Microwave Ovens and NASA Investigates Toyota

 It is every home. Seems like it was always part of the decor. We really cannot live without them. They do so many things FAST. They are safe.

Microwave ovens are part of the American kitchen. Most probably cannot recall when there wasn't a microwave. I can't. However, the first microwaves came out n 1947 from Raytheon. They cost $2-3,000, which then, was a ton of money. It was not until the 1960s that microwave ovens appeared in large coproration lunch rooms, but they still were a luxury and expense to the everyday home. It was not until the 1970s that the price was down enough that many started to buy them and the primary buyers then were men who could not cook or as gifts for their wives. Microwaves came to every home in the 1980s.

Frozen food and microwaves are kin. Although, frozen food in stores first appeared in the 1930s, it was not until the late 40s that TV dinners and frozen fish sticks appeared. The old TV dinners were served on tin or aluminum trays, so one had to cook them in the stove. Microwaveable popcorn did not appear until the early 80s.

Toyota Woes

NASA scientists have now been assigned to study the computer systems used in the Toyota cars. They will also study their software in a 15 month study. Toyota continues to claim that their electronic systems  are not responsible for sudden acceleration. Basically, Toyota is in denial their cars are unsafe. A consumer simply has to Google, " complaints about Toyota brakes" and you will find official and non-official sites or blogs or forums dedicated to consumer complaints about their Toyota. One can easily see that there is a serious issue with Toyota's brakes and regenerative braking.

There are signicant consumer complaints made to dealers regarding their Prius, the Lexus RX 330 SUV, or Lexus RX400H hybrid about the brakes. Consumers repeatedly complain about the same issues: when braking, the car speeds up; when braking, nothing happens for 1-3 seconds even with pumping; brakes are unpredictable; when consumers complain to the dealer, the dealer either cannot duplicate the problem; the dealer states "it is normal and within spec", or the consumer is shrugged off. The model year complained about is from 2004-08. Some consumers ended up in accidents because they swerved to avoid an accident. Owners are afraid to drive their $30,000 car or drive more carefully knowing about how the brakes react and allow more space between cars. There are other complaints about acceleration, or a lack of it at critical times in driving. Toyota claims it is normal for regenerative brakes to take a few seconds for the computer to tell the brakes to engage. Normal? That is dangerous and life threatening.

As one owner stated, it can be fine for weeks and then in a second, at the wrong time, wrong place, you apply the brakes and nothing happens for a few critical seconds. Seconds that cause a wreck or hitting a pedestrian in the crosswalk. The problem is so random in the same cars it is hard to replicate, yet, more and more Toyota owners are complaining about the same damn things. Hey, obviously something is not right.

I was looking for a new car or a used one, checked into the Lexus and RX300, both very popular. However, after reading so many similar problems and some horror stories, I don't want to worry when I apply the brakes or accelerator. Stay away from these Toyota's.

Better to be alive than dead.