LAST MAY, MY 71 YEAR-OLD MOTHER IN LAW LOST CONTROL OF HER CAR SHORTLY AFTER STARTING IT AND CRASHED INTO OUR HOUSE. SHE STATED THAT THE CAR "TOOK OFF" ON HER DESPITE HER STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY DEFECTS AND THE CAR WAS REPAIRED. I CONCLUDED THAT SHE HAD MISTAKENLY STEPPED ON THE GAS INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE DESPITE HER CLAIMS TO THE CONTRARY AND CONSIDERED THE ISSUE CLOSED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO SUBSEQUENT INCIDENTS UNTIL LAST WEEK, I WENT OUT TO MOVE HER CAR (2002 HONDA ACCORD). WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE THE ENGINE RACED. I WAS ABLE TO PREVENT ACCELERATION BECAUSE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE (IMPORTANT POINT) AND I QUICKLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE RACED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND THEN RETURNED TO REGULAR IDLING SPEED. I THEN DROVE THE CAR BRIEFLY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT, HOWEVER I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH HONDA TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THE MECHANICS TESTED THE CAR AND FOUND NO CLEAR CAUSE OF THE RACING ENGINE ALTHOUGH THEY DID FIND CRACKED ENGINE BRACKETS AND REPLACED THEM. WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM THE DEALER I PARKED THE CAR FOR A BRIEF STOP. WHEN I STARTED IT AGAIN I HAD THE SAME EVENT OCCUR THAT I EXPERIENCED LAST WEEK. I DROVE HOME, CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT I BRING IT BACK. WHILE DRIVING BACK TO THE DEALER I HAD TWO MORE INCIDENTS (ONCE AT A RED LIGHT AND ONCE WHILE PULLING INTO THE DEALER PARKING LOT). EACH TIME I WAS ABLE TO PREVENT ACCELERATION BECAUSE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. I NOT