Toyota seems to still be fighting through the sudden acceleration claims.

A jury in Oklahoma county (utah I believe) found them liable for a fatal accident.

What's interesting is that part of the claim pointed to the software -- an analyst hired for the case described various issues. NASA had previously reviewed the software and basically said that they couldn't prove that there were any fatal flaws.

Apparently the jury believed this new analysis.

Toyota is settling -- including punitive damages from what I understand.

hj

 

Don't know why they settle, these are all driver error.

No factory OEM car can overpower working brakes that have any lining left on them.

 

The Prius has tiny brakes, and the electric motor makes the most power just short of stalling. The motor is run as a generator to provide the majority of the braking, and there is even a solenoid valve that takes up the fluid output of the master cylinder to make it feel like you are pressing normal brakes. When the car is off that valve closes and the brake pedal actually works the brakes.

 

In all these supposed instances that resulted in a crash, what kept the driver from simply shifting into neutral? I understand it's human nature for many folks to panic in situations like this, but you as a licensed driver are expected to have some level of control in an adverse situation. If you can't do that, you should NOT be driving. I can understand if the car jolts out into an intersection before you have the chance to react, but some of the stories I've read are of panicked people on the phone with 911 as the car travels for miles. I don't understand why this never gets brought up in the news reports on this topic, whether there really is a problem or not. If your vehicle is accelerating uncontrollably and the only thing you can think to do is dial 911 on your cell phone while the car gets up to 60, your driver's license needs to be revoked. You're not qualified to maneuver a 3-ton piece of equipment.

 

Agree ! Shut it down . Read about a case of cruse control stuck on a dodge . Brake and controls would not turn it off . Guy ended up crashing after a long 911 call and Police chase . Turn The Damn Thing OFF ! or throw into neutral ! Driver error many times causes the final outcome .

 

The people bought a PRIUS. They think that it's green despite being loaded down with heavy metals procured by a Chinese earth raping operation employing children, if they even know that much about it.