Recent Toyota recalls for hazardous floor-mats, sticking throttles, and most recently for braking issues experienced in the Prius and the Lexus HS250h have been the topic of conversation for quite some time now. The controversy seemed to have reached a boiling point as Congressional hearings were held allowing interested parties to share their perspectives regarding safety problems with Toyota Vehicles. By the close of the hearings, Toyota recalls had been making headlines for months and Toyota Motors had already spent a fortune on repairs and a highly visible public relations campaign. It started to seem like we’d finally be able to shift our attention elsewhere. Unfortunately, it’s pretty difficult to move on while we’re still hearing reports of “runaway Toyotas”. Just in case you haven’t been following the news of late, here are a couple of reports related to recent incidents:
- Runaway Prius in California – Video Report
- Toyota Engineers to Investigate Suburban NY Prius Wreck
- Toyota Dismisses California Man’s Runaway Prius Report
- Blaming Toyota rav4 for Doctor’s Office Crash
*PLEASE NOTE – The runaway Toyota Prius reports are especially concerning because the Prius was a late invitee to the recall party, and were recalled specifically for braking issues, and NOT for instances of sudden acceleration. Also, the most publicized Prius incident occurred in Southern California, where 4 died in a “runaway” Lexus ES350 crash that played a huge roll in putting the spotlight on safety concerns surrounding Toyota cars.
