NHTSA Complaint #10229825 — 1995 TOYOTA TERCEL

I WAS STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC THAT HAD STOPPED, AND I WAS SEVERAL FEET AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS PEDAL ENGAGED AND MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD BUT IT DID NOT STOP IT, SO I PULLED UP THE HAND BRAKE BUT NOT BEFORE I HAD HIT THE REAR BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TICKETED FOR FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE. I EXPLAINED TO THE OFFICER WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY GAS PEDAL UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSED TO CAR TO ACCELERATE BUT ALL HE SAID IS THAT I BETTER GET IT FIXED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT, BUT MY CAR INSURANCE WENT UP, AS WELL AS THE DEDUCTIBLE I HAD TO PAY TO GET MY CAR FIXED AND REPAIR THE OTHER GENTLEMAN'S CAR. AT THE TIME I DIDN'T CONSIDER THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT BUT NOW I KNOW IT MIGHT WELL COULD HAVE BEEN. MY MOM HAD GIVEN ME THE CAR TO DRIVE AFTER SHE COULD NOT DRIVE IT ANY MORE, AND SHE DIED NOT TOO LONG THEREAFTER. I NOW HAVE OVER 210,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT HAS BEEN A PRETTY GOOD CAR, EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE INCIDENT. THANKS.