NHTSA Complaint #10164592 — 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE

I WAS SHOPPING AT THE LOCAL WALMART WITH MY WIFE, WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. WE WERE PARKED IN THE WALMART PARKING LOT. ON LEAVING, SHE ENGAGED THE CAR IN DRIVE AND BEGAN TO EASE OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE. THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES VERY HARD. THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE BUT ALWAYS IN A PLACE THAT WAS SAFE AND WHERE I COULD BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. IT ALWAYS HAPPENED AS I WAS MOVING FROM A PARKED POSITION. ON THIS OCCASION, IT WAS NOT SAFE, AND WE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR. THE TRIBUTE WAS DAMAGED AT A COST OF $5,000 TO REPAIR. THE OTHER CAR ALSO HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGES. I ASKED THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE CAR TO EXAMINE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOR A DEFECT. HE ONLY TOLD ME THAT IT LOOKED "NORMAL". MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR NOW AND I HAVE A LOT OF APPREHENSION WHEN I FIRST START THE CAR AND BEGIN TO DRIVE. I THINK THAT THERE MUST BE A SUBTLE DEFECT IN EITHER THE CRUISE CONTROL OR THE ACCELERATOR THAT CAUSES THIS UNEXPECTED SURGE WHEN FIRST STARTING FROM A PARKED POSITION. *NM