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Spike in Prius complaints may not be all it seems

Associated Press -- NEW YORK – Reports of sudden acceleration in the Toyota Prius have spiked across the country. But that doesn't mean there's an epidemic of bad gas pedals in the popular hybrid.

Experts on consumer psychology say the relentless negative media attention Toyota has received since the fall makes it much more likely that drivers will mistake anything unexpected — or even a misplaced foot — for actual danger.

"When people expect problems, they're more likely to find them," said Lars Perner, a professor of clinical marketing at Marshall School of Business at University of Southern California.

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Submitted Mar 10, 2010 By: zornave

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:10,754 Points:630,425 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 11:12:00 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse greenfog: you said it.. too many jump on the bandwagon and claim problems. Some probably to get some of their gripes fixed for free. Sad world we've come to.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:10,754 Points:630,425 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 11:10:50 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse Those that whine about no buying a Toyota again were probably not convinced to buy one for the right reasons. Sounds to me those who wanted to be "hip" are the ones who now whine about the "flaws." Easy cop out to buy a different car.
kelsielee Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,389 Points:665,800 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:43:33 PM Ignore kelsielee Report Abuse Extensive negative publicity begets more negative publicity which begets more negative publicity. Such a cycle makes it difficult to beleive what we read in the news after there has been so much press about a particular topic.
coughlin Champion Author San Jose Posts:1,137 Points:298,325 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:06:43 AM Ignore coughlin Report Abuse I have an inclination to agree. Before the Camry problem, this was not an issue. The downside of this for consumers is that Toyota will probably use this to discredit legitimate, dangerous claims where there is a genuine problem.
the1roadhog Champion Author Atlanta Posts:5,127 Points:1,083,680 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:46:09 AM Ignore the1roadhog Report Abuse The Prof should have to go for a power drive in a Prius.
ashishpa All-Star Author St. Louis Posts:739 Points:166,925 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:57:58 AM Ignore ashishpa Report Abuse I agree greenfog, this seems that everybody wants to jump on the wagon and get something from it. Lots of negative publicity is impacting toyota as well here.
greenfog Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,719 Points:675,475 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:33:35 AM Ignore greenfog Report Abuse sounds typical everyone wants to get on the band wagon and get a piece of the pie if there is a massive pay out. toyota has a problem but who knows if they or someone else will ever figure it out for sure.
Dmax13 Veteran Author Denver Posts:400 Points:167,145 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:32:26 AM Ignore Dmax13 Report Abuse Whatever
gougenator Champion Author Dallas Posts:22,030 Points:2,314,030 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:32:12 AM Ignore gougenator Report Abuse great ,Toyota will fall on its face while the govt will bail it out too!
96sc1 Champion Author El Paso Posts:5,566 Points:729,015 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:28:37 AM Ignore 96sc1 Report Abuse I believe this because anyone who would buy a Prius obviously has a mental condition.
jadeusa Champion Author Dallas Posts:4,276 Points:873,460 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:25:08 AM Ignore jadeusa Report Abuse Too bad one can't put a sticker on the dash to push when the Toyota suddenly starts to accelerate to halt the push.
craigsf38 Champion Author Rochester Posts:1,289 Points:548,940 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:23:59 AM Ignore craigsf38 Report Abuse I wonder who paid these "experts"?
WhiteTreeIndian Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,093 Points:209,445 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:22:56 AM Ignore WhiteTreeIndian Report Abuse Fix it with a sticker. Dashboard sticker: "This car may be subject to sudden unintended acceleration." FIXED!
EcoVore Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,124 Points:329,645 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:22:12 AM Ignore EcoVore Report Abuse Toyota steped in it now the stink in on them.
Mooseman1 Champion Author Manitoba Posts:5,546 Points:932,695 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:20:57 AM Ignore Mooseman1 Report Abuse Imagination is a tricky thing.
250FORD Champion Author Minnesota Posts:7,676 Points:1,235,235 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:20:48 AM Ignore 250FORD Report Abuse I wonder who paid these "experts"?
jeromehasbargen Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,908 Points:379,780 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:20:27 AM Ignore jeromehasbargen Report Abuse The next thing they will be saying is - "Maybe the cars are made with the pedals too close together. The drivers with the big feet are maybe covering both gas and break pedals with the same foot." They will try to come up with every excuse in the book before they will admit fault.
dlr17 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,696 Points:483,645 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:19:58 AM Ignore dlr17 Report Abuse I ran across this interesting article a few minutes ago: Minnesota doctor says his Toyota Prius nearly killed him http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=844075
9C1 Champion Author Chicago Posts:17,689 Points:3,278,695 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:19:22 AM Ignore 9C1 Report Abuse Or they may be everything they seem, and Toyota doesn't want to know.
phinsup67 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:4,848 Points:673,685 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:17:38 AM Ignore phinsup67 Report Abuse ...and McDonald's is at fault for the obesity problem in the US!
ifallsguy Champion Author Minnesota Posts:2,728 Points:756,850 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:15:30 AM Ignore ifallsguy Report Abuse They took the Clinton way out...deny, deny, deny "I did not have sex with that woman" Billy Bob Clinton "The driver is confused with which is the accelerator and which is the brake" Toyota
grouch311 Champion Author Illinois Posts:4,044 Points:671,305 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:14:46 AM Ignore grouch311 Report Abuse yeah, my car finds it's way to the pub by itself. who can I sue?
Gary65 Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,497 Points:465,850 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:14:44 AM Ignore Gary65 Report Abuse So true media has a way of stirring up mass panic. But still TOYOTA has its problems.
benjy Champion Author Chicago Posts:4,825 Points:893,125 Joined:Nov 2003	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:11:49 AM Ignore benjy Report Abuse Sure, my car takes off on me all the time......
roadrunnerMO Champion Author Kansas Posts:3,431 Points:733,395 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:11:05 AM Ignore roadrunnerMO Report Abuse Boy you said a mouthful. As long as there are lawyers ....
cutter1330 Champion Author Oklahoma Posts:3,131 Points:720,135 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:10:28 AM Ignore cutter1330 Report Abuse How many Prius' does it take to fill a black hole?
TIGERPAW46 Champion Author Florida Posts:2,776 Points:523,325 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:09:46 AM Ignore TIGERPAW46 Report Abuse Always will be some who try to claim anything to get a buck.
visitor_2 All-Star Author Orlando Posts:691 Points:822,830 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:06:18 AM Ignore visitor_2 Report Abuse The truth will set you free
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:4,004 Points:668,620 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:04:58 AM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Please end all the excuses and defensive remarks for Toyota. They hid this for over three years, denied any and all problems, and still don't have the proper fix. They should be boycotted until they get serious and spend enough money to fix it properly.
furiousfowl Champion Author Riverside Posts:11,965 Points:1,825,645 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 2:00:16 AM Ignore furiousfowl Report Abuse toyota is gonna lose billions on this
Saturn93 Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:4,230 Points:1,012,815 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:57:44 AM Ignore Saturn93 Report Abuse Just how fast can a Prius go anyway. The only place they can go fast enough to be really dangerous is in a school zone. Great for economy, not much power.
pinkelefant Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:14,645 Points:1,751,985 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:52:21 AM Ignore pinkelefant Report Abuse I think pinkelefants spin, not lean.
LoneGuy Champion Author Lansing Posts:3,628 Points:1,358,200 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:45:57 AM Ignore LoneGuy Report Abuse Southern California. I wonder if this school leans left.
nightworker998 All-Star Author Maryland Posts:719 Points:301,785 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:45:47 AM Ignore nightworker998 Report Abuse Skynet might just be right?
danreino Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,796 Points:677,145 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:43:20 AM Ignore danreino Report Abuse Just seen one on the news that crashed into a stone wall today in New York.
NorthglennBill Champion Author Denver Posts:3,028 Points:576,030 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:42:36 AM Ignore NorthglennBill Report Abuse It is getting harder and harder to know what to believe about the Toyota right now. Still, whatever the problem actually is, it does not make me want to run right out and buy a new Toyota right now.
rxman1 Champion Author Toledo Posts:4,352 Points:908,455 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:42:24 AM Ignore rxman1 Report Abuse fix the problem and move on.
jeromehasbargen Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,908 Points:379,780 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:41:35 AM Ignore jeromehasbargen Report Abuse Prius is not the wonderfull car that so many people were trying to make it out to be.
skybiker Champion Author South Carolina Posts:3,340 Points:663,205 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:41:29 AM Ignore skybiker Report Abuse I've had a Prius now for 11K miles and no problems.....
vulcan96 Champion Author Ohio Posts:17,929 Points:2,129,895 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:36:47 AM Ignore vulcan96 Report Abuse I think it is still in the electronic control system
Bussman Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,720 Points:522,490 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:36:40 AM Ignore Bussman Report Abuse Boo!
skynet Champion Author California Posts:2,338 Points:442,970 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:34:35 AM Ignore skynet Report Abuse Judgment Day has begun. The machines are revolting! Hasta La Vista, baby! :-) [Edited by: skynet at 3/11/2010 12:35:08 AM EST]
joel27nc Champion Author Raleigh Posts:5,534 Points:888,770 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:34:03 AM Ignore joel27nc Report Abuse I'm not buying a Toyota.
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:1,527 Points:167,030 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:32:01 AM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse This requires investigation to show true cause.
dks2000 Sophomore Author Houston Posts:231 Points:168,090 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:29:02 AM Ignore dks2000 Report Abuse Anybody remember the Pinto, or Ford Explorer with Firestone tires?
Sealer Champion Author Charleston Posts:5,653 Points:837,800 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:28:37 AM Ignore Sealer Report Abuse Why doesn't the media spend 10% of the time it spends trashing Toyota informing drivers how to shift into neutral instead. That would be a public service rather than pure fear mongering.
10k Champion Author North Carolina Posts:12,945 Points:1,278,300 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:23:30 AM Ignore 10k Report Abuse i'm sure there will be a prius driver out there looking for the easy kill..
Rednix Champion Author Miami Posts:1,643 Points:341,590 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:20:53 AM Ignore Rednix Report Abuse Or people just didn't want to believe their beloved Prius had a problem until now.
texasvet Champion Author Texas Posts:1,402 Points:160,930 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:20:50 AM Ignore texasvet Report Abuse Sounds like what I've been thinking. Every time a Toyota driver drops his cell phone or is looking down texting and rear-ends somebody, he's going to blame the gas pedal.
EVBuddy Champion Author Nevada Posts:11,709 Points:2,060,235 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 1:20:49 AM Ignore EVBuddy Report Abuse I can't believe we allow Toyota to keep building defective cars.