[Bearcats]

Cars have issues. The best they can do is illuminate and idiot light. We have no idea if that light was present prior to the major malfunction or not. Glad they didnt have any serious issues but I dont trust crap out on the internet unless I can view a whole story.

 

[Bearcats]

To say that it was moving wickedly almost implies savage uncontrollable movement.

Yet another case of over blown exaggeration describing a problem. While it would be freaky, no way what was shown in that video a cause for "oh my god I almost died today" type reaction.

Upon second thoughts, I bet it was hard to move the wheel because I bet the default of the EPS was to disengage and so it was more manual steering. My 1991 uses EHPS and its default/fault noted mode is power off -- manual rack.

 

[Bearcats]

QUOTE (wbw @ Jul 1 2010, 08:57 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=337745

I believe the woman that it happened the way she says. She did not know ahead of time that it was going to happen, so they could not film the incident where it took all her strength to turn the wheel. All she could do was video afterward to show the steering wheel moving all by itself.

When power steering in a hydraulic system goes out, how hard do you think the steering gets?

When power steering in an EPS system goes out, how hard to you think the steering gets?

Surprising, yes. A tragedy? No.

 

[Bearcats]

QUOTE (TrojanFan @ Jul 1 2010, 01:55 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=337865

I'm in the camp that thinks this is actually pretty disturbing and that most of you who have posted so far are downplaying the seriousness of this potential problem. There was someone else on edmunds.com who had the same issue (didn't get it on video), claimed it also almost took their lives and preceded to take a similar bashing from the disbelievers and Sonata fanboys. In general, I think it's highly unlikely that the person who posted this video exaggerated their experience or faked the video. I don't buy the "competitors are afraid of Sonata's success" conspiracy theory -- give me a break. I am realistic, though -- I would bet this problem is sort of a 1 in 10,000 type of defect, but in my opinion that's still really scary. I mean Toyota's acceleration issue seems to affect a minuscule number of vehicles, and yet it's killed numerous people so far. I'm definitely going to make sure my wife knows about this so she's at least somewhat prepared in the very very off chance it were to happen to her. I'd recommend others do the same. Anyone have recommendations on how best to respond if you experience this problem? Turn off the car, put it in neutral? What's the best approach?

When you are operating a 1-2 ton piece of machinery, you NEED to be aware and able to deal with situations. When a part fails, things happen. In this case you have a power steering uint hat failed. IE: Its tougher to steer. How many people reading these Sonata forums can claim to be able to have driven a MANUAL rack car of any make model? I would bet less than .5%. People take for granted what assists are in a vehicle produced today.

If you have a drivers license you should be required to be able to handle such a problem Period. To lay blame to a failure of a mechanical piece (power steering in this case) is passing off the blame of ones inablity to control/operate a vehicle.

Yet another case of point the finger versus being responsible to drive ones car and be aware of possilble failure scenarios. Time to be responsible people and realize that while its a car and billlions of them are on the road its no different then operation a front loader....

USA people are numb to real world applications of vehicle operation. They see it as a right and its a PRIVLIDGE. I think testing for licenses should be way more strict to remove the cell phone answering, texting, not paying attention to the task at hand drivers.

Given the limited to non-existant facts in this situation my post in this situation would be "Hey, have you had and EPS light illuminate?". Get real. Stop blaming and take responsiblity......

 

[Bearcats]

QUOTE (Phil the Canuck @ Jul 1 2010, 02:41 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=337887

Actually the power assist on the SE is dialed back, so if anything you'd be better off (jerking may not be as hard to control).

If what was seen in that video is described as "jerking", I see that as an over exaggeration. At best that can be called twitching. Its all about interpretation. If you expect your car to cater to you and have zero failure, then yes its a panic attack. I would be willing to bet dollar to donuts that the EPS failed, had that twitching sensation and did not interfere with rotating the wheel. It was hard to rotate because it was not power assisted which in a panic situation can be very disturbing....

 

[Bearcats]

QUOTE (TrojanFan @ Jul 1 2010, 03:28 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=337906

Are you serious? I suppose you think the poor souls who died due to the Toyota acceleration problem deserved what they got -- how dare they not be prepared for their car to suddenly become possessed! I suppose they never should have been given licenses in the first place in the ridiculous world you wish to live.

And if you think it unlikely that an EPS problem could create "jerking" that might result in serious vehicle control problems, then you should take a look at this Lexus EPS problem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLHWgAmx3Iw

Yup...call me calloused. I feel that if you are not smart enough to figure out how your car operates and what you are supposed to do, you should not be in the car. Stating it in the manner of “they got what they deserved” might be a bit over the top, but we want our offspring to be responsible for their actions and learn and understand how the world works; how is this different? The one instance was a CHiPS and he should have know how to handle such a situation. Key off, key on…survive. He had enough cognizance to make a stupid phone call but couldn’t perform a less than 10 second exercise.

Suddenly possessed? Come on, seriously? While people can not account for every possible scenario it only takes a couple seconds to evaluate what is going on an make a decision. But I guess us dumb motor heads might have a leg up on the common public at that point. And you are correct. If you can not be responsible for your car then you don’t deserve your license. Again; its not a RIGHT it’s a PRIVLEDGE. Privileges are shown by being able to handle the responsibility.

The so called SUA showed up from Toyota, my wife and I went out and practiced what might have happened. Her direct quote was "that’s it? I would have done that anyway". And she isn’t a motor head. I guess intelligence plays more of a factor than many will be willing to admit…..

 

[Bearcats]

QUOTE (yagru @ Jul 1 2010, 04:01 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=337927

Thats great in theory but very unrealistic in application in every day life and somewhat ignorant. I agree with TF 100% and this is something we should keep our eyes on.. hopefully its just a very very rare defect.

Yes, because paying attention to your driving is such a task with the HD radio, cell phone, texting and so forth that to actually expect someone to know what to do in an emergency is such a god forsaken thought I should be banned. Good god people.....

This is why people from McDonalds are sued for hot coffee. Why UNPROVEN examples of SUA are causing all kinds of litegation in the courts. Its FOR SURE not MY fault. When your tire fails and you hit someone, who gets cited? Whats the citation "Failure to control". . . . . .

 

[Bearcats]

QUOTE (yagru @ Jul 2 2010, 02:35 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=338314

Im sorry but I dont walk 40, 50 mph + around my house right next to people who do the same. No one is saying not drive your freakin cars, but the smug reaction of pretty much this is the users fault is fanboyism at its best. Im assuming this is a one and done but god forbin it wasnt and someone from one of your famillies was in that situation, I can only hope for their sake that they live upto all your expectations of "what to do".

I dont think its smug. I dont own a Hyundai (yet) and I own a Rav that was not part of the recall (I have a J build, not a C build). The internet sensationalizes almost everything. Forums usually show the absolute worst a car can over as its where owner that have issues look for solutions and those looking to buy look to see what possible problems a car has.

The Toyota issue was totally overblown. Was there a problem. I believe yes, in the firmware. Were the incidents preventable? Accidents, maybe not; deaths most definately. Had the operators understood how their car works (push to start) they would have a much better chance.

The poster of the youtube showed maybe a problem. They didnt wreck, they didnt die and they had some goofy twitch to the steering wheel. They cant seem to tell the whole story the same way twice. When PS fails of course its spooky. But the car doesnt stop steering. If it panics you, dont buy the car. If you own it, sell it. That was the concensus that "us" Rav owners came to. Some did sell, loss of faith in the product. But most just followed cautiously for a solution.

The sky isnt falling. There isnt a cover up. It may or may not be a problem. There are not enough facts to show anything conclusive other than a twitchy steering wheel.

 

[Bearcats]

QUOTE (chitown1211 @ Jul 3 2010, 12:37 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=338448

Your sitting at a busy stop light....your car self accelerates into 45 mph traffic. Your honestly saying thats no big deal??? lol

Your driving 75 on the interstate.....your steering wheel jerks to the left into on coming traffic. seriously???? You expect my grandma to be able to combat that?

You show me ANY offically documented proof of such events that you have stated above and I will apologize. And before you bring up the Toyota situation, operator error does NOT count.

I stand by my comments as needling as they will be to the conspiracy theorists.

 

[Bearcats]

QUOTE (chitown1211 @ Jul 3 2010, 12:57 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=338540

I am just floored by your opinion on the Toyota matter.


It amazes me that you would put your political views in front of your families life and safety. I just can't relate to that kind of zealotry.

Dude, wtf are you talking about. They have proved N O T H I N G in the toyota case. They have not proved that the car was the problem. We have floor mats, we have accelerator pedals (only specific ones) we have operator error. We dont have any documented proof. We ahve professors rigging tests to make thing happen that eventually comes out.

I cant believe the sky is falling mentality. Its a DIRECT result of all these absurd claims you see that is hyped by the media. How come we saw a bunch of "incidents" and now we hear nothing? Because there WASNT a problem.

Glitches happen in cars. They are complicates networks and mechanicals. Errors happen. If you are not prepared to handle those errors, you should drive. The operator of the Avalon that killed a few people could have reduced the devestation of his event if he knew how his car operated.

 

[Bearcats]

QUOTE (midas69 @ Jul 5 2010, 01:55 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=338996

I had the accelerator stick twice on my Camry. It was caused by the floor mats. Just pushed the shifter to neutral and stuck my foot under the gas pedal to pull it out. No drama, no trauma. After the 2nd time, when it became obvious it was the mat, I just made sure I pulled the mat back every time I got in the car.

But they did do a retrofit of the mat, basically adding a hook to the floorboard. They also did a recall on the gas pedal but I know mine was a mat issue.

They did a recall on Canadian/US spec/built pedals. However I am not sold that its actually the "problem". I have a J build and so I had a Denso pedal so my Rav was not applicable. My wife and I did a "process" and she stated "thats all? I would have done that anyway". Kinda like you did with the mat. You figured something was funky so you pulled the mat away.

I see it as a difference of being familiar and using your brain.

 

[Bearcats]

QUOTE (chitown1211 @ Jul 5 2010, 08:24 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=339069

Weren't you ripping "conspiracy theorists" earlier in this thread? Now YOUR talking about consumers, media outlets, crooked professors rigging tests???

http://gawker.com/5486865/abc-news-toyota-test-fiasco

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100713/ap_on_...s_toyota_recall