NHTSA complaint #11761932

Owner complaint summary

Vehicle has physically and forcibly moved both forward and backward, on its own, after being placed in Park and the engine turned off — including after occupants have exited the vehicle. This movement has struck the driver and two minor children on multiple separate occasions, as well as nearby curbs and objects, without physical injury. No warning lamps or dashboard messages appeared before or during these incidents. Because the movement occurs after occupants have exited the vehicle, it is unknown how many additional times this may have occurred unobserved. Dealer states it was unable to duplicate this condition during a test drive. During this same visit, the right front CV axle was found to be leaking grease and had lost lubricant, and required full replacement. Both front horns were also found inoperable/defective due to internal short and were replaced. Neither of these conditions had been previously reported as faulty prior to this visit. Separately, this vehicle has experienced a steering column defect. At approximately 9,000 miles, a steering wheel squeak was reported and a dust cover was replaced. During that same earlier visit, an intermittent loss of acceleration was also reported; the dealer was unable to duplicate this concern and documented the vehicle as “operating as designed.” Weeks after that visit, a knocking noise developed in the steering column. At approximately 10,000 miles, a technician found a structural through-bolt in the steering column not torqued to manufacturer specification and corrected it. Dealer advised in writing that this defect was likely present at the time of manufacture. The vehicle has been taken to an authorized dealer on multiple occasions for these concerns. The owner has repeatedly requested, in writing, a detailed explanation of what was diagnosed, what was repaired, and the underlying cause of the movement, the axle failure, and the horn failure, and has not received a substantive written response as of this filing