Toyota Suspends Sales of 8 Models

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Couldn't you just slam on your breaks? Or would the breaks not be strong enough to overcome the engine?

I drive a standard as well and your first instinct would be to slam on the breaks and in a standard you (well I typically) also push the clutch down when breaking hard. So you would not only cut off power to the wheels you would actually stop as well.

If traveling 180km/h under full throttle, like the one fatality in the Lexus RX330, you would cook your brakes almost immediately.

If you turn the key all the way off, you have no steering and now power brakes. Most people that drive automatics never use neutral, so in a panicked situation slamming the shifter forward doesn't occur to them.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Most people that drive automatics never use neutral, so in a panicked situation slamming the shifter forward doesn't occur to them.

Which is basically why I think that people who drive automatics are just steering a couch. Driving manual teaches you how to operate a machine, and allows you to control the car in ways that you never even think about when driving an automatic. You have to be alert at all times to what your car is doing, and that helps you to be ready during sticky situations.

I know that when I hop into an automatic transmission car, my mind drifts and the alert level is very much reduced....I'd probably crash too if i was in some of these situations.

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

GO FORD GO (as the only NA car-maker not the take any bailout money).

Now if only Ford could produce a vehicle that doesn't look like complete garbage.

(Mustang not included...)

[Table 5]

Ford has produced some great looking vehicles, but for the most part they were only sold in Europe (for some reason we got the chunky, uglified versions of them). That trend is changing though, as the vehicles will now all same the share design....case in point, the new Focus that was released a few weeks ago.

[V]

I knew there was a reason I never buy a car newer than 5 years old. My Sequoia should be just fine.

[Finny61]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

Now if only Ford could produce a vehicle that doesn't look like complete garbage.

(Mustang not included...)

I don't mind the look of the new Fusion with some exterior extras. I've always had an issue with Ford interiors being dull and cheap looking.

[blankall]

Damn I have a 5 month old 2010 Matrix... any idea on what is going on with this?

[Table 5]

Call your dealer and find out.

[IliketoPuck]

I called my dealership today and the answer I got was "we honestly don't know what is going on, but when toyota figures it out, and if it turns out your car is affected, you will get a letter in the mail telling you about the recall and to bring your car in asap."

Not exactly comforting, but they will figure it out. I just got a Corolla S 2009 2 octobers ago. It already has had 1 recall issue with it....hopefully this one does not affect it.

[tussery]

I knew when this problem arose that it was not the floor mats, but I also knew that it was not the "glitch in the fly by wire" problem every consumer was spewing. If it was a glitch in the programing every Toyota on the road would exhibit the problem, not just a select few. I knew it had to be a QC problem with a part, just wasn't widespread enough to be a program issue.

Example: Every '09 Auto V6 Tacoma exhibits the same problem of transmission lag when downshifting from 2nd to 1st because of a glitch in the ECU programing for the control of the transmission.

[slcrocket]

When my wife was taking me to work one day last year in our 2005 RAV4, the floormat got stuck somehow and the gas wouldn't quit...she tried hitting the brakes at first, but it didn't seem to work and she started panicking. I told her to pull onto the shoulder very gradually, and once we got there I pulled the emergency brake. That stopped us, and we could see what was going on and we pulled the floormat out, which stopped the issue.

It was pretty nerve-racking, and I've often wondered what would have happened if I hadn't been there...but it seemed (at the time) like it was our fault for letting the floormat get scrunched up like that.

We never had the problem again, but we don't have that car anymore (traded it in for a 2010). I guess I'll have to wait and see what happens.

[DrPepper]

If I hadn't bought my Impreza, toyota would have been my 2nd choice. I like the style of the camry and the corolla. The corolla is our family car and its a decent car for 5 years of age.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by slcrocket

When my wife was taking me to work one day last year in our 2005 RAV4, the floormat got stuck somehow and the gas wouldn't quit...she tried hitting the brakes at first, but it didn't seem to work and she started panicking. I told her to pull onto the shoulder very gradually, and once we got there I pulled the emergency brake. That stopped us, and we could see what was going on and we pulled the floormat out, which stopped the issue.

It was pretty nerve-racking, and I've often wondered what would have happened if I hadn't been there...but it seemed (at the time) like it was our fault for letting the floormat get scrunched up like that.

We never had the problem again, but we don't have that car anymore (traded it in for a 2010). I guess I'll have to wait and see what happens.

So you guys hadn't heard of neutral either hey?

I'm starting to think after these deaths/accidents they should just put stickers on the visor beside the airbag warning indicating that if you nudge your gear shift up without touching the button it stops in neutral, and your car doesn't keep accelarating, and your brakes will work.

It amazes me how many people don't know how to use the button on an automatic and keep it held down searching between "N" and "3" for "D". Let go of the button! It stops there! Sorry... got carried away.

[calculoso]

If the accelerator is jammed, wouldn't shifting to Neutral blow your engine?

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by calculoso

If the accelerator is jammed, wouldn't shifting to Neutral blow your engine?

Yeah, but so does crashing.

[BagoPucks]

nm

[T@T]

I blew an engine in a 69 GTO many years ago because the petal stuck to the floor when I was showing off it's power, I threw the clutch to the floor,braked to stop and turned off the key. Only problem is back in those days the engine still wouldn't turn off because of the old magneto points ignition...it turned off eventually but with a screeching thud and a lot of smoke.

I often wonder if an engine would just turn off these days with the new ignition systems.

[Dynamic]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Couldn't you just slam on your breaks? Or would the breaks not be strong enough to overcome the engine?

I drive a standard as well and your first instinct would be to slam on the breaks and in a standard you (well I typically) also push the clutch down when breaking hard. So you would not only cut off power to the wheels you would actually stop as well.

I had a situaition where my throttle stuck and brakes will not help you.

I drive a 05 Civic 5 speed. I decided to get aftermarket cruise put in since I'm on the highway alot. Basically they messed up the instalation and I was passing a truck one day after work and realized that I was not slowing down. I slammed her in nuetral and heard my engine roar to 8 grand. I turned my car off and back to the run postion.

The way it is on my car is that if you turn your ignition all the way off my steering wheel would of locked. You have to put it to the run postion to keep your steering wheel from locking.

[MoneyGuy]

My Rav is on the list but I haven't seen a recall notice yet. Have they gone out yet?

[Hack&Lube]