1997 Toyota Avalon VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA AVALON XLS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A TURN. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED TO 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP OR DECELERATE DESPITE THE CONTACTS BRAKING ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY CABLE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE STUCK OR DEFECTIVE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE ENGINE RPMS RAPIDLY INCREASED TO 7500. AFTER WAITING FIVE MINUTES THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD BE TAKING THE VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSIS TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 297,000.

DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN A LEGAL PARKING SPACE IN THE LAST ROW OF PARKING LOT ON 9 MULE RD TOMS RIVER NJ- NOSE IN. WEATHER GOOD. CAR ACCELERATED OVER THE CURB COMING TO REST IN DRAINAGE DITCH THAT BACKS TO THE LOT. AIR BAG INFLATED AND DRIVER WAS PINNED AND NECK BROKEN. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND DRIVER TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL. NO PAST EXPERIENCE WITH UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION - ONLY TIME IT EVER HAPPENED. NO OTHER CARS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT AND DRIVER WAS ALONE IN VEHICLE. POLICE REPORT FILED. INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK POSSESSION OF CAR. *CN

WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT ON REVERSE TO BACK OUT FROM A PARKING LOT, THE CAR ACCELERATED FAST FORWARD, RUNNING INTO A POLE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE PLACING VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD, ON THE SECOND OCCASION THERE WAS A MINOR COLLISION.*JB

WHEN CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IS PUSHED INTO "DECELERATE" MODE, VEHICLE DOES NOT DECELERATE. MUST PUSH SWITCH VERY HARD IN ORDER FOR DECELERATION TO OCCUR. UNLESS A GREAT DEAL OF FORCE IS EXERTED ON THE SWITCH IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU WANT TO COAST, THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM WILL ENGAGE INADVERTANTLY.