NHTSA Complaint #10323177 — 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA

2009 TOYOTA COROLLA WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, HE DID RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL AND COMPLIED BY TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE ON FEBRUARY 17, 2010. HOWEVER, ON MARCH 6, 2010, THE CONSUMER MADE A RIGHT TURN ON A STREET THAT WAS CURVY AND WAS RELATIVELY STEEP DESCENDING TOWARD AN INTERSECTION. HE GENTLY APPLIED THE BRAKES 2-3 TIMES DURING THE DESCENT TO MAINTAIN A SPEED OF 15-20 MPH. AT NO TIME DID HE DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR DURING THE DESCENT AND THE ENGINE WAS IDLING AS THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. WHEN HE APPROACHED A FOUR-WAY STOP SIGN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL NORMALLY TO COME TO A FULL STOP. INSTANTLY, THE ENGINE RACED AND ROARED. THE CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. HE RESTARTED THE ENGINE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GEAR SELECTOR IN NEUTRAL AND IT STARTED WITH THE SAME ROAR. HE TURNED IT OFF AGAIN AND WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES. HE DECIDED TO TRY ONE MORE TIME AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED IN NORMAL MODE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS GARAGED, THE DOORS WERE BARELY KEPT LOCKED. OVER THE LAST 6-9 MONTHS ABOUT ONCE A MONTH WHEN THE CONSUMER ENTERED THE GARAGE, HE DISCOVERED THE DOORS WERE LOCKED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM WAS BEING RANDOMLY ACTIVATED. *JB