NHTSA complaint: 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAD JUST LEFT ONE AREA OF A PARKING LOT AND WAS TRAVELING TO ANOTHER AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED (5 TO 15 MPH) SO MY 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS RUNNING UNDER ELECTRICAL POWER. I TURNED RIGHT TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE BETWEEN TWO SUVS, COASTING IN WITH MY FOOT OVER THE BREAK PEDAL. WHEN I WAS MORE THAN HALFWAY INTO THE PARKING SPACE, THE CAR SUDDENLY SHOT FORWARD JUMPING THE CURB AND STOPPING ONLY WHEN IT HIT A STONE PILLAR. WHEN I LOOKED DOWN (AFTER CHECKING TO SEE IF MY 13 YEAR OLD SON WAS ALRIGHT, I SAW THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. FORTUNATELY NO PEDESTRIAN WAS IN THE WALKWAY, AND I DID NOT HIT THE SUV TO MY RIGHT OR LEFT. HOWEVER, THE UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WAS NOT A RESULT OF PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. *JB
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation