GXP V,

Whats the truth on Toyota acceleration issue, major problem or very isolated and being overblown by the press?

Had the accelerator stick while passing a 18 wheeler on my F-350. It was my fault as I had the floor mat upside down and it slid forward.... My big worry was not to blow the engine while I shifted from D to N..., the rpm'* do run wild when a runway engine goes from D to N

A really difficult question. Here'* some random takes on it.

Toyota did drop the ball. It has known about drive by wire throttle issues for several years. It seems as of now, it is a problem is more than isolated, but not widespread. Factors that cause the mishap are vague and not helped by the Press and clowns in Universities claiming they know and can replicate. So can I,..... give me a stretch of wire.

But these issues really affect a broad spectrum of Cars/Makers. The Press has started a feeding frenzy. Was it Government inspired through their NTSB wing. Definitely. We have a large stake in some automakers, GM to an extreme. How often have we seen them go against the Big 3 in this way? You don't have to be that old to remember Advocates like Ralph Nader and many others who came up against brick walls as 100'*-1000'* of vehicles broke, crashed, or like Pinto'*.... Blew Up. Has the NTSB suddenly become people minded? Doubt it. But the DBW throttles incidents become more numerous, and Toyota'* lead the statistics. And being a Foreign Held Enitity with large coffers, it is the prime candidate to take the brunt of it. By making a whipping boy of Toyota, all will get the message.

I can't defend Toyota being they took the same wait, hope for the best, see how its rides attitude most all manufacturers take. This time their foot got caught in the door pretty tightly. I do wonder what will happen when newer GM cars, trucks, and SUV'* that have the defective IM shafts like ours start snapping with age because alot of people aren't going to get it fixed. Things like this (there are many) are left as "TSB" matters instead of recalls. And GM will pay, within warranty periods, only if you complain.

This problem becomes more confused/compounded with Toyota'* of very recent years having gas pedals too long that will stick if the original carpet is shoved forward, or worse yet, an aftermarket rubber one is added. Often over the existing one.
Add to that a glitch that causes a weird snafu to the Prius Gen II. When going over a bump or rock road And the ABS system is activated; the system that decides how much braking goes to stopping the vehicle, and how much goes to regenerating electricity temporarily goes retarded.

Put it all together and Toyota'* got a mess on their hand. It is going to play the fool with many strings attached for quite some time.

GXP V,

Nice write-up and thanks for bringing some solid information to the surface.

BTW- a buddy of mine for many years is a big liberal attorney- and loves his Corvairs and thinks Nadar was wrong about the Corvairs.....

The Corvair had its moments. '61-'63 GM should have added the rear crossbar. It decided to run without it and recomended lower front tire~higher rear tire pressures to compensate for the oversteer/understeer of the rebound efeffect on it from a swing arm rearend and rear mounted engine. I believe it pretty well proved out to be valid, it was reported in Volkswagens forever and even some Mercedes. The NTSB said the case was overstated, I believed the reports that it was so, but that it did become more of a problem when owners and mechanics filled the tires evenly out of ignorance. Nader was no angel and had the Documentary of it sponsored by Ford using Ford drivers making ackward maneuvers as well. It was a satiric Press Comedy in its day.

The big thing here is the Corvair was not built to be a sportscar, and at higher speeds it wasn't as stable as what the public was used to. People hot dogged it and failed. They deserved "inset brain here" signs, not settlements.

Granted Toyota did drop the ball on it, I think the entire issue is being blown out of proportion by the media. Ford, GM, and Chrysler have all had their share of recalls and mishaps. I haven't heard one bit of news about the Chevy Cobalt losing power steering in over 1,000 reported cases. The media got lucky and was thrown a bit, fat, juicy bone to go after the auto manufacturer that they have been wanting to get with something.

Here is a interesting supplemental read about the latest Toyo incidents:

http://news.yahoo.com/*/ap/20100314/..._runaway_prius

I know some might see this as a stupid comment but all great inventions start from small ideas. How about putting the driving back into the hands of the driver. No stop short distance braking if you fall asleep at the wheel or the ringing bells if your head tilts forward, or the auto back up for people who can't parallel park. Survival of the fittest. Take the 10 miles of wires out from behind the wheel and let us drive our cars. Is it not more expensive for wiring a DBW than a freaking throttle cable to the throttle body. I drive a dodge sprinter with a drive by wire and half throttle or full throttle it accelerates the same. I would like to fiddle the throttle my self and not have to worry there could be a short and I DIE. let ME drive MY car. Not your electronics.

I think most of this media blitz against toyota is spurred on in the background to help american manufacturing. Look what its done for Ford.
Yes I know Toyo has plants in america.

Yep, but I think US Gov weighs where the profit end up to be more than Keeping Americans to work. Nearing a Trillion in the hole with bailouts, and unemployment now running double digits, It didn't buy 1 single job.