# What caused Toyota? runaway throttle deaths?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-caused-toyota-runaway-throttle-deaths/39353>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [November 11, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-caused-toyota-runaway-throttle-deaths/39353 "2009-11-11T20:43:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![SonofSpermcube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@SonofSpermcube](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SonofSpermcube)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 7:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-caused-toyota-runaway-throttle-deaths/39353/21 "2009-11-17T07:47:15Z")

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It would…right up until the brakes overheated.

My dad had an unintended acceleration incident in his Monte Carlo, due to improperly installed hand controls. I was in the car at the time. He had the brake pressed all the way and the car would not slow below 50 miles per hour. We were in a residential neighborhood when this happened, too. Fortunately we were right near the dealer that installed the controls. He got us near to the place, then was able to shut the engine off (he’d had the car for years and there was nothing weird about turning this car off) and coast into the lot.

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**Author:** ![kb0001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7bcc69/32.png) [@kb0001](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kb0001)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-caused-toyota-runaway-throttle-deaths/39353/22 "2009-11-17T18:11:04Z")

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People panic and bad stuff happens.

I think the real culprit is the push button ignition. In a panic, I would guess most people would repeatedly press it hoping for a response. While, in reality you have to hold it for 3 seconds for a shut down. I’m actually a bit surprised that the vehicle isn’t programmed to shutdown after a series of rapid presses.

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**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-caused-toyota-runaway-throttle-deaths/39353/23 "2009-11-17T20:09:29Z")

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The solution (from the manufacturer) will be to program the engine computer such that it cuts throttle if the gas pedal and the brake are applied at the same time. So car makes already do this.

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