NHTSA Complaint #10992371 — 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA

ON 21 OCTOBER 2016 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30 AM, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WITH MY 2009 COROLLA. I WAS PARKING THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT AT THE EMBASSY SUITES HOTEL IN NORMAN, OK WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. I REVERSED THE VEHICLE TO STRAIGHTEN IT UP IN IN A PARKING SPACE; THEN, I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE TO PULL FORWARD. AS THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL FORWARD, IN AN INSTANT, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SELF -ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE. WITH MY LEFT FOOT ON THE FOOT REST PEDAL (DEAD PEDAL) AND RIGHT FOOT FULLY DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FUNCTIONED PROPERLY MAKING AN AUDIBLE CLICKING SOUND AS THE CAR CONTINUED DARTING FORWARD AT FULL THROTTLE. WITH THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY A 30 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE CURB IN FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE, THE FORWARD MOMENTUM OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FULLY ENGAGED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL BOUNCED OVER THE CURB, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL STOPPED AGAINST THE CURB AND THE ENGINE SELF-DECELERATED. AS THE ENGINE DECELERATED, AN AUDIBLE CLICKING SOUND COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT STOPPED AS THE ENGINE RETURNED TO AN IDLE. I HAVE NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE TO SELF-ACCELERATE TO FULL THROTTLE, NOR CAN I EXPLAIN WHY IT SELF-DECELERATED BACK TO AN IDLE. POSSIBLY, THE VEHICLE HITTING THE CURB WITH THE DRIVER'S FRONT WHEEL AND BOUNCING OVER THE CURB COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SELF-DECELERATE. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT. HAD A PERSON BEEN WALKING IN FRONT OF MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT DURING THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVENT, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF NOT KILLED. THE FOWLER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP OF NORMAN, OK EVALUATED THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED THE INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY MISAPPLICATION OF PEDAL. AN EDR WAS DOWNLOADED, EVALUATED AND INCONCLUSIVE.