On March 8, San Diego-resident Jim Sikes was driving his 2008 Toyota Prius on a Southern California freeway when he claimed it began to speed out of control. According to Sikes, his attempts to slow the car failed and after reaching speeds in excess of 90 mph, he was only able to stop the runaway car with the assistance of a highway patrolman.

At first glance, the incident seemed like yet another symptom of Toyota’s unintended acceleration woes that have led to the recall of millions of vehicles since late last year (and will be covered in more depth in our upcoming April issue).

But when a subsequent examination of the vehicle by Toyota and federal government investigators failed to duplicate the problem, it called the accuracy of Sikes’ account into question. Toyota found the car’s gas, brake, and safety override to be in working order and that Sikes had rapidly pressed the gas and brake pedals back and forth 250 times (the maximum amount of data that the diagnostic system could collect). This may have caused the brakes to overheat and since Sikes did not press the brakes hard enough, the brake override system did not engage.

Fox News reported that Sikes has had a history of financial problems, which has led some to suggest that his report may have been a hoax. Toyota spokesperson Mike Michels would not say outright that Sikes had fabricated his story, however.

“We have no opinion on his account, what he’s been saying, other than the scenario is not consistent with the technical findings.”

Toyota’s investigation of the Sikes incident seems to indicate a shift in their response to the acceleration issue from one of contrition to a more aggressive defense of the safety of the vehicles. As they continue to investigate the source of the problem (could it be cosmic rays?), it is apparent that they are now willing to fight for their brand. Hopefully for their business and, more importantly, for Toyota drivers, their rediscovered focus is not a case of too little, too late.