NHTSA Complaint #10277999 — 2007 AUDI Q7

WHILE I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE MY HOME'S GARAGE ON MY 2007 AUDI Q7 (3.6L GAS) SUV, I PUT REVERSE GEAR, WITH MY RIGHT FOOT IN THE BRAKE AS USUAL. AT THAT POINT MY 4 YEAR-OLD SON STARTED CRYING AND SPITTING UP A LOT OF SALIVA WITH BUBBLE GUM, SO I TURNED BACK AND TOOK IT WITH MY RIGHT HAND. I DID NOT PUT THE GEAR IN PARK BECAUSE MY RIGHT HAND WAS FULL OF SALIVA (NOW I REALIZE THAT I COULD HAVE DONE IT WITH MY LEFT HAND BUT AT THAT TIME I GUESS IT WAS NOT NATURAL DOING IT THAT WAY), SO I OPENED THE DOOR WITH MY LEFT HAND AND PUT MY LEFT FOOT ON THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO PARTIALLY SLIDE OUTWARDS TO THROW THE SALIVA AWAY (WHICH WAS IN MY RIGHT HAND). AT THIS POINT MY RIGHT FOOT LET GO THE BRAKE JUST A LITTLE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED GOING BACKWARDS. AS MY LEFT FOOT WAS ON THE FLOOR, I TRIPPED AND STARTING FALLING ON THE GARAGE'S FLOOR AS THE CAR WAS MOVING BACKWARDS. AT THIS POINT MY RIGHT FOOT LET GO THE BRAKE COMPLETELY AND THE CAR STARTED GOING BACKWARDS FASTER, AT AN UNREASONABLE FAST RATE! THE FRONT WHEEL ALMOST CRASHED MY BODY AND MY LEFT LEG GOT SEVERAL SCRATCHES AS IT CRASHED AGAINST THE OPEN DOOR RIPPING OFF ALL ITS PLASTIC COVER. WITH MY RIGHT FOOT STILL ON THE CAR'S FLOOR AND MY LEFT HAND GRABBING THE DOOR HANDLE, AND LOT OF ADRENALINE HELPING, I COULD SLIGHTLY SLIDE MY RIGHT FOOT INSIDE ENOUGH TO PUSH THE BRAKE AND MAKE THE CAR STOP. MY POINTS ARE: 1) THE CAR STARTED GOING BACKWARDS VERY FAST BY JUST RELEASING THE BRAKE; CARS SHOULD MOVE SLOWER, AT A LIMITED SPEED, IF THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT PUSHED. 2) THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY FEATURE PREVENTING CARS FROM MOVING (EITHER FORWARD OR BACKWARDS) IF (A) THE DOOR IS OPEN, AND/OR (B) IF THERE IS NO DRIVER SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT (LIKE THE ONE IN PASSENGER AIRBAGS THAT ARE INACTIVE WHEN THERE'S NO PASSENGER). I HAVE A SECURITY CAMERA THAT GOT THE ACCIDENT. I CAN PROVIDE THE VIDEO IF YOU REQUEST IT. I HOPE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE. *TR