NHTSA Complaint #10268656 — 2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM

2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM, PLASTIC CONNECTOR USED TO ATTACH CRUISE CONTROL TO THROTTLE-BODY BROKE AND BECAME LODGED, RESULTING IN THE THROTTLE BEING HELD OPEN. AFTER TURNING A CORNER AND LETTING OFF THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I APPLIED BRAKE WHICH PARTIALLY SLOWED THE CAR BUT NOT ENOUGH TO STOP. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH A RED LIGHT AT WHICH POINT I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY OFF TO COAST OUT OF THE WAY OF OTHER MOTORIST. AFTER FIGHTING TO GET THE CAR STOPPED AND STEERING INTO A PARKING LOT I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE PLASTIC FITTING USED TO CONNECT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS WEDGED BETWEEN THE BRACE AND THROTTLE HOLDING THE BUTTERFLY 3/4 OF THE WAY OPEN, WHICH WAS ROUGHLY 5K RPM. AFTER FIGHTING WITH THE THROTTLE AND PLASTIC I WAS ABLE TO FREE IT AND TIE THE CABLE OUT OF THE WAY. I SPOKE WITH A GM DEALERSHIP AND FOUND THAT THE PART # IS 22618777. I UNDERSTAND IF THIS WAS A FLUKE BUT WANTED TO GIVE SOME INFORMATION IN CASE IT HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ELSE. I KNOW MY EXPERIENCE COULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD BUT WAS LUCKY TO AVOID ANY COLLISIONS. I JUST HOPE THE FACT THAT THERE WERE NO DEATHS OR INJURIES THAT THIS MATTER IS STILL TAKEN SERIOUSLY, MY MOTHER HAS THE EXACT SAME CAR AND I PLAN TO INSPECT HER ASSEMBLY THIS WEEKEND. *TR