Woz Cites "Scary" Prius Acceleration Software Problem 749
theodp writes "Speaking at Discovery Forum 2010, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak went off topic and spoke about a 'very scary' problem with his 2010 Toyota Prius. 'I don't get upset and teed off at things in life, except computers that don't work right,' said Woz, who went on to explain he'd been trying to get through to Toyota and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration for three months, but could not get anyone to explore an alleged software-related acceleration problem. 'I have a new model that didn't get recalled,' Steve said. 'This new model has an accelerator that goes wild but only under certain conditions of cruise control. And I can repeat it over and over and over again — safely.' Toyota said it investigates all complaints. 'We're in the business of investigating complaints, assessing problems and finding remedies,' said Toyota's John Hanson. 'After man-years of exhaustive testing we have not found any evidence of an electronic [software] problem that would have led to unwanted acceleration.'"
We recently discussed other problems Toyota has had with electronic acceleration systems.
I don't believe it (Score:5, Funny)
Um, fact check. 134hp, that's engine + synergy drive. 0-60 is about eight weeks (well, 9.8 seconds but what's the difference?)). Under no circumstance whatsoever short of driving off a cliff will a stock Prius accelerate wildly. Sorry Woz! ;)
(Uh, I'm kidding. Obviously.)
wild but only under certain conditions (Score:2, Funny)
Sounds like Woz's stint on "Dancing with the Stars."
Re:Typical Customer Service Department attitude (Score:5, Funny)
I think you mean 1 to 1000000.
Re:Typical Customer Service Department attitude (Score:5, Funny)
Yes but as someone who reads Slashdot regularly, the problem is that the ratio of users who know how to use ratios vs those who THINK they know how to use ratios is approx. 1,000,000 to 1.
Which wouldn't actually be a problem, except that you're the 1.
Re:Typical Customer Service Department attitude (Score:2, Funny)
So having a million knowledgeable users for every one user who just thinks he knows what he's talking about is a problem? I suspect you need some remediation on how to express ratios. Or maybe that really is just your customer-service attitude coming thru again.
Do not Fuck with the WOZ! (Score:5, Funny)
Do NOT Fuck with the WOZ!
Just DON'T
It is not prudent.
Re:A Public Service Announcement to AllToyota Driv (Score:3, Funny)
Carwinism!
Re:Typical Customer Service Department attitude (Score:4, Funny)
Here's a clue this particular caller might have known what he was talking about : his said 'Hi, my name is Steve Jobs.'
Re:Typical Customer Service Department attitude (Score:5, Funny)
Whoops - just read TFA. He's the other Apple guy. But close enough.
I wonder if the help desk at Toyota is hiring, because I just passed their test.
Re:Typical Customer Service Department attitude (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Typical Customer Service Department attitude (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Jalopnik has been covering this... (Score:5, Funny)
The Japanese do it to save face, the Americans do it to cover their ass. Same behavior, but different parts of the anatomy.
Re:Safely. noted this one on /. before: (Score:5, Funny)
Eureka moment in Toyota R&D HQ: (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Typical Customer Service Department attitude (Score:3, Funny)
It was probably one of the most epic examples of human idiocy I have ever encountered. The worst part is that I understand these people are given little flow charts, or on screen wizards, so he must've managed to click past the first box that checked whether the system even turned on or not and then been incapable of handling the idea that my response didn't fit his next question.
Years ago, a falling tree branch took out the phone line to our house. I didn't have a cell phone at the time, so I walked down the block to the convenience store, and called the phone company.
The person on the other end of the line was clearly reading from a script, and tried to ask a littany of questions about the quality of the sound over the line, ignoring my repeated attempts to say that the phone line was now lying - disconnected - in my back yard. Eventually figured out my phone line wasn't hooked up, then got suspicious, asking how it was possible that my phone line was disconnected if I was calling them about it. "Because I'm calling from a payphone down the street."
Still took about a day to repair.
Re:Typical Customer Service Department attitude (Score:5, Funny)
Yes I did. I have no doubt, however, that I will be continued to be corrected throughout this thread. It is my destiny, and I can accept that.
I will correct your statement that you can accept that. I believe that you in fact can not accept being corrected constantly. Unless you are married. But this is /.
Pro American propaganda (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Jalopnik has been covering this... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Typical Customer Service Department attitude (Score:3, Funny)
Because he was on Dancing With The Stars! Doesn't everybody watch that show?
Re:Typical Customer Service Department attitude (Score:5, Funny)
No you're not always wrong!
On Opinions... (Score:5, Funny)
And he expresses an opinion.
Is he still wrong?
Re:Typical Customer Service Department attitude (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Typical Customer Service Department attitude (Score:4, Funny)
Shoulda' said he was the Izard of Woz. That woulda' got their attention.
Unwanted acceleration? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Typical Customer Service Department attitude (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Typical Customer Service Department attitude (Score:3, Funny)
Given the mass of an average Slashdotter, I can confidently say that virtually all of them must be quite familiar with the use of rations. They certainly get enough practice.