NHTSA complaint: 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA — STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
AT APPROXIMATELY 1815 23 AUGUST 2001, HER GRANDSON ENTERED THE LEFT PASSENGER SEAT, CLIMBED INTO THE FRONT SEAT OVER THE CONSOLE SLIPPED AGAINST THE SHIFTING LEVER (ON THE STEERING COLUMN) WITH HIS RIGHT ELBOW. THE CAR STARTED MOVING. HE TRIED TO STOP THE CAR BY PUSHING ON THE "MIDDLE" PEDAL. HE STATED HE COULDN'T STOP THE CAR AND THAT IT HIT A TREE ON THE RIGHT FENDER, BOUNCED OVER AND INTO THE DITCH, AND KEPT GOING INTO ANOTHER DITCH. THE SECOND DITCH (THE ADJACENT YARDS OF THE THREE PROPERTIES INVOLVED WERE DOWNHILL SLOPES.), THE LEFT WHEELS HIT A SLIGHT EMBANKMENT, TURNING THE CAR TO THE LEFT, SLOWING THE VEHICLE SOME. A NEIGHBOR MOVING HIS LAWN WAS PERSUING THE CAR, AND STATED HE INSTRUCTED THE BOY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS, WHILE STILL IN MOTION AND WHEN THE BOY COMPLIED, OPENED THE DOOR AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE CAR HIT A CEDAR POST AND BIRD FEEDER BEFORE BEING STOPPED.THERE WERE NO KEYS IN THE CAR. THE NIEGHBOR STATED HE TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK THE WHEELS BUT IT DIDN'T LOCK. THE BOY LATER COMPLAINED OF A HEADACHE AND WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND TREATED FOR A MILD CLOSED HEAD INJURY. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED, AND WERE ADVISED TO NOTIFY/DEALER/MANUFACTURER. NO POLICE REPORT WAS MADE OUT AS IT ALL WAS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. WE TESTED THE SHIFTING COLUMN, AND WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, OR PUTTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, I COULD VERY EASILY MOVE THE SHIFT LEVEL TO ALL GEARS. AFTER REPORTING THE INCIDENT TO SVC MANAGER MONT.CHEV. EDDIE MILLS
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation