NHTSA Complaint #10584676 — 2000 TOYOTA AVALON

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF A RETAIL STORE. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITH ENGINE AT HIGHEST RPM.... FRONT END HITTING CONCRETE WALL . POLICE AND EMT'S CALLED AND REPORT GIVEN. RELATIVELY MINOR HEAD AND CHEST INJURIES TO 88 YEAR OLD DRIVER. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP.WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE STEEL CABLE FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHERE IT IS LOCATED JUST INSIDE THE FIRE WALL WAS STUCK IN THE FULL ACCELERATE POSITION. THE LOCATION OF THIS CABLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RESULTING CRASH. THERE WERE NO CARPET PADS OR OTHER SUCH ITEMS WHICH COULD HAVE INTERFERED WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ( AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED IN PAST HIGH SPEED TOYOTA CRASHES).FURTHER, THE DRIVER'S FOOT WAS OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND MOVING TOWARDS THE BRAKE AT THE TIME OF ACCELERATION BUT THE DISTANCE TRAVELED WAS ONLY ABOUT 10 FEET BEFORE THE CRASH! *TR