NHTSA Complaint #10888401 — 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT (13 JULY 16), SE MICHIGAN HAD SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND STREET FLOODING. I DROVE THROUGH THIS FOR AT LEAST 6 MILES. THE NEXT MORNING AS I WAS LEAVING FOR WORK, I GOT INTO THE CAR, BUCKLED MY SEAT BELT AND PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE. THERE WAS A LOUD "CRUNCHING" NOISE BUT NO MOVEMENT. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, GOT OUT TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING BEHIND THE CAR TO MAKE THAT NOISE BUT THERE WASN'T. I GOT BACK IN THE CAR, BUCKLED UP, PUT THE CAR'S GEAR INTO REVERSE AGAIN. NO MOVEMENT, BUT AN INCREDIBLY LOUD SCREECHY, WHINY NOISE COULD BE HEARD 4 TOWNHOUSES AWAY. I BARELY TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR SHOT BACKWARDS OUT OF THE SPACE, ACROSS THE LOT, UP OVER A CURB, THROUGH A FLOWER BED, TAKING OUT A LARGE, WOODEN SIGN AND STOPPING ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL. POLICE AND EMTS WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. I WAS TRANSFERRED BY AMBULANCE TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE VEHICLE'S SYSTEMS, BUT I WOULD THINK THIS WAS A THROTTLE ISSUE. FOR THE FEW SECONDS THE CAR WAS MOVING IN REVERSE, I WAS STOMPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKES WERE "STIFF" AND THE PEDAL WOULD ONLY GO HALF WAY TO THE FLOORBOARDS. WITNESSES STATED THE CAR SHOT OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE "LIKE A BULLET" AND/OR "LIKE A ROCKET" AND THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO STOP THE CAR AT THAT SPEED.