Description of Incident: While attempting to reverse out of my driveway, I experienced a catastrophic and life-threatening malfunction with my vehicle. I was in reverse gear when the car came to an abrupt, extremely forceful stop, which caused the vehicle to jerk violently forward. This sudden and unprovoked halt put me and my passenger at risk of serious injury. My foot was on the brake the entire time. As the car stopped so unexpectedly, I shifted into Drive in an attempt to inch forward. However, despite my foot remaining firmly on the brake, the car accelerated at full power, without warning, and with no input from me to do so. The car then drove directly into the foundation of my house, causing significant damage. Despite applying constant pressure to the brake, the vehicle failed to stop or respond. This malfunction resulted in the destruction of my home’s foundation and caused bodily injury to both me and my passenger. This was a life-threatening event and could have resulted in severe harm or death to anyone nearby. The car’s acceleration while my foot was still on the brake indicates a severe safety risk and defect in the vehicle’s systems, which also places others at risk.
NHTSA ODI 11615797