NHTSA Complaint #720698 — 1999 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA

WHILE PASSING ANOTHER CAR ON A TWO LANE ROAD, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND THE CABLE ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY DISENGAGED FROM THE HORSESHOE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE CABLE. MY GAS PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR AND THE ENGINE WENT TO IDLE SPEED . I COULDN'T ACCELERATE AS THE PEDAL WAS LYING FLAT ON THE FLOOR. THERE ARE TWO RUBBER GROMMETS THAT HOLD THE CABLE TO THE HORSESHOE BRACKET ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE MANIFOLD. THEY SLIPPED OUT OF THE SLOT AND THE RESULTING SLACK IN THE CABLE DROPPED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THE ACCELERATOR WENT TO IDLE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK INTO THE RIGHT LANE WITHOUT BEING HIT BY THE CARS I HAD JUST PASSED. I COASTED TOT HE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO REINSERT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE BACK INTO THE BRACKET AND DRIVE UNTIL I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THEY ADJUSTED THE CABLE AND RETIGHTENED THE NUTS. I'M NOT COMFORTABLE THAT THE CABLE WON'T SLIP OUT OF THE HORSESHOE BRACKET AGAIN!!! *AK