Woz Up?!?!?! Apple co-founder speaks about software-related sudden acceleration in hi

Woz Up?!?!?! Apple co-founder speaks about software-related sudden acceleration in hi

Filed under: Hybrid, Recalls, Hatchback, Toyota, Celebrities



Here's Toyota's line: its two recalls for floormats and sticking accelerator pedals should cover all potential cases of sudden unintended acceleration in its batch of recalled vehicles. Both recalls are for mechanical issues, and Toyota spokesman John Hanson claims, "After man years of exhaustive testing we have not found any evidence of an electronic [software] problem that would have led to unwanted acceleration."

Enter Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple and a jolly guy who knows a thing or two about software. While speaking at the Discovery Forum 2010, the Woz claimed that his 2010 Prius, which is not a part of either recall, has an accelerator that "goes wild but only under certain conditions of cruise control." He also claimed that it's repeatable. Though Woz said he has tried to contact both Toyota and the National Highway Traffic Safety Institute, neither has reportedly investigated his claim.

Why is this news? Because despite Toyota's claim that any potential risk for sudden unintentional acceleration in its recalled vehicles is mechanically related, there are lingering reports of other cases, including ones involving vehicles not affected by either recall, that could be software-related. Proving that software caused an instance of sudden acceleration is tricky, so the fact that Woz claims he can repeat the issue makes his case appear to be one worth investigating.



[Source: CNET | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]Woz Up?!?!?! Apple co-founder speaks about software-related sudden acceleration in his 2010 Prius originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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