In the interim Toyota told Congress that it believes stories of "drivers losing control over acceleration as their cars race to 60 miles per hour or higher" were "sensational" and that sticky gas pedals may not be the sole cause of these incidents.

When reading that, did anyone else think of this?

Narrator: A new car built by my company leaves somewhere traveling at 60 mph. The rear differential locks up. The car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside. Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one.
Business woman on plane: Are there a lot of these kinds of accidents?
Narrator: You wouldn't believe.
Business woman on plane: Which car company do you work for?
Narrator: A major one.

Ce n'est pas une pipe. C'est une signature.

Is the fact that Toyota has been brought low due to malfunctioning, substandard American-made parts.

Call me a skeptic. Things like this always get blown way out of proportion. Of course the transportation secretary is bashing Toyota -- it has been beating the US automakers to death. It's the same thing as when Japan wants to ban US beef imports on the slightest sign that mad cow was found here.

Does anyone have any idea how many people have actually been affected by this? Sometimes people do stupid things and blame it on the car. Then, when an issue like this gets on the news, it causes other people to have the same problem (call it the placebo effect). It wouldn't surprise me if 90% of this was a phantom issue.

-milo-

Steve Wozniak claims it's a software issue, and he can reproduce it reliably.

And just a few hours later Secretary LaHood is backing off his previous comments.

Never compromise.