THE CAR WAS PARKED OVER NIGHT AT HOME. WHEN REVERSING THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE THE FOLLOWING MORNING A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. ON INSPECTION IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HELICAL SUSPENSION SPRING HAD FRACTURED IN THE FIRST NINE INCHES OF ITS LOWER ARC. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE SPRING WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE TIRE AND THE SPRING RECESS IN THE TOP OF THE WHEEL ARCH. ON INSPECTION IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE SPRING HAD SUDDENLY FAILED DUE TO METAL FATIGUE AND THAT THE FRACTURED SURFACES WERE PARTIALLY RUSTED. THE CAR WAS SERVICED TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE AND NO PROBLEMS IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION OR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WERE NOTICED. I HAVE RETAINED THE SPRING FOR INSPECTION AND NOTED THAT THE POWDER COATING ON THE LOWER PART OF THE SPRING WAS MISSING AND THAT THE SPRING'S BARE METAL SURFACE WAS CORRODED. IF THE SPRING HAD FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED THE BROKEN END WOULD HAVE CAUSED A TIRE FAILURE WITH ACCOMPANYING LOSS OF CONTROL WITH SERIOUS INJURIES TO PASSENGERS OR DRIVER.
2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON NOVEMBER 8, 2011, MS. JANICE CERVELLI SUSTAINED MINOR PERSONAL INJURIES AND SEVERE DAMAGE TO HER VEHICLE AS THE RESULT OF AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER MS. CERVELLI ACCIDENTLY BACKED INTO A UTILITY POLE IN THE PARKING AREA OF A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE PLAZA LOCATED AT 620 NORTH COUNTRY CLUB IN TUCSON, ARIZONA. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE LOW SPEED IMPACT WITH THE UTILITY POLE, MS. CERVELLI PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE QUICKLY ACCELERATED, AND SURGED FORWARD DESPITE THE FACT THAT MS. CERVELLI WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH ALL HER STRENGTH. MS. CERVELLI REPORTS THAT SHE COULD FEEL THE BRAKE PEDAL “SURGING” UNDER HER FOOT WHILE THE ENGINE RPMS CONTINUED TO RISE. THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE PARKING BARRIER, CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND RELATED SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD TO IMPACT THE PROFESSIONAL OFFICE BUILDING, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT QUARTER AND LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.