NHTSA Complaint #10322337 — 1998 INFINITI I30

I OWN A 1998 INFINITI I30. ON THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2010, MY DAUGHTER NICHOLE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENTLY THE CAR ACCELERATED TO OVER 4000 RMP WITHOUT HER APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE WITH ALL PRESSURE SHE COULD MUSTER (2 FEET) AND EVENTUALLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY, WITH SMOKE POURING FROM ALL FOUR WHEELS. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AN AUTO MECHANIC, WHO FOUND THAT THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE WAS BAD. WHEN THE MECHANIC STARTED THE CAR IN THE SHOP, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY RACED TO 5000 RMP. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN A CASE WHERE WHEN THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE GOES BAD, THAT IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO RACE. INSTEAD, HE SAYS THE ENGINE JUST DIES. IN THE PROCESS OF STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT PADS WERE FRIED AND WORN DOWN TO BARE METAL, AND DESTROYED THE FRONT ROTORS. THE REAR DISC PADS WERE ALSO FRIED, BUT THE REAR ROTORS CAN BE SALVAGED.