NHTSA Complaint #10461174 — 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE IN OPERATION. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS COMPLETELY OPEN. SUDDENLY, THE UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL INTO A NEARBY LAKE. THE CONTACT WAS STANDING BY THE OPENED DOOR AND SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURIES FROM BEING STRUCK BY THE DOOR AS THE VEHICLE GAINED SPEED. THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO THE LAKE AND WAS DESTROYED AS A RESULT OF CRASHING AND BEING SUBMERGED IN WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SAVAGE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 7/12/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE JUMPED FROM REVERSE TO NEUTRAL. SHE WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WITH THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. WHEN SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE TO CONTINUE BACKING UP, SHE DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL. IT WAS MOMENTS LATER, WHEN SHE STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE VEHICLE JUMPED FROM PARK KNOCKING HER DOWN TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO THE LAKE. UPDATED 07/18/12