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2019 MAZDA MAZDA3 — STEERING

crash · 1647002 · 2020-02-17

Vehicle

Make
MAZDA
Model
MAZDA3
Year
2019
Manufacturer
Mazda Motor Corp.
Component
STEERING
Miles at failure
2,802
Speed
3 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
No
Crash
Yes
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
Yes

Narrative

JAN. 23, 2020. 10:45 AM. I WAS ON MY STREET, A NARROW RESIDENTIAL STREET, PREPARING TO BACK IN MY GARAGE. IN ORDER TO DO THAT ON THIS NARROW STREET, I TOUCHED THE LIP OF THE DRIVEWAY ACROSS THE STREET. SPEED WELL UNDER 3 MPH. WHEN I DID SO, MY CAR SUDDENLY SHARPLY ACCELERATED AND AT THE SAME TIME SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THE ACCELERATION AND SWERVE DROVE THE CAR INTO THE TOWNHOUSES ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE. THE DRIVEWAYS ARE VERY SHORT, BARELY A CAR'S LENGTH. AFTER CRASHING, I COULD FEEL THE CAR STILL ACCELERATING. I QUICKLY SWITCHED THE CAR INTO PARK AND THE SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION CONTINUED. IN ORDER TO STOP IN I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF. WHEN THE TOWING COMPANY TURNED THE CAR ON LATER IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATE AND SURGE FORWARD AGAIN. THE MAZDA DEALER AND INSURANCE INSPECTOR EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THERE IS A SENSOR: WHEN A WHEEL ENCOUNTERS WHAT IT PERCEIVES TO BE AN OBSTACLE, IT 'TOSSES' ALL THE POWER TO THAT WHEEL AND ACCELERATES. THESE DRIVEWAYS HAVE A SMALL LIP AT THE EDGE. THIS SENSOR REACTED TO IT IN A WAY THAT CAUSED MY CAR TO CRASH. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND THE TOWNHOUSES ACROSS THE STREET DAMAGED. THANK HEAVEN THERE WAS NO ONE OUTSIDE OR THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, RECALLED AND CHANGED.

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
11309582
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown