Complaint 1305238

Complaint Summary

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Owner Narrative

I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A HIGHWAY- ROUTE 2 IN MASSACHUSETTS. AFTER TAPPING ON THE BRAKES TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF SLOWING DOWN, THE CROWN VICTORIA- ON IT'S OWN- BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AT THE SAME TIME. IT WAS SUDDEN AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AT THAT POINT, I SLAMMED AS HARD AS I COULD ONTO THE BRAKE PEDAL- TO THE POINT WHERE THE BRAKES WERE SMOKING. THE ENGINE OVERWHELMED BRAKES AND I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE- I COULD ONLY SLOW IT DOWN. I ENDED UP REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME (WHICH HAD COME TO A STOP). EVEN AFTER THE IMPACT, THE CROWN VICTORIA CONTINUED TO PUSH AGAINST THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THEN, JUST AS SUDDENLY AS IT STARTED, THE FULL BORE ACCELERATION STOPPED. I HAD A PERFECT DRIVING HISTORY PRIOR TO THIS MALFUNCTION. NO ACCIDENTS EVER. I HAD AMPLE SPACE AND TIME TO SAFELY STOP MY VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH MATS. I AM NOT SUING FORD. I AM NOT TRYING TO AVOID THE SURCHARGE. I CAN'T OFFER YOU TANGIBLE PROOF THAT THERE WAS A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN MY 2008 FORD CROWN VICTORIA- OTHER THAN MY TRUTHFUL TESTIMONY. I RECENTLY BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND, UNTIL THAT ONE INCIDENT, IT WAS RUNNING NORMALLY. IT WAS RUNNING NORMALLY IN THE DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. I HAD A "WRENCH" LIGHT COME ON ONCE, A COUPLE OF WEEKS EARLIER BUT IT WAS GONE THE NEXT TIME I STARTED UP THE CAR. SO I DISMISSED IT. THE DAMAGE WAS RELATIVELY MINOR AND I HAVE FULL COLLISION. I CONSIDERED THE CAR SO UNSAFE TO DRIVE, HOWEVER, THAT I TOOK IT OFF THE ROAD AND GAVE IT AWAY. I WARNED THE PERSON I GAVE IT TO THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE USED ONLY FOR PARTS. WHAT I AM SAYING IS THE TRUTH AND IT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I TOLD THE MOTORIST I STRUCK AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.