SAN DIEGO -- While no one disputes the fact that Sikes' Prius sped down Interstate 8 last week, the question is whether the acceleration was unintended, and Sikes' attorney John Gomez said it was.

"Toyota engineers say it can't possibly happen. We know it does; they just don't know how," Gomez told 10News in an interview conducted on Sunday.

Gomez said the fact that Toyota wasn't able to replicate the problem is no surprise.

"The problem is there's a ghost in the machines. They don't leave a footprint; they don't leave a fault code. You can't go back and recreate it after the fact," said Gomez.

Rosemary Shahan with the group Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety called Toyota's recent actions an intimidation tactic meant to stop people from coming forward.

"I think it's an incredibly stupid tactic in this context because millions of people own Toyotas and really want to know the truth," said Shahan.

She also added Toyota wasn't being true to their word.

"Toyota says, 'We get it, we respect our customers. We'll stop telling them they're nuts.' They then turn right around and attack this guy," said Shahan.

Gomez said despite Sikes' financial troubles, money and fame are not his motivating factors. He told 10News his client is not interested in suing Toyota and simply does not want this to happen to anyone else.

"He's not looking for money. He's not looking for fame. There's really no reason he would create this event as a hoax," said Gomez.

Toyota is facing a class-action lawsuit which could mean a settlement covering about 6 million recalled Toyotas nationwide.