NHTSA Complaint #10303909 — 2005 TOYOTA AVALON

MY WIFE DROVE OUR 2005 TOYOTA AVALON INTO THE PARKING LOT AT THE TARZANA, CA POST OFFICE. SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT FACING THE POST OFFICE, TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND STARTED APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE CAR SURGED FORWARD, CROSSING A WALKWAY AND RAN INTO A CONCRETE BLOCK PLANTER IN FRONT OF THE POST OFFICE. THE CAR SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL BODY AND RADIATOR DAMAGE AND IS NOW BEING REPAIRED AT A COST OF OVER $8000. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY WIFE WAS NOT INJURED. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS AND WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE CAR IS KEPT GARAGED AND IS UNLIKELY TO HAVE HAD CONDENSATION IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SYSTEM. THE WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS CLEAR AND SUNNY WITH THE TEMPERATURE IN THE 70'S. THE CAR IS STILL UNDERGOING REPAIR AND WE ANTICIPATE RECEIVING IT SOMETIME THIS WEEK (2/2/10). WE HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SENT AN INSPECTOR TO LOOK AT THE CAR ON 1/27/10. WE HAVE HAD NO REPORT BACK FROM TOYOTA AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FLOOR MAT WAS CHECKED THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AND IT WAS FIRMLY IN PLACE WITH THE FLOORBOARD CLIPS HOLDING THE MAT TO THE FLOOR. I CHECKED THE FLOOR MAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND IT HAD NOT MOVED OR INTERFERED WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. MY WIFE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MOVING FORWARD AT MORE THAN 5 MILES/HOUR AS SHE WAS JUST MOVING INTO THE PARKING SPOT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. OBVIOUSLY, THE CAR MUST HAVE ACCELERATED TO AT LEAST 15-20 MILES/HOUR IN THE SPACE OF APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET BEFORE RUNNING INTO THE PLANTER. IT IS BEYOND BELIEF THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A STICKING ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *TR