Comments on: Report: Many of Toyota’s Acceleration Problems Due to Driver Error

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:08:15 +0000

Were you able to repeat the behavior? Do you have ABS brakes?

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 09:59:35 +0000

I was inclined to believe that human error would be the cause of the acceleration problem until it happened to me. My incident occurred tonight and was much like what Brian describes. When I placed the gear selector in reverse (with the brakes applied) the engine revved up and began to lurch backwards. I applied more braking to stop the movement and the rpm increased further. After shifting to neutral the rpm increased again until I released the brakes at which time the engine returned to normal. My first thoughts were that my foot was on both the accelerator and the brake at the same time. Looking at the pedals I noticed that the brake pedal in the released position sets further away from the floor than the accelerator. It would be possible that the toe of my shoe may have pivoted to the right when I turned around to back up. This would be human error. After reading some of the blogs on the subject I recalled many times when I would come to a stop light with my brakes applied and my foot not on the accelerator about three seconds later there would be a small lurch forward that would require additional brake force to stop the movement. There is also a slight increase in rpm at this time. This may be normal but in both cases the engine is not in a stable idle condition. I do not believe this problem is related to the computer system but rather a design flaw in the brake sensing circuits and stability control. I am going to try to make it happened again. One more thing to note is that the car was cold and wet from a rain and snow event this morning. Has anyone else noticed any or all of the conditions I have described?

By: lou

lou — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:08:59 +0000

last week i was sitting in my driveway in my 2005 matrix. the car was in drive and my foot was on the brake. the engine started revving, i shifted into neutral and it stopped revving. yesterday i was idling at an intersection and the vehicle stalled.
i called a toyota dealership today and explained my problems. I gave them my vin # and was told my car was not presently elegible for thier recall. they said i should bring it in for diagnostic testing, if it met thier criteria i would not have to pay for the repair
is this correct!!! i like the cars but this sounds crazy. i must be wrong.

By: mike

mike — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 22:45:23 +0000

The TOYOTA problem is REAl..The acceleration issues. Knowing one personally that had the problem, then the SIKES guy in March they tore aprt on the web but yet we all know the claim of the acceleration was real you just had to listen to the 911 tape,,,the guy was scared s***less. WHY DO THEY HAVE TO RIDICULE those who have issues…This guy wanted no fame and did not sue Toyota, somebody someplace better start listening!

[Moderator's note: edited the cuss word.]

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:06:19 +0000

I seen, first hand, the acceleration problem last week. While standing in my driveway, waiting for the school bus to pick up my children, I witnessed a near tragedy. One of my neighbors started their car in their driveway, I then saw it quickly accelerate backwards, across the street into the yard, did a donut and slammed into the house. The children were about 50 ft. away and thank God nobody got hurt. When the car hit the grass, I could hear the engine “whine”, like it was floored and could see the tires lose their grip as it spun around to hit the house head on. The lady driving was ok, just bruised and scared. She stated that shortly after putting the car in reverse, it just took off. She said she heard about this problem before and thought about shifting to neutral, but it happened so quick she didn’t have a chance to. It was a Toyota Rav 4.

By: Stuart Knoles

Stuart Knoles — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 11:46:44 +0000

Yep, needing to cover-up for extra terrestrial aliens again.

By: Ciro Verdi

Ciro Verdi — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:45:28 +0000

Of all 14 Posts here, except for about 3 or 4 have justifiable complaints, but the rest was unbelievable gibberish. The Toyota sudden acceleration problem is, I suggest, from a flawed design problem that would have devastating manufacturing, and costs to fix. Thus the cover-up. What’s appalling is the U.S. and American dealers are colluding with Toyota to minimize the impact at the risk of its drivers.
Toyota’s design mechanism for controlling fuel distribution, is not mechanical at all – it’s controlled electronically which is not only vulnerable to heat, but vibration as well. The omission of a direct mechanical link to fuel distribution control, is not only a badly flawed design strategy, but places the driver in a needlessly perilous situation.
In addition, it has been reported that programming logic or code employed may be flawed – programming codes which are not received, or erroneously executed by default. It is an issue electro-mechanical designers, with a computer programming background, understand.
3000 sudden acceleration complaints, cannot be swept away, nor The Transportation Department and NASA’s inability to find what is wrong. There is something wrong with that picture. Do we have another Federal body, as in the Deep Horizon oil spoil, looking the other way???? Ciro V

By: cyberaim

cyberaim — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:10:38 +0000

I don’t buy it. For many really good reasons. Ever try to stop a car that is accerlating that high? You don’t have your foot on the gas, you try to use the brake (and you know you are) and it is like the brake isn’t working. Two feet and very aware.

This is terrible. I do not run around making conspiracy theories. I do not believe it. Sorry – I do not think they are working in the people’s best interest here.

By: Hector

Hector — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:53:35 +0000

I have a 2009 Rav4 and I never had problems with acceleration while driving but a couple times the engine raced while I had my foot on the brake. I was on a 2 way street waiting to make a left turn with the car on drive and my foot on the brake. All of the sudden the engine raced and I felt the car trying to advance, so quickly I put more pressure on the brake and at the same time I shifted to neutral and the engine went back to normal idle speed. Last saturday I felt the same as I was coming out of the parking area at a shopping center. I am turning left onto the street and some people where crossing so I put my foot on the brake and stop. Within 2 seconds the engine raced but not as high as the previous time. I did the same and again the engine slowed to normal speed. Yesterday I took the car to the dealer for service and I told them about the problem and right away the lady is asking me if I wasn’t pressing on both pedals at the same time. I told her that my foot was only on the brake, and that the car stopped normaly and a few second later without me moving my foot at all, this happens. If I was pressing on both pedals, I would feel the problem as soon as I press on the pedals. Today I went to pick up the car and I was told they checked the computer but did not find anything. I was told to keep an eye on it and come back if I have any problem. I was thinking to myself “Sure, I’ll have the funeral home drive my casket by the dealership and I would let you know what happened”. Sometimes you have to take things with humor but I really don’t feel confortable driving a car that can do weird things like this. I wish I could return it and get some other brand.

By: Sheri

Sheri — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 04:02:34 +0000

Jeff,

Very sorry to hear about your experience. That was the first question asked of me (driving a Toyota), “what would you do?” My immediate response was to put it in neutral. Sounds good, but in the wake of shock would I actually remember to try this? Its nice to hear your rapid response worked. Doesn’t fix the revving issue but kept your family and many others safe from potential impact.

If people want to talk conspiracy then how about terrorism in our manufacturing plants? Sky’s the limit for creative inquiry.