NHTSA complaint: 2008 TOYOTA TUNDRA — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AS I WAS ABOUT TO COMPLETE PARKING MY 2008 TOYOTA TUNDRA IN A PARKING SPACE AT NORTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL, NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS THE TRUCK SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE, WENT OVER A CURB AND INTO A CHAIN LINK FENCE DOING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE FENCE AND TRUCK. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE TRUCK AND HITTING THE BRAKE WAS NOT ENOUGH TO STOP THE HIGH ACCELERATION. I FINALLY MADE THE TRUCK STOP BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO NOT HAVE BEEN HURT. IF THIS HAPPENED A FEW SECONDS EARLIER I WOULD HAVE HIT A GROUP OF STUDENTS WALKING IN THE PARKING LOT.THE STUDENTS WERE IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE BEFORE I MADE THE RIGHT TURN INTO THE PARKING SPACE. IT WAS VERY SCARY, I AM VERY NERVOUS NOW DRIVING THE TRUCK. MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE IT. I CONTACTED TOYOTA IMMEDIATELY. THEY HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH. NOT RETURNING PHONE CALLS AND NOT MEETING DATES FOR WHAT THEY WILL DO. WHEN I FIRST CONTACTED TOYOTA, THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID TO ME "SO WHAT DO YOU WANT TOYOTA TO DO" AFTER I DESCRIBED WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW LUCKY I WAS NOT TO BE HURT OR HURTING STUDENTS IN A HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT. I HAVE OWNED TOYOTA VEHICLES SINCE 1970 - THEY SEEM TO HAVE LITTLE CONCERN FOR MY LOYALTY OR THE STRESS THIS INCIDENT HAS CAUSED ME AND MY FAMILY. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation