NHTSA Complaint #10499466 — 2012 DODGE CARAVAN

THE PROBLEM IS AUTONOMOUS ACCELERATION. WHEN MY CAR IS MOVING SLOWLY AT IDLE SPEED WHILE I'M PULLING INTO OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE OR MY HOME GARAGE AND I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO GUIDE THE CAR, THE ENGINE RPM SPEED SURGES BY ABOUT 400 RPMS CAUSING THE CAR TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE FORWARD OR BACKWARD, DEPENDING ON THE GEAR SELECTION. THIS HAS CAUSED A NUMBER OF NEAR ACCIDENTS, INCLUDING NEARLY STRIKING CHILDREN AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHEN I WAS PICKING UP MY GRANDDAUGHTER. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER, BUT THE DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM AFTER CHECKING THE CAR. YET, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED INTERMITTENTLY, BUT I LEARNED TO "LIVE WITH IT." HOWEVER, THE AUTONOMOUS ACCELERATION IS NOW SUDDENLY GROWING MORE FREQUENT. MY FEAR IS THAT THIS AUTONOMOUS ACCELERATION PROBLEM IS A PRECURSOR TO SOMEDAY MY HAVING A RUNAWAY CAR THAT RESULTS IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *TR