As Mini owners, we sometimes have software related complants about our cars... but there nothing like the problems Toyota is having with it's most popular car. Although this article doesn't say so... I heard on the radio today, that they are recalling some 23,000+ cars.

Toyota Attributes Prius Shutdowns To Software Glitch
By SHOLNN FREEMAN
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
May 16, 2005

Some buyers of Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius gas-electric hybrid cars are complaining that their vehicles are stalling or shutting down at highway-driving speeds, a problem Toyota attributes to software problems in the sophisticated computer system.

Toyota said the problem involves Prius cars from the 2004 model year and some early 2005 models. The U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has logged 13 reports of a Prius stalling or stopping unexpectedly. Edmunds.com, a popular vehicle-information and shopping site, has had 13 individuals post complaints in a Prius forum about the car suddenly shutting off. No injuries or fatalities have been linked to the problem.

 

Link to the story on CNN/Money:
http://money.cnn.com/2005/05/16/Auto...uter/index.htm

Excerpt:

"Toyota spokesman Sam Butto told the newspaper the auto manufacturer identified a "programming error" in the computer systems of 23,900 Prius cars last year and sent owners a service notice advising them to bring the cars into dealers for an hour-long software upgrade. He couldn't say how many Prius owners got the upgrade and whether the latest problems involve buyers who never got the upgrade or if an altogether different glitch is shutting the car down."

 

So what if they shut down while on the highway. I bet their cupholders are bigger than mine.

Much more seriously, I'm glad so far no fatalities.

 

Apparently, they shut down and have to be towed to the dealer. They won't restart... or should I say reboot.

 

Hmmmm. We have an early 2005 Prius and haven't heard from Toyota yet. Luckily we haven't had a problem. Our Prius just keeps on rolling along at 44 mpg. My wife drives it most of the time, but I'm afraid she will want to drive the MINI when it arrives sometime in the next few weeks. When I took her to test drive MINI, she was smiling way too much!!

 

Don't show her this - or she'll be all over the Mini. I would check with your local Toyota dealer to see if yours is effected.

 

Moving this from Off Topic to Off Topic :: Autos.

 

Just called the dealer with my VIN. I need the update, but they don't have it yet. They're expecting it later this week. Made an appointment for next week. Thanks.

 

I was considering the RX400h Hybrid, but now I might have to reconsider.

 

You might consider a Lotus. My 1970 Europa got 45mpg hwy with ease. :smile: Hybrid cars. Blah!

 

Sorry to burst the bubble but our Honda Insight has a lifetime mpg (70+ k miles) of 64.5 . On a trip from Jacksonville to Pittsburgh, it returned about 73 mpg round trip. The MINI's sitting pretty well too with an average of 32 mpg and a best of 37.

 

Toyota's running into that and also their truck line with steering issues or
something too, I heard.