Looking ahead to future recalls

After Toyota’s latest recall, you may be wondering what could possibly be next on the horizon.

Since the systems that make a vehicle go and stop – accelerators and brakes – have been the source of so much trouble, it’s reasonable that the next problem spot will be the parts that make a car turn – steering systems.

Much as manufacturers have added electronic controls to braking and accelerator systems, so too have they increasingly brought vehicles’ steering under computer control. Many manufacturers offer drive-by-wire systems, which not only offer weight and fuel economy savings, but also allow for neat features such as self-parking cars. Widespread failure of such systems has not yet been reported (and older-tech mechanical and hydraulic steering systems are FAR from perfect in their own way) but it’s just a matter of time before one manufacturer or another has a recall.

I hear ominous violin music starting up in the background.

The world’s largest and best auto magazine, Car and Driver, has a great piece in the current issue about how to cope with unintended acceleration here. Basically, the advice centers on slamming the brakes, shifting to neutral or park, and switching off the ignition.

That last bit – switching off the ignition – should also work in the event a driver does lose control of his or her steering. It’s the automotive equivalent of re-booting a computer, and coupled with aggressive use of the emergency brake, will bring things to a quick stop.

It’s good to keep in mind that your car effectively has an “off” switch.