Nice New Toyotas

Amidst numerous concerns over its vehicles, Toyota has issued yet another recall. Previous recalls have focused on problems with the accelerators on a number of their vehicles, leading to sudden uncontrolled acceleration. These acceleration incidents have led to the deaths of multiple people. This time, the company is addressing a computer issue with the brakes on its popular Prius hybrid. Could the accelerator issues also be a computer problem?

In modern vehicles it is not rare for the brakes, steering, and even acceleration to be partially computer-controlled. Although some customers fear a loss of control to a computer, most of the time these systems actually increase the vehicle’s safety by responding to problems before the driver is aware of them. However, unless automobile manufacturers take extreme care, mistakes in these computer systems can have disastrous results.

As a hybrid, the Prius makes use of both electrical and gasoline-based drive systems to increase its fuel efficiency. One of several methods it uses to recharge its batteries is known as regenerative braking. When the driver hits the brakes, the vehicle stops the car by using its momentum to drive a generator. If the driver needs to stop suddenly, however, the computer must give control to a standard braking system. Difficulties switching between these two systems are what led to the most recent recall.

Steve Wozniak, one of the co-founders of Apple Computers and a long-time Prius enthusiast, owns dozens of Priuses and has claimed to have discovered a software issue that might be behind the acceleration issues. He reports that some vehicles can experience sudden acceleration without any input from the driver. And this is in addition to the brake issue that has already triggered the new round of recalls

The acceleration and braking recalls are a serious embarrassment for Toyota. Other automobile manufacturers use computer-controlled systems very safely. In fact, many European car companies have had systems in place for years that automatically prevent uncontrolled acceleration. Apparently this is too much to pay for Toyota, a company that has been gradually reducing the quality of its components for years to cut costs.

If you or someone you love have been seriously affected by a sudden Toyota acceleration or braking incident, you are entitled to seek damages for your losses. The compassionate and experienced personal injury lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier are here to help you seek justice.

No one should have to suffer because of a company’s negligence. To discuss your case with a lawyer, call the acceleration injury lawyers Habush Habush & Rottier today.

Joseph Devine

The most popular car brand on Earth, Toyota, is suddenly looking like chopped liver. How can that be? They just began the largest auto recall in history for uncontrollable acceleration problems. Now, their beloved Prius brand is having a brake recall on top of that. Has the automotive world gone mad? They had hoped it would all go away, but there were too many incidents and complaints which resulted in a call to action by the largest consumer of Toyota products, the United States.

Drivers are not prepared to have automobiles with accelerators that have a mind of their own. The results have been disastrous. Brakes can not save you because the engine will overpower your efforts to stop the vehicle. For the record, if this ever happens to you, the experts say to immediately put your car in neutral and guide it over to the shoulder. Then, turn the engine off. For my own experimental purposes, I turned our 1996 Camry engine off and tried to steer the car in a parking lot. You can not turn the steering wheel if the car is off because the power steering is not engaged, and the wheel is really impossible to handle.

I’ve always loved Toyotas. My wife had an ancient Corolla, and we still have the above-mentioned Camry, and a 1977 Toyota long-bed truck. It’s like a Timex watch: it takes a licking and keeps on ticking. That rusted out relic just won’t die. Luckily, none of them were included in any recall. They’re much too old and simple.

But, the main question is: can Toyota survive this nightmare? You’d think that in time, and if the recalls are handled properly, they will regain their status. But, what if there are more design flaws lurking in the wings? And, it has to make you wonder if other car brands have problems yet to be uncovered. I had to take our 1995 Ford Windstar van in for a recall fix, and that was only recently. Scary.

It seems that as the vehicles we drive become more sophisticated, relying on computers and advanced but much more complex systems, there are many more chances for things to go horribly wrong. You often hear mechanics complaining about how difficult the modern-day automobile is to fix, not only in expensive equipment needed to diagnose problems, but in regard to the know-how to fix them once a problem is determined.

Hopefully, this “Toyotapocalypse” will subside, and the Company and their consumers will be much the better for it. But, it will make you think twice before purchasing a Toyota for a while.

About the Author: Grant Brad Gerver is an entrepreneur and creative consultant for Filibi. Free Online Classified Advertising and Printable Coupons with a 70% twist. Come post your free ads with filibi today. “Gerv” is also a YouTube (gbgerver) blues singer-songwriter and guitar player who performs with The Buzzard Brothers. He’s a retired elementary school teacher who works in the mental health care field.

America is a nation on wheels. Car ownership is built into the fabric of America: most Americans are completely dependent on their vehicles for getting to work and running errands. For that reason, when a safety issue comes to light with a company’s vehicles, it should be taken very seriously. This is all the more true when America’s largest automobile supplier begins a massive series of recalls for vehicles that can accelerate out of control.

Understandably there has been a massive backlash against Toyota over these concerns. Sudden acceleration has led to a number of deaths and serious injuries. Although reports have trickled in over the years of drivers losing control when their vehicles suddenly accelerate out of control, it has taken Toyota until very recently to issue a series of recalls. The most recent series of recalls has extended beyond accelerators to braking issues as well.

Initially they blamed the unintended acceleration on faulty pedals that get stuck under floor mats. Since then, new information has come to light that suggest both mechanical and computer errors as the culprits. The braking issues, so far restricted to their Prius model, is reportedly caused by a computer problem. Having so many different problems, with so many different causes, will not help Toyota rebuild its reputation.

Toyota is one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers, holding a significant market share in every part of the world. Even in America, it holds a larger share of the market than any other brand. In addition, it is the largest contributor to Japan’s economy: the largest contributor of taxes and the largest single employer. A massive blow to Toyota’s wellbeing will be felt across the entirety of Japan’s economy.

Nonetheless, any company that puts its consumers at risk should have to pay the price. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured because of sudden unintended acceleration or braking problems with a Toyota vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation for your suffering and losses.

The compassionate sudden acceleration injury lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier are here to help you win the battle against reckless, profit-centric car manufacturers. To discuss your case with a lawyer, contact Habush Habush & Rottier today.

Joseph Devine