NHTSA Complaint #11083404 — 2015 BUICK ENCORE

THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN AN UNHEATED GARAGE FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS. I STARTED IT, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND PUT IT IN GEAR (R). THE CAR LUNGED BACK AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE. TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE BEHIND IT IN THE DRIVEWAY, I SHIFTED TO DRIVE (D) AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED FORWARD STILL AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE BRAKES DID NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN. I BUMPED THE FRONT WALL OF THE GARAGE AND AGAIN SHIFTED INTO R. THE CAR STARTED MOVING BACK AGAIN AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THE CAR BEGAN SLOWING AND CAME TO A STOP AFTER BUMPING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 20 FEET BEHIND IT. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE WHOLE TIME. I CHECKED FOR OBSTRUCTIONS AROUND THE BRAKE PEDAL AND FOUND NONE. AFTERWARD, WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, IT DROVE NORMALLY WITHOUT TROUBLE. THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE CAR AS A RESULT OF EITHER COLLISION BUT THE GARAGE WALL SUFFERED SOME MINOR DAMAGE.