It was only a matter of time.
On Tuesday the Japanese automaker officially issued a recall of the 2010 3rd generation Prius hybrid for a braking flaw.
A software glitch mishandles the switch between regenerative and friction braking when anti-lock brakes (ABS) are also being activated, leading to a perceived loss of control which for some can be harrowing.
The recall is global and affects over 400,000 Prius and other hybrid cars including 133,000 Prius and 14,500 Lexus HS 250h sold in the US.
Dealers can fix the problem in about 40 minutes.
The recall was announced by Toyota president Akio Toyoda (shown above) who admitted his company was not failure-proof and committed to “redouble our commitment to quality as the lifeline of our company.”
The company denied that the braking flaw was dangerous but was fixing it to allow customers to feel more comfortable.
“We’re committed to doing everything we can – as fast as we can – to restore consumer trust in Toyota, and these recalls are part of this effort,” said Jim Lentz, President and Chief Operating Officer, Toyota Motor Sales. “We regret the inconvenience this recall will cause to Prius and HS 250h owners, and will do our best with the support of our dealers to make sure that it is conducted in the most trouble-free manner possible.”
Source (Toyota)
This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 2:32 pm and is filed under Competitors, Hybrid, Safety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
+12
Feb 9th, 2010 (2:36 pm)OMG. Now the steering is bad also:
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/02/toyota-corolla-to-be-probed-for-steering-problems/1
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+7
Feb 9th, 2010 (2:37 pm)State Farm warned them back in 2007 that there was a problem.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35278742/ns/business-autos/
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+6
Feb 9th, 2010 (2:41 pm)If you own a Toyota dump it now before you face.
Lower resale value.
Higher insurance cost.
Risk of what could go wrong next.
Run away
Brakes
Now Steering
Get out well you still can. Sure glad I don’t own a TOY.
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+6
Feb 9th, 2010 (2:49 pm)Off Topic, but Opel has announced an ambitious plan for the future.
Besides the Ampera in 2001, they also plan to introduce another E-REV before 2012, and also some BEVs.
http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.brand_gm.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2010/Feb/02_09_opel_nick_reilly_future
You would think that this might mean more E-REVs and BEV’s for North America as well.
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+8
Feb 9th, 2010 (2:51 pm)One of the things Toyota and Honda owners have really harped on was the resale value.
I don’t think that’s so good right now on the Toyotas.
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+5
Feb 9th, 2010 (2:54 pm)Since this site is dedicated to the Volt, how about if we ask what is the design of the regenerative braking and accelerator? Is it dictated by software too? Is GM being pro-active with this revelation on the consequence of relying on too much software? It is important to ask these questions now. Thanks Lyle for looking into this.
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+5
Feb 9th, 2010 (2:55 pm)Wow. The steering issue may not be a huge problem, but to have it looming on the horizon the day the brake issue was starting to be addressed is not good news for Toyota.
I took my RAV4 in last week for an intermittent, very loud rattle/buzz in several spots in the undercarriage. The techs drove it and drove it, first to get the sound to occur and then to figure out why it kept coming from different locations. It turned out 2 of my car-top crossbar adjusters were loose. So the vibration went down the pillars in the side of the car and the sound came from underneath my car in various locations depending on speed and surface condition. They took the time to hunt the problem down and fix it.
For various reasons I have not liked my RAV4 for the 2+ years that I have had it, including but not limited to poor mileage and malevolent dash warning lights, but Toyota went above and beyond to find that rattle before I went past my warranty limit. Toyota will get their mojo back if they go back to their W E Deming roots, but this lapse will give GM, Ford and Nissan a chance to take a chunk out of Toyotas Green laurels.
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+4
Feb 9th, 2010 (3:01 pm)Sounds like you have a good dealer but not a good car. A good dealer is important.
