Toyota: What a Reeling

[marmar]

March 8, 2010, 10:28 p.m. EST ·

Runaway Toyota Prius reported in California
Gas pedal said to have stuck, though Prius not covered in accelerator recall

By MarketWatch


LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Police in San Diego, Calif., had to assist a runaway Toyota Prius when its gas pedal stuck on a freeway Monday afternoon, according to reports.

California Highway Patrol officers responded to an emergency 911 mobile-phone call from the motorist, who was traveling as fast as 94 miles an hour, according to the San Diego Union Tribune.

The police instructed the driver to use his regular and emergency brakes, and once the car had slowed to 50 mph, he cut the engine and coasted to a stop.

The Prius has been one of a number of Toyota models subject to a series of massive recalls by the Japanese auto maker.

But while some other Toyota vehicles have been recalled for sticking accelerator pedals, the Prius has not -- instead, the 2010 Prius may suffer from braking-system issues, while the 2004-2009 Prius models are subject to a recall due to floor mats that can trap the gas pedal. See Toyota Web-site pages on floor-mat recall and sticking gas-pedal recall. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/runaway-toyota-prius-reported-in-california-2010-03-08

[Liberty Belle]

1. Read my much more in depth story on this incident here--this car was not recalled, owner says!

http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/2897

[Fumesucker]

3. Traffic really flies in California..

From your link..

Asked if he tried shifting into neutral, he said he did not initially because he was afraid he would be hit by another vehicle if his car halted too suddenly. “There were cars all around me. They were passing me left and right…

[Fumesucker]

2. So the Prius won't let you cut the engine off when you are going over 50?

This story doesn't make a whole lot of sense..

[HopeHoops]

4. I didn't know a Prius COULD go over 50! They always seem to be in the "granny lane".