NHTSA Complaint #11253010 — 2015 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER HUSBAND WHO OWNS A 2015 AUDI A3. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH OF 2019. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE CLOSER TO THE CURB. WHEN THE DRIVER SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IT TOOK THE DRIVER EXCESSIVE STRENGTH TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT CRASHED INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS IN SHOCK. THE DAY BEFORE THE CRASH, THE RADIO STATIONS INDEPENDENTLY MIXED UP ON THEIR OWN AND THERE WAS A LOT OF STATIC. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CALLED AND NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE SOMEONE INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.