NHTSA Complaint #10319859 — 2003 INFINITI I35

I WAS PARKING MY 2003 INFINITI I35 ON THE THIRD LEVEL OF A SANTA MONICA CITY PARKING STRUCTURE WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY SURGED. I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TURNED THE CAR (I WAS HEADING INTO A WALL). I HELD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE UNTIL IT FINALLY CAME OF A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR HIT THE WALL OF THE PARKING STRUCTURE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE PAINT ON CONCRETE PARKING STRUCTURE WALL AND MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE AUTOMOBILE. WHILE THE CAR HIT THE WALL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE DAMAGE DUE TO THE POWER OF THE IMPACT WAS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. IN 2005 DOLLARS THE REPAIR COST WAS JUST UNDER $15,000 AND THE CAR WAS IN THE BODY SHOP FOR SIX WEEKS. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT I FILED A REPORT WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY(21ST CENTURY INSURANCE), THE INFINITI CORPORATE OFFICE (WHICH WAS IN GARDENA, CALIFORNIA) AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES. NISSAN SENT ME A LETTER SAYING THAT THEIR TECHNICAL SPECIALIST FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A PRODUCT DEFECT, FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. I NEVER FELT SAFE IN THE CAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT. I SOLD THE CAR A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER. I DID NOT SUE AND I DO NOT EXPECT ANY FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT. I AM ONLY FILING THIS REPORT NOW FOR THE NHTSA TO HAVE A RECORD. I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE NEW CAR IN 2003 FROM A NISSAN INFINITI DEALER. ALL RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR