LA Times: Toyota's Fix is a Bust...

We're going to see a lot of this over the next few months, because
it's become trendy.
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_H*

 

No doubt. The good news is that we can rear-end anyone we want to and claim it's Toyota's fault.

 

Attacking the messenger isn't going to get to a resolution of the issue. Especially if more and more reports of post-recall sudden acceleration are filed. It will be like water torture for Toyota.

 

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I'm just tired of accusation without proof. Unintended Acceleration, accusations of flawed electronics and software..

As far as your personal experience? I'm noticing that according to your profile you have a 2007 and joined around 2007? So I'm assuming you have owned your Prius for "years"?

Well based on assumption, when did you "perceive" your brakes as having a "problem"? I think some 2nd Generation owners are upset because their vehicles inwhich they were once entirely happy with, are NOT involved in a software update like the Gen3. So now a "problem" that they ignored, or simply lived with as normal operation, is due to publicity and the change in the Gen3, now a problem.

Plus why do you think Toyota is giving you the middle fingered wave? If they offered a software brake calibration update like the Generation 3 would you be happy?

I just think it is interesting because before Toyota aknowledged the issue and put forth an update for the Generation 3, I heard so many Generation 2 owners arguing that the "sensation" was absolutely nothing, because they had experienced it in their vehicle and it was "normal".

So my question is, you've owned the vehicle for almost 3 years, why if you think your brakes have a problem and Toyota has been uncaring or unattentive are you a 3 year Prius owner? I suspect it is because you are upset NOW but only in relationship to The Generation 3 getting an update, not because you have always defined it as a problem.

I aknowledge I'm making many assumptions, and it's more something I've noticed in general, so if I'm wrong? It's just my opinion that "some" generation 2 owners are now upset but only in relationship to recent news and the new update for generation 3.

 

Toyota has handled the various issues badly. They are reaping the rewards of their efforts. Just because a particular condition doesn't present itself on demand, doesn't mean it isn't there; just that it has not been diagnosed. Ironically, the data logging function that is in nearly every car that Toyota makes was originally implemented to assist in the trouble-shooting function. Toyota hasn't helped their cause by limiting the access to the logged data.

3 years in April.

I have noticed the brakes dropping out under certain conditions since right after taking delivery of the car. Unfortunately for my circumstance, I made some modifications (swapped out factory pads for ceramic pads and fitted wider wheels and tires) at the time the car was delivered. To press my case for a resolution, I would have to replace the aftermarket pads with factory pads as well as replace the aftermarket wheels and tires for the factory wheels and tires. Since I sold the Touring edition wheels and tires as part of the modification process, getting to a point to press for a resolution the brake system drop-out would cost somewhere in the range of $1,500 to $2,000 to just start to press for a remedy. Absent a box stock car, Toyota could blame the drop-out on the modifications. Faced with a choice to bring the car back to a stock condition or 'live' with the drop-out, I chose to 'live' with the drop-out. Each time the drop-out occurs, it is a little reminder of how different the car is from other cars that I own and drive when it rains that do not do the drop-out thing.

Yes. Ironically, with the brake calibration update, I believe the Gen II Prius would be a really great car; especially with the modifications I made to it.

The brake system drop-out is not 'normal'. Toyota acknowledged as much by re-calibrating the brake control function in the Gen III Prius.

I am a 3 year Prius owner because I made a set of decisions (on modifying the car) and now have to live with the decisions. I am not going to dump a car that arguably has a brake system limitation on an unsuspecting buyer. The car is not driven in the rain, which is when the brake drop-out is most likely to occur over slippery surfaces. We have reached an accommodation of sorts. I am moving on - my most recent car purchase was a 3 series BMW, which definitely does not have the brake system drop-out.

 

I wish that Toyota would provide some sort of monitoring setup for users that are complaining of "unintended acceleration" in their vehicles. I don't think a SG would measure the information necessary, but maybe some sort of encrypted memory stick which monitors, say 10 minutes worth of data and then deletes it somehow. Then, when the driver experiences this, they are able to stop and remove the device and take it to their dealer.

I'm sure there's some issues that could be associated with this, but if it's someone that is having it multiple times, this is really what is needed. It seems that given its infrequency and potentially random occurances, it's almost like a shot in the dark of replicating. I almost feel like it's going to be a "luck of the draw" type scenario when they are able to determine the cause - whether it's an issue with sensors, software, driver, etc.

