At this point Toyota should just issue a statement recalling every model they’ve produced in the last 5 years. Seriously, it’s getting embarrassing at this point. They are obviously doing everything they can to rebuild their now tarnished image which is a good thing. It just seems like they’re now recalling every single model in their line-up.
The most current recall is for the 2010 Tundra pick-up truck. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sights that there is a potential problem with the front propeller shaft. This can cause a crack to develop in one of the joints that may lead to the drive shaft separating and falling away from the truck, causing the vehicle to lose control. I have had this happen and I can tell you from experience this is no fun. If you have one of these trucks I would HIGHLY recommend you get it into Toyota pronto.
Remember Jim Sikes? He’s the guy who claimed his runaway Toyota Prius almost killed him while driving on Interstate 8 in San Diego. Well, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been going over that car with a fine tooth comb trying to replicate claims that Sikes made about the car speeding out of control and almost killing him. The car went through a rigorous two-day inspection and even though NHTSA submitted their findings that the claim was most likely BS, Sikes’s lawyer simply dismissed it.
If I were you Mr. Sikes I’d be getting very nervous right now because if for some reason you are lying then they’re going to tack you to the wall. Of course that’s just my two-cents.
Jim Sikes, the man now famous for surviving the “runaway” Prius incident in California, is in deep financial kimchee. Jim and his wife declared bankruptcy in 2008, and listed a combined liability of over $700k. Toyota is, of course, listed as a creditor.
Sikes refutes the relevance of his bankruptcy and told Jalopnik’s Matt Hardigree that he wasn’t considering litigation against Toyota. He is, however, seeking a replacement vehicle for his demonically possessed Prius.
So, in other words, if Toyota gives you a free new car, you’ll shut up and go away? Why am I having a hard time believing this is anything more than an attempted theft by deception?
There’s an important lesson here, boys and girls: don’t believe everything you see on the news. You are being lied to.
We’ve been telling you all along that stopping a car with unintended acceleration isn’t a big deal, despite the horror stories you hear on the media. The above video demonstrates two things: first, how to shift a Prius into neutral, which automatically returns the engine to idle; and second, that a Prius can be stopped with the brakes, even under full throttle acceleration. The only question is whether or not the ECU was reflashed prior to the demo to give the 2008 Prius brake override capability.
I’m about ready to hit the bullshit buzzer on claims of runaway Prius models. Unless your car is possessed by Satan (who probably wouldn’t be caught dead in a Prius), the only valid explanation for unintended acceleration in this model is driver error.
Far be it from me to call bullshit on tragedy but the last few days have caused my skepticism meter to go into the red. Yesterday we heard about a gentleman by the name of Jim Sikes who claimed that his Toyota Prius took him on a 90 mph joy ride that almost ended up launching him over a cliff. Sikes said that when he attempted to pass a car on while traveling on Interstate 8 in San Diego, the accelerator pedal did something funny… meaning it was stuck to the floor.
First it was Toyota, offering 0% financing for many of its cars and trucks. Next came GM, also offering 0% financing on most trucks and selected cars. Apparently Ford doesn’t want to be left behind, because they’re offering 0% financing with terms as long as 72 months on select 2010 models. This includes the 2010 Mustang GT (with the 4.6 liter, 315 horsepower V8), so if you’re in the market for a bargain pony car and can live without the extra 97 horsepower of the 2011 model, get down to your local Ford dealer.
Remember the good old days, when Toyota built reliable but boring cars for the masses who simply wanted to get from point A to point B with as little fuss as possible? Remember the legendary reputation of their compact pickup trucks, so tough that not even TopGear could kill one?
Back in those days, it probably seemed like a good idea to emphasize the Toyota pickup’s nearly uncontrollable power. These days? I’m guessing Toyota would like a “do over” on the following Australian TV spot. Video after the jump.
It’s one of the best magazines on the market today and helps you decide on everything from cars to computers. Consumer Reports is that little unassuming publication that shows up once a month and guides us to the best products on the market. All tests are done independently so we get real opinions and not ones that are generated by sponsors.
Here’s the latest in what seems to be a never ending saga of possessed Toyota vehicles. In yesterday’s incident, Jim Sikes was driving his Prius outside of San Diego; when he accelerated to pass a slower vehicle, the throttle “stuck” in a wide open position. His Prius reached speeds of over 90 mph, and nothing Sikes did slowed the vehicle until a CHP trooper pulled alongside and gave him specific instructions. At one point, Sikes reached down to pull up on the accelerator pedal, hoping this would return the throttle to idle. It had no effect.
