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Translate this page Out-of-control Prius owner received recall noticeCHP officer uses loudspeaker to help out-of-control Prius driver stop the vehicleMonday, March 8th, 2010 Issue 10, Volume 14.
SAN DIEGO - The owner of a Toyota Prius that sped out-of-control on Interstate 8 received a recall notice but later was told his car didn't need work, it was reported today. California Highway Patrol officer Todd Niebert used his cruiser's public-address system to instruct James Sikes, 61, on how to stop the car after a stuck accelerator caused it to speed out of control on eastbound I-8 in the Lakeside area early Monday afternoon. In recent months, Toyota has recalled more than 8 million vehicles worldwide due to acceleration issues. Sikes said he had received a recall notice for his car but wasn't sure what it was for, so he went to the dealership, Toyota of El Cajon, for clarification, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. He was told his car was not on the recall list, according to the newspaper. The automaker released a statement following Monday's incident, saying the company dispatched a technical specialist to San Diego "to investigate the report and offer assistance."
CHP officer uses loudspeaker to help out-of-control Prius driver stop the vehicle SAN DIEGO - A Highway Patrol officer used his cruiser's public-address system today to instruct the driver of a runaway Toyota Prius on how to stop the car, which sped out of control for about 30 miles on Interstate 8 due to a stuck accelerator. James Sikes, 61, was heading east in the hybrid-electric sedan on I-8 in the Lakeside area about 1:30 p.m. when he noticed that the vehicle seemed to be accelerating on Advertisement Sikes tried in vain to slow down, then made a 911 call after the Prius reached speeds over 90 mph, CHP public affairs Officer Brian Pennings said. Highway Patrol personnel caught up with the blue car near Kitchen Creek Road, and one officer pulled up alongside and used his loudspeaker to talk Sikes through the process of slowing down by using his emergency brake and then turning off the engine. The officer pulled in front of the car as it decelerated and rolled to a stop and put the rear bumper of the squad car against the front end of the Prius. "The vehicles did not touch until after they came to a stop," Pennings said. In recent months, Toyota has recalled more than 8 million vehicles worldwide due to acceleration issues. Last August, off-duty CHP Officer Mark Saylor was killed along with his wife, her brother and the Saylors' 13-year-old daughter after the accelerator of the Lexus ES350 they were in got stuck as they drove on State Route 125 in La Mesa. Minutes later, the Toyota-manufactured loaner vehicle slammed into the back of a sport utility vehicle at Mission Gorge road in Santee at about 100 mph, careened off the freeway, hit an embankment, overturned and burst into flames. All four family members died at the scene. Sheriff's investigators determined that the deadly crash was caused by a sticking gas pedal trapped by a wrong-sized floor mat. 26 comments
So for decades, the U.S. automakers manufactured the biggest piles of *%$# cars that the world had ever seen and now Toyota has a few problems and the media and government is all over it. How often did a Ford Ranger or Explorer with that worthless twin i-beam suspension flip over and have same day media coverage? What about the Firestone tires? Toyota is the victim of a witch hunt to help prop up the bankrupt GMC.
Why not place the vehicle into neutral and let the engine rev to the moon while you safely pull over and turn the key off, after you've come to a stop? Why hasn't Toyota sent out a reminder "How to safely stop your vehicle in case of stuck throttle" to their customers? I recognize that some people panic, but having a back-up plan that you've already read and understand PRIOR to experiencing the problem could possibly help in a similar situation.
I agree with Just Curious on putting the vheicle into neutral, the Toyota dealer told us since we had just purchased a new Toyota to always put it in neutral. So I am confused that the Officer had this Prius owner use his emergency brake and turn off the engine. What is the best way to handle this situation?? They need to make a public comment on how to safe stop your vehicle in this situation. ???
Agree with both comments!
The ford twin I beam front end is the strongest well built front end that any truck could have ,what does that have to do with toyota's crap for a car
i have a toyota camry and its a piece of #$%* its an 08 too.everything that could go wrong with it has,toyota is not worried about the safety of there customers there worried about making money.
By American fools...
This CHP officer did a great job! Stop looking for ways to bash the govt. and look at the great work this officer did! Lives were saved and it seems it is due in large part to unnamed CHP Officer...way to go!
Hey Observant, I've had Explorers for over 10 years and I've never flipped over or had any problems. This isn't a media witch hunt, these cars are killing people. I know you might like Toyotas and that's all fine but to not aknowledge that within the last two years toyotas have become synonomous with problems just makes you look uninformed. Toyota, whether you like it or not, has been lying to you about the quality of their cars. 
Hey Observant, I've had Explorers for over 10 years and I've never flipped over or had any problems. This isn't a media witch hunt, these cars are killing people. I know you might like Toyotas and that's all fine but to not aknowledge that within the last two years toyotas have become synonomous with problems just makes you look uninformed. Toyota, whether you like it or not, has been lying to you about the quality of their cars.
Toyota were killers CAR on the road and a hazared to fellow motorize... if you see a Toyota... be on the look out it might be a killer on your way .... to you.
So I'm thinking Toyota now has a reputation second only to that of the Hindenburg....
Matt, The twin i-beam is very strong but it has camber/cornering issues. That last Ford I drove was an 88 Ranger and I made sure it was my last. David, you are repeating yourself. Yes, many people have had Explorers and not had a problem but many have. There is also a good chance you know how to drive. Yes, I do agree that Toyota's quality has gone down the last couple of years. I believe America's big 3 have been down for about 30 or 40 years. Many manufacturers have trouble free models but across their entire lineup GMC, Ford and Dodge don't hold a candle to Toyota, Honda and some others. Consumer Reports show's 75 percent of their most reliable cars being Asian. I'll stick with Toyota- 221,000 miles and counting. I will be keeping a wary eye out though. The CHP officer did an awesome job.
Runaway Cars gas pedal that get stuck to floor mats? Or is it in the computer system I don’t know but it is truly scary. I had a recall on my car which is made in USA (Pontiac G8) I found out on www.carpedalrecall.com I had friends and co workers also discover their cars had a recall maybe not a serious recall but a recall none the less, and really what recall isn’t serious. They recalled the car for a reason.. People should be more aware of the ghost in their machines.
The first thing the CHP officer told him to do was put the car in neutral and it DID NOT do anything. The only thing that stopped the car was the driver firmly applying the break, putting on the emergency break, and then the CHP officer got in front of him and slowed him to a stop with his police cruiser. Regardless of who the automaker is... This should have been fixed a year ago when the CHP officer and his family died in the Lexus. Erin Brokovich needs to get in on this!
I was mistaken. When I watched the Prius owner on the news he said Neutral didn't do anything, now I've read a news article and he said he was scared to put it in neutral, he was afraid the car would flip! I would be scared to throw the car in Park, but not Neutral.
I have owned Toyotas for 30 years. They still make better cars than any american company. Thats why there the number 1 car maker in the world. Little brake problem, they will fix it. Remember the Pinto, rear end crash and boom. American car.
Soo K I wouldn't call rocketing down the road at 100+ MPH and unable to stop a "little brake problem"
I believe this to be a hoax as well as many others perpetrated by people looking for claims against the Toyota company.
I understand this man went to the dealer and felt he was rebuffed. I thought this one sounded fishy from the getgo. Will he take a lie detector test? I doubt it. I'm sure many of these stories are hoaxes with people looking for $$'s.
I know this topic has been addressed but it still is valid, "neutral" folks or just turn the vehicle off. Every vehicle ever made has the possibility of sudden accelaration both drive by wire or cable throttle but people panic. Now for the CHP officer who died which lead to the investigation, he should have known better, no excuse really but a Lexus id not a Ford Crown Victoria but both could suffer the same problem. I also have noticed that most of the drivers of these problematic vehicles are over the age of fifty five, than don't drive computers, find an old Studabaker. All cars will cease to function when it's turned off. All cars will allow limited steering from the power steering with the vehicle not running. Neutral disengages the power train which will allow you to coast to a stop and still have steering control, so if the engine "red lines" you still live to see another day. Common sense might keep you alive or better yet, a defensive driving course.
The cars have not been responsive to attempts to shut them off!
Sort of a car buff, driven one. They shut off fine if your not in a panic mode. Driven many of these rolling computers, let Gore have them all, not impressed.
Noticed there are "class action" lawsuits filed in regards to so-called defective Toyota vehicles. Many people named as defendants like toyota, the dealers, the parts manufacturers, one name is missing..... Albert Gore. He should be named since is responsible for shoving these vehicles up our backsides. I say sue the inventor of the internet.
You guys have all failed to realize there is no recall nor any known complaints (except this one) about a Prius accelerating unexpectedly... I agree with those who say about the hoaxes, look at how the whole ABC story was rigged. With that said, there is def. a serious problem, but I think we are experiencing a massive hypochondriac type of event here...
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