Toyota Prius Speeds Out of Control on SoCal FWY

Re: Run Away Prius

The driver should be cited for dangerous driving. There are several things to do in this case. Here are two.

1) Select Neutal
2) Push and hold the Start Button for 3-5 seconds

It sounds to me like it is a way to get out of a speeding ticket. The accelerator was stuck, Yea right.

 

Re: Run Away Prius

My 2006 Prius has a brake override. Unless there was a malfunction, this would not have happened. If there was a malfunction, this needs to be diagnosed.

If this is bogus, THAT needs to be reported, also.

It would be a mistake to ignore this.

 

Re: Run Away Prius

Note to self: Switch off the 60's station on XM/Sirus if they play this:

 

Re: Run Away Prius

I doubted that Toyota will look at this! They had a very bad record of how to turn those news to their own advantage.

 

TV Tease - CHP stops runaway Prius

Channel 39 (NBC here in San Diego) just ran a tease about the CHP stopping a runaway Prius. The showed a 2004-2009 Blue Prius up against the back of a CHP patrol Car. Details to follow.

 

Re: Run Away Prius

Let's wait until we get the facts and data. One report claims the driver could not turn off the car nor shift into "N".

Found this:
http://cad.chp.ca.gov/

http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota/report-of-prius-with-stuck-pedal-154832.aspx

Bob Wilson

 

Re: TV Tease - CHP stops runaway Prius

More details on the website:
Runaway Prius Needed Help to Stop: CHP | NBC San Diego

 

Re: Run Away Prius

Obviously his brakes failed too . . . because even if the gas pedal is all the way to the floor ... slamming on the brakes will still cause the tires to skid (or maybe that's only in MY car?) . . . unless there's a beer bottle etc under the brake pedal. Ok ok ... I'll be a gullible sap & give the story teller the benefit of the doubt, for now.

.

 

Re: Run Away Prius

This is just so wrong on so many levels. I really find this hard to believe as a random event. I guess we will have to wait and see. This whole series of Toyota issues is turning into Chinese water torture. Every night on TV, over and over.

 

Re: Run Away Prius

Is it just a coincidence that this highly publicized "runaway" occurred on
the very same day as Toyota began it's public information
campaign to counter the SIU professors hatcket job on the computers?

Newsroom : Comprehensive Analysis Raises Concerns About Gilbert Congressional Testimony, ABC News Segment / Toyota

All that east-bound open freeway out ahead too...
small danger to other traffic with a state police escort.

I just have to wonder.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see what follows.

 

Re: Run Away Prius

I would hope that the CHP would impound the car & investigate this incident.

What happened after the car stopped? How was it turned off? Did they just burn off a tank of gas?

Just based on the posted link I'm not buying a word of this BS.

 

Re: Run Away Prius

I find this story of the runaway Prius very difficult to believe. If you are a NASCAR fan then you know about bump drafting and the danger of spinning out the vehicle that is being pushed forward, by the pusher. The pusher's front bumper has a tendency to lift the rear of the lead vehicle by wedging under the back bumper. Now imagine a Prius at full throttle being stopped by a CHP vehicle; that first got in front of it at around 90mph, then successfully engaged the Prius front bumper without crashing, finally stopping both vehicles with only the CHP car brakes while the Prius is trying to spin out the lead vehicle. How did they finally get the evil Prius to shut off? I smell a rat.

 

Re: Run Away Prius

More details on the five o'clock news. The driver says he was afraid to push the start button. The CHP pulled along side and told him to put on the emergency brake and push and hold the start button. He did and the car stopped by itself. the CHP car did not use its brakes to stop both as was reported earlier.
He says he will take the car to the dealer tomorrow.
Driver says the car got up to 94 mph. He says the problem started at about Flinn Springs and ended at Crestwood. This means he went down a steep hill, up a much longer steep grade to about 4000 feet elevation, then up and down some but mostly climbing.

 

Re: Run Away Prius

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.

 

Re: Run Away Prius

Was this cat also afraid to push the brake pedal or shift to neutral? Perhaps this person should not leave the house without a qualified driver to operate the vehicle.

 

Re: Run Away Prius

Following is a summary of what the Toyota apologists and denial merchants are going to say:

The driver is a PATHOLOGICAL LIAR; HE OPENS HIS MOUTH AND LIES COME OUT! The CHP officers ARE A BUNCH OF INCOMPETENT FOOLS TO BE TAKEN IN BY THE DRIVER!!!!

EDIT1: The CHP SET THIS WHOLE THING UP!!!!

EDIT2: It is a PLOT by the L.A. Times and ABC News in collusion with the CHP.

EDIT3: The driver was/is stooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooopid.

Mark my words; it has already started in this thread.

 

Re: Run Away Prius

No, that's what happens in my car too. It brakes hard enough to chirp the tires before the ABS kicks in.

It would not appear to be an unresponsive HV ECU if the emergency stop procedure worked. I bet that shifting to N would have worked as well.

Why was the driver afraid to push the start button? If you are out of control, shift to R, push the P button - whatever you need to do to slow the thing down.

Practice doing it so you know what to expect if you shift to N or press the Power button.

Learn how your car operates or hire someone to drive you around. Public transit may be an option. Don't endanger others.

I'm thinking its a floormat problem, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt until I read something different.

 

Re: Run Away Prius

like others...this is more likely