OUR CAR WAS TRAVELING IN A VERY SLOW SPEED ON AN ON-RAMP OF INTERCHANGE FROM FREEWAY 110 NORTH BOUND TO 105 WEST BOUND IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. THE TRAFFIC FLOW WAS IN A VERY SLOW MOVING FASHION. SINCE IT WAS AN UPHILL ON RAMP, I HAD TO STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL SLIGHTLY TO KEEP THE CAR MOVING AT A SLOW BUT STEADY SPEED. AS THE TRAFFIC GOT SLOWER, I GENTLY STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR. WHILE I WAS HOLDING DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL, SUDDENLY I HEARD A "CLUNK" NOISE AND FELT A VIBRATION. AT THIS POINT, THE CAR STARTED MOVING ON ITS OWN WITHOUT A SIGN OF SLOWING DOWN. I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO STEP ON BRAKE WITH FULL FORCE BUT FELT THE BRAKE HAVING NO PRESSURE AT ALL. AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH UNCONTROLLED SPEED, THE ONLY THING I COULD DO AT THAT MOMENT WAS TO VEER THE CAR TOWARDS THE RIGHT EDGE TO AVOID DIRECT IMPACT WITH THE FRONT CAR. BY READING THE OWNER'S MANUAL, I BELIEVED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FUNCTION WAS BEING ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT SINCE THE DRY AND NON-SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITION DID NOT WARRANT SUCH ACTIVATION. AND WHAT MADE THINGS EVEN WORSE WAS, FOR WHATEVER THE REASON, THE CAR WAS MOVING ON ITS OWN IN AN UNCONTROLLED SPEED WHILE THE BREAK PEDAL WAS COMPLETELY LOSING THE PRESSURE DUE TO THE ABS ACTIVATION. THIS VEHICLE WAS BEING RECALLED AND SERVICED FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO THE LOWER PANEL TRIM DESIGN IN AUGUST. THE LIABILITY INSURANCE CLAIM WAS FILED FOR THE ACCIDENT. THE MILEAGE WAS 8740 AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT. PHOTOS OF THE ACCIDENT SCENE ARE ATTACHED AND ALONG WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS.
NHTSA ODI 10925606