NHTSA complaint: 2012 HONDA ACCORD — FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING A HONDA ACCORD STRAIGHT AHEAD IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE, THE DRIVER SUDDENLY HEARD A "BOOM" NOISE, AND THE CAR SHOT FORWARD AT WHAT THE DRIVER SAYS FELT LIKE DOUBLE THE SPEED THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY GOING. THE DRIVER SAYS HE HAD NO WAY TO CONTROL THE CAR AS IT MOVED FORWARD AND STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT BEFORE VEERING LEFT AND CROSSING OVER ALL 4 LANES, INCLUDING A MEDIAN, AND CRASHING INTO A DITCH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER COMPLAINED OF CHEST PAINS AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. AT FIRST, WHILE STILL AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT, PRIOR TO BEING TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, THE DRIVER ASSUMED HE HAD BEEN HIT BY ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE OF THE "BOOM" NOISE AND SUDDENLY BEING PUSHED FORWARD, WHICH IS WHAT HE TOLD THE POLICE. HOWEVER, AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL AND HAVING PROCESSED WHAT HAD OCCURRED, IT IS BELIEVED THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED AND ACCELERATED FORWARD ON ITS OWN. IT IS A MIRACLE NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A VERY TRAGIC STORY INSTEAD OF A MIRACLE. THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING SUBMITTED IN HOPES THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation