NHTSA Complaint #10639677 — 2008 SCION XB

I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A "SUDDEN ACCELERATION INCIDENT". OUR 2008 SCION XB WAS DRIVEN OVER 122,000 MILES WITHOUT MAJOR MALFUNCTION UNTIL 3:30 PM ON SEPTEMBER 26 2014. THEN, AFTER STOPPING AT OUR MAILBOX ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD, I PROCEEDED 15 FEET TO OUR DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE AND MADE A LEFT TURN TO POSITION THE CAR TO PASS THROUGH OUR GATE, ABOUT 20 FEET AHEAD. MY SPEED WAS UNDER 5 MPH. I MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE TOUCHED THE BRAKE AND/OR ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO ADJUST SPEED. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE ROARED INTO WIDE-OPEN-THROTTLE AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD. THE CAR WENT THROUGH THE GATE, GRAZING THE LEFT GATEPOST, WHICH SHATTERED THE LEFT-FRONT HUBCAP AND SHEARED OFF THE LEFT MIRROR MOUNT. THE CAR THEN CAREENED DOWN OUR DRIVEWAY WHILE I ATTEMPTED TO STEER AND APPLY THE BRAKE. AFTER ABOUT 2 SECONDS, DURING WHICH THE CAR TRAVERSED ABOUT 100 FEET DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY SLOWED TO NORMAL AND THE BRAKES STOPPED THE CAR. DAMAGE INCLUDED THE SHEARED-OFF LEFT MIRROR ASSEMBLY, LEFT-FRONT HUBCAP, AND MINOR DENTING OF THE LEFT-FRONT WHEEL WELL. THE CAR ENGINE HAS BEHAVED NORMALLY SINCE BUT HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN BEYOND OUR DRIVEWAY. I EXPERIENCED NO IMPACT OR INJURY, ASIDE FROM SHOCK. *TR