NHTSA Complaint #10310147 — 2006 HONDA PILOT

I EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS INCIDENT OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN MY 2006 HONDA PILOT EX-L ON FEBRUARY 8, 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:45 A.M. EST NEAR THE REAR GARAGE ENTRANCE TO THE OFFICE TOWER. AS I WAS APPROACHING THE GARAGE ENTRANCE AT UNDER 10 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED ROARING TO 5000 RPM. I IMMEDIATELY AND WITH MAXIMUM FORCE PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH FORTUNATELY DID STOP THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD. I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN PARK, AND THE ENGINE NEVER DEVIATED FROM THE 5000 RPM LEVEL. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AT THE IGNITION AND WAITED MAYBE A MINUTE. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO 5000 RPM. I SHIFTED BACK TO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AGAIN AT IGNITION. I WAITED ANOTHER MINUTE, AND RESTARTED AGAIN WITH THE SAME FRIGHTENING RESULT. A KENT SECURITY OFFICER FOR THE MIAMI PARKING AUTHORITY WITNESSED (SAW AND HEARD) THE ENTIRE INCIDENT AND OFFERED ASSISTANCE. I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND HE PUSHED IT BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE ENTRANCE AND TO THE CURB, OUT OF TRAFFIC, WHILE I STEERED WITH NO POWER. I WAITED MAYBE THREE TO FOUR MORE MINUTES AFTER THAT AND DECIDED TO TRY RESTARTING THE CAR ONE MORE TIME TO MOVE IT TO TRY TO MOVE IT INTO THE GARAGE. THAT TIME, IT STARTED NORMALLY. I SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND DROVE IT INTO THE GARAGE AND PARKED. WE ARE TRYING TO OBTAIN THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO OF THE ENTIRE INCIDENT. AMERICAN HONDA EXAMINED THE CAR AT BRICKELL HONDA IN MIAMI, DRIVING IT 64 TOTAL MILES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AFTER 3 DAYS, AMERICAN HONDA IN CALIFORNIA (CHRIS SCHROEDER 800-999-1009 EXTENSION 117703) DECIDED THERE WAS NO NEED TO CONDUCT ANY FURTHER TESTING AND DECLARED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. HE EXPRESSED NO CONCERN THAT IT PRESENTED ANY DANGER IN THE FUTURE AND THAT AMERICAN HONDA WOULD DO NOTHING UNLESS I COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT A SERVICE FACILITY. *TR