SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Speed
25 mph
Severity
Deaths
0
Injured
1
Fire
No
Crash
Yes
Police report
Yes
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No
Narrative
I AM CONCERNED WITH A FEW THINGS ON MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS SE 4 DOOR. ONE, I FEEL THAT THE ABS SYSTEM ON MY CAR DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. I HAD TO DO AN EMERGENCY STOP WITH MY CAR IN WHICH MY WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE CAR PROCEEDED TO "LAUNCH FORWARD" AT LEAST 10 FEET EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS. I ENDED UP HITTING A WOMAN IN FRONT OF ME WHO HAD JACKED UP. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT I WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT ABOUT 25 MPH HAVING JUST COME THROUGH A LIGHT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, EVEN THOUGH I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT, I STILL HIT THE DASHBOARD WITH MY KNEE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY CHIN. NORMALLY WHEN I COME TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN MY SEAT BELT GETS TIGHTER WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES AND I HAVE TROUBLE LEANING FORWARD TO LOOK BOTH WAYS, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. ALSO, MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE ISSUES. I LOVE MY CAR BUT I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ESPECIALLY WITH MY CHILDREN IN IT. WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE TO DO AN EMERGENCY STOP BECAUSE OF A CHILD RUNNING OUT IN THE STREET 20 FEET FROM WHERE I AM. WILL MY CAR STOP THEN. I KNOW CARS DON'T STOP ON A DIME BUT I FEEL AT THE RATE OF SPEED I WAS TRAVELING AND THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROAD, I SHOULD HAVE NEVER HIT THAT WOMAN. WHAT DO I DO? *AK