Software Glitches Stall Toyota Prius

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'?"

Comments

BMW??

[NETHED]

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.

Software fixes are already part of auto recalls

[silentbozo]

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.

Re:Shouldn't have stolen that code...

[ThosLives]

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).