I am also curious, with all the recalls and it affecting cars over several years, were all the car manufacturers sitting on these issues for a long time? It's almost un-heard of that pretty much every major car maker has now issued a recall in 2010 and we're only 2 full months into the year. To an extent, I wonder when it will all finally stop - as in, where do you draw the line on a mechanical component failing? None of the components of the car are built to last a lifetime, nor, hopefully, are they expected to by anyone.

 

So you queered your own pitch by modifying your Prius, and you now are one of a handful of people crying foul!

Learn to live with it, and stop annoying the rest of us on this site.

 

I just got my 2005 Avalon back from the dealer about an hour ago. They did the accelerator pedal mods, the floor mat mods, and the brake override software mod. I haven't driven it enough to give it a report, but here is what I have observed so far.

When I got in it at the dealership it was running and in park. When I pressed the accelerator while it was in park the engine did not rev. I put it in drive and everything was fine. After I drove about five miles I tried the brake override several times and it worked as expected. It seems like it took about 1/2 second for it to respond, but when it did the engine went back to idle and the brakes brought the car to a stop smoothly. The cruise control worked fine when I tested it.

When I got home I put it in park and the engine reved when I gave it the gas. It will be interesting to see how it behaves on the next cold start.

Time will tell if any of the bugs listed in the article show up in my car.

 

That would seem to be contrary to how the car behaved at the dealer. Maybe a return to the dealer is in your near future?

 

You must not have read my post - I have been living with it for the past three years. As far as annoying you, you can always put me on your Ignore list. Then you will never see any of my posts ever again. Unless someone else who is not on your Ignore list quotes one of my posts....

 

I have said from the beginning, the sudden acceleration problem is an electronics problem, the dealers know that, toyota knows that and soon the NHTSA and all of the public will know that. This situation is going to destroy everything that Toyota has built over the last 50 years. I feel bad for the Toyota dealers, especially the ones who listened to Toyota and built a new store in the last 5 years.

 

I don't use an Ignore list.
Even the ignorant are allowed to comment. You just seem to enjoy being controversial.

 

I doubt anyone on the Volt Team is gloating - next year the Chevy Volt could be getting this kind of press.

 

The volt could be a bust, but how could it get the kind of press toyota is getting? Only if the vehicle explodes when someone sits in the passenger seat could the Volt get this kind of negative press for GM.

 

The Volt is cutting edge with many ways a glitch could be a safety issue like with Toyota.

I don't wish it on them - just saying anyone else could replace Toyota on the hot seat.

 

One of the reasons Toyota is getting so many complaints is volume. Toyota makes over 20,000 Prii a month! Since the Volt will only have maybe 30,000 in the first two years (yes, that is my guess) its going to need a real screw up to generate lots of complaints.

 

Best February in 3 yrs..including 2 weeks of no sales on Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Avalon and RAV.

The Toyota stores in your area might be suffering ( but I doubt it ) but not here. As in all things the strong survive and prosper at the expense of the weak ( GM dealerships, for example ).

You still can't comprehend the miniscule number of people who might have been affected by these issues. You don't apparently want to accept the level of hatred toward GM at the moment in certain parts of the country.

 

I'd be shocked if the Volt sold that many in the first two years. According to Lutz they're going to limit sales in Yr 1 to ~ 5000 units, then ramp up from there.

I'd guess 5000, 10000, 20000, 40000....assuming all goes well.

I'm certain that all the engineers on the project are nailed to their screens and data trying to make sure that there is no 'regen-->friction bump' occuring in the Volt.

They still haven't said word one about how long they will warrantee the Li-Ions for. How bad will it look if they come out Oct 1st and say...$39,950 MSRP 5 yr warranty on the battery pack. Cost to replace currently is $15000, we hope to bring it down before you get to 5 yrs.

 

Not a store in the midwest region that broke one hundred units retail. Most stores were down off 50-75%. How many of Toyotas sales were fleet and retail. I know all of the rental fleets around here are full of toyota, two years ago they had no toyotas.

 

Malorn's right. GM's press (not just the recent 1.3 million GM product recall) has been so horrible for decades, that the concept Volt would have to spread the plague in order to top itself regarding bad press.

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