NHTSA Complaint #10863977 — 2014 CHRYSLER 300

ON FEBRUARY 7, 2016, MY HUSBAND PARKED HIS 2014 CHRYSLER 300 IN A PARKING SPOT IN A PARKING LOT AND EXITED THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. I WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WITH OUR 11 YEAR-OLD CHILD BEHIND ME AND 9 YEAR-OLD CHILD SEATED BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. ALL 3 OF US WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. MY HUSBAND WALKED ACROSS THE PARKING LOT AND DOWN THE BLOCK. I WAS TEXTING SOMEONE ON MY CELLPHONE WHEN MY 11 YEAR-OLD EXCLAIMED THAT THE CAR WAS MOVING. WITHOUT LOOKING UP FROM MY PHONE, I EXPLAINED TO HER THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE ILLUSION OF A CAR PULLING INTO OR OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT BESIDE US. SHE SCREAMED, "NO THE CAR IS DEFINITELY MOVING!" THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING BACKYWARDS. I MADE EVERY EFFORT TO MOVE THE GEARSHIFT, GRAB THE STEERING WHEEL AND HIT THE BRAKES BUT DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE LARGE CONSOLE I COULD NOT SWING MY LEG OVER TO REACH THE BRAKE. THE CAR MOVED IN REVERSE ACROSS THE PARKING LOT AND STRUCK AN UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE LOT. THANKFULLY, THE CAR DID NOT STRIKE ANY PEDESTRIANS OR OCCUPIED VEHICLES, AS THIS WAS A BUSY PARKING LOT. OUR CHRYSLER ENDURED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WHILE THE DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS MINOR. MY CHILDREN AND I WERE EXTREMELY UPSET. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL THAT NO ONE WAS PHYSICALLY INJURED BUT WE WERE ALL QUITE SHAKEN BY THE OUT OF CONTROL CAR. THE IMPACT WAS SUCH THAT IT MAKE A LOUD "THUD" SOUND WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE AND JOLTED US A BIT. WE WERE COMPLETELY SHOCKED THAT THE CAR SEEMINGLY ON IT'S OWN WENT FROM "PARK" INTO "REVERSE". MY HUSBAND HAD TIME TO WALK ACROSS THE PARKING LOT AND DOWN THE BLOCK BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS LONG OUT OF HIS SIGHT BEFORE IT STARTED TO MOVE. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE. WE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO OUR INSURANCE CARRIER THE NEXT DAY.