NHTSA Complaint #11076417 — 2018 VOLVO XC60

MY WIFE AND I PICKED UP OUR NEW VOLVO XC60 T8 A WEEK AGO AND WE TRIED THE PARK ASSIST PILOT FUNCTION FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST NIGHT IN OUR APARTMENT'S GARAGE. WE TURNED ON THE PARK ASSIST PILOT FOR PERPENDICULAR PARK AS WE LOOKED FOR A PARKING SPOT. AFTER THE CENTRAL MONITOR INDICATED A SPOT HAS BEEN FOUND, I PUT THE GEAR IN REVERSE AS ADVISED AND PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AS THE CAR BEGINS TO DO ITS JOB. THE CAR BACKED UP AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN INTO THE PARKING SPOT; HOWEVER, IT ACCELERATED AND TURNED SO QUICKLY THAT BEFORE I COULD REACT, THE BACK BUMPER AND LEFT BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE HIT THE COLUMN BESIDE THE PARKING SPOT. THERE HAS BEEN NO INDICATION OF ANY OBSTRUCTION WHEN IT WAS BACKING AND TURNING INTO THE SPOT. IN REMINISCENT, I THINK THE ONLY THING I COULD'VE DONE WAS PRESS ON THE BRAKE SOONER; HOWEVER, THE BACKING AND TURNING OCCURRED SO ABNORMALLY ABRUPT THAT THERE WAS NO TIME TO REACT. MY WIFE AND I BOTH AGREE THAT THE MOVEMENT WAS SO SUDDEN AND FAST THAT IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THE FORTUNATE THING WAS THAT WE DID NOT HIT ANY OTHER CAR OR PEOPLE OR DAMAGE OUR BUILDING'S STRUCTURE. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I DO NOT FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT THE PARK ASSIST PILOT FEATURE AND WILL NOT RECOMMEND OTHERS TO USE IT. WE HOPE THIS REPORT WILL LEAD TO AN INVESTIGATION OF THE VEHICLE'S PARK ASSIST PILOT SYSTEM AND PREVENT MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS FROM HAPPENING TO OTHERS. EVEN THOUGH DRIVERS ARE ADVISED TO PUT THEIR FOOT ON THE BREAK DURING ITS USE, IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF THE REVERSE SPEED COULD BE AUTOMATICALLY RESTRICTED TO THE ADVISED 4MPH. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN EQUIPPED WITH MANY SENSORS THAT PREVENT COLLISIONS DURING DRIVING AND MANUAL PARKING. THESE SENSORS CAN READILY BE USED TO SENSE OBSTRUCTION DURING PARK ASSIST PILOT AND STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY ARE TRIGGERED. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE FAILED IN OUR CASE TO PREVENT THE COLLISION.