>>Not saying this guy is the best example of an innocent victim, but the inability to find the problem doesn’t mean there isn’t a problem.<<
Actually, it does. I have done a lot of testing in my day (software) and when something has been well refined (I’m not talking Beta here), if someone reports a problem, but nobody can repeat it after exaustive attempts, it is always operator error. And even if the attempts have not been exaustive, it is ALMOST ALWAYS operator error.
When you have millions of cars out there, there may be an occasional malfunction that causes a problem, but a systemic problem? Highly unlikely - especially with the low understanding so many drivers have regarding the functioning of their vehicle coupled with the motivation some have to simply commit fraud, as it is beginning to appear this Sikes guy did.
I am not convinced there is any problem at all with the Toyota accelerators.
To be clear, I’ve been a Chrysler man most of my adult life. I just hate witch hunts.
There was a fellow here on FR last week that had a runaway 2002 Toyota. He managed to get it stopped. After which he traded it off and told the dealer his experience. The dealer poo-pooed it off and sold the car to a friend of his. Not long after that it happened again and the car got totaled.
True or fabricated story? I don’t know.
Steve Wozniak strongly disagrees with you, it happend at least 3 times to him.
He is said to know a thing or two about computers, and he flat out stated it was a software problem. Toyota had his car for more than a week and “couldn’t find a problem”.
Google for yourself, old Steve even made the morning news shows talking about it.
I’m hearing the brakes were still in perfect working order and showed NO SIGN of being burned out by the type of long, continuous use he claims.
If his story was true, we’re practically talking enough heat here to melt an axle!
Dude’s a shyster. Plain and simple.