Complaint 1672432

Complaint Summary

SERVICE BRAKES

Owner Narrative

DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY, (I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE), TRAVELING AROUND 50MPH. I WAS ABOUT 3 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND, WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED ABRUPTLY, AND PROMPTLY DROVE AWAY. I SLAMMED MY BRAKES TO THE FLOOR AND SIMULTANEOUSLY SWERVED TO THE EMERGENCY LANE TO AVOID AN IMPACT. WITH BOTH OF MY FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY CAR KEPT SLIDING LIKE IT WAS ON ICE FOR AROUND 80 FEET, BECAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED ME WERE THE 2 VEHICLES THAT WERE ILLEGALLY PARKED IN THE EMERGENCY LANE. WHILE SKIDDING, I HIT THE CEMENT HIGHWAY DIVIDER (ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE). I THEN SLAMMED INTO THE 1ST PARKED CAR, WHICH WAS PUSHED INTO THE 2ND VEHICLE. I WAS SUBSEQUENTIALLY REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH FOLLOWED MY SAME PATH. ONLY THE STEERING WHEEL AND KNEE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE LEFT SIDE AIRBAG (1ST IMPACT) NEVER DEPLOYED, WHICH LEFT SIGNIFICANT BRUISING ON MY LEFT SHOULDER AND LEFT EAR. MY CAR WAS TOTALED, BUT THE CABIN REMAINED MOSTLY INTACT. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE WALKED AWAY WITH ONLY A BROKEN THUMB AND BRUISING THROUGHOUT MY BODY. IF THE ABS HADN'T FAILED, I WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO STOP SAFELY AND AVOID MULTI CAR COLLISION. *TR

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