NHTSA Complaint #10981642 — 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA

FEBRUARY 1, 2017, TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AT 700 E. MAIN ST., GRASS VALLEY, CA, TURNED RIGHT INTO A PARKING SPACE AND AS THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD, JUMPING A CEMENT CURB, THE FENDER GRAZING A TREE ON THE LEFT, COMING TO AN ABRUPT STOP WHEN IT HIT THE CEMENT BASE OF A LIGHT POLE. FLUIDS WERE LEAKING FROM BENEATH THE CAR, THE FRONT BUMPER WAS HANGING OFF, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR CAUGHT AS IT WAS OPENED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT, WITH THE SAME EVENT OCCURRING 2 YEARS PRIOR BUT WITH LESS SURGE AND NO CAR BODY DAMAGE. BOTH INCIDENTS REPORTED TO TOYOTA IMMEDIATELY. TOYOTA INVESTIGATED AND BOTH TIMES FOUND NO CAUSE FOR THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. SINCE THE CAR HIT A STATIONARY OBJECT I AM FOUND "AT FAULT" BY MY INSURANCE, WHICH IS ANNOYING. I DID NOT HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED SINCE IT IS CLEARLY UNSAFE. TODAY, MAY 1, 2017, A SALVAGE COMPANY PICKED UP THE CAR TO BE USED SOLELY FOR PARTS. THE CAR IS IN OTHERWISE EXCELLENT CONDITION, BUT I COULD NOT PLACE ANOTHER HUMAN BEING IN JEOPARDY BY REPAIRING AND SELLING IT, NOR COULD I EVER FEEL SAFE AGAIN DRIVING THE CAR.