NHTSA complaint: 2006 AUDI A6 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BOUGHT A USED 2006 AUDI A6 TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. I HAD BEEN USING THE "KEYLESS" OPTION WHEN STARTING AND STOPPING THE VEHICLE. I STOPPED AT A LIBRARY, PUSHED THE BUTTON TWICE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS ROLLING FORWARD. I ATTEMPTED TO STOP IT; I OPENED THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND AS I WAS GETTING IN THE DOOR STRUCK A TRASH CAN IN THE PARKING LOT, KNOCKING ME DOWN. THE VEHICLE'S REAR WHEEL CAUGHT MY LEFT HEEL AND DRUG ME ACROSS A CURB BEFORE STOPPING ON MY LEFT FOOT. SEVERAL MEN IN THE PARKING LOT LIFTED THE VEHICLE OFF MY FOOT. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND KEPT FOR INJURIES TO MY LEFT LEG. EVIDENTLY I FAILED TO PUT THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION IN "P" AND HAD LEFT IT IN "D". CARS THAT USE A PHYSICAL KEY TO START AND STOP THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ALLOW A DRIVER TO REMOVE THE KEY UNLESS THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SHIFTED TO "PARK." A VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT UTILIZE A PHYSICAL KEY, DOES NOT THAT BUILT-IN SAFETY FEATURE. FIVE WEEKS LATER I AM IN PHYSICAL THERAPY AND AM GRATEFUL I DID NOT SUSTAIN MORE SERIOUS INJURIES, OR THAT AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER WAS NOT KILLED BY A DRIVERLESS CAR ROLLING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AT A LIBRARY THAT IS FREQUENTED BY CHILDREN. NOW I AM ADAMANT ABOUT ALWAYS SETTING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. MY CONCERN IS REAL: AS MORE AND MORE VEHICLES ARE MANUFACTURED WITH "KEYLESS" IGNITION SYSTEMS THAT CONTAIN NO FAIL-SAFE FEATURE TO PREVENT "INADVERTENT ROLLIN
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation