NHTSA Complaint #10585098 — 2013 HONDA CIVIC

ON APRIL 23, 2014 AT ABOUT 4:40 P. M. MY SON WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHICH IS 5 MILES UNDER THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT FOR THAT AREA WHERE HE LIVES. THE ROAD LEADING TO THE BACK ENTRANCE OF HIS HOUSING COMPLEX IS A SINGLE ONE-WAY LANE WITH A WIDE BICYCLE LANE. THIS ROADWAY CURVES SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT LEADING INTO THE ENTRANCE OF HIS HOUSING COMPLEX. ON APPROACHING THE END OF THE ROAD MY SON TOOK HIS FOOT OF THE GAS TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE, TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT (AS THE ROAD CURVES NATURALLY TO THE LEFT) THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND STEERED TO THE RIGHT. MY SON TRIED VERY HARD TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO CORRECT THE STEERING BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE STEERED UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE RIGHT, JUMPING THE CONCRETE CURB AND STUCK A CONCRETE STREET LIGHT POLE, FLIPPED OVER AND LANDED A FEW FEET AWAY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WITH FIVE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. (ONE ON THE STEERING WHEEL, AND FOUR OVER THE DOORS). HE WAS EXAMINED BY PARAMEDIC'S ON THE SCENE AND LATER OBSERVED SEVERE BRUISING ON HIS ABDOMEN AND NECK WHICH REQUIRED FURTHER MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND DECLARED A TOTAL LOST BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR