NHTSA Complaint #10311103 — 2006 INFINITI M35

ON JULY, 22, 2009, MY 2006 INFINITI M35X ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. I HAD PARKED THE CAR AND IT TOOK OFF , WENT THROUGH A METAL FENCE, THROUGH SOME BUSHES AND PULLED A POLE FROM THE GROUND. THE POLE LODGED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR AND STOPPED THE CAR WHICH HAD NOT RESPONDED TO THE BRAKES. I WAS CLOSE TO A BRICK BUILDING AND WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED (ACCORDING TO THE POLICE) IF THE CAR HAD KEPT ON GOING. A POLICEMEN WHO CAME TO MY RESCUE WAS CONVINCED THAT I HAD ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF BRAKING AND WROTE THAT IN HIS POLICE REPORT. WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH TOYOTA, I FEEL VINDICATED BECAUSE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME REACTION FROM THE POLICE.WHEN THEIR CARS HAVE GONE OUT OF CONTROL. I NOTIFIED INFINITI OF THE ACCIDENT AND THEY WERE WILLING TO SEND SOMEONE TO LOOK AT THE CAR, BUT THEY INSISTED ON THE POLICE REPORT. OF COURSE, THE REPORT PUT ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY WITH ME AND I DIDN'T FIGHT IT UNTIL I STARTED HEARING FROM VICTIMS OF THE TOYOTA DEBACLE. IT NEVER CAME TO PASS, AS SOMEONE WAS WILLING TO BUY MY DAMAGED CAR AND I WAS HAPPY TO GET RID OF IT, AS I NEVER WOULD HAVE FELT COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT AGAIN.SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, I STARTED TO HEAR ABOUT TOYOTA'S PROBLEMS AND IT STRUCK A CHORD. I THINK THE INFINITIS NEED TO CHECK THEIR CARS AND IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER INFINITI DRIVERS. OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD DRIVEN MY CAR WERE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IT, THEIR CRITICISM BEING THAT IT WAS TOO PEPPY AND HARD TO CONTROL. I DID NOT REPAIR THE CAR, BUT USED THE INSURANCE AND THE SALE AMOUNT TOWARD BUYING A NEW CAR. *TR