What happens when your car’s (software) crashes?

Just an amusing little bit from the Wall Street Journal about the Toyota Prius:

"Some buyers of Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius gas-electric hybrid cars are complaining that their vehicles are stalling or shutting down at highway- driving speeds, a problem Toyota attributes to software problems in the sophisticated computer system." (from WSJ, subscription needed)

And also:

In one complaint, a driver told NHTSA that the car shut down while driving at 60 miles an hour. The Prius continued to lose power as the driver pressed the accelerator. The car had to be towed back to the dealership for repairs.

Heaven help us! A whole new meaning to mission critical software! Technorati Tags: cars