SAN DIEGO -- Several local Toyota drivers told 10News they believe runaway Prius driver James Sikes is telling the truth about his ordeal.

"I absolutely believe him," said Carlsbad resident Bob Bender.

Bender believes him because he knows what it's like to be in an out-of-control vehicle. Seven months ago, he was in his Lexus SUV when he said it accelerated forward as he let go of the gas pedal.

"My car lurched forward; as I'm braking, it's not stopping. It rear-ended another car," said Bender.

It was his fourth such collision in 9 years. Each time, Toyota found nothing wrong and Bender said, "It gets me angry."

Bender was more upset upon hearing Toyota's response to the Sikes incident. The company said the sudden acceleration could not be duplicated.

"They can't duplicate anybody's situation. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen. They use that as a brush-off excuse. 'We can't do it, so it doesn't exist.' There's a glitch in their cars," said Bender.

His frustrations are shared by Lexus owner Margie Skube.

"It makes me feel helpless," she told 10News.

In the past five months, she said she's had four sudden acceleration events. Usually, she said it happens when she lets go of the gas pedal.

In one incident, a bush stopped her from driving into traffic on a Carmel Valley road.

A recent Toyota factory inspection determined Skube's vehicle to be safe, but she said, "They aren't facing up to the problem."

Despite Sikes' financial problems, Skube feels the same way about his ordeal.

"I don't care if the devil was driving that car. He deserves to be listened to when there's a problem. Nobody takes a chance on their life … going down the freeway at 94 mph on a hoax," said Skube.

Skube and Bender are going to the courts for answers. Both are expected to be part of class-action lawsuits against Toyota.