NHTSA complaint: 1992 INFINITI G20 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE ACCELERATOR CABLE OF THE INFINITI G20 FROM THE FIREWALL TO THE CARBURETOR CONSISTS OF A BRAIDED STEEL CABLE IN A SOFT RUBBER SHEATH. A HARD PLASTIC PIECE CONNECTING THE ACCELERATOR CABLE TO THE FIREWALL INTERFACE FAILED, THUS EXPOSING THE CRITCAL BRAIDED STEEL ACCELERTOR CABLE TO THE SHARP, HARD EDGE OF THE BROKEN HARD PLASTIC PIECE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THREE STRANDS OF THE BRAIDED STEEL WITE WERE CUT AS THE ACCELERATOR WAS OPERATED. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE THREE FRAYED STRANDS ACTED AS FISH HOOKS INSIDE THE SOFT RUBBER SHEATH AND PREVENTED RETURN ACTION OF THE ACCELERATOR AS THE GAS PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE RESULT WAS THAT THE ACCELERATOR JAMMBED IN THE FULLY OPEN POSITION AS THE G20 INFINITI WAS BEING DRIVEN IN HEAVY MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 580 NEAR THE CASTRO VALLEY EXIT. THE DRIVER WAS IN LANE 2 OF 4 LANES WITH A DOUBLE TANDEM GRAVEL TRUCK INFRONT, AND SEVERAL OTHER LARGE TRUCKS AND CARS IN LANES 1 AND 2. AT THAT TIME OF THE MORNING, THE SLOW LANE, LANE 1, THE TRUCKS USUALLY TRAVEL 60 TO 70 MPH. THERE WERE FEW OPTIONS. MRS. HANAFEE WAS ABLE TO EXIT, SLOW THE CAR SUFFICIENTLY TO JUST HIT LIGHTLY ANOTHER (HEAVIER) CAR AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CHP OFFICER CONFIRMED THE JAMMBED CABLE, AS DID DR. HANAFEE AFTER THE CABLE WAS REMOVED AND ON THE BENCH. DR. HANAFEE HAS SEVERAL DECADES EXPERIENCE IN FAILURE ANALYSIS AS A MATERIAL SCIENTIST, AND I PLAN TO SEND NHTSA A MORE DETAILED REPORT.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation