NHTSA Complaint #10496026 — 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA

I BACKED MY 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA INTO A FRIEND'S DRIVEWAY, AND THEN PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE TO STRAIGHTEN IT A BIT. THE CAR SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING SHOT ACROSS THE STREET (PERHAPS AT 45-50 MPH), WENT OVER A 6" HIGH CEMENT RETAINING CURBING, AND ACROSS A LAWN INTO ANOTHER DRIVEWAY. ALL THE WHILE I HAD MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE (NOT THE GAS PEDAL). I SWERVED THE WHEEL TO AVOID HITTING A TELEPHONE POLE, AND THE HOUSE. I FINALLY GOT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND AT LAST THE BRAKES ENGAGED, AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AVOIDING A PICK-UP TRUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY AND A TREE. DURING THIS ENTIRE TIME THE ENGINE WAS LOUDLY REVVING. OTHER THAN 3 SHREDDED TIRES AND 2 RUINED RIMS, THE CAR SEEMS TO BE INTACT. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND HOPE FOR A SUCCESSFUL RESOLUTION. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, HOWEVER, SAID THAT SINCE IT IS NOT UNDER RECALL THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. MEANWHILE I WILL BE FEARFUL EVERY TIME I GET BEHIND THE WHEEL, WHICH I HAVE YET TO DO! 3 NEW TIRES AND 2 NEW RIMS IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY - IT COULD HAVE BEEN MY LIFE! HAD CARS BEEN PASSING BY ON THIS NORMALLY BUSY STREET, OR CHILDREN WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK ON THEIR WAY HOME FROM SCHOOL - OTHER LIVES AS WELL COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN..THIS WAS A TERRIFYING EVENT! JUDGING FROM ALL OF THE SIMILAR STORIES WRITTEN REGARDING THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR, TOYOTA NEEDS TO DO A RECALL TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL. *TR