Featured Post

Engine failures in MR2 Spyders

6/11/2014 - Updated the original post by entering direct links to reference material, and added remarks about the legal issues involved with...

Showing posts with label Ruginis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ruginis. Show all posts

Friday, March 18, 2016

Thanks for visiting - been takin' a break. Sort of...

Update 4/28/2017 - Full throttle, unintended acceleration has now been officially linked to a software defect, no room for doubt. Here's more. So we now know that a faulty DOOR can cause a vehicle to speed out of control whether in drive or park, and the problem hasn't occurred in older models. AMAZING what's revealed when auto-industry-lapdog NHTSA is removed from investigating instances of unintended acceleration. This comes at a time when motorists may FINALLY be catching on to the scam of "driver error," evidenced in this lawsuit against Tesla. 

5/4/2017 - As a corrupt, corporate-controlled government turns its back on the public, this just in: Multiple fatalities and injuries re the well-documented, ongoing problem with unintended acceleration in Jeeps. Here's a link to another article. And another with video.

"If men are good, you don't need government; if men are evil or ambivalent, you don't dare have one." - Robert LeFevre 

Americans are literally under siege by a tyrannical government - Repukes n Demagogues alike - in cahoots with crooked corporations.

I got into it with AT&T after getting fed up with robocalls, and May 13, 2015 ushered in an absence of home phone and Internet. This prompted a resumption of using my bicycle instead of my car for shopping, etc. Bicycling to buy groceries, etc. started in June of 2013, prompted by an extended dispute with State Farm which left me temporarily without a car. The purposeful rides - I'd always been suckered into using my bicycle as nothing more than an recreational toy - turned out to be more fun than the ol' proverbial barrel of monkeys, and my trips now include visits to a pay phone, and a computer at the library. Ah, the unadulterated pleasure of sockin' it to the telephone, oil, automotive, and insurance industries while simultaneously savin' money, havin' fun, and enjoyin' great exercise.

I love my new routine, but it sure has taken a great deal of getting used to. And wunna the places I cut back on wuz exposin' all those never-ending issues with Toyota. Not that there haven't been any. As always, there have been more than I ever had time to blog about, even when I had Internet access at my home.

When my Toyota blogging was interrupted, I got word from one of my sources that there had been yet another Ruginis-type story, and as usual NHTSA refused to acknowledge evidence of electronically-induced unintended acceleration. Crashes raising questions of software defects have continued without pause, and the barrage of stories had come to be downright monotonous. A Toyota speeds out of control, mainstream media intentionally misleads the public, trolls attack anyone who dares to criticize Toyota, comments are unfairly moderated in favor of Toyota, and NHTSA looks the other way. Or perhaps it's another defective safety product, such as Toyota's latest seat-belt fiasco involving the RAV4, RAV4 EV, and Vanguard SUV, again evidencing a so-called regulatory agency that protects the often blood-spattered interests of crooked, money-grubbing corporations. These points have been made over and over again throughout this blog.

Nonetheless, I'll take this opportunity to highlight two more examples.

The first involves a Lexus that sped out of control, resulting in catastrophic injuries, and an ongoing, many-years-long effort of suing Toyota. This case is unique in that it is headed for a courtroom showdown, and the driver's attorney has posted a summary of Azar Hadi's case.

The second involves last month's horrific injuries resulting from another Lexus crash, the circumstances of which are eerily similar to the landmark case - Bookout v. Toyota in Oklahoma - which exposed Toyota's defective software and put the now-admitted-crook in settlement mode for the majority of crashes suggesting electronically-induced unintended acceleration.

Folks, it ain't really the government. It ain't even murderous, crooked corporations like Toyota, GM, Takata, etc. ad nauseum. The problem is a brain-dead, tail-tucked public that tolerates a repulsive little oligarchy run by filthy-rich slobs who kick consumers around with impunity.

Update 3/18/2016 - For quite some time, none of my blog posts will display properly on Facebook, and this is far from the first time I've had issues with the Zuckerberg gang.

Update 3/21/2016 - I quit voting long ago, and I don't wanna stray too far off topic, but former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Dr. Paul Craig Roberts addresses the abysmal state of the American public, asking "Are Americans too insouciant to survive?"

