SAN DIEGO — Toyota cast doubt Monday on a California man’s claim that his Prius sped out of control, saying the report is inconsistent with the findings of the company’s preliminary investigation.
Toyota said in a statement that the accelerator pedal was tested and found to be working normally and a backup safety system worked properly. The automaker said the front brakes showed severe wear and damage from overheating, but the rear brakes and parking brake were in good condition.
The motorist, James Sikes, said his car raced to 94 mph on a freeway near San Diego last week. The March 8 incident ended when Sikes stopped the car with help from a California Highway Patrol officer.
“While a final report is not yet complete, there are strong indications that the driver’s account of the event is inconsistent with the findings of the preliminary analysis,” the statement said.
A telephone message seeking comment on Toyota’s assertions was left by The Associated Press at the office of Sikes’ attorney, John H. Gomez.
Toyota said testing found that the car’s accelerator pedal had no mechanical binding or friction, and the floor mat was not interfering with or touching the pedal.
A self-diagnostic system did show evidence of repeated applications of the accelerator and brake pedals, Toyota said.
“The data from the diagnostics test indicated that the accelerator and the brake had been rapidly pressed, alternately back and forth, 250 times,” Mike Michels, vice president of corporate communications for Toyota Motor Sales USA, said at a news conference.
