Saturday, December 29, 2012

Toyota Software

Here is what the LAT says:
“Investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NASA and the National Academy of Sciences found no flaws in the automaker's electronics that could provoke the problem.  
But many vehicle owners continue to claim that a software or wiring bug could be the root of the problem. In preparation for trial, attorneys have been examining the source code for Toyota's throttle management system and consulting with engineers and electronics and software experts.”
Toyota to pay big to settle suits
By Ken Bensinger and Ralph Vartabedian,
Los Angeles Times December 26, 2012, 6:06 p.m.

On the other hand, the NYT says:
“But the class-action case contended that Toyota’s electronics systems were at fault. After a long investigation, government officials concluded last year that there was no evidence that faulty electronics systems contributed to the acceleration issues. But a subsequent review of that inquiry by a branch of the National Academy of Sciences found that federal regulators had lacked the expertise to monitor electronic controls in automobiles.”
Toyota Agrees to Settle Lawsuit Tied to Accelerations
By BILL VLASIC Published: December 26, 2012

The LAT mentions software but fails to say that there was a subsequent review, on the other hand the NYT talks about electronics systems, without referring to software at all.

So, was the problem a software one?