Did anyone else just see the story on Toyota on NBC?

[duder4thgen]

Like songsj said, the throttle is not the only electronically controlled part of these cars. I'd be willing to be the gear shift is electronically controlled, and I'd be willing to bet the ignition is wired in a way that simply turning the key off doesn't completely kill the circuit like it used to.

[Rogue Leader]

Originally Posted by duder4thgen

Like songsj said, the throttle is not the only electronically controlled part of these cars. I'd be willing to be the gear shift is electronically controlled, and I'd be willing to bet the ignition is wired in a way that simply turning the key off doesn't completely kill the circuit like it used to.

That seems like the only way this is possible, because that first guy who died with his family (the cop) I mean I would assume a cop has the presence of mind to try EVERYTHING. You never know but I'd like to give the man some credit....

AFAIK the shifters are almost definitely electronic on many cars these days, and probably the Lexuses and Toyotas as well.

[Hopper]

Originally Posted by Rogue Leader

Thats correct... the trucks were rigged, there was a huge lawsuit from GM vs the tv studios over it.

I remember this. I have a VHS tape in my closet of Harry Pierce, then VP of GM's legal department, building a case against NBC and their Dateline producers in a press conference. Felt like I was watching Perry Mason. Game, Set, Match...GM!

[a_Username]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35557961...ss-us_business

Questions towards Secretary LaHood are going on now. He seems to be avoiding some of the more serious, important questions.

[Stew]

Ya know, not to offend any Toyota owners on here, but 99% of the time I see a bad driver on the road they are driving toyotas, usuall Camrys or Tacomas, or the old tercel that was doing 25 in 55 and almost caused a pileup on the way to work. Don't get me wrong I despise Toyota and think they are getting what they deserve, but I wonder how many of these accidents were really uneducated or just bad drivers.

[SSRSLY]

Originally Posted by Bert

Does anyone remember the Firestone/Explorer fiasco? How does that compare?

Over 250 deaths and 3,000 serious injuries in a period of 10 years, according to Wikipedia. Ford blamed Firestone, Firestone blamed Ford. Doesn't matter; if Ford "knew" Firestone was having a problem, they should have stopped putting them on their cars...you'd think that would be common sense right? Especially since the Goodyear-equipped cars didn't have tire failure issues. But when you think back on it, it's the "Explorer/Firestone fiasco," not the "Ford rollover fiasco"...makes you think about the media coverage comparison doesn't it? Nobody is calling this the "CTS accelerator pedal fiasco," it's the "downfall of Toyota." Pretty sad IMO.

[a_Username]

Originally Posted by Stew

Ya know, not to offend any Toyota owners on here, but 99% of the time I see a bad driver on the road they are driving toyotas, usuall Camrys or Tacomas, or the old tercel that was doing 25 in 55 and almost caused a pileup on the way to work. Don't get me wrong I despise Toyota and think they are getting what they deserve, but I wonder how many of these accidents were really uneducated or just bad drivers.

That witness evidence suggested that no matter what you did (shift to neutral, e-brake, etc.) the vehicle continued to accelerate. Basically, driver skill had nothing to do with this, assuming the witness testimony is true.

[a_Username]

The CEO of Toyota NA just said they are installing brake-overriding systems, standard, in all NA models by 2010.

[Archangel]

my girlfriend has a 2009 camry and they told her that they couldn't do anything till the car created the problem...WHAT! thats crap..."we wont fix this potentially life threatening problem that you car has until it actually happens but thank you for purchasing at your local toyota dealer we are committed to customer service"......

[Stew]

Originally Posted by a_Username

That witness evidence suggested that no matter what you did (shift to neutral, e-brake, etc.) the vehicle continued to accelerate. Basically, driver skill had nothing to do with this, assuming the witness testimony is true.

Oh, no doubt there are many of the ones reported if not all are because of these issues with whatever on the cars, that damned Tercel just ticked me off haha.

[Archangel]

I have a question...so I have also stated that the dealership wont take the car until it actually happens...BS...anyways, I have also told my girlfriend what to do, but if that stuff doesn't really work and if you can't stop the f@$@ing car from accelerating...what should she do? should she force them to take it back or what? Its not my car, I fear for her safety, I was so relieved when she got rid of her explorer that had all the recalls including the firestone/rollover, but now she is in another death trap created by manufacturer negligence and nobody wants to take responsibility. any CONSTRUCTIVE thoughts? I have several but I would like to here others.

[LOWDOWN]

Originally Posted by Archangel

my girlfriend has a 2009 camry and they told her that they couldn't do anything till the car created the problem...WHAT! thats crap...bs:

Standard Operating Procedure for ALL Manufacturers...

Witness what happened with the MN6 trans in Camaros last summer...some broke, but NO recall..."If your's breaks, we'll fix it..." Cheaper for GM to do that, than recall the entire batch...FACT!

NHTSA went to Japan, earlier this winter, to try and get to the bottom of this, at Toyota's behest. NHTSA was NOT accorded that type of "support" from GM over multiple Cobalt issues...no invite to Warren MI. or anywhere else, as testimony today reveals...

This is such a "wildfire", now, that it is clearly in Toyota's BEST INTEREST to get it resolved...QUICKLY and transparently...and they will. But they are FAR from alone...

GM offering $1,000 checks to Toyota owners is very hypocritical, considering what all they have "under their carpet"...and at the very least awfully "low road"...


"People in glass houses..."

And "SHAME!" on Washington for trying to suggest this is a DIRECT result of Obama's policies. These "problems" apparently has been "known" since as early as 2002...and from 2002 to 2008, it was under who's Administration's "watch"?? That's right, the "De-Regulators"...kinda like "Wall Street on Wheels"...

Archangel, if her car IS "subject to recall", git 'er done! If it's NOT yet, "when will it be?", and keep in constant but respectful contact with the Dealer...

[first one]

In an article on MSN, the grandson of the founder of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, said the company got too big too fast and their safety engineering/initiatives (whatever word he used) couldn't keep up with the growth and that he was sorry. Well, I see why Toyota will stand behind or beside their cars, but definitely not in front of them!

[LOWDOWN]

TOYOTA...Moving Forward...unintentionally...