NHTSA Complaint #11099884 — 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY

THE PROBLEM THAT CREATED THE UNSAFE CONDITION WAS UNINTENTIONAL SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE TO COMPLETE THE STOP WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE 2008 ODYSSEY WAS GOING VERY SLOW (JUST MADE A RIGHT TURN ON ROAD) IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, FOR THE HOUSE WE WERE VISITING WAS ON THE CORNER. WE THEN TURNED ANOTHER RIGHT TO PARK IN A PRIVATE PARKING AREA. IMMEDIATELY BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD WHILE THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AND SOUNDING VERY LOUD. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY DOWN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES (LURCHES) FORWARD WHILE IMMEDIATELY GOING OVER A RAILROAD TIE (ABOUT 7 INCHES HIGH), GOING UP IN THE AIR (ALMOST ROLLING), THEN STRIKING A TREE WHICH SLOWED THE CAR DOWN. DESPITE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE, THE ODYSSEY KEPT REVVING AND THRUSTING FORWARD EVEN AFTER STRIKING THE TREE. THE IMPACT OF HITTING THE TREE WAS VERY HARD, AND THE ACCIDENT LEFT 2 OF THE PASSENGERS WITH SEATBELT IMPRINTS ON THE NECK AND CHEST. THE MINIVAN FINALLY STOPPED BECAUSE THE DAMAGE WAS SEVERE, INCLUDING A BURNING SMELL AND FLUID LEAKAGE FROM THE CAR. WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND GOT WORD THAT OUR ODYSSEY WAS TOTALED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.