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+9
Feb 9th, 2010 (3:07 pm)Toyota deserves this for the type of behavior described in this article:
http://www.uwsa.com/issues/trade/japanyes.html
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-14
Feb 9th, 2010 (3:08 pm)(click to show comment)
+3
Feb 9th, 2010 (3:13 pm)It’s interesting how the media can seed a thought into the psyche of America. Years back, the media planted the idea that domestic vehicles are garbage, and that thought is still planted into peoples’ minds today. You heard about recalls from GM, Ford, etc. which dominated the airwaves, but when Toyota had the issue 10-year old frames rusting out, or oil sludging problems destroying engines at 50,000 miles, the media just ignored it.
Don’t know why Toyota is getting all the bad flack now.
Anyways, it’s funny how people generally thought that their Toyotas were bullet-proof, but now that the media had the stories about their flaws, the NHTSA is being flooded with complaints from Toyota drivers now that consumers realize that they weren’t hallucinating or crazy when their cars kept didn’t want to slow down (be it via accelerator pedal or faulty software).
The Feb 10 entry is interesting:
http://www.autoextremist.com/
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+1
Feb 9th, 2010 (3:35 pm)It is a shame, but I don’t believe this bad press will stick for long.
People have it so ingrained that Toyota is better than all else.
I hope that I am wrong, but it will be up to GM and Ford to prove them otherwise.
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+1
Feb 9th, 2010 (3:49 pm)To make up for my snarkiness over the Corolla race steering, here’s a pic of GM’s last century halo car:
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+5
Feb 9th, 2010 (4:34 pm)Don’t forget the government is looking into the previous generation corolla for stalling issues. My wife’s 2006 corolla stalled on the highway in a construction zone. She barely avoided an accident. The dealership blamed the car alarm they had installed, but they replaced the ECM, just in case. I have no faith in Toyota or their dealers. At least when a GM dealer tries to screw me over, they’re just trying to take my money, not kill me. Hopefully they fix the issues and start putting lives ahead of profits like they claim they do. I am not a Toyota fan and I’ll never by one, but I want people to have safe cars no matter what company makes the car.
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Feb 9th, 2010 (4:49 pm)There was a long report on this on NPR this AM. They interviewed a couple of business school profs, and some “crisis management” consultants. The consensus was that Mr. Toyoda is finally starting to raise his game with today’s Prius apology.
They said that he was laying low until a Japanese film crew got him cornered at the “glitzy” Davaos economic conclave. They reported that he uttered a few noncommittal remarks and then jumped in his waiting car and was whisked away. It was an Audi.
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-32
Feb 9th, 2010 (4:50 pm)(click to show comment)
-30
Feb 9th, 2010 (4:53 pm)(click to show comment)
+15
Feb 9th, 2010 (4:56 pm)I saw on Geraldo on Fox Sunday night a woman interviewed about her Prius.
She said she hit some railroad tracks and the car accelerated to 60 mph.
She insisted it was electronic. NOT the pedal.
She tried turning it off numerously.
She tried shifting into neutral. Nothing worked.
There was a run or race going on so she had to dodge oncoming traffic and runners.
She had to grab the wheel and jam both feet down on the brake.
The brakes caught fire and seized up and that’s what stopped her.
She was holding the burnt parts in her hands.
And Toyota didn’t listen to her story, said there was nothing they could do.
It reminded me of Lyle’s experience with railroad tracks.
I don’t think this story is over.
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-32
Feb 9th, 2010 (5:01 pm)(click to show comment)
+12
Feb 9th, 2010 (5:16 pm)Minor problems are things like poor paint jobs or cracker mirrors. When your car decides to continue in forward motion, when you command it to stop, it is no longer minor.
I would not go as far to say only Toyota has this problem, since I am concerned that we will soon be hearing similar stories for other automakers.
Minor problem, this is definitely not.
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Feb 9th, 2010 (5:26 pm)Why is brake regen so difficult? Brake regen is only effective down to 15-20 mph, anything below is 0, zip, nada. After that there’s no way to develop more Voltage than the batt pack to cause electron flow. Then friction pads start the braking. They should both work at the same time. You shouldn’t need them to “know” at what position each is in. If you brake harder in the beginning then you slow down faster and brake regen is less effective.
