Unintended acceleration and Sudden unintended acceleration: Difference between pages
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'''Sudden acceleration''', or ''unintended'' and ''unanticipated acceleration'', is an [[automobile safety defect]] that occurs when a vehicle suddenly and unintentionally accelerates without intent of the [[driver]], and without the driver intentionally commanding it to do so through the [[throttle]] or [[gas pedal]] user inputs. Unintended acceleration makes it impossible for the driver to return the car to idle if it remains in gear. It also severely limits the ability of the brakes to bring the vehicle under control.<ref>[http://suddenacceleration.com/ Sudden Acceleration]</ref> |
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Unintended or sudden acceleration, either to an excessive speed or to a low but unwanted speed in a confined space, often combined with an inability to decelerate or stop the vehicle, has several times in automotive history led to vehicle crashes, chain-reaction accidents, and vehicles leaving the roadway, often resulting in injuries, and death. Thousands of people, including drivers, passengers, and bystanders, have been killed or seriously injured in sudden acceleration accidents<ref>[http://suddenacceleration.com/ Sudden Acceleration]</ref>. Such incidents have also led to vehicle [[recall]]s. |
Unintended or sudden acceleration, either to an excessive speed or to a low but unwanted speed in a confined space, often combined with an inability to decelerate or stop the vehicle, has several times in automotive history led to vehicle crashes, chain-reaction accidents, and vehicles leaving the roadway, often resulting in injuries, and death. Thousands of people, including drivers, passengers, and bystanders, have been killed or seriously injured in sudden acceleration accidents<ref>[http://suddenacceleration.com/ Sudden Acceleration]</ref>. Such incidents have also led to vehicle [[recall]]s. |
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Revision as of 22:53, 28 January 2010
Sudden acceleration, or unintended and unanticipated acceleration, is an automobile safety defect that occurs when a vehicle suddenly and unintentionally accelerates without intent of the driver, and without the driver intentionally commanding it to do so through the throttle or gas pedal user inputs. Unintended acceleration makes it impossible for the driver to return the car to idle if it remains in gear. It also severely limits the ability of the brakes to bring the vehicle under control.[1]
Unintended or sudden acceleration, either to an excessive speed or to a low but unwanted speed in a confined space, often combined with an inability to decelerate or stop the vehicle, has several times in automotive history led to vehicle crashes, chain-reaction accidents, and vehicles leaving the roadway, often resulting in injuries, and death. Thousands of people, including drivers, passengers, and bystanders, have been killed or seriously injured in sudden acceleration accidents[2]. Such incidents have also led to vehicle recalls.
Causes
There are several causes for unintended acceleration, including, but not limited to:[3]
- Accelerator pedal stuck in the "accelerate" position due to an adhesive substance or manufacturing defect
- Non-responsive accelerator pedal
- Electronic throttle control failure
- Manufacturer design flaw, such as pedals being placed too close together
- Foot pedal incursion and blockage by a foreign object such as a floor mat, shoe, or dropped cell phone or water bottle
- Severe front brake fade
- On-board computer or electronics failure in the systems that control the powertrain
- Failure of the brake-interlock switch
- Worn carb shot-pump barrels
- Chafed housing of the inner cable preventing smooth movement
- Cables which jumped their tracks in a throttle-body crank
- Poorly installed or incompatible aftermarket parts
- Driver error
Unintended acceleration may or may not occur in conjunction with vehicle brake failure.
Verified Incidents
There are several verified incidents of unintended acceleration, including, but not limited to:
- 1986: Incidents involving Audi 5000s were documented in an infamous November 1986 segment of the CBS television program 60 Minutes, which resulted in rebranding the vehicle and the adoption of a different shifter pattern in many vehicles.[4]
- 1988: 1986 Honda Accords were documented to have had sudden acceleration incidents due to the Vehicle Speed Control component, as reported to the NHTSA.[5]
- 1997: Sudden acceleration in [Jeep Cherokee]]s/Jeep Grand Cherokees was reported by Diane Sawyer in a March 1997 ABC News Primetime[6].
- 2000: Several Ford Explorers were reported about in the UK by a Channel 4 news program where the vehicle was already moving at speed and experienced sudden acceleration.[7]
- 2008: Incidents involving the 2005 Kia Amanti and Kia Sephia had been reported that were preceded by a racing or highly-revving engine.[8][9]
- 2009-2010: Several vehicles were recalled in the 2010 Toyota Vehicle Recall, which resulted suspension of production and sales of many of Toyota's most popular models, including the Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, Lexus IS350, Pontiac Vibe, and more.[10]
In the 1980s, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported a narrow definition of sudden acceleration only from near standstill in their 1989 Sudden Acceleration Report:
"Sudden acceleration incidents" (SAI) are defined for the purpose of this report as unintended, unexpected, high-power accelerations from a stationary position or a very low initial speed accompanied by an apparent loss of braking effectiveness. In a typical scenario, the incident begins at the moment of shifting to "Drive" or "Reverse" from "Park".[11]
Prior to 1995, the majority of occurrences did indeed happen when the vehicle was at a standstill and shifted from park to drive. Since then, because of design changes in vehicle electronics, most occurrences happen while the vehicle is under way[12].
See also
References
- ^ Sudden Acceleration
- ^ Sudden Acceleration
- ^ Sudden Acceleration & Stuck Throttles
- ^ A Short, Sad History of So-Called Sudden Acceleration
- ^ NHTSA Action Number: DP88008
- ^ Jeep Grand Cherokee SUA Incidents
- ^ Automobile Cruise Control Faults and Sudden Acceleration
- ^ Kia Motors Informative: Sudden acceleration - Amanti
- ^ Consumer Affairs: Kia Sudden Acceleration
- ^ Toyota Pressroom
- ^ NHTSA 1989: An Examination of Sudden Acceleration
- ^ Sudden Acceleration
External links
- Mayerson Schreiber McDevitt, P.C.: Toyota and Lexus Sudden Acceleration Problem
- Sudden Acceleration: The Myth of Driver Error
- Sudden Acceleration Court Cases against Ford Motor Company
- Lawyer Pioneers ‘Sudden Accleration’ Claims
- A Short, Sad History of So-Called Sudden Acceleration
- Mechanical Forensics Engineering Services
- Sudden deceleration
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