NHTSA complaint: 2007 LEXUS IS — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL COUNTRY ROAD AT ABOUT 15-20 MPH (HAVING JUST COME OUT OF A SHARP TURN). WHEN I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AFTER THE TURN, IT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO "GUN", AT WHICH POINT I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND TO MY HORROR GOT NO RESPONSE. I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT THE ACCELERATOR CONTINUED TO REV OR GUN HORRIFYINGLY AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPEED UP. AT ANOTHER SHARP TURN I WENT OFF THE ROAD AND SIDESWIPED A TREE, DROVE THROUGH THE BEDROOM OF A HOUSE (IN ONE WALL AND OUT THE OTHER) AND FINALLY STOPPED IN ANOTHER TREE. AFTER AN HOUR OF POLICE, FIRE, AND OTHER EMERGENCY PERSONNEL ATTEMPTING TO EXTRICATE ME FROM THE CAR, THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE ROOF OF THE CAR TO GET ME OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS AIRLIFTED TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL WITH A TRAUMA CENTER, WHERE I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FRACTURED STERNUM, THREE BROKEN RIBS, TWO FRACTURED VERTEBRAE, AND A LACERATED LIVER. I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR THREE DAYS, AFTER WHICH I WAS RELEASED WITH A CUSTOM-FITTED BACK BRACE THAT I WAS REQUIRED TO WEAR FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT PERMANENTLY INJURED, BUT I SUFFER BACK PAIN REGULARLY AS A RESULT OF THE FRACTURED VERTEBRAE. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation