NHTSA Complaint #10158289 — 2006 TOYOTA AVALON

CAR DID NOT START FOR SEVERAL TRIES. ON ABOUT THE 5TH TRY, THE MOMENT I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE THROTTLE STUCK AND THE CAR HURTLED OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT VEERED TO THE LEFT (AS YOU FACE THE GARAGE) IMMEDIATELY AFTER CLEARING THE GARAGE, CUT UNDER THE BRANCHES OF A BIG SPRUCE TREE ON THE CORNER OF MY NEIGHBOR'S LOT, CROSSED HIS DRIVEWAY, ACROSS A SMALL DRAINAGE DITCH AND SLAMMED INTO THE TRUNK OF A HUGE SPRUCE TREE. CAR STOPPED THEN, WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO REAR, AND ENGINE DIED. CAR WAS DRIVABLE AND I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER, WHO CHOSE TO NOT EXAMINE ANYTHING. DURING THE EVENT, I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES KEPT IT FROM LOCKING THE WHEELS AND I TRIED TO KILL THE ENGINE BY HITTING THE START BUTTON (THERE IS NO KEY ON THIS MODEL CAR). THAT DID NOT WORK AND I HIT THE TREE BEFORE I COULD THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE TO DO. I WAS NOT HURT. *JB