Toyota Prius Software Problems - READ ONLY

752 messages, Last post on Sep 10, 2006 at 5:54 PM

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#18 of 752 Re: Toyota Prius Software Problems [stevedebi] by gagrice Mar 28, 2005 (3:17 pm)
Replying to: stevedebi (Mar 28, 2005 2:27 pm) Your dates are right on. The issue is, the blue screen of death is nothing compared to your car stopping from 70 mph in the left lane, on the 405 freeway during rush hours. This is happening more than any other car I can remember researching. What has Toyota done to correct the software bug? Replies to this message: boysboysboys (Mar 29, 2005 9:29 am) gagrice (Mar 29, 2005 10:25 am) stevedebi (Mar 29, 2005 4:51 pm) boysboysboys (Mar 30, 2005 6:05 am) manassascrow (Apr 01, 2005 5:12 am) gagrice (Apr 01, 2005 2:47 pm) sganarelle (Apr 01, 2005 7:40 pm) and 17 more... kippy2 (May 16, 2005 10:29 am) blane (May 16, 2005 10:59 am)
#21 of 752 Re: Toyota Prius Software Problems [mb1] by joebeatt Mar 29, 2005 (7:52 am)
Replying to: mb1 (Mar 28, 2005 2:12 pm) * Window was released in 1995 not 1985 are you thinking msdos? Sheesh get your dates right will ya? Lived it! * http://www.computerhope.com/history/windows.htm
#22 of 752 Re: Toyota Prius Software Problems [gagrice] by boysboysboys Mar 29, 2005 (9:29 am)
Replying to: gagrice (Mar 28, 2005 3:17 pm) Actually this did just happen to my husband yesterday outside DC on the HOV lanes on I-395, in a contruction zone. Talk about scary. The tow operator, as well as a Toyota salesman, both admitted that they've seen several of these models die like this within the last month. So, any advice on what to say/how to deal with the dealership on getting this fixed? Replies to this message: gagrice (Mar 29, 2005 10:25 am) stevedebi (Mar 29, 2005 4:51 pm) boysboysboys (Mar 30, 2005 6:05 am) manassascrow (Apr 01, 2005 5:12 am) gagrice (Apr 01, 2005 2:47 pm) sganarelle (Apr 01, 2005 7:40 pm) gagrice (Apr 01, 2005 10:49 pm) and 14 more... stevedebi (Apr 04, 2005 12:02 pm) cmp (May 17, 2005 7:00 pm) kippy2 (May 16, 2005 10:29 am) blane (May 16, 2005 10:59 am)
#23 of 752 Re: Toyota Prius Software Problems [boysboysboys] by gagrice Mar 29, 2005 (10:25 am)
Replying to: boysboysboys (Mar 29, 2005 9:29 am) any advice on what to say/how to deal with the dealership on getting this fixed? Welcome to the forum. My advice would be the same as others on this thread have urged. Report this to the NHTSA soon. They will compile the reports and force Toyota to do something. Toyota will not let out how serious the problem is. Toyota may be working on it. Everyone that has experienced this so far were told by the dealership that they had not heard of any such problem. It sounds pretty widespread, and a very dangerous bug in the Prius firmware. Just reseting the system is not going to fix the problem, only put it off till another time. If it does not get taken care of before the warranty is up you may be facing a big repair bill, or in the case of one owner body work.
#24 of 752 Re: Toyota Prius Software Problems [boysboysboys] by stevedebi Mar 29, 2005 (4:51 pm)
Replying to: boysboysboys (Mar 29, 2005 9:29 am) "Actually this did just happen to my husband yesterday outside DC on the HOV lanes on I-395, in a contruction zone. Talk about scary. The tow operator, as well as a Toyota salesman, both admitted that they've seen several of these models die like this within the last month. So, any advice on what to say/how to deal with the dealership on getting this fixed?" That is the purpose of this thread. Contact the NHTSB and report the incident. When enough reports are accumlated, they will open an incident investigation. Once that occurs, it will hit the press, causing some publicity problems for Toyota. Unfortunately, I don't think Toyota put in any software error reporting capabilities (other than a simple error code, which doesn't help a programmer find the problem). Windows includes a feature that allows the user to send information back to Microsoft when something fails. Those reports provide exact data to the programmer, who then can work on the problem. Eventually, Toyota will probably have to insert code into the system that traps information about what the software is doing when it fails (or else they will program some special test cars with this information), in the hopes that they can find the problems. It would appear at this time that Toyota is merely reprogramming the Prius with the same (flawed) code that failed the first time. Replies to this message: boysboysboys (Mar 30, 2005 6:05 am)
#25 of 752 Re: Toyota Prius Software Problems [stevedebi] by boysboysboys Mar 30, 2005 (6:05 am)
Replying to: stevedebi (Mar 29, 2005 4:51 pm) Just filed my complaint with NHTSA. Thanks.
#26 of 752 Re: Toyota Prius Software Problems [gagrice] by sganarelle Mar 30, 2005 (8:40 pm)
Replying to: gagrice (Mar 16, 2005 1:37 am) "That is a real problem. I like computers, I question if they belong in our cars. Failures happen but I have never owned a car that just failed. Even my worst cars since my first 1947 Pontiac always gave warning of impending problems." I don't see why a computer problem is necessarily worse than a mechanical failure. The failure of a fuel pump on the freeway or ball joint failure or even a tire blowout can lead to serious consequences. If you have been driving for more than a half century and never had a sudden failure then you are damned lucky. I can tell you lots of horror stories, such as the water pump on my 1964 Volvo going out at 70 mph leading to a rupture of the radiator. And I assure you there was not a line of computer software in that car. Regards, David (Whose 2004 Prius just passed 14,000 miles with 49 mpq and not a single software or hardware problem. Easily the best car I have ever owned. AND a bargain.) Replies to this message: joebeatt (Mar 31, 2005 12:58 am) stevedebi (Mar 31, 2005 2:04 pm) gagrice (Mar 31, 2005 5:35 pm) sganarelle (Mar 31, 2005 7:50 pm) and 5 more... sganarelle (Mar 31, 2005 7:44 pm) stevedebi (Apr 01, 2005 4:59 pm) and 1 more... gagrice (Mar 31, 2005 8:13 pm)
#27 of 752 Re: Toyota Prius Software Problems [sganarelle] by joebeatt Mar 31, 2005 (12:58 am)
Replying to: sganarelle (Mar 30, 2005 8:40 pm) Hi David, Good point. Now I think of it, I have been in a very dangerous situation because of failures only twice in my life (I drive since 1973). Both were caused by a fuel pump that quit in the middle of the freeway. One of the two incidents happened in a tunnel and I still remember the sight of those BIG lorries that were coming in om me at 60 mph. Both incidents happened in cars with no software at all. I have never had any problem with software so far. This is of course not to say that Toyota shouldn't do something about software problems, when they occur. They should!