NHTSA Complaint #10222361 — 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED

TL*THE CONTACT'S CLIENT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE THE CLIENT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH, SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THE SPEED CONTINUED TO INCREASE. THE CLIENT ALSO APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND ENCOUNTERED A PICKUP TRUCK TRAVELING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. SHE CROSSED OVER THE DOUBLE-YELLOW LINE ON A 2-LANE ROAD AND PASSED THE PICKUP TRUCK. THE DRIVER OF THE PICKUP INFORMED POLICE THAT HE NOTICED BRAKES BEING APPLIED, SMELLED, AND SAW BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ACCELERATING. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CLIENT THEN SIDE SWIPED A GUARDRAIL FOR APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET. THE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED ACROSS THE ROADWAY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE BECAME AIRBORNE FOR APPROXIMATELY 70 FEET AND LANDED ON ITS SIDE. AT THAT TIME, ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE AND LANDED AT A RECENTLY PLANTED FLOWER BED. THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DISENGAGED AS WELL. PART OF THE CRASH WAS CAUGHT ON TAPE BY A PENNSYLVANIA DOT SURVEILLANCE CAMERA. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 22,000. UPDATED 04/29/08. *LJ