NHTSA Complaint #10303323 — 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA

WE WERE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AND HAD ABOUT 5 FEET TO GO BEFORE THE CAR WAS PARKED. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN FURTHER. SUDDENLY THE CAR ENGINE REVVED AND THE CAR TOOK OFF. I PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, NOT THE GAS PEDAL, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. I TURNED THE WHEEL TO AVOID HITTING THE BUILDING IN FRONT OF ME, BUT HIT THE ADJACENT RESTAURANT INSTEAD. THE CAR CRASHED INTO THE RESTAURANT WALL AND SENT A LARGE REFRIGERATOR CRASHING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM. FORTUNATELY, NO RESTAURANT PERSONNEL WERE IN THE PATH OF THE REFRIGERATOR AT THE TIME. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE RESTAURANT AND TO THE CAR. MY HUSBAND WHO HAD ALREADY TAKEN OFF HIS SEAT BELT, AS WE WERE NEARLY STOPPED, HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH HIS HEAD. HE IS IN THE HOSPITAL. I BADLY BRUISED MY HAND AND CHEST. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. OUR CAR IS A 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA. IT WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY BODY SHOP. NO ONE HAS TOUCHED IT OR ATTEMPTED ANY REPAIRS. I EXPECT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL DETERMINE THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED. *TR