NHTSA Complaint #721256 — 1995 TOYOTA PREVIA

WHILE ENTERING MY VEHICLE AT NIGHT, THE WHEEL , SPECIFICALLY THE "CRUISE CONTROL LEVER" WAS IN THE 6:00 O'CLOCK POSITION. I HIT THE LEVER WITH MY KNEE WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND BROKE THE LEVER. OTHER THAN BEING UPSET FOR A MOST LIKELY COSTLY REPAIR, I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL A FEW MINUTES LATER. I WAS EXITING A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT WITH TRAFFIC MOVING ALL AROUND, ALSO, SOMEONE WAS FOLLOWING ME. WHEN I WENT TO TURN LEFT, THE WHEEL FROZE (DUE TO THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER HAD CAUGHT ON THE WIPER LEVER, AND WOULD NOT MOVE) IN THAT IT WAS NIGHT, I DID NOT REALIZE THE PROBLEM AND PANIKED , SLAMMED ON BRAKES, AND ALMOST GOT HIT FROM THE REAR AND RIGHT SIDE AS WELL, SINCE THE WHEEL WAS FROZEN AND ALL STEERING WAS LOST. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATALITY, KILLING MANY PEOPLE AND OF COURSE THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DESIGN. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT AN ACCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR, BUT I DO HAVE NIGHTMARES AS TO WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATED. I HAVE NOT HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL REPLACED, IN THAT THE SAME PROBLEM COULD OCCUR AGAIN. *AK