NHTSA Complaint #10308647 — 2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2001: WAS HIT BY ANOTHER CAR IN THE LEFT REAR WHILE CAR WAS AT RED STOP LIGHT WAITING FOR GREEN LIGHT, SPINNED, WENT ON TO "AUTOMATIC" DRIVE AND HIT FIRE HYDRANT ON THE RIGHT SIDE FENDER. THE IMPACT MAY HAVE BEEN TOO GREAT TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO MOVE PASSED MEDIAN AND STILL HIT A FIRE HYDRANT AND STOP SIGN AT THE INTERSECTION. MY WIFE SUFFERED MULTIPLE INJURIES, I.E., BROKEN RIBS, NECK WOUNDS, ORGAN BURST, ETC., THAT KILLED HER AT THE SCENE. I HAVE SEEN A CAR THAT WENT ON "CRAZY SPIN" AFTER RUNNING OVER A PIECE OF TIRE ON THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN BOTHERED BY THAT INCIDENT WHICH HAPPENED JUST A MONTH AFTER MY WIFE'S DEATH AND BEGAN TO QUESTION THE DESIGN OF FRONT WHEEL DRIVEN CARS THAT GO ON TO "AUTOMATIC" DRIVE AFTER ANY DISTURBANCE. THE OTHER CAR THAT HIT MY WIFE'S CAR IS SMALLER AND IT MUST HAVE BEEN MOVING OVER THE SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MPH TO HAVE TO CAUSE THE GRAND PRIX TO DEVELOP THAT MUCH MOTION AND MOVE AT RANDOM.. AND IT MUST BE THE MECHANISM OR TRANSMISSION THAT TRIGGERED IT TO MOVE. THEORIZE THAT THE GRAND PRIX WAS AT STOP AND BRAKES APPLIED, CAR WOULD NOT MOVE THE DISTANCE IT HAD IF NOT UNDERGONE "AUTOMATIC". THERE WERE PREVIOUS REPORTS ABOUT FRONT WHEEL CARS/ENGINES BEFORE THEY BECAME COMMON. THE GRAND PRIX'S ON-STAR DID NOT ACTIVATE OR FUNCTION, ALSO THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. IT WAS NOT PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE FOR THE GRAND PRIX TO MOVE THAT MUCH DISTANCES IF ATTRIBUTED ONLY TO OTHER VEHICLE HITTING IT. THE GRAND PRIX PRO-PERFORMANCE CLAIM WAS SOMETHING THAT HAVE BEEN PUT TOGETHER WITHOUT SAFETY CHECKS. NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG ALSO HAD DELAYED RESCUE AND THE "ON STAR" CLAIM OF IMMEDIATE ALERT DID NOT WORK. HOW SAFE ARE THE FRONT WHEEL CARS NOW? I HAVE TO READ BACK POPULAR MECHANICS MAGAZINE 1978'S BACK ISSUES TO FIND THE ARTICLE ON THE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CARS. I FEEL THAT THE SPEED OF THE OTHER CAR WAS NOT THE FACTOR THAT MADE THE GRAND PRIX GO ON RANDOM MOTION. THERE MUST BE FUEL INJECTION MECHANISM/COMPONENT PROBLEM. *TR