10375542¶

1 excerpts.

NHTSA Owner Complaint ODI 10375542¶

nhtsa.gov/complaints/10375542 · p. 1 · Applies to: 451

Manufacturer: SMART USA DISTRIBUTOR LLC Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC Date filed: 01/11/2011 | Date of incident: 01/11/2011 Vehicles affected: - MY

Owner narrative: I WAS LEAVING FOR WORK IN MY SMART FORTWO 451 ON A SNOWY MORNING. MY DRIVEWAY IS RATHER STEEP, AND WHILE SLOWLY GOING DOWN THE HILL THE CAR BEGAN TO SLIDE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND BEGAN SLOWING TO A STOP BUT WAS STILL SLIDING. I PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS STILL IN CONTROL OF THE CAR WHEN MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN IT AND THE ACCELERATOR. I TRIED FRANTICALLY TO PULL IT OUT BUT IT WAS STUCK FAST, AND THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING (DUE TO GRAVITY) DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO PULL MY FOOT OUT OF MY SHOE AND DEPRESS THE BRAKE, BUT BY THEN I WAS ALREADY OFF THE DRIVEWAY AND HEADED DOWN THE SIDE OF THE HILL. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE ANY DAMAGE WAS DONE, BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM HAD IT OCCURRED IN TRAFFIC. AFTER STOPPING I STILL HAD SOME DIFFICULTY REMOVING MY SHOE FROM BETWEEN THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS. I AM A MALE WITH SIZE 12 SHOES. *TR