NHTSA Complaint #10045045 — 2003 BUICK REGAL

I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF A THROTTLE PROBLEM. THEY SPRAYED SOMETHING ON IT (ALUMINUM TYPE SPRAY) AND SENT US ON OUR WAY UNTIL THEY ORDERED A NEW PART. IT WAS THE WRONG PART AND A MONTH WENT BY WITHOUT A FURTHER CALL REGARDING ANY NEW PART COMING IN. ON SEPTEMBER 13TH I HEADED INTO ANCHORAGE ON THE BUSIEST HIGHWAY IN THE STATE OF ALASKA. THE THROTTLE SPRING LET GO. I FOUND MYSELF CLUTCHING THE STEERING WHEEL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH AND THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK. I TRIED DOWNSHIFTING BUT THAT DIDN'T EVEN CAUSE A BLIP OF REACTION IN THE CAR'S SPEED. NOT KNOWING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN BY APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHILE GOING AT LEAST 70 MILES PER HOUR, I HAD NO CHOICE AND PUSHED ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THAT DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. AS I RUSHED DOWN THE ROAD WITH THE PARK BRAKE ON, I ALSO PRESSED ON THE REGULAR BRAKES AND THAT FINALLY WORKED ENOUGH THAT I COULD SLOW DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. I DROVE ONTO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. SMOKE ROSE ALL AROUND THE CAR. I STAYED CALM AND TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THAT IT WOULD BE BEST TO BE IN THE RIGHT LANE IF I ROLLED THE CAR. LUCKILY THE SATURDAY MORNING TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT ENOUGH, INITIALLY, THAT I DIDN'R REAR END ANY VEHICHLE, I DIDN'T ROLL, AND I DIDN'T LOSE CONTROL. I HAVE NOT, AND WILL NEVER AGAIN DRIVE IT. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR SINCE 9-13-03. I AM A 10 YEAR CUSTOMER OF BUICK. THEY ARE DOING A BUY BACK OF THAT CAR AND I WILL BE OUT ABOUT $3000 WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE. PRETTY EASY "OUT" FOR A COMPANY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SUED IF I HAD BEEN KILLED IN THEIR VEHICLE. MY OWN DRIVING SKILL RESULTED IN MY NOT HAVING A FATAL OUTCOME IN THIS INCIDENT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A WEEKDAY MORNING, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRAFFIC JAM IN MY PATH. IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON SNOW OR ICE, I WOULDN'T BE AROUND TO TELL YOU OF THIS. I AM REPORTING THIS SO OTHERS ARE AWARE OF THE THROTTLE PROBLEM.