NHTSA Complaint #11024840 — 2011 FORD FOCUS

MY HUSBAND HAD RETURNED FROM THE STORE AND PULLED UP INTO OUR SLIGHTLY ANGLED DRIVEWAY, HE WAS CHECKING HIS RECEIPT FOR AN ERROR AND THOUGHT HE HAD THE CAR IN PARK. HE GOT OUT TO CARRY SOME BAGS UP TO THE PORCH AND WHEN HE RETURNED HE NOTICED THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING. HE REACHED IN TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND BECAUSE IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE THE CAR STARTED ROLLING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, HE WAS ABLE TO REACH OVER AND GET IT IN PARK BUT IT DID NOT STOP ROLLING AND CONTINUED AT A GREATER SPEED PULLING HIM PARTIALLY OUT OF THE CAR AND DRAGGING HIM RESULTING IN A FRACTURED NECK, MASSIVE BRUISING ON HIS ABDOMEN AND DUE TO THE SHOCK OF THE INCIDENT KIDNEY FAILURE FOR THREE DAYS. WE REALIZE IT WAS HIS FAULT FOR NOT TURNING THE CAR OFF AND NOT HAVING IT IN PARK. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW CAME OVER IN HIS DODGE AND TRIED THE SAME THING AND HIS TRUCK IMMEDIATELY WENT IN TO PARK, IF HE OPENS HIS DOOR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING EVEN SLIGHTLY THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY GOES INTO PARK. WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FORD VEHICLE FANS BUT THIS IS HAVING US RETHINK OUR DECISION ON A NEW CAR. WE THINK WE KNOW WHY IT DID NOT STOP WHEN HE PUT IT IN PARK WHILE IT WAS ROLLING BUT THERE IS NOT A SAFE GUARD TO PREVENT THESE KIND OF ACCIDENTS ARE UNCALLED FOR. IF A YOUNG CHILD WERE TO GET IN THIS VEHICLE AND TAKE IT OUT OF DRIVE THERE COULD BE HORRIBLE CONSEQUENCES. THE CAR ROLLED ALL THE WAS DOWN OUR DRIVEWAY INTO THE STREET (APP. 60 FT DRIVEWAY), HE WAS STUCK IN BETWEEN THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR, AFRAID HE WAS GOING TO GET RUN OVER. HE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO FREE HIMSELF AFTER APP. 40 FT. MY GRANDSON HAS A FORD EDGE AND IT DID THE SAME THING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. IF THE ANGLE OF THE DRIVEWAY HADN'T BEEN WHAT IT WAS I AM SURE IT WOULD HAVE STARTED ROLLING BEFORE MY HUSBAND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE.