NHTSA Complaint #11342868 — 2017 FORD EXPLORER

ABOUT A WEEK AGO MY VEHICLE WAS IDLING, BACKED STRAIGHT INTO THE TURNAROUND IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE CAR IN PARK. THE TWO PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WERE OPEN. MY DAUGHTERS AND I (UNBUCKLED) SAT THERE ABOUT TEN MINUTES WHILE THE ENGINE WAS CRANKED BUT IN PARK, WAITING ON MY HUSBAND TO FINISH UP GRABBING THINGS FOR THE VACATION WE WERE GETTING READY TO LEAVE ON. MY TWO YEAR OLD HAD MOVED TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, AND I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. MY DAUGHTER REACHED OVER AND PRESSED THE PUSH TO START BUTTON AS SHE HAS A HUNDRED TIMES AND KILLED THE ENGINE, BUT THIS TIME, WHEN THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE AND WE WERE SENT ROLLING DOWN THE HILL BEHIND MY TURN AROUND. I TRIED TO CLIMB OVER AND HIT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. WE WERE FINALLY STOPPED WHEN OUR BACK END SMASHED INTO THE SECOND TREE WE HIT. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED BESIDES ME, AND IT WAS RELATIVELY MINOR WITH JUST BRUISING, PARTICULARLY SINCE I'M 7 MONTHS PREGNANT. MY CAR IS NOW COMPLETELY TOTALED AS A RESULT.