Runaway Toyota Prius Adds To Company's PR Nightmare
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A runaway Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) Prius had to be wrangled in by police in San Diego, California on Monday afternoon when the hybrid vehicle's gas pedal became stuck, according to reports.
California Highway Patrol officers had received an emergency call from the distressed motorist, as the person was unable to stop the car that was traveling as fast as 94 miles per hour, the San Diego Union Tribune reported.
The car was brought to a safe stop as officers instructed the driver to simultaneously use the emergency brakes along with the brake pedal to slow the vehicle’s speed. The motorist was then able to cut the engine and come to a stop.
Toyota had recently recalled recent Prius models as part of a massive series of malfunctions that have severely hurt the Japanese carmaker’s quality image.
The Prius however had not been subject to the sticking gas-pedal recall that has plagued so many of the other company models. Prius 2010 models were recalled due to issues with the vehicle’s breaking system, while defective floor mats that can trap the floor mats in 2004-2009 models of the hybrid have been identified.
Toyota has deployed a field technical specialist to San Diego to investigate the incident and access possible malfunctions with the vehicle.
Shares of Toyota are down 1.42 percent in early market movement on Tuesday.
Video:
California Highway Patrol officers had received an emergency call from the distressed motorist, as the person was unable to stop the car that was traveling as fast as 94 miles per hour, the San Diego Union Tribune reported.
The car was brought to a safe stop as officers instructed the driver to simultaneously use the emergency brakes along with the brake pedal to slow the vehicle’s speed. The motorist was then able to cut the engine and come to a stop.
Toyota had recently recalled recent Prius models as part of a massive series of malfunctions that have severely hurt the Japanese carmaker’s quality image.
The Prius however had not been subject to the sticking gas-pedal recall that has plagued so many of the other company models. Prius 2010 models were recalled due to issues with the vehicle’s breaking system, while defective floor mats that can trap the floor mats in 2004-2009 models of the hybrid have been identified.
Toyota has deployed a field technical specialist to San Diego to investigate the incident and access possible malfunctions with the vehicle.
Shares of Toyota are down 1.42 percent in early market movement on Tuesday.
Video:
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