NHTSA Complaint #10379562 — 2009 FORD FUSION

THE DRIVER OF A 2009 FUSION, 4 CYLINDER SE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO ACCELERATE DUE TO MERGING TRAFFIC. THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED EVEN WITH THE FOOT BEING HARD PRESSED ON THE BRAKES. THE DRIVER CALLED HIS FATHER, WHILE DRIVING`, WHO RECOMMENDED HE TURN THE KEY OFF ON CLICK TO AVOID LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AND AAA WAS CALLED TO TOW THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S FATHER LOOKED UP THIS TYPE OF UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION ON THE INTERNET AND READ ABOUT MATS CAUSING THE PEDAL TO STICK. A MAT WAS RECENTLY PUT BACK IN THE CAR. THE DRIVER VERIFIED THAT THE MAT HAD CAUSED THE PEDAL TO STICK, IT SPRUNG BACK, AND THE CAR WAS ABLE TO START AFTER REMOVING THE MAT THE DRIVER DROVE IT HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. THIS WAS A POENTIALLY VERY SERIOUS SITUATION DUE TO HIGH SPEED AND CONTINUING TO INCREASE IN SPEED. THE DRIVER COULD HAVE TURNED OFF THE CAR WITH THE RESULT OF THE STEERING WHEEL GETTING LOCKED CAUSING A HIGH SPEED UNCONTROLLED VEHICLE. THE DRIVER HAD HIS TWO SONS, AGE 5 AND 3 WITH HIM. THIS SCARED THE HELL OUT OF THE DRIVER AND THE FATHER. FLOOR MAT INFO FROM UNDERSIDE OF MAT: 6E5J-5413087-AAW FD >TPE< 524 FUSION IS ON THE TOP OF THE MAT. *LN