The Toyota Prius has a software bug that causes the car to stall (more specifically, the gas portion stalls, so you can still pull over with the electrical bit.) Hence, 160,000 vehicles are being recalled for a patch. Industry first.
Jim Hossack, a consultant at the research firm AutoPacific Inc. in Tustin, agreed that the problem wouldn’t curb enthusiasm for the Prius. One reason: Toyota has a long record of building reliable vehicles, he said.
“It is a new technology and they will be forgiven,” Hossack said.
emphasis mine
This is what bothers me. I couldn’t care less about the reputation or the hippie hype revolving around the Prius when it comes to safety. It’s a software bug for crying out loud! In a car! TEST IT! We’re not talking here about an inconsequential windows PC, TiVo or an X-box. It’s a damn CAR! (ok, i’m done with the capitals and exclamation points.)
so, toyota, hire some good sw qa people and test the software adequately and thoroughly; you shouldn’t take microsoft as an example on how to do it right. it’s not like you need to wreck a car to find out if it works; it’s software, it’s been done. i realize people are lining up to buy your precious prius, but don’t skimp on safety, ok?
My stepmom has a Prius. She had an sw upgrade months and months ago – maybe even in 04 – after a stalling difficulty. I believe it was handled at the dealership as if her sw problem were an anomaly. Not so, I guess. Her Prius is several years old so Toyota has had plenty of time to see the error of its ways. Maybe Toyota thought it was an anomaly but now know better? Does it take this long to get a recall going?
I am considering a hybrid though I haven’t found one with enough hauling space which is also significantly more fuel efficient than the car I already have. The littles are too little and the biggers are too big and not that fuel efficient. I am looking for just right. Maybe in light of current techincal glitches having to wait will turn out to be a good thing.
Prius is not the first car to be shipped with bad software. I think since the inception of Fuel injection and even before, cars have had software. And absolutely no software ships without bugs. Usually enough fail safes are incorporated where you can remove the battery cable for a few minutes and reattach it and the car will start in a known good state. Consider this ctrl-alt-delete for your car’s ECU.
In terms of recalls, having to go to the dealer to fix an occasional glitch is pretty minor. For an example of a bad recall the Ford Exploder recall comes to mind:
“Summary: TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15, PRODUCED AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS TIRE PLANT AND ALL FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX AND RADIAL ATX II TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. OPERATION OF THESE TIRES AT LOW INFLATION PRESSURES, HIGH SPEED, AND IN HOT WEATHER, CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD.
Consequence: IF THE TREAD SEPARATES FROM THE TIRE, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.”
(http://www.internetautoguide.com/auto-recalls/67-int/1996/ford/explorer/xlt/).
This brings up a good point though : What is (or should be) the required level of failsafes when you move controls systems from the electro-mechanical to purely electrical world. For example breaking and throttle “by wire” which many new cars use. And given there are no governmental consequences, what incentive does toyota have for finding every bug before it ships? As long as you don’t have an “Exploder” size recall, you can pay off any lawsuits and everyone else comes into have their chip flashed.
-m
full disclaimer: my mom just turned in her old toyota wagon for a prius and I’m a hippy (hair farmer actually)
update – world’s worst software bugs. http://www.wired.com/news/technology/bugs/0,2924,69355,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1