NHTSA Complaint #10978674 — 2007 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE

MY CAR WAS STOLEN LAST YEAR BY SOMEONE I KNEW, AND WAS WRECKED. AFTER THE WRECK, MYSELF AND PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE SPOKE TO THE PERSON AND HE SAID THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BECAUSE THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE AS HE WAS MAKING A TURN AND THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE TIE ROD TO SNAP WHICH PUNCTURED THROUGH THE WHEEL AND OUT THE TIRE. DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE CONFIRMS THIS, AND I HAVE PICTURES AND DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT THIS CLAIM. CAR WAS LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH ENTIRE FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION DETACHED, CV SHAFT RIPPED OUT FROM THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION, ENTIRE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY WAS RIPPED OFF, CALIPER, BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE HUB, BUT WERE DISCONNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE WHEEL ALSO REMAINED INTACT ON THE HUB. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER, FENDER, INNER WHEEL HUB SPLASH GUARDS, HEADLIGHT, ETC. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HIS SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK ON IMPACT. CAR WAS TOTALED AND CONSIDERED SALVAGE, BUT I RECONSTRUCTED IT AND HAVE OVER $4,500 INVESTED IN REPAIRS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE BRAKES AND LOWER CONTROL ARM WORKED PROPERLY. HE WAS TRAVELING ON A SIDE STREET THROUGH A SMALL TOWN AROUND 11PM ON A CLEAR, WARM NIGHT. NO OTHER MOVING CARS WERE ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME, BUT HE DID SIDE SWIPE SEVERAL PARKED CARS.