Toyota should've learned from VW how to prevent "unintended acceleration"

I made this video before the recall and production shutdown was announced, and now that Toyota has admitted the flaw in their accelerator pedal design (and stopped blaming it on just improperly installed floor mats), it just gives credence to the fact that Toyota's problems would've been largely avoided if they had used the same kind of brake cutout feature that Volkswagen has implemented in all of their "drive by wire" systems, dating back to at least 1995 -- as I demonstrate here in my 1997 VW Passat TDI.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• toyota
• recall
• nhtsa
• federal
• camry
• corolla
• accelerator
• gas
• pedal
• throttle
• design
• flaw
• unintended
• runaway
• acceleration
• crash
• crashes
• vw
• volkswagen
• drive
• by
• wire
• brake
• cutout
• safety
• feature
• demo
• demonstration

[FelixTheHouseFreak]

How is your passat in terms of reliability? Im looking for a new car and im wondering if i should consider this car.

[vwestlife]

@FelixTheHouseFreak My Passat has been very reliable, but it's also from 1997, so you can't really use it to judge today's brand new VWs. Nonetheless, the current VW Golf and the brand new 2011 Jetta are attractive, well built, economical, fun to drive cars, and I can highly recommend them.

[dlgenner]

Toyotas have the same system its just Americans dont know how to drive, maybe???

[frosty9595]

Agreed 100%

[rider9187]

toyota is a crap since the ealry 00s

[Ferrariman601]

I've often wondered about brake throttle override systems on fly-by-wire throttle systems. Good to know you can still do heel-toe shifting if you want to.

Personally though, I prefer an actual throttle cable. I've driven fly-by-wire cars and I really didn't like the feel of the pedal. Actual cable tension giving me feedback gives me more confidence personally.

[an65001]

I love diesels.

[Muhlineks]

@dlgenner

because they have no proper driving schools. How to stop an uncontrolled accelerating car is what you learn in driving lessons. Chose neutral on the automatic or shifted and brake. If you have an igniton key and a switch instead, turn off the engine. To blame others for not knowing basic knowlege is just stupid.

[chrwl007]

@PRO50MUSTANGS That feature can not malfunction. If the brake pedal sensor is not working, the ECU will turn on either the EPC or glow plug light (gasoline or diesel, respectively). If you keep driving with a warning light on, it's your own fault if you crash. There's only one other outcome, and that is the engine shutting down completely if the system fails.

Or, as Nebraskahusker said, put it in Neutral or the lowest gear that the car will allow you to. The brakes will stop you.

[Nebraskahusker23]

@PRO50MUSTANGS Put it into neutral.

[PRO50MUSTANGS]

But what if that malfunctions?

[GoMetricToday]

Seriously people. Why must you continue to bash American driving styles? From the many places I have been around the world, I can say that there is no country free from horrible drivers. I suggest taking a look in the mirror before criticizing others.

[Kreisverkehr00]

cool, now i know why my moms vw golf has this delay

[salambhola]

they tried very well to put toyota down but failed.