NHTSA Complaint #10367974 — 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA

WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA SPORT PICK-UP TRUCK IN A LOWES HOME IMPROVEMENT CENTER PARKING LOT TODAY (11/27/10 AT 2:25 PM), MY TACOMA BEGAN A VERY RAPID ACCELERATION AS I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN ROUNDING AN ISLE TURN IN THE LOT AND PREPARING TO PARK THE VEHICLE. I APPLIED IMMEDIATE HEAVY PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE SINCE A TOYOTA PRIUS WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME AND I DID NOT WANT TO HIT IT. DURING MY BRAKING THE REAR TIRE(S) WAS SPINNING AND SCREECHING ON THE PAVEMENT. THE TRUCK MOVED FORWARD ABOUT 5 FEET AND THEN THE MOTOR SHUT OFF AS I WAS REACHING TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. WHEW! THIS HAPPENED IN ALL OF A SPAN OF MAYBE 4 TO 5 SECONDS. THANK GOD I HAD JUST RECENTLY TAKEN THE TRUCK IN FOR A RECALL WHERE THE DEALER CUT BACK THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INSTALLED NEW SOFTWARE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THIS NEW SOFTWARE SAVED MY BUTT AND THAT OF THE PRIUS TOO. WHO KNOWS THE DAMAGE THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT IT. THIS IS MY (THE TACOMA'S) 3RD RAPID ACCELERATION INCIDENT AND 3RD TIME I AM REPORTING TO THE NHTSA. FIRST REPORT WAS ON 12/03/09 ID: 174319. THIS TIME I WAS PARKED WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING. UPON MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER FROM P TO N THE MOTOR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. SINCE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL I WAS ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THEY "FOUND NO PROBLEM". RIGHT! MY SECOND REPORT TO THE NHTSA WAS ON 4/14/10 ODI: 10325627. SAME PROBLEM AS WITH THE FIRST REPORT TO THE NHTSA. I DID NOT TAKE IT TO THE DEALER THIS TIME BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THEY WOULD "NOT FIND ANYTHING." FOR THIS LATEST INCIDENT I AM TAKING THE TRUCK IN ON MONDAY MORNING, 11/29/10 AT THE DEALER'S REQUEST TO ME TODAY. REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE DEALER MAY SAY TO ME OR DOES, I AM GETTING RID OF THE TACOMA. IT HAS BECOME TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I AM LUCKY MY WIFE WAS NOT DRIVING THE TACOMA WHEN THIS LAST INCIDENT HAPPENED. SEE ALSO 10294490 AND 10325627. *DSY *TR