NHTSA Complaint #10475138 — 2011 HONDA PILOT

DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE 2011 HONDA PILOT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. AT THE TIME OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, THE DRIVER DID NOT HAVE A FOOT ON EITHER THE GAS PEDAL OR BRAKE. RATHER, THE DRIVER HAD JUST TAKEN THE FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL IN THE PROCESS OF SLOWING TO A STOP AND TURNING INTO THE PARKING SPACE, AND WAS ABOUT TO PLACE A FOOT ON THE BRAKE. AFTER STRAIGHTENING INTO THE PARKING SPACE, THE CAR ACCELERATED VIOLENTLY ON ITS OWN VOLITION. AT THAT TIME, THE DRIVER QUICKLY PRESSED A FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE BRAKE DID NOT WORK. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE THROUGH THE BRAKE, AND LUNGED OVER A CONCRETE BARRIER AT THE END OF THE PARKING SPACE AND BEGAN TO TRAVEL DOWN A HILL ON THE OTHER SIDE. THE CAR ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A TREE NEAR THE TOP OF THE HILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT IT WAS UNABLE TO RECREATE THE INCIDENT OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE DRIVER CONTACTED AND COMPLAINED TO THE MANUFACTURER, HONDA OF AMERICA, WHICH SENT A REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TO THE DEALER TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE IN FURTHER DETAIL. CURRENTLY, HONDA OF AMERICA IS IN THE PROCESS OF FINALIZING ITS REVIEW OF THE INCIDENT. THE DRIVER'S INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT IS UNKNOWN (AS THE CAR IS CURRENTLY WITH THE DEALER), BUT THE DRIVER ESTIMATES IT TO BE AROUND 18,000 MILES. THE SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT IS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE AS THE CAR WAS NEARING A STOP AND THEN FORCEFULLY ACCELERATED THROUGH THE LENGTH OF A PARKING SPOT WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO JUMP THE CONCRETE BARRIER ON THE OTHER SIDE AND HIT A TREE CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THE DRIVER ESTIMATES THE SPEED TO HAVE REACHED 15-25 MPH +/-. WHILE THE DRIVER SUFFERED ONLY MINOR INJURIES, THE DRIVER IS PREGNANT. THE FULL EXTENT OF ANY POTENTIAL INJURIES TO THE BABY ARE YET TO BE DETERMINED. *TR