Complaint 550448

Complaint Summary

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

Owner Narrative

ON JULY 25, 2005 AT @ 10:00AM [XXX] WAS OPERATING MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT (4 DOOR) VIN NO.: [XXX]. SHE WAS INTENDING TO BACK OUT OF THE STONE DRIVEWAY OF HER RESIDENCE LOCATED AT [XXX].DUE TO IT BEING A STONE DRIVEWAY, IT IS HER PRACTICE TO INTIALLY PROCEED 1-2 FEET FORWARD, THEN PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, SO AS TO NOT KICK UP ANY STONES. [XXX] PROCEEDED TO ENGAGE THE ACCELARATOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAVELLING FORWARD 1-2 FEET. SHE THEN PUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHILE PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE. ONCE SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE AND BEFORE SHE ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR, THE EXPLORER SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY SURGED BACKWARDS, OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE TRAVELLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY (@15-20 FT), THEN CONTINUED TO TRAVEL @75-100 FT. ACROSS THE STREET AND IMPACTED WITH A PARKED 4X4 TRUCK. DURING THIS TIME, [XXX] ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY PRESSING DOWN HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. UNFORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE IN MOTION. [XXX] THEN TRIED TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, WHICH DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, AS IT CONTINUED TO SURGE BACKWARDS, ACROSS THE STREET AND IMPACT WITH A PARKED 4X4 PICK-UP TRUCK. THIS IMPACT DID NOT SLOW DOWN THE EXPLORER, AS IT PROCEEDED TO FLIP THE PICK-UP TRUCK UPSIDE DOWN AND FINALLY CAME TO REST DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE PICK-UP TRUCK WITH ALL FOUR WHEELS SPINNING AND THE ENGINE RACING. THE EXPLORER SUSTAINED @$6,000.00 IN PD AND IS BEING SERVICED BY SUPERIOR AUTO BODY/MANASQUAN, NJ. SUPERIOR AUTO BODY HAS CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO HAVE A SPECIALIST INVESTIGATE THE ACCELERATOR MALFUNCTION. THE EXPLORER MUST BE TAKEN TO FORD DEALERSHIP LOCATED AT 700 SHREWSBURY AVE., RED BANK, NJ. I AM AWAITING THE RESULTS OF THIS INVESTIGATION. UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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