You may have heard about how Toyota is recalling 3.8 million of its cars because they have the tendency to accelerate by themselves. Now the LA Times is soliciting Toyota horror stories which may make you never drive again.
Here are a few of the most terrifying responses to the terrifying question asked by the LA Times: "Have you experienced sudden acceleration in a Toyota?":
3/30/2006 My Solara completely lost control while trying to brake.I did 2 complete 360s, hit a concrete wall and landed in a mud ditch.$10,000 dollars worth of damage and 3 weeks later the only thing Toyota told me that it was driver error. This car had a mind of it's own. -Janet Cobb
I work for a law firm and we have a case where 4 young adults were in Lexus and could not stop the care after it accelerated on the freeway, they ended up hitting the concrete bridge and the car burned up with all 4 people in it. All killed. -Patricia
i own a 2009 Toyota Venza and i just ran through a restuarant no one was hurt but it could have been worst my car just took off Toyota checked my car out and said thay could not find anything i am scared to drive it now. -JM
Source
Gawker — Gossip from Manhattan and the Beltway to Hollywood and the Valley
And now some blogs from Los Angeles Times
I experienced a sudden surge with my 2003 Camry that lasted a very brief time but shook me to the core.
Rachel Stein @ 7:51 AM PST, Nov 14, 2009
I own a 2007 lexus. It is sitting in my garage because I am afraid to drive it because of a sudden acceleration. Luckly it was in park.
Ruth Adams @ 5:55 AM PST, Nov 14, 2009
I rearended a car in front of me that was turning. I was slowing down the closer I got to it. All of a sudden speed cause me to smash my front in and caused $2800. in damage. I drive a 2009 Camry XLE
DJ @ 10:30 AM PST, Nov 13, 2009
Yes, in 2006 my 2001 Toyota Sienna accelerated out of control when I was hit by another car and had to slam on the brakes. I was told this was impossible by Toyota . I never felt safe in the van again and have since sold it. Now I am concerned my new Toyota could have the same problem.
Calmom @ 7:50 PM PST, Nov 12, 2009
I had this happen when I was hit at a stop sign in my 2001 Sienna a couple of years ago. Toyota Palo Alto blew me off when I insisted this had happened. It took moving into neutral to stop the car. I could have died. I was lucky my kids weren't in the car.
momcalif @ 5:21 PM PST, Nov 11, 2009
I have a Toyota Camry that put my family’s life in danger. The anti lock brakes hit something in the road and THE CAR DOES NOT STOP. This has happed on several occasions. It is so dangerous.What can I do?
Matarsha @ 7:59 AM PST, Nov 11, 2009
I own a 2004 Toyota Camry, and last year (2008). I stoped to get gas. After I refuel, the car just sped out of control me and my Wife made attempts to stop the car, but smashed in the gas station store causing damages to the car and the building. I do not have all wether floor mats. Thanks
RAMIRO HERNANDEZ @ 7:33 AM PST, Nov 11, 2009
I have new Toyota AYGO. I am experiancing intermittent acceleration problems. The trottle stays when the foot is off the pedal, this can happen at any time. Returned to Toyota on three occassions, but when thay test drive thay can find no fault. Thay say that thay are unaware of any problems
Eric Harmer @ 6:47 AM PST, Nov 11, 2009
No. I have a very first Pruis and never experienced sudden acceleration. But it seems there should be some kind of problem with automobile but not floormat, as the sudden acceleration happens too unnaturally many cases.
Tak @ 11:42 PM PST, Nov 9, 2009
My parents experienced sudden acceleration in their Toyota Camry a few years ago. The had pulled into a parking spot and the car lunged into a wall and was totaled.
Sherry Williams @ 6:22 PM PST, Nov 9, 2009
Very shocking indeed to read these blogs in the Los Angeles Times. These are some of the many here.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...ice=2&limit=10
Toyotas are functionally very reliable (auto journalists call it bullet proof reliability) but for the safety aspects. Also its a mystery as to why these few year old defects in Toyotas are surfacing at this moment after GM and Chrysler had sunk, but are now trying to again resurface from within the deep waters!