Toyota deliberately chose to ignore the facts.

[pimento]

Matra, people who owned cars used to have some understanding of how they work. Nowadays the average driver has absolutely no idea, and no interest in finding out. Personally I'm all for a bit of basic mechanics being part of the licensing process, but that's not likely to happen any time soon.

[Matra et Alpine]

^^ It would if it was to become part of the basic driving test prior to getting a license ?
"Basic maintenance" and "what to do in unexpected emergencies" along with "basic skid control" and all woudl be out of the hands of lawyers

[Alastor]

Matra, people who owned cars used to have some understanding of how they work. Nowadays the average driver has absolutely no idea, and no interest in finding out. Personally I'm all for a bit of basic mechanics being part of the licensing process, but that's not likely to happen any time soon.

To be fair cars did use to be much simpler. I mean if you really want to understand how a modern car functions you are going to need some basic electrical, software, and control logic thrown in with those mechanical lessons.

[pimento]

Not really, that's beyond what you need to know to figure out how to stop a runaway car. The theory's still broadly the same, there's just a computer in the mix as well. You just have to know how to jump start it without blowing the ECU.

[Dino Scuderia]

Toyota says Prius in(latest) acceleration incident will be recalled; 2004-09 Priuses will be recalled to prevent pedal entrapment.

WSJ

[Dino Scuderia]

Not a big fine for a company with 30 billion in cash.

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Department says it's seeking the maximum penalty, more than $16 million, against Toyota for failing to promptly notify the government about defective gas pedals among its vehicles.

The fine would be the largest civil penalty ever issued to an automaker by the government.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says evidence shows that Toyota knew of the problem with sticking gas pedals in late September but did not issue a recall until late January.

Toyota has two weeks to accept or contest the $16.375 million penalty.

Toyota has recalled more than 6 million vehicles in the U.S., and more than 8 million worldwide, because of acceleration problems in multiple models and braking issues in the Prius hybrid.

The Associated Press: Govt to seek $16M penalty over Toyota recalls

[wwgkd]

Wow, I was kind of expecting them to be given some slack on that.

[Matra et Alpine]

WIth the size of the US Gov deficit .... they NEED the money

[Tati25]

Well, I think no matter the amount, it's the public's opinion of Toyota that should worry the company. But I have to say I did expect some a lighter penalty.