Update 3/23/2016 - The inescapable conclusion that software defects are causing vehicles to speed out of control has become so obvious - and frequent - EVEN THE POLICE have started asking NHTSA to investigate, forcing mainstream media to expose a few "uncomfortable truths" about the issue. Of course - as Toyota whistleblower Betsy Benjamin notes in her blog post - the police will be waiting "A VERY LONG TIME..." for NHTSA to admit the truth.    

Update 3/24/2016 - Yesterday, the exceptionally well-credentialed electronic engineer Dr. Antony Anderson published a case study exposing NHTSA's unjustified denial of a request to investigate an episode of unintended acceleration.

Update 3/29/2016 - A crash in my necka the woods - W. Columbia, SC - was met with typical mainstream media secrecy by local "News Leader" WIS-TV. No info re make, model, etc., and the station says their "corporate office company wide" dictated removal of a comment section. After a firestorm of complaints erupted on Twitter, WIS updated their story, revealing that the vehicle was a Jeep and that the driver told first-responders that he didn't know what happened. Considering Jeep's notoriety for unintended acceleration events, nobody can be blamed for questioning the allegation that this crash resulted from an "apparent seizure." WIS-TV should give the public details about how this was determined, but don't count on it. South Carolina's "News Leader" still declines to reveal the vehicle model.

Updates 4/8/2016 - I'm now exposing the probate racket in South Carolina, and lemme just emphasize that the main point of this post isn't my various activities. Point is, the entire country is pervasively corrupt.

The lawsuits against Toyota just keep coming - here's a well-written summary of one of this year's cases.

Update 5/25/2016 - This article from late last year shows the frequency of unintended acceleration events suggesting defective vehicles. And... it is becoming more common for the police to ask for NHTSA's help due to suspicions of defects causing unintended acceleration events. Too bad NHTSA (No Help To Solve Anything) is owned by the auto industry.

Update 8/30/2016 - Toyota has delayed Azar Hadi's court date from this October until January 2016. And 

Update 10/23/2016 - I've published a separate post about Azar Hadi's case.

Update 11/20/2016 - Still as pleased as ever with my "new" routine, which I've now been enjoying for more than a year and a half. Shopping, running errands, etc. on my bicycle is probably the most fun I've ever had in my life - been using my bicycle instead of my car about 95% of the time.

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Ruginis EDR data prompts government whitewash for Toyota

Toyota's good friend NHTSA has rushed to the admitted crook's aid once again. This time, it's the case of Bob Ruginis, who lucked out and happened to get his hands on his Corolla's EDR readout after his wife experienced an unintended acceleration episode resulting in a crash.

Amidst an epidemic of runaway vehicles - most often Toyotas - crashing into buildings, NHTSA performed its all-too-familiar song and dance about "driver error," and the government's presstitute mainstream media pumped out more propaganda designed to protect the auto industry. Interestingly enough, NHTSA still isn't willing to challenge NASA physicist Dr. Henning Leidecker's warning about increased risks of unintended acceleration in '02-'06 Camrys, and informed consumers realize that admitted-crook Toyota has been in "settlement mode" ever since an Oklahoma jury found Toyota at fault in that landmark unintended acceleration case back in October of 2013.

Meanwhile, vehicles are beginning to speed out of control without anyone even being in the car. Not long ago, I blogged about an unattended Lexus taking off from a carwash, and now another unattended vehicle has suddenly started up on its own - there were witnesses - and followed the driver into a Papa John's.

There's evidence galore pointing to both mechanical and electronically-induced unintended acceleration, and Toyota has lost hard when such evidence is presented to juries. The government is simply determined to protect murderous thugs like Toyota and GM as the auto industry's blood-spattered scandals continue.

Update 5/4/2015 - Judging from comments about the vehicle that started up on its own and crashed into the Papa John's, it was a Honda. As I've mentioned in other blog posts, government and industry's presstitute mainstream media usually keeps things quiet regarding vehicle make, model, year, what drivers say happened, etc. Maybe surveillance video will be made public, maybe not. I blogged about Honda's recent admission of electronically-induced unintended acceleration. 

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Longtime customer who got EDR readout fed up with Toyota

“'There are five Toyotas in my family. We’ve been loyal Toyota people,' Mr. Ruginis said. 'Now I plan to replace all five cars.'"

There'll be no more Toyotas for Bob Ruginis, the guy who lucked out and managed to get his hands on data that confirms his wife's account of what happened when her Corolla sped out of control. In a late breaking interview with local news reporter Patrick Luce, Ruginis discusses his disillusionment with Toyota, and the predicament he's now in, still making payments on a vehicle he doesn't feel safe driving and has moral reservations about selling to anyone else.

Coverup King Toyota has a way of abandoning customers. Ask Jessie Powell. She's in a similar predicament with her Prius. It too sets on a dealership lot as Jessie struggles through a lawsuit against now-admitted-crook Toyota. Jessie has picketed her dealership in a lemon costume, she blogs about her experiences, and she has a Facebook page titled "Route 44 Toyota Sold Me A Lemon".

Caveat emptor.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Details emerge re meeting at Ruginises home to discuss EDR readout

"Even when ODI witnesses Unintended Acceleration with no input from the driver with their very own eyes, they dismiss it." Sean Kane's 9/23/2014 article, "What Good Can Come of Reporting Toyota UA?" 

Sean Kane, founder of Safety Research Systems, attended the meeting last Wednesday when two attorneys from the office of Toyota's "Independent" Monitor sat down with the Ruginises - at their home - to discuss matters associated with an EDR readout Mr. Ruginis lucked out and happened to get his hands on. It'll be interesting to see how the Washington gang - especially NHTSA - explains away the hard, cold evidence (see exhibit) of electronic defects in Toyota's throttle control. Evidence that corroborates what embedded systems expert Michael Barr found after an 18 month study of Toyota's much ballyhooed source code. As an adjuct to Mr. Kane's article, read trade journal EDN's article, "Toyota's Killer Firmware: Bad Design and its Consequences." Here's what Mr. Barr found that NHTSA has ignored, Holder's "Just Us" department refuses to comment on, and the government's mainstream media stooges have tried to make sure you don't know about:

* Toyota's electronic throttle control system (ETCS) source code is of unreasonable quality.
* Toyota's source code is defective and contains bugs, including bugs that can cause unintended acceleration (UA).
* Code-quality metrics predict presence of additional bugs.
* Toyota's fail-safes are defective and inadequate (referring to them as a 'house of cards' safety architecture).
* Misbehaviours of Toyota's ETCS are a cause of UA.

Meanwhile, as Mr. Kane points out, Toyota is rushing to settle unintended acceleration lawsuits "faster than you can say Michael Barr." Fact is, Coverup King Toyota has been in settlement mode ever since that pesky unintended acceleration trial in Oklahoma last October whereby Mr. Barr's testimony resulted in a landmark guilty verdict. It's a hoot watching the now-admitted-crook shy away from jury trials in an effort to keep Mr. Barr's findings quiet.

Before you buy a Toyota, reflect carefully on the facts. Their little glitch-mobiles can take you places you don't wanna go.

Update 9/29/2014 - Today, the Associated Press published an update on Mr. Ruginis' request to NHTSA. "The consumer provided 163 reports from other drivers who experienced a surge at low speed or no speed. But NHTSA said it eliminated duplicates, those outside the scope of the 2006-2010 model years and those from foreign countries to get 141. No injuries were reported." The article doesn't name Ruginis, referring only to an "unidentified consumer" who filed an unintended acceleration complaint on 9/11/2014. Of course, that avoids publicizing all those messy details about the EDR readout and what prompted the "unidentified consumer" to file such a complaint.

Update 9/30/2014 - re immediately preceding update, other reports copyrighted AP give complete details, so apparently some news media are deleting relevant information from AP's release.

Update 10/2/2014 - As word spreads about evidence of electronic defects in throttle controls, it's apparent that unintended acceleration affects many makes and models worldwide. Hyundai is being targeted in Korea, and Saudi Arabia is keeping an eye on Coverup King Toyota.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Admitted-crook Toyota coddled at NHTSA hearing

"Car safety whtchdog turns to lapdog: Our view" - Headline, Editorial Board, USA Today.

Last Tuesday's much ballyhooed Consumer Protection Subcommittee's NHTSA hearing - and a similar exercise from the House - was almost as theatrical as the "Congressional Investigation" into Toyota's unintended acceleration scandal. Informed consumers didn't know whether to laugh or cry as David Friedman - head honcho of NHTSA's auto industry stooges - took a "blame someone else" posture.

Strangely enough, the day before the hearing, in a 30 minute Detroit News interview, Friedman strayed from NHTSA's culpability in GM's ignition switch scandal, and blabbered that no evidence had been found that electronics were to blame for Toyota's unintended acceleration scandal. Actually, it wasn't strange at all. A few days earlier, word had gotten out regarding one Robert Ruginis, who, by fortuitous circumstance, had managed to get his hands on a very embarrassing EDR readout which confirmed his wife's account of her runaway Corolla. Mr. Ruginis - much to Toyota's chagrin - had hard, cold evidence that the accelerator was not pressed, and her foot was on the brake when rpm's suddenly doubled, and speed more than doubled, resulting in a crash. In a 9/11/2014 letter to Friedman, Mr. Ruginis had petitioned NHTSA for an investigation and was squealing to news media. He had also written a letter to David Kelley, Toyota's "Independent" Safety Monitor who had been appointed by the Department of Justice - with input from Toyota - as part of the now-admitted crook's settlement to end a federal criminal investigation. By the time Friedman had his Detroit News interview, Toyota's "independent" monitor had already arranged to meet with the Ruginises - at their home - the day after the NHTSA hearing.

So far, media has remained silent about the meeting at the Ruginises home. But stay tuned. The Ruginis readout corroborates the incriminating evidence of electronic defects unearthed by embedded systems expert Michael Barr last October at the landmark unintended acceleration case in Oklahoma. Evidence that the Holder gang had refused to comment on; evidence the government's mainstream media stooges have been trying to keep quiet. Read trade journal EDN's article, "Toyota's Killer Firmware: Bad design and its consequences." Here's what Mr. Barr found:

* Toyota's electronic throttle control system (ETCS) source code is of unreasonable quality.
* Toyota's source code is defective and contains bugs, including bugs that can cause unintended acceleration (UA).
* Code-quality metrics predict presence of additional bugs.
* Toyota's fail-safes are defective and inadequate (referring to them as a 'house of cards' safety architecture).
* Misbehaviours of Toyota's ETCS are a cause of UA.

Toyota, NHTSA, the DOJ, and the "Independent Monitor" musta been terrified when they realized what Mr. Ruginis had managed to get his hands on (see exhibit). I'd like to have seen the looks on their faces when they got word that Mr. Ruginis wuz refusin' to be bullied by Toyota and had gone public with the facts of his case. "Quick. Meet with the guy at his home. That'll make us look good while we figure out how to explain the EDR readout."

Talk about a thigh-slapper. For years, Toyota - now an admitted crook - has bent over backwards keeping EDR readouts secret, and then a minor paperwork delay lets the cat outta the bag. No wonder Mr. Friedman began the week of the NHTSA hearing with deceitful, highly publicized remarks equating the issue of electronic defects in Toyota's throttle control to a search for ghosts.

Next day, Friedman appeared at the hearing, and the dear senators sat there like dummies - like shills for the auto industry - as they let their friend from NHTSA get away not only with his disingenuous remarks to the Detroit News, but also a wisecrack he threw in at the hearing itself, declaring that there was no problem with Toyota's electronics. Never ever not once did the senators dare to bring up evidence of defects galore in Toyota's throttle control. Or the big lie broadcasted by NHTSA that NASA had ruled out electronics as a cause of Toyota's unintended acceleration scandal. Nor did they confront their friend Friedman about NASA physicist Henning Leidecker's warning of increased risk of unintended acceleration in '02-'06 Camrys due to "tin whiskers" growing in the electronic throttle control, demanding an explanation of why NHTSA hasn't ordered a recall of those models. The little glitch-mobiles are notorious for unintended accleration complaints, and it was an '05 Camry speeding out of control that resulted in Toyota's landmark guilty verdict in Oklahoma. Kinda makes ya wonder what sort of questions the senators should have asked - but decided not to - about GM's ignition switch scandal.

I quit voting long ago - Demagogues and Repukes are equally repulsive - and "representatives" like the ones who questioned Friedman are the epitome of why. If they're unaware of the evidence of electronic defects in Toyota's throttle control (which casts aspersions on all makes), and the current epidemic of vehicles crashing into buildings from parking lots (the typical setting for crashes suggestive of electronics issues), they should resign from their prestigious, high-payin' jobs. Fat chance of that happening. And if they're aware of the evidence - which they certainly should be - they oughta be charged with fraud for the way they conducted their NHTSA (No Help To Solve Anything) hearing. Problem is, Holder's "Just Us" gang would never in a million years do such a thing. So I've got an idea.

You bring the tar. I'll bring the feathers.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

EDR readout puts admitted-crook Toyota in the hotseat

Coverup King Toyota is notorious for being "secretive" with readouts from "their" Event Data Recorders (EDR's). An Assciated Press investigation found that "Toyota has frequently refused to provide information crucial to crash victims and survivors, and that in some lawsuits, the automaker has routinely provided printouts with key information missing."  

Enter Bob Ruginis, who happened to obtain a copy of the "secret" black box (EDR) readout after his wife's Corolla sped out of control and crashed into another vehicle. More on that in a moment.  

The Ruginises' Corolla had been plagued with unintended acceleration events ever since it was purchased new in 2010, and prior to the accident, the Ruginises had lodged UA complaints with their Toyota dealership. The dealership blamed the transmission.

When yet another unintended acceleration event occured, this time resulting in an accident, the Ruginises filed a claim with Toyota, whereupon Toyota sent the Event Data Recorder off to the manufacturer (Bosch) to obtain a readout. But a funny thing happened on the way to the forum. There was a paperwork delay which prompted an employee at Bosch to telephone Mr. Ruginis. During the phone conversation, Mr. Ruginis asked if he could have a copy of the readout, and Bosch's employee sent him one.

Listen up, Toyota. These things happen. Plans to keep secrets do go awry. And hey, Coverup King: If there's nothing to hide, don't hide it.

The readout (see exhibit) - who woulda thought? - is consistent with Mrs. Ruginis' account of what happened: Brake on, accelerator not pressed, yet engine revs had suddenly doubled, and speed had suddenly more than doubled. Follows the usual format for the vast majority of unintended acceleration events. They begin at very slow speeds - events are usually associated with parking - when a sudden surge catches the driver by surprise.

The showdown started when Toyota's "investigative" report of Mrs. Ruginis' accident conveniently omitted the EDR data, blamed the accident on her, and denied her claim. And when the Muginises confronted Toyota about the omission, the ol' Coverup King got downright huffy, declaring that the EDR readout wasn't relevant. But instead of cowering down to such bullying tactics from an admitted crook, Mr. Ruginis - who happens to be an embedded systems expert with 35 years experience - petitioned NHTSA to launch an investigation of his case (and hundreds of other cases registering similar complaints), sent a letter to Toyota's new "Independent Safety Monitor" suggesting that Toyota had violated the terms of its federal criminal settlement by concealing the EDR data, and started talking to news media. And wouldn't ya know it? NHTSA agreed to investigate, and Toyota's new "Independent Safety Monitor" hurriedly arranged to meet with the Ruginises at their home on Wednesday of this week. 

But beyond these grand theatrics, don't expect much.

Bear in mind that NHTSA broadcasted the big lie that NASA had ruled out electronics as a cause of Toyotas speeding out of control, and the auto industry stooge - complicit up to its neck in GM's ignition switch scandal - has also ignored NASA physicist Henning Leidecker's warning of increased risk of unintended acceleration in '02-'06 Camrys due to electronic defects known as "tin whiskers" growing in the pedal sensors. In Mrs. Ruginis' case, NHTSA is blabbering about a "dual pedal application," a speculation clearly at odds with the readout.

As for Toyota's new "Independent Safety Monitor," the guy was appointed by U.S. Attorney Eric Holder with input from none other than the admitted crook the guy is supposedly charged with overseeing. Holder's "Just Us" department showed its true colors earlier this year with a curt "No comment" when confronted with compelling evidence of defects galore in Toyota's electronic throttle control. Ah, the heartwarming sincerity of a corporate-controlled government...

Toyota has chimed in with blabber about "late braking," and that's a hoot. The readout shows a big increase in speed - accelerator not pressed - a split second before the brake was applied. It evidences a sudden surge that came too late to give the driver hardly any time to attempt to stop the vehicle before it crashed. "Late braking," Toyota? The evidence points to electronically-associated late surging. And after all, prior complaints had been lodged...

Real hoot seeing a corporate bully and its government cohots squirm. No court redactions of the evidence, no confidential settlements, and no mainstream media blackouts like the kinda stuff that took place October of last year when an Oklahoma jury said Toyota exhibited "'reckless disregard' for the public's safety" in the design of its electronic throttle control.

Stay tuned. This is one of several recently publicized events that evidence the involvement of electronics in cases of unintended acceleration. To find out just how big the government and industry coverup is, read Tom Murray's book, "Deadly by Design." It was published after Toyota lost the big case in Oklahoma, and puts the unintended acceleration issue in proper perspective.