NHTSA Complaint #10895980 — 2015 FORD C-MAX

REVERSE GEAR SETTING ACTUALLY PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AFTER STARTING THE PARKED CAR ND ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OFPARKING SPACE. I TRIED TURNING OFF ENGINE, AND THE SAME THING OCCURRED, THE CAR CONTINUED TO CREEP FORWARD UNTIL THE CAR MADE CONTACT WITH THE PARKING SPACE SIGN. THIS IS NOT A SMALL ISSUE AS 1) IT PROBABLY OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY WITH THE SAME MODEL IN THE SAME FLEET AND LEASER CHARGED ME UPWARD OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX VOSMETIC DAMAGE CAUSED WHILE PARALLEL PARKING AND 2) THUS COULD CAUSE BODILY INJURY HAD THE PARKING SPACE NOT BEEN BLOCKED IN FRONT. THESE CARS ARE PART OF A MEMBERSHIP BASED RENTAL FLEET, AND SHOULD BE HIGHLY MAINTAINED. AFTER CONTACTING THE EMERGENCY NUMBER OF THE FLEET LEASER, I WAS A FEW MINUTES LATER ABLE TO REENTER AND START THE CAR, AND THE REVERSE GEAR OPERATED PROPERLY. THE LEASER HAS PREVIOUSLY RAISED MY INSURANCE RATE BASED ON SMALL AMOUNTS OF DAMAGE TO A FLEET VEHICLE INCURRED WHILE PARKING. MY GUESS IS THAT THEY KNOW OF TE PROBLEM AND HAVE CHOSEN TO BLAME THE DRIVERS RATHER THAN THE MANUFACTURERS OR MAINTENANCE ENGINEERS.