarding me mentioning something about CR maybe did video dem regarding brake override because they were more consumer advocate.
Whoops - my apology - just felt video was good demonstration. Each agency, etc always has pros and cons. None of them make it easy for us to always figure out - usually some type of bias, purpose, goal etc exists.
:sick: Remarkable doesn't begin to describe what's happening to Toyota Motor Corp.
Its reputation for delivering safe, reliable, quality-engineered vehicles is in tatters. Governments from Tokyo to Washington, clearly on the muscle, are pressuring the automaker to act openly and quickly. Toyota's executives, corporate culture and dealer body, each touted by apologists for their ability to do no wrong, are struggling to manage a crisis that is expanding faster than they can keep up.
And now the Japanese juggernaut's trend-setting Prius, the gas-electric hybrid that burnished the company's green image with the Hollywood set, Silicon Valley hotshots and the coastal political elite, is under investigation on two continents for braking problems.
With so much happening so fast -- expanding recalls, new investigations, a startling mea culpafrom a top Toyota engineer, the U.S. government's aggressive posture -- the automaker is speeding toward a potentially fraught crossroads: How long have they known and why didn't they do something about it sooner?
The implications of this "sudden acceleration" morass are likely to be profound for Toyota, its corporate reputation and its standing in the global auto business. For Detroit? Huge for a town whose auto industry is just getting off its collective knees as its arch-rival appears to be getting mired ever deeper in a double-whammy of suspect credibility and dodgy quality.
Toyota management need to pass out UAW cards to all the workers in their US plants. Rush through an NLRB election and get on the Right side of the Left. The NHTSA would be much more sympathetic if it was UAW workers being laid off at those plants. :shades:
But be aware that the engine/transaxle control ECU may be "out-to-lunch" and not paying any attention to the microswitches used to tell it what gear the driver has selected. And even if the ECU issues the proper command sequence to the transaxle control solenoids the drum type clutches may not disengage given the level of torque, EXTREME TORQUE, currently applied to the clutch disc gear teeth.
For a decade or longer the perception in the USA has been that smart money bought Toyota/Lexus. I wonder how that will change with these problems and press.
The perception now is that Toyota failed to be candid and up front with customers and their serious problems.
I have been into that safey reseach site. Had noticed newspapers were quoting alot. They have some excellent articles. This type of research is always valuable to evaluate and compare. Have found others as well.
Too bad Toyota's monitoring systems are not capable to recording all errors.
NHSTA investigations - seems like some issues. Then the politics. Maybe just maybe with all the news media pressure hoopla, internet blogs maybe some good will come out of this. .
The perception now is that Toyota failed to be candid and up front with customers and their serious problems.
Exactly, and even when pushed to announce a recall, Toyota did nearly everything possible to avoid it. And they say they care about their customers and their safety...yeah right!
After all of this, it has proven Toyota is no better than Ford or GM, and all that extra money to spend for a Toyota, well to each their own, but at the end it sure doesn't make sense to pay more and get less.
your absolutely right; all these car companies, whether they are American, Japanese, Korean, or German are all out for one thing, to make as much money as possible and screw over the customer at every available opportunity
its a real good scam these car companies have going, charging so much money for something that depreciates terribly the second it is driven off the lot!
I am not sure what this particular Lexus model pedal setup looks like. Since he was veteran CHP with extensive emergency driving training would assume he checked. Just so very tragic. .
But be aware that the engine/transaxle control ECU may be "out-to-lunch" and not paying any attention to the microswitches used to tell it what gear the driver has selected. And even if the ECU issues the proper command sequence to the transaxle control solenoids the drum type clutches may not disengage given the level of torque, EXTREME TORQUE, currently applied to the clutch disc gear teeth.
Excellent point. It may be like your PC picking up one of those adware viruses, and in order to get rid of it, all you need to do is your backup disc. You sit there pushing the button to get your DVD tray to open, and realize you're relying on an electronic system tied to the malfunctioning electronic system. :sick:
I was getting tired of my manual trnasmission, but I'm thinking I might just keep this car.
I doubt it. Toyota is in full prostrate mode. What choice have they? With government and media playing on the public's ignorance, fear and hysteria, little good can be expected.
Sharon and British Rover (you may be right) but thats definetly in conflict with what Ive found, but we only tried up to 50mph and our braking was a gradual that took it down to a stop. Its also a conflict with what the CNN "expert" said on the video link below, that you posted earlier. Im driving another vehichle right now but i will be doing a test tomoro in the Tundra to see just how much brakes are left after turning off the key. As I said before none of this should be tried unless you are totally confident in your own abilities AND that you are in a safe place to try. Whatever the final outcome of all of this is, I just want to thank everyone thats made a thoughtful post. Keep them coming. Its all good info to have.
that's why lots of money are made only by people who are willing and able to take risks.
Yes, and often those that do, end up being disappointed in the end; ie Tiger, Toyota, etc. As many warned Toyota, be careful what you ask for..in this case, of becoming #1 and dominating the auto industry. They are now dominating the auto industry when it comes to recalls, was that their goal, I would think not.
Here is the most accurate look at the current picture I have seen so far:
By Eugene Robinson WASHINGTON -- A friend of mine once had a Toyota that wouldn't die.
The odometer had only a dim recollection of passing 100,000 miles, the body was dinged, the paint was faded and the interior was worn, but the thing just kept running. He finally parked it at the airport, removed the plates and walked away.
But that was more than 20 years ago, long before Toyota became the world's biggest car manufacturer. Now the gas pedal doesn't work right on some of the company's models and the brakes don't work right on others. A brand name that once meant "indestructible" has become a punch line for late-night jokes.
The company's stock has lost 20% of its value over the past few weeks, helped Wednesday by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's warning that U.S. owners of nearly 6 million Toyota and Lexus models with the accelerator problem shouldn't even try to drive the cars. LaHood quickly withdrew his doomsday alert, explaining that he meant to say people shouldn't delay getting them fixed. Not what I'd call a message of reassurance.
The obvious lesson for Toyota: Be careful what you wish for. Toyota set out to conquer the world. In succeeding, it grew so fast that its vaunted mastery of quality control -- the craftsmanship and care that made people want to buy a Toyota in the first place -- couldn't keep up.
For years, Toyota dominated the rankings for quality and reliability. But the company's models had begun to slip well before the current public relations disaster.
I think this is more than a retelling of the story of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun. It also may be a Promethean tale of punishment for having stolen fire from the gods.
Toyota is not the only thief. Last week, I dropped by the annual Washington Auto Show, which is much like the extravaganza in Detroit, only smaller. I wanted to get a sense of whether the rumors of a U.S. automaking renaissance might be true -- indeed, both Ford and General Motors put on impressive displays.
There was lots of excitement about the not-quite-here-yet Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid that will run almost exclusively on electricity -- but there was also a buzz about the Nissan Leaf, an all-electric hatchback that will make it to showrooms first.
Ford's array of state-of-the-art automotive engineering was impressive -- the Fusion, the Escape -- but there were bigger crowds checking out the wares of the South Korean manufacturers, especially Hyundai. The Koreans are doing what the Japanese once did -- offering more features for less money -- and they seem to have solved the quality-control problems that once plagued Hyundai and Kia.
But back to Prometheus: No matter what company from what country, when you looked under the hood you didn't see a carburetor. Nor did you see an air cleaner, a distributor or any of the other parts that backyard mechanics of a certain age will fondly remember.
Automobiles used to be mechanical devices. Now they are collections of mechanical parts that are told what to do by computers. In most cars, the gearshift, pedals and steering wheel are nothing more than proxies for electronic controls.
When something goes wrong with a car, you don't start by opening the hood the way we used to. You plug in a reader device and ask the vehicle what its problem is.
Technology has made automobiles much safer, more efficient and less damaging to the environment. But a computer is only as good as its software. Some experts believe that Toyota's acceleration problems may actually be caused by faulty programming, not a faulty pedal. And the brakes on the Prius, which also recharge the hybrid's battery, have already undergone one software rewrite, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Toyota's competitors should go easy on the gloating. Their cars are fly-by-wire, too, and thus equally at the mercy of information-age technology -- the fire we purloined from Olympus. Raise your hand if you think it's a great idea to make our cars precisely as dependable and problem free as, gulp, our personal computers.
Toyota's competitors should go easy on the gloating. Their cars are fly-by-wire, too, and thus equally at the mercy of information-age technology -- the fire we purloined from Olympus. Raise your hand if you think it's a great idea to make our cars precisely as dependable and problem free as, gulp, our personal computers.
Comments
Bad conclusion.
I already posted that with two men in the front seat, there was no way the floormat could have not been pulled loose by a man fearing for the death of himself, his wife, and his daughter.
The floormat was NOT stuck. I don't care what anyone says or concludes - the scenario that he could not get down there and remove that floormat from the accelerator is an impossible scenario to believe.
The Daily Show leads off with "Toyotathon of Death"
This is a classic....
So your belief, is that it was a screwed up computer control issue? Which I can believe. That means Toyota has some serious problems to over come if you are correct. We know it was not the sticking pedal excuse as the Lexus was built in Japan with Denso not CTS throttle unit. You don't believe it is a floor mat or a throttle control device, which is what Toyota would like to have the NHTSA sign off on so they can go back to selling cars.
.
My manuel says:
"If the engine should quit while driving, you can bring vehicle to a stop with normal pedal pressure. There is enough reserved vacuum for one or two stops --- BUT THAT IS ALL."
Comments.
But I do know enough to know what it WAS NOT.
I do think that if this had been merely cases of "floormat problems" then we would have had no further Toyota action than the floormat recall/warning.
The fact that Toyota took it further means to me that there are other issues.
That poor man and his family did not die merely because he couldn't dislodge a stuck floormat.
I believe that untended accelerationn is a result of a software glitch and not an accelerator problem. Time will tell if the fix of the pedal changes anything.
Thanks Mercedes, but maybe no thanks?
The driver may not have known it was stuck because it was underneath.
trapped pedal
still think it can't happen?
Note - some of what presented I will not comment on. TV station selected. Was only video I found regarding the accident.
Link to video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZWPItpu2bM
http://www.safetyresearch.net/Librar...ee_Inspect.pdf
Two relevant excerpts of interest are:
"Removal of the mat was difficult because the bottom edge of the accelerator pedal had melted to the upper right corner of the mat."
Also, "Upon removal of the pedal from the vehicle, the rotational motion of the pedal assembly was confirmed to still be operational. The return action was smooth and unencumbered."
NHTSA has done 6 initial investigations into UA in Toyota products and at least one more thorough investigation. While they didn't conclude anything, nor rule anything out, floor mats were they only thing they could tie the problem to. Bottom line, this is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Right now, we have too many people guessing, with the media playing it's usual role designed to attract viewers by hyping and scaring as many people as possible.
I will even attest that it HAS happened, to me, TWICE.
I'm with larsb on that one. Consumer Reports has been biased since Ralph Nader was on it--he's the one who ruined the US small car movement by attacking the Corvair. Remember it?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHotbtd7HJA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnFp2yLBnNQ
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/exclusive-ttac-takes-apart-both-toyota-gas-peda- ls/
If someone, not you, is really interested in any of the facts, here is a link to the NHTSA report about the crash.
__________
What if you experience a sticking accelerator pedal while driving?
Each circumstance may vary, and drivers must use their best judgment, but Toyota recommends taking the following actions:
(1) If you need to stop immediately, the vehicle can be controlled by stepping on the brake pedal with both feet using firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brake pedal as it will deplete the vacuum utilized for the power brake assist.
(2)Shift the transmission gear selector to the Neutral (N) position and
use the brakes to make a controlled stop at the side of the road and turn off the engine.
(3)If unable to put the vehicle in Neutral, turn the engine OFF. This will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost.
(4)If the vehicle is equipped with an Engine Start/Stop button, firmly and steadily push the button for at least three seconds to turn off the engine. Do NOT tap the Engine Start/Stop button.
(5)If the vehicle is equipped with a conventional key-ignition, turn the ignition key to the ACC position to turn off the engine. Do NOT remove the key from the ignition as this will lock the steering wheel.
_________
Link to Toyota Site - Newsroom -
http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/customer-faqs-regarding-the-sticking-153495.a- spx
he, that's what the internet is for at time of Great Recession: cheap entertainment,
Steps to handle any sudden accelerating vehicle is number 1
GET THE CAR IN NEUTRAL.
It doesn't matter what kind of auto trans it is if you are in regular drive Neutral is just one slot up. If it is a gated shifter and you are in 4-3-2-1 or a manuamatic in the manual mode then you may have to move it to the side to get into regular drive but once in Drive neutral is just one shot up.
As soon as the car is in neutral start braking hard. Don't pump the pedal give firm solid pressure. You will still have power brakes at least for a little while but at WOT you will probably lose them rather quickly. You need to get the speed down before you lose those power brakes. Once you speed is dropping and you feel to be more in control try to pull off to the side of the road put your hazzards on too.
Once you are off to the side of the road and slowed down to a walking pace then it would be ok to turnoff the engine. You can wait to you come to a complete stop but by now you probably don't have any power brakes left so shutting the engine off at a walking pace shouldn't matter.
I just watched CR's David Champion being interviewed on the evening news, NBC I think it was, and he sounded more like a lobbyist for toyota in the way he dodged answering the question about "Are these cars safe."
He is supposed to be an advocate for the consumer and to do that he would need to answer honestly instead of dodging the question.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Thank you for passing along this report. I have saved it to my personal files as well as my bookmarks.
Well respected? What that all depends on who you ask. Most say they are rather biased and view automobiles as appliances.
Also must apologize as I recall I got a response regarding me mentioning something about CR maybe did video dem regarding brake override because they were more consumer advocate.
Whoops - my apology - just felt video was good demonstration. Each agency, etc always has pros and cons. None of them make it easy for us to always figure out - usually some type of bias, purpose, goal etc exists.
Its reputation for delivering safe, reliable, quality-engineered vehicles is in tatters. Governments from Tokyo to Washington, clearly on the muscle, are pressuring the automaker to act openly and quickly. Toyota's executives, corporate culture and dealer body, each touted by apologists for their ability to do no wrong, are struggling to manage a crisis that is expanding faster than they can keep up.
And now the Japanese juggernaut's trend-setting Prius, the gas-electric hybrid that burnished the company's green image with the Hollywood set, Silicon Valley hotshots and the coastal political elite, is under investigation on two continents for braking problems.
With so much happening so fast -- expanding recalls, new investigations, a startling mea culpafrom a top Toyota engineer, the U.S. government's aggressive posture -- the automaker is speeding toward a potentially fraught crossroads: How long have they known and why didn't they do something about it sooner?
The implications of this "sudden acceleration" morass are likely to be profound for Toyota, its corporate reputation and its standing in the global auto business. For Detroit? Huge for a town whose auto industry is just getting off its collective knees as its arch-rival appears to be getting mired ever deeper in a double-whammy of suspect credibility and dodgy quality.
Toyota struggles to stop runaway crisis
and why exactly is that wrong?
I actually don't treat my cars like appliances: I treat them like socks.
Seems Toyota feels car can stop too. Will need to press lots harder trhen, but is ok. Saw that after I did my post.
Still learniiing as I go. And know what I will do now, First choice is neutral.etc. Last choice shut off ACC etc..
Yes, by all means.
But be aware that the engine/transaxle control ECU may be "out-to-lunch" and not paying any attention to the microswitches used to tell it what gear the driver has selected. And even if the ECU issues the proper command sequence to the transaxle control solenoids the drum type clutches may not disengage given the level of torque, EXTREME TORQUE, currently applied to the clutch disc gear teeth.
The perception now is that Toyota failed to be candid and up front with customers and their serious problems.
Too bad Toyota's monitoring systems are not capable to recording all errors.
NHSTA investigations - seems like some issues. Then the politics. Maybe just maybe with all the news media pressure hoopla, internet blogs maybe some good will come out of this. .
Exactly, and even when pushed to announce a recall, Toyota did nearly everything possible to avoid it. And they say they care about their customers and their safety...yeah right!
After all of this, it has proven Toyota is no better than Ford or GM, and all that extra money to spend for a Toyota, well to each their own, but at the end it sure doesn't make sense to pay more and get less.
its a real good scam these car companies have going, charging so much money for something that depreciates terribly the second it is driven off the lot!
Noticed the statement that they were well respected is a quote from another post. I was disagreeing with that just like you are!
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Excellent point. It may be like your PC picking up one of those adware viruses, and in order to get rid of it, all you need to do is your backup disc. You sit there pushing the button to get your DVD tray to open, and realize you're relying on an electronic system tied to the malfunctioning electronic system. :sick:
I was getting tired of my manual trnasmission, but I'm thinking I might just keep this car.
I doubt it. Toyota is in full prostrate mode. What choice have they? With government and media playing on the public's ignorance, fear and hysteria, little good can be expected.
http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2010/02/02/video-gas-pedal-stuck-stop-car-like-this/
and that's a great thing as it presents a once-in-a-lifetime buying opportunity for either Toyota vehicles or Toyota stocks,
that's why lots of money are made only by people who are willing and able to take risks.
Yes, and often those that do, end up being disappointed in the end; ie Tiger, Toyota, etc. As many warned Toyota, be careful what you ask for..in this case, of becoming #1 and dominating the auto industry. They are now dominating the auto industry when it comes to recalls, was that their goal, I would think not.
Here is the most accurate look at the current picture I have seen so far:
By Eugene Robinson
WASHINGTON -- A friend of mine once had a Toyota that wouldn't die.
The odometer had only a dim recollection of passing 100,000 miles, the body was dinged, the paint was faded and the interior was worn, but the thing just kept running. He finally parked it at the airport, removed the plates and walked away.
But that was more than 20 years ago, long before Toyota became the world's biggest car manufacturer. Now the gas pedal doesn't work right on some of the company's models and the brakes don't work right on others. A brand name that once meant "indestructible" has become a punch line for late-night jokes.
The company's stock has lost 20% of its value over the past few weeks, helped Wednesday by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's warning that U.S. owners of nearly 6 million Toyota and Lexus models with the accelerator problem shouldn't even try to drive the cars. LaHood quickly withdrew his doomsday alert, explaining that he meant to say people shouldn't delay getting them fixed. Not what I'd call a message of reassurance.
The obvious lesson for Toyota: Be careful what you wish for. Toyota set out to conquer the world. In succeeding, it grew so fast that its vaunted mastery of quality control -- the craftsmanship and care that made people want to buy a Toyota in the first place -- couldn't keep up.
For years, Toyota dominated the rankings for quality and reliability. But the company's models had begun to slip well before the current public relations disaster.
I think this is more than a retelling of the story of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun. It also may be a Promethean tale of punishment for having stolen fire from the gods.
Toyota is not the only thief. Last week, I dropped by the annual Washington Auto Show, which is much like the extravaganza in Detroit, only smaller. I wanted to get a sense of whether the rumors of a U.S. automaking renaissance might be true -- indeed, both Ford and General Motors put on impressive displays.
There was lots of excitement about the not-quite-here-yet Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid that will run almost exclusively on electricity -- but there was also a buzz about the Nissan Leaf, an all-electric hatchback that will make it to showrooms first.
Ford's array of state-of-the-art automotive engineering was impressive -- the Fusion, the Escape -- but there were bigger crowds checking out the wares of the South Korean manufacturers, especially Hyundai. The Koreans are doing what the Japanese once did -- offering more features for less money -- and they seem to have solved the quality-control problems that once plagued Hyundai and Kia.
But back to Prometheus: No matter what company from what country, when you looked under the hood you didn't see a carburetor. Nor did you see an air cleaner, a distributor or any of the other parts that backyard mechanics of a certain age will fondly remember.
Automobiles used to be mechanical devices. Now they are collections of mechanical parts that are told what to do by computers. In most cars, the gearshift, pedals and steering wheel are nothing more than proxies for electronic controls.
When something goes wrong with a car, you don't start by opening the hood the way we used to. You plug in a reader device and ask the vehicle what its problem is.
Technology has made automobiles much safer, more efficient and less damaging to the environment. But a computer is only as good as its software. Some experts believe that Toyota's acceleration problems may actually be caused by faulty programming, not a faulty pedal. And the brakes on the Prius, which also recharge the hybrid's battery, have already undergone one software rewrite, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Toyota's competitors should go easy on the gloating. Their cars are fly-by-wire, too, and thus equally at the mercy of information-age technology -- the fire we purloined from Olympus. Raise your hand if you think it's a great idea to make our cars precisely as dependable and problem free as, gulp, our personal computers.
Toyota's competitors should go easy on the gloating. Their cars are fly-by-wire, too, and thus equally at the mercy of information-age technology -- the fire we purloined from Olympus. Raise your hand if you think it's a great idea to make our cars precisely as dependable and problem free as, gulp, our personal computers.
Next piece of "evidence" please.....:)