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Woz Cites "Scary" Prius Acceleration Software Problem

Posted by Soulskill on from the bad-news-for-half-of-california dept.

theodp writes "Speaking at Discovery Forum 2010, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak went off topic and spoke about a 'very scary' problem with his 2010 Toyota Prius. 'I don't get upset and teed off at things in life, except computers that don't work right,' said Woz, who went on to explain he'd been trying to get through to Toyota and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration for three months, but could not get anyone to explore an alleged software-related acceleration problem. 'I have a new model that didn't get recalled,' Steve said. 'This new model has an accelerator that goes wild but only under certain conditions of cruise control. And I can repeat it over and over and over again — safely.' Toyota said it investigates all complaints. 'We're in the business of investigating complaints, assessing problems and finding remedies,' said Toyota's John Hanson. 'After man-years of exhaustive testing we have not found any evidence of an electronic [software] problem that would have led to unwanted acceleration.'" We recently discussed other problems Toyota has had with electronic acceleration systems.

4 of 749 comments (clear)

  1. PEBCSW by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    The problem exists between the chair and gas pedal.

    Are we sure that Woz's legs aren't just so incredibly heavy that he has trouble keeping them from mashing the gas??

  2. But it's the Apple dude who says so! by captainpanic · · Score: -1, Troll

    The car manufacturers checked and checked again. Found nothing.
    But the Apple dude says there's something wrong!

    I think I'll believe the computer guy, not the guys who actually designed, tested, certified and built the car.

  3. Woz, you're an idiot by spun · · Score: -1, Troll

    Any car will 'accelerate wildly' under cruise control, given the right conditions, i.e. you are going up a hill and it can't maintain speed in the current gear. Here's what you do: manually put the thing into a lower gear before it loses speed. Problem solved.

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  4. Obligatory Blame by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    North Korea and Iran.

    This should keep Secretary of State Hillary Clinton busy for
    the next couple of years before the Republicans are returned to control the world's richest oligarchy for the next
    one hundred years.

    Yours In Ashgabat,
    K. Trout