NHTSA Complaint #11700846 — 2010 FORD FUSION

Unintended acceleration event. Entered vehicle, put my foot on the brake, cranked it, held in that position while seatbelting. Engine had a VERY loud revving sound. Within seconds vehicle moving backwards on its own. Foot still on the brake, had not touched gas pedal, had not touched gear shifter, and was still sitting straight forward with my foot on the brake and confirmed gear shifter in park. The car quickly accelerated backwards faster and brake pedal had no effect on stopping or slowing vehicle. Went approx. 30’ across parking lot and only stopped because we hit truck parked behind us. Quickly turned off engine and removed keys. Shifter still shows Park. Careful driver. No history of accidents. I found there were several thousand reported events of unintended acceleration (Ford vehicles 2002 to 2010). Ford tried to explain many as driver error or floor mat touching the gas pedal. My mat was clipped down, as designed, with no all-weather mat on top of them, and my foot did not leave the brake pedal. AI says revving as described is "classic behavior of failing Electronic Throttle Body on 2010 Fords", "Surging without touching the pedal and known defect are extremely common". Says if "Worn or failing shifter linkage/bushings vibration form high revving could make it slip into Reverse". Ford has a 19S54 recall for AntiLock Brake Systems (not notified), where "A normally closed valve may be stuck open, which may result in extended brake pedal travel". Ford reports on similar vehicles "lunging" was due to deposits in the throttle body. Ford has installed brake override on vehicles after 2010 but that doesn't protect people driving older vehicles. Please look at combo of factors that could cause this. Disappointed to read Ford purged customer acceleration reports prior to hold 5 yrs and an expert they provided at trial was someone sheltered from all research Ford had on this issue so he pushed "driver error" as the case. Clearly not here.