Toyota’s Runaway Acceleration and Prius Brake Problems

All cars have design flaws and quirks. However think Toyota's ego got in the way of fixing these problems.

Am an engineer that understands technology. Toyoda builds high consistency and quality products, and I would buy one in the future.

Have sympathy with trying to find intermittent problems with runaway acceleration. It can take several examples of problem assemblies or complete vehicles to analyze. You need people who can look outside their specialty for other possible causes, and then follow each one to prove they are not the cause. It is also difficult when the rate of failure like this one is under 0.1 percent. Then it is only when multiple causes happen together. It is really tough to find these type problem sources. But this has been reported in various models for over 4 years, enough time to find causes and solutions unless your head is in the sand.

In the acceleration case there are three causes: Floor mats, mechanical sticking of accelerator pedal, and software/hardware programming problems with the drive by wire system. Steve Wozniak reports his Toyoda runs away intermittently on cruise control. I would take his report seriously since he tries to replicate the problem and analyze it. So far Toyota has not taken care of the hardware software problem beyond solving the accelerator pedal problem.

Each source gets blamed and says it can't be us. Then blames the other sources. In a large corporation you have to be determined and persistent looking for true causes in spite of pressure to settle the problem quietly. This is where ego about "we can't be wrong" gets in the way. Finding these causes is dangerous to your career if you are on the wrong side.

Sometimes you need outside consultants to take the heat and you need a willingness to admit problems. Toyota has lost the willingness to admit problems. It may be cultural as taking the blame in Japan is a cause for great shame leading to resigning or even committing suicide. If Toyota is smart they will honor the group that resolves these problems within the company. You have to want to always improve.

Thought Toyoda would have jumped on possible brake flaws with the Prius which are also in the news. Brakes not working are a major liability and would kill sales. This is a major flaw with the Prius have been hearing about for a couple years. Toyota will take another big hit if this is not resolved.

Mechanics tell me they think Toyota brakes calipers and pads are smaller than the competitors. They question stopping power because of this. You need extra stopping power when conditions are less than ideal due to weather, dirt, etc.

Toyota will take a hit on sales, and resale’s for about 2 years. Hear used Toyota's are now $3,000 cheaper wholesale than they were a few weeks ago. Think runaway acceleration will extend to more vehicles.

Remember if your company is involved in repetitive complaints, take the customer’s seriously if you want to keep them buying again.
Steve