NHTSA Complaint #10637193 — 2014 BUICK VERANO

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 70 MPH MY KNEE BUMPED THE KEY/IGNITION AND THE CAR TURNED OFF. I BELIEVE THE KEY ACTUALLY TURNED IN THE IGNITION. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE RESULT OF THE COMBINATION OF THE LOCATION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE DESIGN OF THE KEY FOB AND THE KEY CHAIN AND TAG THAT THE RENTAL CAR COMPANY USES. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN MODERATELY HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED SO MY FOOT WAS NOT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. I HAD THE SOLE OF MY SHOE FLAT ON THE FLOOR AND MY KNEE BENT. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS INTO A LONG TRIP AND IDLY SHIFTED MY POSITION. SOMEHOW THE KEY CHAIN, FOB, 2ND KEY AND TAG HAD ALIGNED IN SUCH A WAY THAT MY KNEE WAS ABLE TO BUMP THEM AND APPLY ROTATIONAL LEVERAGE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO TURN THE KEY FROM ON TO OFF. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE ON A RELATIVELY FLAT/STRAIGHT SECTION OF INTERSTATE AND THERE WAS A WIDE PAVED SHOULDER. I PUT ON MY FLASHERS, MOVED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND WAS ABLE TO STEER AND BRAKE WELL ENOUGH TO STOP THE CAR SAFELY. I WAS THEN ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND CONTINUE. I HAVE PICTURES AVAILABLE OF THE KEY FOB/CHAIN ARRANGEMENT. *TR