NHTSA complaint: 2006 LEXUS IS 250 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR PARKED PARALLEL TO CURB. OPENED DOOR, GOT INTO DRIVER'S SEAT, FASTENED SEAT BELT, TURNED ON IGNITION, AS NORMAL. SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO DRIVE, IMMEDIATELY ENGINE BEGAN TO "REV UP" UNCONTROLLED, BASED ON SOUND FROM ENGINE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF INCREASING PITCH OF ENGINE NOISE, CAR JUMPED THE CURB, OVER THE ADJACENT SIDE WALK, AND SLAMMED INTO THE BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, SLID ALONG THE WALL, AND CAR ENDED UP AGAINST THE FENCE OF NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR. CAR MOVED ABOUT 6 FEET IN 2-3 SECONDS. RIGHT HAND AND WRIST OF DRIVER WAS INJURED ON IMPACT, TRAPEZIUM BONE BROKEN IN HALF, AND A PORTION OF BONE SMASHED INTO LITTLE PIECES. HAND AND WRIST MUSCLES AND TENDONS STRAINED. SURGERY WAS REQUIRED TWO WEEKS LATER TO PUT 4 METAL RODS IN WRIST TO ASSIST HEALING. IN CAST FOR TOTAL OF 8+ WEEKS. MANY SESSIONS OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY WILL BE NEEDED TO RESTORE WRIST AND HAND FUNCTION, SOME LOSS OF FUNCTION IS ANTICIPATED, AND ARTHRITIS IN WRIST MAY RESULT. CAR DAMAGE INCLUDED FRONT BUMPER, FRONT GRILL, FRONT SPOILER, GRILL ASSEMBLY, HEADLAMP, HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY, FOG LAMPS, RT FRONT WHEEL, RIGHT FRONT LOWER ARM CONTROL, RIGHT, LEFT OUTER TIE ROD. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation