U.S. Investigators to Look Into Runaway Prius

barry

I agree with Scott & Ben is right on the money about needing to take a emergency response course. It takes 2 seconds to turn off the ignition & leave it in gear. Try it some time and see that it actually works,(on a back road somewhere)and the faster you are going,the engine turns into a huge air pump. Can't go too far for long. This same theory is used in the jake brake of big rigs. When the ignition is turned off, so is the fuel and the spark required to ignite that fuel. I really don't understand how people can be so blatantly stupid about simple things.

Posted March 12, 2010 12:51 AM

Al R.

Why doesn't the media (CNN, HNL) publish the fact that the Prius driver who claims that his vehicle acceloerated out of control for 20 minutes was a "staged" publicity stunt. He was charged in the past with fraud of similar instances. According to the dealer, he wanted out of his lease agreement and since he was unable to, decided to take this route. The media should investigate prior to publishing false information.

Posted March 11, 2010 05:45 PM

Scott Mackenzie

I have to ask why this person could not figure out how to stop this vehicle themself. After 20 min of driving they had to ask for help? What has happened to driver responsibilities? Why is the driver not being made accountable? Maybe there is a concern but I'm scared to know that there is people driving that can't figure out how to stop a vehicle.

Posted March 11, 2010 04:53 PM

master tech

Just another example of a failing society imploding upon itself. A runaway media with no conscience or accountability, reports on an incompetent driver who should not be on the road, causing a publicity starved senate to sensationalize an investigation, leading to an ambulance chasing lawyer suing a car company that is trying to fix the problem. Toyota by coming forward and doing the right thing has practically committed suicide by media. They would be better off by hiding like so many other manufactures. Ford comes to mind with the vehicles that light themselves on fire. Why has an issue like that flown under the radar for so many years? Toyota probably does have an issue with some cars but the drivers have to use some common sense. Turn the car off, put it in neutral, apply all the brakes or even take your foot off the gas pedal! The reporting on the woman who claimed to have done all of that was insulting. For her car to have had simultaneous failures of four separate systems in one vehicle is beyond belief. How many agencies have to tell her that she was at fault before she understands that she won't get any money? I worked for Audi in the 80's when the sudden unintended acceleration thing was big. People claimed that an Audi would accelerate from a standing start to incredible speeds all by itself, even though every Audi on the road could easily outbrake the engine. A switch was put on the brake pedal that made sure that you weren't on the gas when you put it into gear and the problem went away. What does that tell you?

Posted March 11, 2010 12:38 PM

Alex

When you look at any issue always ask yourself "Who is the beneficiary?" GM completely lost in their war against Toyota selling a better deal instead of better quality. Now, the war has evolved to the new level where organized and well orchestrated media proving that the quality is not there. Unfortunately for them, people evolved as well and can justify whether the truths are told or not. It is time for GM to work on their problems instead of creating problems for others.

Posted March 11, 2010 11:23 AM