NHTSA Complaint #10732318 — 2014 TOYOTA YARIS

I RENTED THIS VEHICLE AT A MAJOR AIRPORT 2 DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. IT WAS CLOSE TO 4 PM WHEN I ENTERED THE HOTEL PARKING LOT AT 5 MPH AND SLOWED EVEN MORE WHEN I ENTERED THE PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF MY HOTEL ROOM. I WAS ALMOST PARKED AND HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP JUST ABOUT 3 FEET AWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A SOUND IN THE ENGINE LIKE THE TURBINE OF AN AIRPLANE AND THE CAR TOOK OFF FAST SPEED. INSTINCTIVELY I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE EVEN DEEPER BUT THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND: IT WENT OVER THE WALK WAY AND ALTHOUGH I TRIED I COULD NOT CONTROL IT. IT STOPPED WHEN IT REACHED THE WALL OF THE ROOM RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO MINE AND BROKE INTO IT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED IT OFF. THE ENGINE WAS STILL MAKING THE SAME TURBINE SOUND WHEN I TURNED IT OFF. IT WAS AN APPARENT CASE OF SELF ACCELERATION. EVERYTHING HAPPENED SO SUDDENLY AND SO FAST! THERE WAS A MAJOR PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING CAUSED BY THIS MALFUNCTION. FORTUNATELY NO BODILY INJURIES RESULTED FROM THIS ACCIDENT. THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DAMAGED. IT WAS PULLED OUT OF THE ROOM WITH POLICE HELP AND LATER TOWED FROM THAT LOCATION. THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 3:55 PM, THESE FACTS ARE TRUE AND CORRECT EXACTLY AS THEY HAPPENED AND I HAVE A WITNESS.