NHTSA Complaint #10208609 — 2000 ACURA TL

I TRIED TO PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE AFTER STARTING IT ONE DAY TO NO AVAIL. I PLACED A SCREW DRIVER IN THE SHIFT LOCK POSITION AS THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED. I CALLED THE ACURA DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOANER CAR AVAILABLE AND ASKED ME TO COME IN A DAY LATER. ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR MY APPOINTMENT THE NEXT DAY, I HAD COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE GOING 65 MILES AN HOUR ON A TOLLWAY. THE NEXT 14 MILES I TRIED TO GET THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN. I TRIED TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND PUT THE CAR IN ACCESSORY, BUT NOTHING WORKED INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. IN FACT THE CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT ME EVER TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. FINALLY I EXITED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND PURPOSELY WRECKED THE CAR TO AVOID INJURY TO OTHERS AT SUCH A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE CAR WAS ON FIRE WHEN I FINALLY STOPPED. LUCKILY I WAS ALIVE. I BROKE MY FOOT AND POPPED 2 VERTEBRAE IN MY NECK. *TR