NHTSA Complaint #10373593 — 2007 NISSAN VERSA

CAR WAS AT A DEAD STOP IN MY DRIVEWAY. I WENT TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY...AND AS ALWAYS I STARTED THE CAR WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE...PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE...BEGAN TO LIFT MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO COAST BACK AGAIN AS USUAL...WITHOUT EVER TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR SHOT BACK LIKE A BULLET...TRAVELED ABOUT 45 TO 50 FEET AND SLAMMED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF A PARKED PANEL TRUCK. THE CAR THEN SHOT FORWARD AGAIN LIKE A BULLET AND SLAMMED INTO A FENCE POLE THAT WAS SET IN CEMENT. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR IN SHOCK....A NEIGHBOR CAME RUNNING OVER...I TOLD HIM THAT ALL I DID WAS PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THEN LOST COMPLETE CONTROL. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING...MY NEIGHBOR WENT TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE...AND SAID..."THE CAR IS STILL IN REVERSE." HE PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. A POLICE REPOPRT WAS FILED. THE CAR WAS REMOVED TO A LOT FOR INSPECTION. THE INSPECTION DID NOT REVEAL ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. AS FAR AS NISSAN WAS CONCERNED THE CASE ENDED THERE. THEY NEVER INTERVIEWED ANY WITNESSES. THE PANEL TRUCK OWNER WAS JUST ABOUT TO GO TO HIS TRUCK...HE HEARD THE LOUD RACING SOUND OF THE ENGINE...AS DID MY DAUGHTER WHO SAW THE WHOLE THING... SHE WAS SITTING AT THE DINING ROOM TABLE WITH FULL VIEW FROM A WINDOW...SHE THOUGHT I HAD A HEART ATTACK. AND THE NEIGHBOR WHO WINESSED THE GEAR IN REVERSE WAS NEVER CONTACTED. IN LIGHT OF THE CASES OF "UNEXPLAINED" SUDDEN ACCELERATION I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT NISSAN IS SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS IN THIS CASE. I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIOUS LET THIS STAND WITHOUT AT LEAST MAKING A RECORD OF THE INCIDENT. BY THE WAY THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO SEE A REPORT FROM AN ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION EXPERT AS TO THE SPEED THE CAR REACHED FROM A DEAD STOP....TRAVELEING ABOUT 45 FEET..... THAT WOULD CAUSE THE AMOUNT OF DAMGE DONE TO THAT CAR. I WOULD HAVE TO BE STANDING ON THE GAS PEDAL...COMMON SENSE SAYS THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THANK YOU. *TR