NHTSA complaint: 2007 FORD MUSTANG — PARKING BRAKE
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2007 FORD MUSTANG WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE BEFORE THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED 04/11/09, COMPLAINING OF SIMILAR ISSUES. I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN MAY OF 2007. I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR FEELING SLUGGISH AND FEELING LIKE IT WAS VERY STIFF TO SHIFT OR STICKING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY AUGUST 07 AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM THAT I WAS JUST NOT USED TO THE CAR. ALL THEY DID WAS DRIVE IT THEY DID NOT INSPECT THE CAR. I THEN HAD A PROBLEM IN JAN. OR FEB. OF 2009 IN WHICH IS DISENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE CAR IT WAS SLUGGISH AND WOULDN'T SHIFT GEARS AND WOULDN'T DRIVE PROPERLY. THE ABS LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR JUST SAT SPINNING. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY KEPT IT IN THE GARAGE FOR A COUPLE HOURS THEN TOLD ME IT WAS FINE TO DRIVE, THEY SAID THE CAR JUST NEEDED TO UNTHAW?? THEY DID NOT LOOK AT IT AGAIN. THIS LEADS UP TO 04/11/2009 IN WHICH I PARKED THE CAR MADE SURE THE PARKING BRAKE WAS SET AND THE CAR WAS IN GEAR. AS I WENT INTO MY HOUSE I HEARD A CLICKING TYPE SOUND AND THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. IT ROLLED ACROSS A PARKING LOT INTO THE NEIGHBORS YARD, OVER A TREE STUMP, HIT A MAILBOX BEFORE COMING TO REST AGAINST A TELEPHONE POLE. THIS WAS WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED AND THE CAR STILL IN GEAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PUR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation