Prius the latest Toyota model to experience trouble

The Prius is the latest Toyota model to hit the headlines for acceleration issues as the hybrid has experienced two high profile runaway incidents this week alone.   On Monday, a runaway Toyota Prius was given major press coverage in California while new reports of a similar incident in New York have surfaced today. 

In the California incident the driver reached speeds of over 90mph before a skilled California highway patrolman expertly aided in stopping the Prius.  On Wednesday in New York a 56 yr old was on their way to a Toyota dealership to have the problem checked when the Prius accelerated rapidly leading to a crash.  The floor mat was checked and found to be securely in place eliminating that as a contributing factor.

Toyota recalled 2004-2009 Prius models last November as part of a safety recall to fix loose floor mats that can trap the accelerator and cause unintended acceleration.   In just the first ten weeks of this year, 272 complaints have been filed nationwide for speed control problems with the Toyota Prius, according to an Associated Press analysis of unverified complaints received by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.   Regulators have linked 52 deaths to crashes allegedly caused by accelerator problems.