NHTSA Complaint #10502160 — 2006 JEEP LAREDO

I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE. I BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT A TACO BELL. I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE INTERLOCK REQUIRED MY FOOT TO BE ON THE BRAKE. I MOVE THE VEHICLE WITH ONLY THE POWER SUPPLIED WITH THE VEHICLE AT IDLE (500 RPM). I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH INCREASED BRAKE PRESSURE. I LOOKED TO THE RIGHT WHERE I INTENDED TO EXIT THE PARKING LOT. I MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO DRIVE. THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED ACROSS THE PARKING LOT. I STILL HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR VIOLENTLY JUMPED FROM A STANDING START TO AN EXTIMATED15 MPH, SMASHING INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER PARKED CAR, DRIVING THE FRONT OF THAT CAR OVER A CURB, INTO A BRICK ENTRY PILLAR. I APPLIED MAXIMUM BRAKING PRESSURE AFTER MY CAR HAD MOVED ABOUT 10-15 FEET OR ABOUT HALFWAY ACROSS THE PARKING LOT. THE ACCELERATION WAS SO RAPID THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT TIME TO REACT AND STOP IN SUCH A SHORT DISTANCE. I AM NOT SENILE. I AM A SKILLED DRIVER WHO HAS NEVER HAD A REPORTABLE ACCIDENT IN 40 YEARS OF DRIVING. I AM A SAFE DRIVER WHO HAS NOT HAD A TRAFFIC TICKET IN AN ESTIMATED 38 YEARS. I HAVE TAUGHT DRIVER'S EDUCATION. I AM VERY KNOWLEDGABLE WITH THE SAFE OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE AFTER HAVING OWNED AN EARLIER MODEL. THIS WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. IT WAS A COMPLETE VEHICLE FAILURE. MY CAR HAS BOTH THE BRAKE INTERLOCK AND THE WIDER SEPERATION BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PETALS ... PREVIOUS CHRYSLER/JEEP FIXES. I SUSPECT THIS PROBLEM MIGHT BE ELECTRICAL. THE BATTERY HAD FAILED AND HAD BEEN REPLACED ONLY MINUTES EARLIER. MY FOOT NEVER TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR, IT REMAINED ON THE BRAKE THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE INCIDENT. I AM AWARE OF BOTH COMPLAINTS OF DRIVER ERROR AND NUMEROUS, UNEXPLAINED REPORTS. THIS REPORT IS SIMPLE ... SOME KIND OF MECHANICAL FAILURE. *TR