NHTSA Complaint #10135491 — 2005 SCION XA

ON AUGUST 20, 2005 I WAS PARKING MY SCION TC 2005 IN MY DRIVEWAY, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED. THE CAR TOOK OFF AS IF IT WERE POSSESSED. I TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITH MY STEERING WHEEL, AND AVOIDED HITTING MY HOUSE AND MY BASKETBALL POLL. SLAMMING THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK, AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR HIT A TREE IN MY BACKYARD. I SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES, INCLUDING CHEST CONTUSION, AND MULTIPLE FRACTURES IN MY LEFT HAND. MY DAUGHTER CALLED 911, THE POLICE ARRIVED AND I WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE. SINCE THEN I HAD TWO SURGERIES DONE, OF WHICH THE OUTCOME IS PENDING. SINCE I AM AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN I AM UNABLE TO WORK. I HAVE NOTIFIED TOYOTA SCION PERSONNEL AND THEY WILL INSPECT THE CAR WHEN THE CAR IS TAKEN TO A YARD, SINCE THE CAR IS TOTALED. A SIMILAR EPISODE HAD HAPPENED WITH THE SAME CAR INVOLVING MY DAUGHTER WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING. THE CAR SUDDENLY TOOK OFF ON THE BQE, AND HIT THE MEDIAN. AT THE TIME, I DID NOT BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN. I RECOMMEND ALL SCION TC'S TO BE CHECKED OUT FOR SIMILAR DEFECTS; SO THAT INJURIES TO OTHERS AND DEATH CAN BE AVOIDED. *NM