NHTSA Complaint #10316881 — 2005 TOYOTA AVALON

ON FEB. 11, 2010 I TOOK MY TOYOTA AVALON IN FOR THE ACCELERATOR RECALL. ON FEB. 17, 2010 I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE ON THE GROUNDS OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL I WORKED AT THAT DAY WHEN MY CAR ACCELERATED. IT JUMPED THE CURB SIDESWIPING MY CAR WITH A CAR THAT WAS PARKED ON MY RIGHT. AFTER IT HIT THE GROUND FROM JUMPING THE CURB IT ACCELERATED AGAIN HEADING STRAIGHT TOWARD THE SCHOOL BUILDING. I PUT TWO FEET ON THE BRAKE AND PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD. THE CAR DID STOP. THE CAR WAS TOWED BY AAA TO A TOYOTA DEALER IN FORT SMITH, AR (WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED). I BOUGHT THE CAR AT MOLLE TOYOTA IN KC, MO WHERE I LIVE (OVERLAND PARK, KS). THE INSURANCE ADJUSTOR CAME THAT DAY TO CHECK THE DAMAGE. HE SAID AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD BE OUT TO CHECK IT THE "CAUSE OF IMPACT". AS OF NOW, THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY KEEPS TELLING ME TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO KC FOR REPAIRS AND I TOLD THEM I WILL NOT DRIVE AN UNSAFE CAR. I WILL NOT TOUCH THE CAR UNTIL SOMEONE INVESTIGATES THE REASON FOR THE ACCELERATION. I HAVE CALLED MY DEALER, WHO HAS BEEN WONDERFUL; TOYOTA CORPORATE WHO HAS BEEN HORRIBLE (THE FIRST THING "BARBARA" SAID TO ME WAS "WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO ABOUT IT?") SHE RELUCTANTLY SAID SHE WOULD CHECK IT OUT. SHE CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER IN FORT SMITH AND TOLD HIM THAT TOYOTA INSPECTORS WOULD BE OUT WITHIN 10 DAYS BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHEN. I CALLED THE HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY DEPT. WHO SAID THEY DIDN'T DEAL WITH THAT AND TO CALL MY KS ATTORNEY GENERAL. I CALLED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO TOLD ME TO EMAIL THIS ADDRESS. SO . . . STATUS: MY CAR IS STILL IN FORT SMITH, AR ON A TOYOTA LOT AND NOBODY WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAPPENED OR HELP ME WITH MY NEXT STEPS. I DON'T THINK ANYONE BELIEVED THAT THE CAR ACCELERATED AFTER THE RECALL FIX. FINALLY, IT APPEARS THAT OTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT I WILL NOT DRIVE AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT. THANK YOU. *TR