As I was coasting into a parking space perpendicular to a curb, sidewalk, and store fronts, about a foot from the curb, the engine ROARED and rapidly accelerated. I removed my foot from the pedal and crashed into a pole supporting the canopy over the sidewalk. The impact was so great that the airbags deployed and the car bounced back onto the parking lot. Several lights on the dash illuminated while this happened and I definitely saw "Electrical Malfunction". The only way I could think to turn the engine off was to force the door open. My cat was in her hard sided carrier on the front passenger seat and the impact and air bags broke the carrier and she was ejected. Clearly the Pre-Sense Front collision warning/avoidance system did not function properly during this unintended acceleration. I am convinced that had there not been a sturdy pole directly in front of the parking space, the car would have continued to accelerate and crashed into the storefront of the restaurant directly ahead - and MANY people could have been injured or worse. The "Electrical Malfunction" light had illuminated several months earlier when starting up after being parked for a short time but when I drove the few miles home and turned it off, then on again, it did not illuminate so I forgot to report this to the dealership. This car had been returned to the dealer several times during the two years I have owned it for several recalls, an unresolved air conditioner warning light, and a "known" problem with the brakes getting locked up after getting wet.
- NHTSA ID
- 11631328
- Incident
- Dec 16, 2024