NHTSA complaint #11317488

Owner complaint summary

ON FEBRUARY 29, 2020, I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT A NEARBY PARK AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. I BEGAN TO APPLY THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED WITH SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. I CONTINUED TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR, BUT IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I STEERED THE CAR AWAY FROM A SMALL LAKE BUT SMASHED INTO A PINE TREE. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE SEATBELT WORKED. I RECEIVED TRAUMA TO THE CHEST BY THE AIRBAG. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR EVALUATION AND THEN RELEASED THE NEXT DAY. THE STATE TROOPER CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REVVING WHEN HE RESTARTED IT. THIS HONDA CRV RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN JULY, 2019 CONCERNING A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS AND STEERING COLUMN. THE PARTS DID NOT COME UNTIL SEPTEMBER, 2019 AND I THEN BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR THE REPAIR. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED. FIVE MONTHS LATER THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WITH ONLY 6,800 MILES ON THE CAR. I WENT TO SPEAK WITH THE MANAGER AT THE HONDA DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND HIS ATTITUDE WAS POLITE BUT TOTALLY INDIFFERENT. HE INDICATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP ONLY SELLS CARS, BUT HE DID NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE DEALERSHIP ALSO DID THE REPAIR ON THIS RECALL. I LEFT THERE WITH NO SATISFACTION AT ALL. THE HONDA CRV 2019 IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM. THIS WAS MY FIRST HONDA AND MY LAST.