NHTSA Complaint #10949233 — 2012 VOLVO S60

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A GROCERY STORE LOT. I ENTERED THE VEHICLE TO BACK IT OUT OF ITS PARKING SPOT. IT WAS NEXT TO A FULL SIZED VAN WHICH HAD CARPET CLEANING EQUIPMENT MOUNTED INSIDE. I STARTED THE CAR AND PLACED IT IN REVERSE AS IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. I TRIED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE WHICH FAILED. I COLLIDED WITH A BLOCK WALL IN THE REAR OF THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO GET IT OUT OF GEAR, WITH THE SOLID JARRING FROM THE REAR THE CAR WENT INTO DRIVE AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO FULL SPEED, WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. THE VOLVO HIT THE VAN WHICH IT HAD BEEN PARKED NEXT TO IN THE REAR LEFT BUMPER AND DROVE IT APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET THROUGH A PLANTER AND INTO A PARKING SPOT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLANTER. THIS CAR (VOLVO) IS EQUIPPED WITH A COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE AUTO BRAKED AND DID NOT. ADDITIONALLY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I TOOK THE CAR TO VOLVO AND HAD THEM ATTEMPT TO PULL CODES FROM THE VEHICLES INFORMATION SYSTEM. THEY REPORTED THAT NO CODES WERE PRESENT AND ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN AWAY THE INCIDENT AS DRIVER ERROR. THE CAR WAS TOTALED IN THE PROCESS. I AM CERTAIN THAT THERE WAS NO DRIVER ERROR AND THAT WHAT HAPPENED WAS A SUDDEN UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION. OTHER SOMEWHAT SIMILAR INCIDENTS ARE REPORTED ON THE INTERNET. THE CAR HAS BEEN RETAINED IN MY POSSESSION UNTIL MAR 9TH 2017. IN THE EVENT IT SHOULD BE EVALUATED I HAVE IT AVAILABLE.