NHTSA Complaint #10072878 — 2002 TOYOTA ECHO

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON A FLAT, STRIGHT HIGHWAY IN LIGHT-TO-MODERATE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ON A ROAD WITH NO OBSTRUCTIONS OR VISIBLE FLUID/OIL SPOTS MY 2002 TOYOTA ECHO SUDDENLY AND SHARPLY VEERED RIGHT. I ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT MY TRAJECTORY, BUT THE CAR SWERVED COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL, FINAL TURNING COUNTER-CLOCKWISE TO HIT THE CONCRETE MEDIAN NEARLY-HEAD-ON, WITH MAJORITY OF IMPACT ON RIGHT FRONT OF CAR. THE RECOIL OF THE IMPACT TURNED THE CAR SO THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY 180 DEGREES FROM THE DRIVING DIRECTION ON THE FREEWAY. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS PUSHED IN, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THE HOOD PUSHED IN AND UP AND THE DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. NO INJURY OCCURED FROM THE CRASH. I WAS NOT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS, WAS NOT TALKING ON A CELL PHONE AND HAD BOTH HAND ON THE WHEEL AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. IT OCCURED DURING CLEAR, SUNNY WEATHER AT 4:00 PM ON MAY 7, 2004. THE CAR HAS BEEN DEEMED "TOTALLED" BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE.*AK