# 2000 ACURA TL — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
> NHTSA complaint `645697` · 2007-11-11 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** ACURA
- **Model:** TL
- **Year:** 2000
- **Manufacturer:** Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
- **Component:** VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- **Miles at failure:** 99,439
- **Speed:** 65 mph
## Narrative
I TRIED TO PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE AFTER STARTING IT ONE DAY TO NO AVAIL.  I PLACED A SCREW DRIVER IN THE SHIFT LOCK POSITION AS THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED.  I CALLED THE ACURA DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM.  THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOANER CAR AVAILABLE AND ASKED ME TO COME IN A DAY LATER.  ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR MY APPOINTMENT THE NEXT DAY, I HAD COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE GOING 65 MILES AN HOUR ON A TOLLWAY.  THE NEXT 14 MILES I TRIED TO GET THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN.  I TRIED TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND PUT THE CAR IN ACCESSORY, BUT NOTHING WORKED INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.  IN FACT THE CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT ME EVER TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR.  FINALLY I EXITED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND PURPOSELY WRECKED THE CAR TO AVOID INJURY TO OTHERS AT SUCH A HIGH RATE OF SPEED.  THE CAR WAS ON FIRE WHEN I FINALLY STOPPED.  LUCKILY I WAS ALIVE.  I BROKE MY FOOT AND POPPED 2 VERTEBRAE IN MY NECK.  *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*