Friction brakes are tied to ABS so brake regen shouldn’t care. Brake regen uses Lenz law and is only present when electrons flow into the batt pack……blah blah……
IMHO, I think the blending of brake regen and friction brakes is an overblown issue.
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+3
Feb 9th, 2010 (5:27 pm)What?
I’m still in the negative hole?
ok, here’s a pic of the vehicle that originally made GM a company with a viable lineup for eventual success thanks to the brilliant engine optimization:
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+4
Feb 9th, 2010 (5:31 pm)We’ll see what happens. My suspicion is the acceleration problems aren’t over and there’s really a software problem somewhere.
It’s the old story, though. It’s not the initial event that gets you, it’s the cover up. Or the perception of a cover up. People have been complaining about the acceleration problem for like 3 years so far. I don’t think Toyota actually tried to cover this up (as witnessed by the lack of trying to pay people to not talk about it as other nameless car companies have done frequently in the past) but they just couldn’t replicate the problems and couldn’t figure out what the issue was. So, as far as they could tell, there was no actual issue. Eventually, though, it starts to smell like a cover-up and then maybe it becomes one. Who knows. The sooner the company seems like it’s taking responsibility the sooner everything blows over.
Anyone still holding a grudge against Ford for the Firestone rollovers? How about GM for the sidesaddle gas tank fires? (or a dozen other scary problems with cars from various manufacturers). These things just go away eventually when everyone is convinced the companies care about them again.
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Feb 9th, 2010 (5:35 pm)ok, who gave a 1904 Buick model B a negative? That’s sacrilege.
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+1
Feb 9th, 2010 (5:38 pm)I dunno, but the systems never seem to be simple. The brakes have become electro-hydraulic systems, with the computer able to either apply or remove hydraulic brake pressure at any wheel through electric motor actuation. Couple that with regeneration that is inconsistent (may or may not regen, depending on the battery state of charge) and inconsistent across the differential (the wheel with the least grip will limit the regeneration ability) and you have the makings for a very complex system, indeed.
I think to simplify things greatly, they should put a big dump resistor in there so you can always use electric (formerly known as regeneration braking
) braking even if the batteries are full. That would go a long way to simplifying the programming and providing a consistent pedal feel. Plus, I think it would be cheap, too. And you could use the heat from the resistor to warm up the batteries because they were too cold to accept the regeneration charge. 
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+2
Feb 9th, 2010 (6:19 pm)Your consent to use OnStar enables them to assist the manufacturer in performing such updates, remotely, without notification, as I interpret the agreement.
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Feb 9th, 2010 (6:49 pm)OT
Pricing announced. Is this the EV builder’s wet dream come true?
http://www.trexa.com/
http://gizmodo.com/5467495/trexa-electric-car-platform-will-cost-upwards-of-15999
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+3
Feb 9th, 2010 (6:53 pm)I be renting a car next week in Florida, you can bet your last dollar it won’t be a Toyota.
NPNS!
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+8
Feb 9th, 2010 (7:21 pm)GM certainly helped pave the way for so many in the Middle-Class. I buy American, and once freed from foreign oil to run the car, America will be back in the driver’s seat.
CHEVY VOLT: American-made, American-FUELED.
@#!#@! to all the Middle-East oil barons, who despise our way of life, democracy, religion, and freedoms.
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+3
Feb 9th, 2010 (7:35 pm)There is a story on the MSN page today about Toyota, in addition to the bowing and apologizing of Mr. Toyoda, hiring substantial numbers of additional DC lawyers and lobbyists to try to stage manage the upcoming Congressional hearings. Make nice out front, and business as usual behind the curtain. PR 101.
I also heard a news item today on late night TV Toyota jokes. The only one I can remember is Dave Letterman saying that he drove a Toyota to work yesterday and it was so scary that the lady’s voice in the navigation system was praying. They blew Tiger Woods right off the late night shows, LOL.
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+5
Feb 9th, 2010 (7:37 pm)If more and more software issues surface, there might be some common thread regarding the ways that the software writers think.
Software coding is no walk in the park. It is very ‘feild experience’ intensive if it is to be done well. However, we need to keep in mind that these programmers do not generally have very much working shop experience on these vehicles. Especially where their subroutines can not be tested in distant future confounding situations.
This is not just a set of very serious problems,
************************************************************************
it is a vast set of horrendous problems to the most extreme*.
**********************************************************************
Field experienced technicians are generally looked down upon by those in the ivory towers of programming (as well as by many others). Outright arrogant contempt may actually be a more fitting description, quite saldy. Vehicles that are more than five years old are frequently disregarded as “not our problem” or a high priority, (no matter how unsafe), by far too many in the corporate ivory towers so very far away from us here in America. (Excepting at Honda Motors, which is not arrogant, as the highest paid gets only five times the pay as the lowest paid).
This is why I would like to see a weakening of the protections for corporate board members who do not take sufficient resposibility nor care, in todays’ contemptuous attitudes that promulgate negligence toward safety like this. This is a systemic problem of corporate protections of board members firstly, and this contempt filters downward to the end results that we are seeing today.
The Japanese government should cause the leadership of Toyota to be fired and replaced. Apologies and promises are not enough.
Systemic programming failures are not unlikely to continue to come up.
The era of extensive automotive software without something like OnStar to automatically update overnight, is coming to an end, as extensive as Controller Area Networks (up to 60 processors!!!) have become in each vehicle.
When I went to my favorite Chevy dealer here in Austin, Henna Chevrolet, I picked up a very detailed brochure about OnStar.
Most all GM vehicles have OnStar for the first year free. As I understand it, it only costs $199 a year after that. You can bet I am absolutely going to maintain OnStar! No way am I going to have any new vehicle without updates happening overnight.
No way whatsoever.
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+5
Feb 9th, 2010 (8:07 pm)If I had bought a 2010 Prius I would be feeling very burned. Unlike some other issues, Toyota KNEW about the problem when transitioning from regen breaking to mechanical breaking for quite a while. I think even our friend john1710 mentioned it on this site a while ago.
Now we have learned that Toyota not only knew about the problem, it has already started fixing the problem on the assembly line. This raises many questions: When were they going to tell existing customers about the problem? Were they going to tell their customers? Were they planning on fixing the problem? And if they were, when were they planning on fixing the problem.
Seems to me that so long as they could get away with it they were just going to try and let existing customers deal with it on their own. Every car company tries to avoid recalls if possible. And if you happen to be one of the unlucky ones who experiences the problem before the recall and had to pay to get it fixed, good luck getting reimbursed. But once the car company knows there is a problem and has gone so far as to fix the problem coming off the assembly line, you’d think that as one of the first to buy the model you’d be at least told about the problem.
Let’s hope GM does better with the Volt. Because despite all the testing there will be some issues with the car, and transparency will go a long way towards keeping the Volt early adopters happy.
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+1
Feb 9th, 2010 (8:17 pm)hi DaveP #23 …
Have steered away from Firestone ever since. The incidents started the habit to avoid. And just never went back.
Don’t have a problem with Ford. Recently asked my boss to buy a Fusion for our fleet at work. We have 3 EV’s. The GEM is a cool way to get around. Have taken it downtown several times. Just need to keep an eye on the battery bar indicator.
=D~
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Feb 9th, 2010 (8:22 pm)OMG I think I just wet myself too. That photo brings back some good memories of my first car. My old man just wet all over himself after seeing his old car.
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Feb 9th, 2010 (8:35 pm)hi EVO #13 …
=D~
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+3
Feb 9th, 2010 (9:04 pm)After hearing about all of these recalls, I just really, really hope GM is spending the time and trouble to get the Volt right. It just can’t be stressed enough.
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+1
Feb 9th, 2010 (9:07 pm)Well, that’s the 3rd basic function of a car. (accel, decel, steering)
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Feb 9th, 2010 (9:09 pm)While the Onstar technology might technically seem to permit this to occur, no GM vehicle software is routinely being administered in this fashion.In order to update any of the modules on a GM the veicle must be stationary, Key On engine off, and a suitable battery charger installed. The process of reflashing most modules on the network requires numerous bus level resets that would not permit the vehicle to be operational during the update.
