• 12
  • March
    2010

James Sikes made headlines this week when his 2008 Toyota Prius accelerated out of control on Monday, achieving speeds above 90 mph before a police officer arrived and helped him coast to a stop. Initially, it looked to be bad news for Toyota, who has yet to admit any major problems with the computer systems in cars like the Prius.

Still, before the week even ended, Sikes' story was being called into question.

Skeptics pointed to the fact that Sikes' failed to put the car into neutral, even though the emergency operator he spoke to told him, numerous times, to do so. In an investigative news piece, Fox 40, in Sacramento, showed four different ways in which Sikes could have potentially stopped his vehicle.

These included slamming on the brakes, holding down the cars start button to kill the engine and pushing the emergency brake button - as well as putting the car into neutral. All four actions resulted in slowing the car to a stop. 

Whether or not James Sikes' story holds up could be make or break for Toyota. Reports of car accidents have been increasing and the auto manufacturer is either preparing, or should be, for liability lawsuits. If Sikes is telling the truth, and did experience uncontrollable acceleration, then Toyota could be skirting the edge of an even steeper slide.

If he's lying, then the company could use his case to cast doubt on others or, at the very least, gain a moment to breath deeply.

Sikes' critics have also pointed to his "questionable past," noting that the real estate agency is in debt for several hundred thousand dollars and runs an adult site targeting swingers.

Of course, neither of these examples are grounds to completely write Sikes off - however, they are plenty of ammunition for those looking for holes in his story.