NHTSA Complaint #10731175 — 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE

I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE CAR IN A PARKING PLACE. I TURNED INTO THE PARKING SPOT AND WHEN I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES, NOTHING HAPPENED. I LOOKED DOWN AT MY FOOT AND WATCHING MYSELF REPEATEDLY PUMP THE BRAKES. INSTEAD OF STOPPING, MY CAR WENT OVER THE PARKING SPOT YELLOW CURB, OVER A SIDEWALK AND SOME GRASS, AND I HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. BEFORE I HIT THE VEHICLE, I LUCKILY TURNED MY WHEEL, CAUSING LESS DAMAGE TO THE PARKED VEHICLE. AFTER I HIT THE VEHICLE, MY CAR TURNED BACK INTO THE PARKING LOT WHERE IT FINALLY STOPPED. I AM NOT SURE IF IT STOPPED BECAUSE OF ME REPEATEDLY PUMPING THE BRAKES, OR THAT I FINALLY RAN OUT OF MOMENTUM, SINCE I HAD NOT HIT THE ACCELERATOR SINCE BEFORE TRYING TO PARK. MY BUMPER IS DAMAGED, HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED BECAUSE I AM TOO AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. MY 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACKSEAT, IN HER BOOSTER SEAT, DURING ALL OF THIS, AND I AM AFRAID THINKING OF HOW WORSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN, WITH THE BRAKES NOT WORKING. I FOUND OUT AFTER THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL CAR FOR THE BRAKES, AND THAT RECALL WAS BEFORE I OWNED THE CAR.