Someday maybe…
WOT
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+2
Feb 9th, 2010 (9:13 pm)Dan,
I know that this wasn’t the point of your post re software, but did you read the article linked early in either this thread or the one right before it regarding Japan’s cultural protectionism? It’s a long read and an old article, but still very scary. I’d recommend it to anyone here.
Re the software, I know a tech would likely be better than a “lay” driver, but if GM would just get a Project Driveway out for the Volt the sheer # of experiences and combination’s of variables would provide a decent “shake-out” (IMHO).
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The VOLTS ‘ Wheels On The Road!!****No More “Stay Tuned”!
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+1
Feb 9th, 2010 (9:17 pm)Carina, Celica, Corona, Corolla, Camry……..
In the spirit of “Truth in Advertising”, Toyota should rebadge the Prius as the “Toyota Calamity”.
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+2
Feb 9th, 2010 (9:17 pm)TOTALLY agree. +1 GM has ONE chance for a fresh start – including being QUICK to jump on any problems and demonstrate top shelf customer support.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The VOLTS ‘ Wheels On The Road!!****No More “Stay Tuned”!
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Feb 9th, 2010 (9:17 pm)Why does it take 40 minutes to update the software?
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+4
Feb 9th, 2010 (9:20 pm)I thought this was a GM info site…
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+2
Feb 9th, 2010 (9:32 pm)Apparently Toyota is the one responsible for keeping your wallet full, you sound a bit biased compared to the rest of the crowd
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Feb 9th, 2010 (9:35 pm)Most likely half or more of that is set up time. Then reprogramming the flash memory (or whatever they call it) probably requires erasing and re-writing, block by block. On my (new) laptop it takes about 20 minutes to rewrite the bios, if that is updated.
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+3
Feb 9th, 2010 (10:00 pm)Mine took 45 minutes, because they washed & detailed the car too.
That was nice considering it was coated with a nasty winter crust of sand & salt.
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+3
Feb 9th, 2010 (10:05 pm)That’s good customer service.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The VOLTS ‘ Wheels On The Road!!****No More “Stay Tuned”!
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+1
Feb 9th, 2010 (10:07 pm)Since the update was only recently incorporated into the production builds, it probably wouldn’t have been too long. After all, there were a few ECU updates we got as time passed with the previous model.
It does beg the question about Ford though. They applied their braking update to production back in October and didn’t inform existing owners until last week.
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+4
Feb 9th, 2010 (10:29 pm)Hmmm. Reminds me of this ageless quote.
“The more complicated they make the plumbing, the easier it is to stop it up”
Montgomery Scott, Chief engineer, Starship Enterprise, NCC1701.
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+1
Feb 9th, 2010 (11:58 pm)Every company needs to make sure these electronic throttles shut off when the brake is applied. I have read far too many articles about recalls lately and read several different places many car companies have that fail-safe in their cars already. I also saw an article claiming to be quoting NHTSA reports on unintended acceleration by three car brands: 1-50,000 toyotas reported acceleration issues, 1-65,000 fords reported acceleration issues and 1-500,000 gm cars reported acceleration issues. I don’t know how accurate this report was, but 1 report is too much,eliminating people that reported, “the harder i pushed the brakes, the faster the car went.” Anyways, back from my tangent i just went off on, gm needs to make sure the electronic throttle has a fail-safe that activates when the brake is depressed.
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Feb 10th, 2010 (12:00 am)It doesn’t have to quit at 15 MPH. In rail applications with AC motors, regen / dynamic takes the train to zero speed.
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Feb 10th, 2010 (12:09 am)GM engineers have posted on this site that the generator can be used to spin the engine without fuel to burn energy, and that they will do this to provide electric braking if the battery is full.
A bit of vehicle lingo for you:
Regenerative braking is recovering the energy. This can be either regenerating to the power line or recharging a battery.
Generating electricity and burning it away in a resistor to slow down is known as “dynamic braking.”
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+1
Feb 10th, 2010 (12:22 am)I dont think a GM engineer stated that, it was just something that we were bouncing around.. using the generator to drive the ice as an air pump to dissipate braking energy when the battery is full (engine braking). GM never fully charges the battery, so you may never run into that situation.
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+4
Feb 10th, 2010 (1:23 am)I’m glad you’re OK with the way Toyota handled the Prius brake issue but I don’t think I’d be. I have no reason to believe that Toyota had any plan to even inform customers about the problem until the heat was turned up. Maybe they had a master plan to inform customers and address the issue and the timing of the announcement was coincidental, but that’s not what it looks like.
You’ve been critical of GM for not being sufficiently transparent but from where I sit Toyota has taken opacity to new levels. As for Ford, didn’t it act based on one complaint at the NHTSA and from reports from 17K cars? And wasn’t the brake issue on the Fusion a “feel issue” as opposed to a “failure” (albeit momentary) issue? Given the number of cars and complaints and the relative seriousness of the problems I’m sort of seeing Ford’s reaction as the counter-example to Toyota’s.
Good that you got your car cleaned. That is always a nice touch.
Like I’ve said, I sincerely hope that GM takes note and acts accordingly when the problems with the Volt show up.
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Feb 10th, 2010 (1:26 am)I don’t remember this either but it would be interesting if true. Like Herm, I was under the impression that this was one of the reasons the SOC never exceeded 80%. Just for that weird situation where you live at the top of a big hill ….
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+3
Feb 10th, 2010 (2:13 am)The Toyota incidents highlight the main reason why I’m satisfied with GM’s decision to make *only* 10K Volts the first year. No matter how smart the engineers are or how hard they work – there will always be unforeseen issues that will crop up once a product is released.
I’m currently unemployed due to the recession, but look forward to buying a 2nd GM Volt in a few years. I have confidence that GM will aggressively incorporate user experience in each new model year instead of ‘ignoring’ issues for multiple years like Toyota has.
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Feb 10th, 2010 (5:48 am)You have got to be kidding me….
Wednesday February 10, 2010, 5:20 am
TOKYO (AP) — Honda Motor Co. is adding 437,000 vehicles to its 15-month-old global recall for faulty air bags in the latest quality problem to hit a Japanese automaker.
The company will replace the driver’s side air bag inflator in the cars because they can deploy with too much pressure, causing the inflator to rupture and injure or kill the driver.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Honda-adds-437000-cars-to-apf-2428558261.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode=
=D~
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Feb 10th, 2010 (6:33 am)and you still cant buy a car without ABS or airbags in the US.. I think the consumer should have that option.. and absolve the manufacturer from any legal liability.
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Feb 10th, 2010 (7:08 am)Tag,
I agree on something like a project driveway.
However GM needs to move along would be perfectly fine with me, since no other situation like this has ever happened in history before, and, only GM knows how they need to proceed.
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-3
Feb 10th, 2010 (7:09 am)It also highlights the risk GM is taking by focusing entirely on a single battery configuration.
Why sacrifice the low exposure real-world testing opportunity?
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Feb 10th, 2010 (7:37 am)hi john #59 …
This is exactly what the Volt is going through now. The common pothole, hillclimb, and desert heat testing is behind GM.
Besides the current Arctic cold test. I expect GM to do some marshy swampland testing. And maybe spend a day or two doing donuts on a beach.
Need to have a close look at these results before the Volt is released for Project Driveway demo. Public demo may the event which happens around July 4th. Latest update is that GM will start assembling Final Production Volts in November. We may see these in dealer lots before 01/01/11.
=D~
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Feb 10th, 2010 (7:54 am)This is a great opportunity for Ford.
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Feb 10th, 2010 (8:00 am)My computer had just gotten attacked it seems.
I agree a project driveway could do a lot of good things.
If you say it’s a scary situation in Japan, I would certainly believe you. (No link access for me today.)
I was stationed on Okinawa, Japan, when assigned to the USAF Security Service counter intel at Kadena AFB.
