NHTSA Complaint #10490863 — 1981 TOYOTA CORONA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1981 TOYOTA CORONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL AWAY DOWN A SLOPE. THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE AND APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL AWAY. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO STEER AWAY FROM PARKED VEHICLES BUT WAS UNABLE TO BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL HAD SEIZED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO TO TWO PARKED VEHICLES BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A STEERING LOCK THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000. UPDATED 01/05/13*LJ UPDATED 2/4/2013 *JS