NHTSA Complaint #10839319 — 2013 TOYOTA VENZA

WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT, WHEN APPROACHING A PARKING STALL AND PREPARING TO STOP, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD CAUSING US TO REAR END A VEHICLE AHEAD, WHICH HAD ALREADY PARKED, UNOCCUPIED AND WAS PULLED THROUGH THEIR PARKING STALL. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS SUCH A SURPRISE WITH LITTLE TIME TO REACT. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THERE WAS MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATION WAS RAPID AND INTENSE AND THE ONLY WAY I CAN DESCRIBE IT IS TO COMPARE IT TO IF SOMEONE HAD THEIR FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE OTHER FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND QUICKLY RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE POLICE RESPONDED, BUT DID NOT FILE A REPORT. THE TOYOTA CAR DEALER WILL NOT EVALUATE OR RESPOND TO LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE, BUT PROVIDE AN 800 NUMBER TO REPORT THE INCIDENT TO TOYOTA. THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE FOR AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. BASED UPON OUR INCIDENT AND OTHER REPORTS FILED WITH NHTSA, WE DON'T CONSIDER THE VENZA A SAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE AND PROBABLY SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE HIGHWAYS. WE WILL BE PURCHASING A DIFFERENT VEHICLE, PROBABLY FROM A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER.