NHTSA complaint: 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON 8/29/08 I WAS SLOWLY ACCELERATING AS I PULLED ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHEN I EXPERIENCED WHAT I HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND WAS AN SUA, A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. WITH HEAD-ON TRAFFIC COMING AT ME FAST I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TURN SHARPLY TO GET OFF THE ROAD. MY REAR AXLE WAS CAUGHT ON A BERM OF DIRT AT THE EDGE OF A CORNFIELD. BRAKING HAD NO EFFECT. AS I SAT THERE I REALIZED THE ENGINE WAS RACING WILDLY. THERE WAS NO OBSTRUCTION TO THE GAS PEDDLE, SO I HAD TO CUT OFF THE ENGINE BY TURNING THE KEY OFF. MY CAR IS A 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE ROAD WAS DRY, HOWEVER, IT WAS A DAMP MORNING AND CHILLY. I HAVE HAD NO RECURRENCES. I AM A SAFETY COMPLIANCE OFFICER WITH OSHA SO I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN INVESTIGATING THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM. I DO NOT FEEL THE ADDITION OF THE PLATE BEHIND THE GAS PEDAL IS THE SOLUTION. TOYOTA TOLD ME AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THAT IT WOULD DO NO GOOD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE SENSOR, SO I REALIZED THAT THEY HAD A DEFECT PROBLEM. I AM LOOKING INTO ADDING A SMART THROTTLE SOFTWARE PLUG-IN TO PROVIDE AN OVERRIDE TO THE THROTTLE. TOYOTA REFUSED TO TELL ME WHO MADE THE PART OR FROM WHOM THEY PURCHASED IT. PLEASE PROVIDE ME THAT INFORMATION IF POSSIBLE. PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR INVESTIGATION, AND I WOULD SUGGEST WIDENING IT TO INCLUDE ALL DRIVE-BY-WIRE SYSTEMS. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation