Prius out of control?

????????????????????????

 

I'd love to know why he couldn't shut it down or shift into neutral. Also, how did they finally get it stopped?

 

Such B.SSSSS. He was speeding and didn't want a ticket. The only thing stuck was his ego. Couldn't turn it off Wth. All you have to do is hold the START ENGINE button for three seconds. Or hold the shifter in the "N" position until it shifts to Neutral. Which actually would have been the better solution.

 

I'd like to hear more of this story, the model year of the Prius and I'd also like Toyota to examine the car to see what they can find out.

The throttle is drive by wire as is the transmission and I would assume a catastrophic failure might make these electronics unresponsive (even the electric shutoff button). I think a scenario like this would be my worst nightmare if that's what really happened.

I hope we all get a more complete story as to what happened and if the driver really did try to shift into neutral (did he hold it for 2-3 seconds) and actually did press the power button for over 3 seconds. Also, there is supposed to be a brake override in our Prius; what happened with that? Did he press the brakes hard?

I'm waiting to hear more. Of course it could all be BS like others have said and he's covering for violating the law.

 

Hmm..so a Prius with stuck accelerator can only attain 90mph eh? Yeah, I call BS on this one as well - would be good to know whether "CHP was in communications" with the driver _before_ or _after_ the cop lit him up?

 

Hmm, as much as this seems unlikely, I can actually see a computer failure affecting these non mechanical devices from working to shut the car down.

Might Toyota, or some other individual think about rigging up a proper kill switch (Emergency Shut Down) into the cars?

 

See "Run Away Prius"

 

I received an email from Toyota today regarding this:
Toyota Vehicles : Report of Prius with Stuck Pedal / Toyota

 

Just another stuck lead foot on the accelerator.

 

I say THROW DOWN THE SPIKE STRIPS!!

 

This is a new role for the Prius; a muscle car.

 

I say he was speeding and then made the story up.

 

I wish Toyota would wait and get the facts straight before they put anything out. The car was not stopped by the CHP. It stopped by itself when it was turned off.

 

Agree - Toyota needs to fire their PR firm. Why would Toyota report this so soon? I know they want to be proactive now, but don't throw yourself under the bus...

 

Agreed. Brake on a Prius and the problem's over.

 

Because it's not intuitive. They stab and flail helplessly at the Start button because they don't know you have to hold it down for 3 seconds when the car is moving.
They should probably require the salespeople to point this out before they release the car to new buyers.

 

A few more details. The car was a 2008. The driver said (in an interview on the news) that he had taken his "recall Notice" to the dealer (El Cajon Toyota) last week and was told there was no recall on his car.
He also said the floor mats had nothing to do with it.

 

He said he had his foot on the brakes so that would cut the speed somewhat even if didn't stop the car.
I have a feeling he is lying though and trying to setup a lawsuit or hush money to shut up.

 

Reports say it was stopped by the CHP.

Calif. Police halt runaway Toyota Prius displaying unintended acceleration [Update #2]