# 1986 FORD THUNDERBIRD — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
> NHTSA complaint `360239` · 2002-06-28 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** THUNDERBIRD
- **Year:** 1986
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- **Speed:** 50 mph
## Narrative
I HAVE THREE SEPARATE INCIDENCES. FIRST OCCURRING IN 1997 WHILE TAKING MY GRANDSON TO HIGH SCHOOL:  WHILE COMPLETING THE TURN INTO  THE PARKING LOT AT HIS SCHOOL, MY 1986 THUNDERBIRD SUDDENLY SURGED AS IF I HAD FULLY PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR.   FORTUNATELY, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND NEITHER OF US WERE INJURED NOR WAS THERE ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE.                                    INCEDENT#2-   WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM SHOPPING, I WAS DRIVING IN THE LANE CLOSEST TO THE CURB ON A 4 LANE STREET WHEN SUDDENLY, AGAIN, MY CAR ACCELERATED AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHERE I JUST BARELY GLANCED OFF  A SMALL STATIONERY POLL THAT WAS POSITIONED BASICALLY ON THE SIDEWALK.  AGAIN, THANK GOD, NO ONE WAS HURT AND THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE.  FINAL INCEDENT #3:      NOT SO LUCKY THIS TIME.  I WAS GOING THROUGH THE MCDONALD'S DRIVE-THRU, AFTER PLACING MY ORDER, MY CAR SUDDENLY TAKES OFF AGAIN, VEERS RIGHT, AND MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE LITERALLY DRIVES UP  ONE OF THE  5 VERY HEAVY-DUTY GUARD POLES SURROUNDING THE MAIN ELECTRICAL BOX THUS  IMPAILING MY CAR AND SERIOUSLY BENDING THE POLE.  IN RETROSPECT, I FEEL I WAS PRETTY BLESSED; NO ONE WAS EVER HURT...EXCEPT FOR ME, NOW, AFTER MORE THAN 45YEARS CLASSIFIED AS A "GOOD DRIVER"  NOW  IPAYING AN EXTRA$60.00 PER MONTH FOR MY AUTO INSURANCE FOR SOMETHING THAT I KNOW FOR SURE WAS NOT MY FAULT(PLUS THE FACT I HAD TO DISH OUT FOR A NEW CAR...AND ALL THIS COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A WORSE TIME.
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*