Why not just simply install a “KILL SWITCH”. One that will over ride the fuel pump immediately, but still allow power assisted braking. Kind of like a fuel shutoff that’s at all gas stations. It sure as hell beats bad press. What would one cost? I bet less than $100.00 installed.
My bet is the problem is caused my radio wave interference. Cell phone, alarms, wireless internet, home phones, etc…
I listening to CSPAN right now with Toyota and Congress…
Many members of Congress are downright rude and condescending to these guys who did not have to be there, and I can’t help but think this has more to do with the gov’s invested interest in GM and Chrysler than anything to do with Toyota safety.
The big 3 have had many serious safety issues, and there was no dog and pony show for them.
How about dropping the vehicle into neutral…Lack of skills can be just as deadly as equipment malfunctions. Goes for firearms as well as cars.
I am convinced that this is 100% about the UAW and Government Motors.
M_P
Exactly… Some local dealers are offering an extra grand if you trade in a toyota. Part of me wants to ask if they are doing that so they have used cars that will sell.
Yup what those two gentleman said. Now that the government owns the car company, they need to kill off the competition.
Wow, I don’t remember the president/CEO of Audi testifying before congress when they had some issues. I don’t remember the president/CEO of Ford being grilled when the Pinto has some issues. I don’t remember the president/CEO of…
I didn’t say the problem doesn’t exist, I think Toyota is getting the business because they are non-Union and in the #1 spot. :rolleyes:
M_P
Testing alone would take months…not to mention that the first accidental kill switch flip that caused a panic / crash pile up would back fire the idea amigo.
This whole deal is mind boggling. I agree about the dog and pony show but the fact toyota cannot find the solution is quite amazing.
One in 625,000 is the numbers I saw on this happening. You should have had your mom keep that bad boy for its rareness. 
Don’t doubt it happened, but is it really something that Congress needs to be involved with?
Bottom line is cars have problems, and I dont need to sit here and make a HUGE deal over Toyota’s problems but then sweep the big 3 under the rug.
We had a Ford Ranger that would not brake at times. Press the brake, and nothing. Let off, and brake again…then it would brake about half the time. Rare but it happened to me in this truck at least 1-2 times a month.
Dealer said it was fine. Look online and other people have this issue too. No recall at all. I nearly t-boned someone in an intersection because of this. Was at a T intersection, and I went into a grape vineyard because the brakes did not work for shit on a near new truck.
This…is exactly what I’m thinking. It’s about training.
My brother used to be a tech at a Lexus dealership. They had a TSB on this issue (and the fix) in case an owner notified them of this problem. That was about 5 years ago.
Should Toyota/Lexus addressed this on a larger scale when the problem was first identified? Yes.
Is .gov going to exploit this to try to scare people into buying American? Yes.
I honestly can’t recall maybe some one can refresh my memory, but how long did it take Ford to fix the vic’s catching on fire and killing nearly 2 dozen LEO’s and a number of others? Not counting the ones left disfigured from horrible burns.
Its not “almost all of toyotas lineup”.
We had other Fords with issues, too. A Mustang that almost got lemon lawed because of transmission issues, and then later the exhaust manifold (R) cracked at just 60k miles. Ford dealer put on non-CARB legal headers, and this was in CA which is a huge no-no.
Now I drive a 350Z, and its the best car Ive ever owned. Not a single problem in 3 years of driving, and the dealer’s Ive dealt with are far better than Ford.
The big 3 have had a lot of serious safety issues, and have never had this level of involvement by the gov.
Put 2 and 2 together. Yes Toyota made a mistake. So have the big 3, and they never went before Congress to get talked to like a 5 year old in timeout.
That is what the courts are for, if there is enough evidence that the company is in the wrong they would pay. If there is not, they would not.
Congressional hearings should deal with the need for a law, or the over-reaching of an existing law and how the legislature can address that legal weakness. Once the laws have been established, the legislature has no business sticking its nose into individual cases. The current action of Congress is very close to a bill of attainder, with Congress attacking one individual, and not an entire class. Should any legislation come to pass from this, GM and Dodge may very well regret not reminding their pet Congressfolk that all automotive regs apply to ALL automobiles. If it is only aimed at Toyota, it is not just close to a de facto beill of attainder, it IS one.
Was steroids in baseball something Congress needed to be involved with?:rolleyes: We shouldn’t expect anything more from them…