NHTSA Complaint #10509771 — 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

I'D STOPPED ON THE RESIDENTIAL STREET TO LET A CAR PASS. AFTER THE CAR PASSED, I ATTEMPTED TO PULL UP ALONG THE CURB TO PARK, BUT THE CAR ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND THE STEERING DID NOT SEEM TO RESPOND. THE SPACE BETWEEN ACCELERATION AND IMPACT WAS 10-15 FEET. IT'S LIKE THE CAR HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN, AND I HAD NO CONTROL. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS SMASHED, THE HOOD WAS SMASHED, FRONT BUMPER AND PASSENGER SIDE FENDER WERE ALSO SMASHED. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE CAR WAS THE TREE. ONCE IT STOPPED, I SIMPLY TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME TO TOW IT TO SAN FRANCISCO TOYOTA FOR MECHANICAL INSPECTION. I CALLED SAN FRANCISCO TOYOTA AND SAID THAT I WAS TOWING MY CAR DOWN AND WAS TOLD THEY'D BE WAITING FOR IT. LATER THAT DAY I RECEIVED A CALL FROM DON'S AUTOBODY TELLING ME THEY HAD MY CAR. I CONFIRMED WITH SF TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THEY SENT THE CAR THERE AND THE AUTO BODY WORK HAD TO BE DONE PRIOR TO A MECHANICAL INSPECTION. ON 4/15/13, I WAS INFORMED THE CAR HAD BEEN REPAIRED AND WAS SENT TO SF TOYOTA. I REPEATEDLY CALLED SF TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY HAD FOUND ANY MECHANICAL DEFECTS. ON 4/16/13, I WAS CONTACTED BY DON'S AUTOBODY AND TOLD THAT TOYOTA REFUSED TO INSPECT THE CAR. SINCE WE DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE, THE PERSON FROM THE AUTOBODY SHOP SUGGESTED WE CALL TOYOTA USA. TOYOTA USA OPENED A CASE AND HAS ENLISTED BILL FROM ENGINEERING ANALYTICS TO INSPECT THE CAR. BILL PLANS TO INSPECT THE CAR ON 4/30/13. HE WILL COLLECT DATA AND SEND IT TO TOYOTA. TOYOTA SAID THEY'LL REVIEW THE DATA AND WILL MAIL US THE RESULTS WITHIN 30 BUSINESS DAYS. WHEN WE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT TOYOTA WAITED 6 WEEKS TO LOOK AT OUR CAR (WHICH THE AUTOBODY SAID THEY'VE DRIVEN), TOYOTA HAD NO COMMENT. *TR