Loved Ones - Toyota

[Bird]

I sure would if I was Toyota. Quote from Consumer Reports Car issue for 2010 "Consumer Reports has suspended its recommendation of those models until the problem has been resolved.---We did not see unintended acceleration in Toyotas we tested,though given the small number of reported problems, "WE WOULDN"T EXPECT TO"My emphasis.
So after years of recommending Toyotas CR can just excuse THEMSELVES from any responsibilty, with a sentence part!
Well,methinks that if some lawyer was looking for some liability, they might consider CR's continued and glowing recommendations of Toyota products. After all aren't they supposed to be testing products and looking after the consumers interests? Just asking.
Wouldn't you guys like to discuss something less controversial, say like global warming?

I haven't looked at anything Consumer Reports has published in many years. I dropped my subscription in the early '80s when I read some of the most ridiculous and silly "tests" imaginable (not only with cars, but also some other things), and when they started trying so hard to sell Toyotas.

 

[FallbrookFarmer]

What brand of vehicles do you own? I'm just curious.

VW Golf TDI, Toyota Camry Wagon, Ford F250, Jag XJ6,Volvo 240,VW Westfalia Camper. Why do you ask?

 

[FallbrookFarmer]

I haven't looked at anything Consumer Reports has published in many years. I dropped my subscription in the early '80s when I read some of the most ridiculous and silly "tests" imaginable (not only with cars, but also some other things), and when they started trying so hard to sell Toyotas.

Smart to drop it. Over the last twenty years or so IMHO, they have gone from being a fairly good resource, to being an advocacy group for certain causes.

 

[Dmace]

Why do you ask?

He's insinuating that you probably don't own a Toyota because if you did then you would know that they are the greatest vehicles in the world just like all the other Toyota owners. Listing a Toyota in your fleet of vehicles kind of puts a kink in his sarcasm. :laughing:

 

[FallbrookFarmer]

He's insinuating that you probably don't own a Toyota because if you did then you would know that they are the greatest vehicles in the world just like all the other Toyota owners. Listing a Toyota in your fleet of vehicles kind of puts a kink in his sarcasm. :laughing:

I guess your right, perhaps he didn't understand that I wasn't criticizing Yotas,(Think they're great cars)
What I was pointing out was the hypocrisy of Consumer Reports, Years of praising a product, but when the gubmint steps in(All kinds ofquestions, as to Why!)then like the good little amber probocis'ers that they are, They let themselves off the hook(Being a liberal=Never to have to say sorry). I hope some sharp lawyer picks up on this!

 

[Coyote machine]

Consumer Reports buys Toyotas off the rack and then tests them. If they come/came across one with unintended acceleration issues it might be noticed in testing or possibly not. Their sampling is so small to the number of vehicles out there, they would not be likely held responsible if sued.
I own a bunch of Toyota's currently and have previously, as well as a TON of Volvos from the 1960's- 2003. Also a bunch of Subarus, and 2 Dodge mini-van's and an Izuzu Pup truck. I've found things wrong with each and every vehicle I've ever owned- some more than others. I owned and ran a foreign auto repair shop for nearly 10 years then sold it to do other things.
Drive on!

 

[FallbrookFarmer]

First off I personally find this example of the run away Toyota hard to believe, but the this so called "reporter" has very questionable credentials also.

Michael Fumento - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The reporter has questionable credentials?
The driver:
1.Is in bankruptcy to the tune of 700K
2.One of his creditors is Toyota.
3. He has a history of filing claims for "stolen property"
4. He has a web site called "Swing Life"(Must be about backyard accessories!)
"The easiest job in the world, Critic"
Cmon Turbo, read something other than the Huffington Post for info!

 

[BobRip]

This is true, the point I was trying to make is that there is a lot of software/firmware in current cars that now control key functions. One bad line of code and things dont work. There is a formula for calculating errors in code. So many errors per x number of lines of code are expected. I should know this but cant recall at the moment.

Like you point out there are many processors in a Prius. Not sure if Toyota is using something off the shelf or is having them made specific for the car. If they are COTS, a manufacture may have changed a small thing in the production of the chip. It still preforms all the functions it always has but there could an odd combo that Toyota is using that causes the problem. Again these are things that I'm sure Toyota is looking at.
If I had to take a SWAG I'd be looking at outside environmental problems, some sort of weird EMI issue that Toyota didn't plan on.

I have confidence that it''ll be figured out in a few weeks. I dont think Toyota is intentionally covering things up. They just just dont know. The silver lining here is that all the other car manufactures should be able to learn from Toyotas mistake.

Wedge

Wedge, all of these are good points. I am an electrical engineer, with a fair amount of software done on machine controls. We would never use software on safety related areas. With multiple processors the rules have changed, but it still scares me. I think car companies are very close to software controlled brakes. I think this can be good, but they better be careful. It's the software controlled steering that I am very concerned about. I expect all of the car companies are taking second looks at this, not jut from the real issues, but now from the consumer perceptions.

Toyota may already have figured out the problem (if it exist), but they may be keeping quiet until they have a manageable (i.e. cheap, simple, easy to implement, and parts available) solution. Most people don't really understand what it takes to retrofit 8 million vehicles, with relatively untrained (for the change that is) personnel. Also the fixes they are now putting in probably cause more problems than the next problem. So they want to finish those first.

 

[turbo36]

The reporter has questionable credentials?
The driver:
1.Is in bankruptcy to the tune of 700K
2.One of his creditors is Toyota.
3. He has a history of filing claims for "stolen property"
4. He has a web site called "Swing Life"(Must be about backyard accessories!)
"The easiest job in the world, Critic"
Cmon Turbo, read something other than the Huffington Post for info!

Just pointing out another example of the pot calling the kettle black. You want to make this a left versus right thing so I guess all those that support Toyota must be republicans and those that don't must be democrats

Time for you to lay off the kool-aid.

 

[dave1949]

Toyota may already have figured out the problem (if it exist), but they may be keeping quiet until they have a manageable (i.e. cheap, simple, easy to implement, and parts available) solution. Most people don't really understand what it takes to retrofit 8 million vehicles, with relatively untrained (for the change that is) personnel. Also the fixes they are now putting in probably cause more problems than the next problem. So they want to finish those first.

Bob, you reminded me that I used to apply patches to patches in the old days with Honeywell Info Systems. Seems like half the (wiring back then, not software) patches I did retouched an earlier patch version. Dead bug chip mounts and wire wrap guns
Dave.