I WAS PARKED ALMOST PERPENDICULAR TO THE CURB (THAT WAS THE WAY THE PARKING SPOTS WERE SET.) I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND WAS ABOUT TO BACK OUT WHEN I SAW A CAR IN MY REAR VIEW. I QUICKLY SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD ABOUT A FOOT OR MORE BEFORE STRIKING A LAMP POST. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT AS WELL AS THE BUMPER, GRILL AND HOOD. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THERE WAS NO INJURY TO THE OTHER 2-PASSENGERS. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS PHENOMENON HAS HAPPENED. THE SUDDEN SURGE HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST TWICE BEFORE. BOTH TIMES WHEN I WAS ON A HILL AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING BACK. *TR
2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE CAR'S REAR SENSORS SOUNDED. SINCE I THOUGHT THERE WAS STILL 3 OR 4 FEET OF SPACE TO A CHAIN LINK FENCE BEHIND THE CAR, I GOT OUT TO INVESTIGATE. THERE WAS ROOM, SO I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR & CONTINUED TO BACK UP SLOWLY WHILE LOOKING OUT THE OPEN DRIVER DOOR. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I APPLIED THE BRAKES A FEW MORE TIMES, BUT STILL COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO STOP. I BELIEVE I MOVED MY RIGHT FOOT MORE TO THE LEFT & TRIED TO STOP AGAIN. WHEN THAT DIDN'T STOP THE CAR, IN DESPERATION I MOVED MY FOOT TO THE RIGHT, PRESSING FIRMLY ONCE OR TWICE. AT THAT POINT, MY FOOT EITHER SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL ON TO THE GAS PEDAL OR EVEN POSSIBLY HIT THE GAS PEDAL DIRECTLY. THE CAR LURCHED BACKWARD, KNOCKING THE FENCE DOWN & DAMAGING THE DRIVER DOOR. MY WIFE & I WERE IN THE CAR,BUT SUFFERED NO INJURY. NO OTHER PEOPLE OR VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED AT ALL. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AT RIVERHEAD FORD IN RIVERHEAD, NY & THE CLAIM HAS BEEN PAID BY ALLSTATE. MY WIFE & I HAD EXPERIENCED NO BRAKE PROBLEM PRIOR TO 6/24/10, & RIVERHEAD FORD FOUND NO BRAKE PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR WAS REPAIRED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE MIGHT BE A SPORADIC ABNORMALITY CAUSED BY THE BRAKES OR TRANSMISSION OR COMPUTER, & POSSIBLY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR