NHTSA Complaint #10617681 — 2008 FORD F-450 SD

I TRAVEL FOR WORK AND DRIVE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF RENTAL CARS. I HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING OCCUR IN MORE MODELS THAN I CAN REMEMBER. VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES. ROOT CAUSE: THE ELEVATION / SPACING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR. OPERATOR ERROR CONTRIBUTES TO THE PROBLEM ALSO. PEOPLE HAVE A TENDENCY TO ROLL THEIR FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. DEPENDING ON THE ANGLE OF THEIR FOOT, THE EDGE OF THEIR SHOE WILL HANG OVER THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN THEY APPLY THE BRAKE THEY ALSO APPLY THE GAS. THE ENGINE TORQUE OVER COMES THE BRAKE FRICTION AND THE CAR ACCELERATES. MOST OF THE TIME WHEN THIS HAPPENS I CAN REMOVE MY FOOT, RELOCATE IT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SAFELY STOP. SEVERAL TIMES MY SITUATION REQUIRED ME TO HOLD THE BRAKE / GAS PEDALS IN POSITION AND QUICKLY USE MY LEFT FOOT TO APPLY THE BRAKE TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT. WEARING MY HEAVY BOOTS WITH A LARGE SOLE INCREASES THE FREQUENCIES OF THESE INCIDENTS. *TR