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Software Glitches Stall Toyota Prius

Posted by timothy on from the cool-story-to-tell-saint-peter dept.

t35t0r writes "CNN/Money/Tech reports that 2004 and early 2005 Toyota Prius models have software bugs that cause them to stall while traveling at highway speeds. While no accidents were reported to have been caused by the software glitch, could we be heading into an era where our automobiles will require software updates and fixes to keep them from literally 'crashing'?"

5 of 560 comments (clear)

  1. BMW?? by NETHED · · Score: 5, Informative

    Sounds very Familiar

    More to the point. How does everyone feel giving up full control of thier car? What about the Mercedes digital brakes? There is no physical link between the pedal and the wheels.

    We were promised self driving cars, and we're on the way to it.

    --
    --sig fault--
  2. Software fixes are already part of auto recalls by silentbozo · · Score: 5, Informative

    The 2001/2002 Ford Escapes have to have the EEPROM flashed as part of a transmission recall. The days of software fixes for cars have been with us for a while.

  3. Re:Shouldn't have stolen that code... by Blkdeath · · Score: 4, Informative
    From what I've heard, Ford's bug is opposite. My ex had an explorer and one day the pedal slammed itself to the floor and she couldn't stop the car with all of her weight on the brake and had to ram it into someone to get it to stop.

    That's not "Ford's" problem so much as any number of cars that have experienced accelerator sticks.

    BTW - if you're still on speaking terms with your ex, you should let her know that if that happens in the future she should have

    1. Shifted into neutral (which, as a safety feature, has no 'lock' so you don't have to press the button - just push the shifter)
    2. Turned off the ignition
    3. Aimed for a passage of empty space, rather than a potential casualty
    --
    BD Phone Home!

    Shameless plug. Like you weren't expecting it.

  4. Re:I can just imagine it... by Celandro · · Score: 4, Informative

    Mod parent down as disinformative..

    The Prius does not use any belt or cone system. That is the older CVT used in other cars many years ago.

    The Prius uses a planetary gear set to transfer power around between its various inputs/outputs.

    See this article for more details:
    http://auto.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car16.htm

  5. Re:Shouldn't have stolen that code... by ThosLives · · Score: 5, Informative
    Actually, Ford isn't paying royalties on anything. Ford and Toyota have cross-licensing agreements for various hybrid components and other automotive technologies. Ford developed their hybrid drive independently of Toyota's; the thing is the engineering problem only lends itself to so many economical solutions. (Notably, Ford's design is based more on the Volvo hybrid, but both the Volvo/Ford design and Toyota's use a modified Ravigneaux gearset - that's where the IP conflict arises).

    Mostly these technologies have to do with the transmission and, I believe, some of the control mechanisms and algorithms. But, despite what you have read in most media outlets, Ford is not buying parts or designs from Toyota (at this time).

    --
    "There are a dozen opinions on a matter until you know the truth. Then there is only one." - CS Lewis (paraprhase)