NHTSA complaint: 2005 LEXUS LS430 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD, TWO MILES FROM MY HOUSE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE CAR SUDDENLY AND DRASTICALLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I REMEMBER VIVIDLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES BUT IT FAILED TO DECELERATE THE CAR AT ALL. AFRAID AS I WAS, I CEASED TO STEP ON THE BRAKE OR THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING AND KEPT GAINING MOMENTUM. AT THAT POINT, I WAS TRYING TO AVOID HITTING THE CARS IN FRONT AND INCOMING CARS FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION OF THE ROAD. I DROVE FOR ABOUT A HALF MILE ON AND OFF THE RIGHT SIDE CURBSIDE, AS CLIPPING MAILBOXES ALONG THE WAY. AT THAT POINT I REALIZED THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP, DECELERATE, NOR CONTROL THE CAR. IN ATTEMPT THE AVOID DRIVING INTO THE MAIN ROAD THAT LED INTO A BUSY FOUR-WAY INTERSECTION, I PANICKED AND REMOVED MY SEAT BELT IN ATTEMPT TO EVACUATE THE CAR. THE CAR DOOR, HOWEVER WOULD NOT OPEN. I WAS IN COMPLETE SHOCK AND ALARMED AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND AS IT DROVE INTO A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A TREE. FOLLOWING THE SEVERE IMPACT, I ENTIRELY LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT I SPENT 10 HOURS IN THE OPERATION ROOM, AND I HAD TO STAY FOR CARE IN THE HOSPITAL AND SKILL FACILITY FOR TWO AND HALF MONTHS. FROM THE ACCIDENT MY ARM WAS INJURED AND AFTER 8 MONTHS, AND IT STILL IMMOBILE. I'M STILL GOING THROUGH SERIES OF PHYSICAL THERAPY ON A WEEKLY BASIS. UPDATED IVOQ 09/14/11 *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation