SEATTLE, Wash. – 97.3 FM talk show host Dave Ross is known to brag about his 2001 Toyota Prius. On Thursday, he stepped away from the mic and into the driver's seat to show us an acceleration experiment he tried out along Intersate 90.
"I floor the pedal. I get it to around 70," said Ross. "I've got the gas pedal down, I'm holding on the brake and the car stops," said Ross.
Ross shared this story with his listeners on the radio Thursday morning, which brings into question what James Sikes says happened to him on a San Diego highway earlier this week. Sikes called 911 after he says he couldn't get his 2008 Prius to slow down.
"I can't say that there was not a problem ... with his car," says Ross. "But in terms of some fundamental flaw that affects them all, it certainly doesn't affect this one (Ross' car)."
Buzz Rodland with Rodland Toyota is skeptical of the California incident.
"I don't believe it. I frankly don't believe it," said Rodland. He says he also tried this experiment on of his 2008 Prius models. "When you pop that car into neutral, the RPMs go right down to 1,000 RPMs to idle."
Ross conducted this experiment for his own peace of mind and, while he doesn't recommend it, he wants people to gain a little perspective from it.
"Don't panic. I guess. I mean, in the unlikely event that something like this happens, it's safe to put it into neutral. It's safe to lay on the brake and by all accounts, if you do, the the car will stop," said Ross.
Rodland does not recommend trying out this test. He says bring your Prius into the dealership if you believe it has an acceleration problem.
