NHTSA Complaint #752627 — 2000 DODGE DURANGO

I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 DODGE DURANGO ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROX. 70MPH. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE ON ITS OWN. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. MY FOOT WAS OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. I TAPPED THE GAS PEDAL WITH MY FOOT TO ATTEMPT TO RAISE IT WITH NO EFFECT. I DOWN SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR WITH NO EFFECT. I ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL WITH NO EFFECT. THE ONLY WAY I COULD PREVENT THE CAR FROM CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE WAS TO BRAKE AND RELEASE WHILE I CROSSED THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC. AT NO TIME DID I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. AS I EXITED THE FREEWAY IT BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR WHILE FIGHTING THE ENGINE POWER WITH THE BRAKE PRESSURE. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE COULD HAVE EASILY HAD A COLLISION AND WE ARE FORTUNATE NO ONE WAS HURT AS A RESULT OF THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. *AK