NHTSA Complaint #10140599 — 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD

ON AUGUST 19, 2004 I WAS PARKING MY 2004 T-BIRD IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. AS I EASED IN, I REALIZED I WANTED TO EDGE FORWARD AN INCH OR TWO SO I SLOWLY BEGAN TO RELEASE MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD HITTING THE CURB AND FLEW FORWARD 4-5 FEET WHILE I WAS PUTTING EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT FINALLY STOPPED AS THE CAR ACTUALLY HIT THE COMPANY SIGNAGE. THE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED TO THE TUNE OF ------. NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW IT HAPPENED, I CHALKED IT UP TO HUMAN ERROR, ALTHOUGH I KNEW I HAD NOT TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL. OCTOBER 5, 2005. I AM SLOWLY PULLING INTO MY GARAGE IN THE SAME 2004 T-BIRD. AS I APPROACH THE CURB AND A 5 FOOT DEEP CEMENT STOOP, I NEED TO EDGE IN ANOTHER 1 TO 2 INCHES TO CLEAR THE GARAGE DOOR. AS I GINGERLY BEGIN TO RELEASE THE PRESSURE ON MY BRAKE, THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD HITTING THE CURB AND FLYING FORWARD INTO AN UPRIGHT FREEZER IN THE GARAGE ON THE STOOP- 5 FEET FROM WHERE THE CAR USUALLY IS PARKED. THE FORCE IS SO GREAT THAT THE FREEZER IS T-BONED AND PUSHED INTO THE FINISHED WALL OF THE GARAGE, WHICH IN TURN REARRANGES THE CABINET IN THE POWDER ROOM IN THE LIVING QUARTERS OF MY HOME. THE COUNTER TOP/SINK COMBO IS SHATTERED. THE EVENT WAS MOST DISTURBING AND FRIGHTENING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. OF WILLOWBROOK FORD IN WILLOWBROOK, IL. AFTER EXAMINATION AND FINDING NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE BODY SHOP WHERE I WAS INFORMED OVER THE PHONE THAT NOTHING WAS FOUND MECHANICALLY WRONG AND THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE INCIDENT. THE INSURANCE HAD APPROVED PAYMENT FOR BODY REPAIRS AND SO IT WAS FIXED. THE CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO ME COMPLETELY REPAIRED, BUT I AM NEVER GOING TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. A T-BIRD ENTHUSIAST WEBSITE WWW.THUNDERBIRDNEST.COM ALSO RELATES SIMILAR STORIES OF HORROR. PERHAPS FORD WILL DO SOMETHING ONCE SOMEONE IS MAIMED OR KILLED. *JB