The thing we might need to keep in mind about Japan, is that there are 170 million people on an island the size of the State of Nevada. There is no room for error of any kind. This situation is far more devastating to Japan than most of us realize, but, we must all learn from these lessons as thoroughly as we can. I do hope for the best outcomes for Toyota, however.
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Feb 10th, 2010 (8:01 am)With the Asian red dot stars seeing darker days. The Cruze would be flying off the dealers lots as well.
=D~
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+2
Feb 10th, 2010 (8:21 am)I own a 2009 GMC Sierra Hybrid and have absolutely no issues with how my regenerative brakes blend into the friction brakes (when needed). GM has designed this system well, so no worries here on whether the Volt will perform as planned.
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+3
Feb 10th, 2010 (8:22 am)John,
Why do you focus on things you are not qualified to represent?
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Feb 10th, 2010 (8:35 am)Most people do not even know what their 12 volt ICE battery does most of the time. (hint: it does not start the car most of the time).
(Answer later today).
(/off to do some real work. Have a great day everyone!)
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-3
Feb 10th, 2010 (9:09 am)Why the attempt to draw attention to credibility, rather than focus on the topic itself?
Looks like things have returned back to normal remarkably quick.
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+3
Feb 10th, 2010 (9:19 am)Because credibility is not what you bring here, just head trips.
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-1
Feb 10th, 2010 (9:28 am)Grow up. You know darn well GM has a smaller battery-pack already. It’s the one which was intended for the plug-in Two-Mode that never made it to market.
Why the heck aren’t they pursuing a wider market, taking advantage of the lower price by offering the choice of smaller range for those who have extremely short commutes?
One size does not fit all.
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Feb 10th, 2010 (11:18 am)#49
Amen. +1
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-2
Feb 10th, 2010 (11:42 am)They are getting the flack now because they are #1.
I said it 2 years ago when they passed GM, it does not mean you ar ethe best, it means you get to hold the target, and its not glorious sunshine on your face, its the iterregators spot light.
Having grown up in an auto town, I feel the pain for Toyota, big hits like this hurt, but when you are #1, and that huge rep, the sensationalism is like blood to the pirhana’s (media)
I mean look at Tiger woods, why is all the sensationalism there, andnot on say another PGA caliber but near the bootom rank being scrutinized? becuase he is #1, and when #1 gets hit, the media GLORY in it. they will be all over it like a fat kid on a smartie, wring it out harder than your ex wifes attorney going after support until even the rocks bleed.
who cares about the other..hear anything really bad about GM lately? Chrysler? hell no..they had their crap,and not #1 & 3. who cares about the old #1, we have a new target!! andits rep is ssooooo shiny!!! lets see what we can do about THAT! They will now dig up, and show EVERY single thing real or imagined or rumoured (remember when ABC “investigated” exploding GMC truck and used an incidiary device to “show” it?)
Toyota’s run through the ringer has just begun…
Welcome to #1.
(And if anyone has issues with my statement that being #1 does NOT mean you’re the best, then you have to agree that GM was the BEST for 75 straight years…)
Mitch
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-2
Feb 10th, 2010 (12:44 pm)Hybrid owners who will be celebrating their 10th year and 200,000 miles in 2010 have a bullseye painted on them.
That comes will the territory, not at all surprising what they represent would come to question.
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Feb 10th, 2010 (5:04 pm)don’t argue with someone who always sounds like he is on speed.
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Feb 11th, 2010 (5:00 pm)Yep. With a controller, you can generate to zero RPM.
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Feb 11th, 2010 (5:05 pm)My advice is to be careful with knee-jerk reactions, lest you create a new problem.
The first person who stabs the throttle to pull out into busy traffic, then gets T-boned because the override circuit detected that the driver touched the brake (whether or not they really did) and disabled the throttle will make the engineers wish that they had thought the problem through more thoroughly.
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Feb 11th, 2010 (5:13 pm)Yes. Ford spent more effort trying to throw their supplier under the bus than they did admitting to and resolving their part of the problem. I’ve bought Firestone tires ever since; not so with Ford.
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