NHTSA Complaint #10070105 — 1998 HONDA ACCORD

THIS IS MY MOTHERS CAR (1998 HONDA ACCORD EX-VL) WHICH WAS TOTALED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.MY WIFE WAS THE FIRST OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND MY MOTHER HAS HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS. SHE HAD STOPPED, PUT THE CAR INTO PARK, GOT OUT TO OPEN A PARKING LOT GATE, GOT BACK IN, STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, AND SHIFTED THE CAR INTO GEAR. IT IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO A HIGH REV AND ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY RESULTING IN THE CAR SMASHING INTO A WALL ABOUT 60' AWAY. LUCKILY THE AIR BAGS WORKED AND NEITHER HER OR MY STEP FATHER WERE SERIOUSLY HURT. HER FOOT WAS DEFINITELY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS THERE IS A LOCKOUT MECHANISM THAT PREVENTS THE CAR FROM BEING TAKEN OUT OF PARK IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT PUSHED. THIS MAY OR MAY NOT BE RELATED, BUT SHE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING THE HANDLE TO MOVE. THE PROBLEM WITH IT NOT MOVING HAD OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY, USUALLY ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, BUT THE HONDA DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD HER NOTHING WAS WRONG. MY MOTHER IS A RETIRED BUS DRIVER WITH A PERFECT DRIVING RECORD, NO ACCIDENTS, AND ONLY USES ONE FOOT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE.