1995 Chevrolet Beretta

ALTHOUGH THIS DEFECT/FAILURE DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT, IT COULD HAVE ENDED DISASTROUSLY. THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE BECAME BINDED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. AS I WAS GOING TO WORK, I REALIZED THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING LIKE IT SHOULD. FORTUNATELY, I DID NOT HIT ANY STOPLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE RUNNING SMOOTHLY; THE IDLE WAS NOT EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH. HOWEVER, ONCE I GOT ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND BEGAN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO IDLE HIGHER AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE REGULAR BRAKES, I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR TO ONLY 50 MILES PER HOUR. I GOT OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND COASTED TO SAFE PLACE. BY THIS TIME, I HAD LITTLE IF ANY BRAKES LEFT. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP BY HITTING A CURB. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD BECOME BINDED AND STUCK ON THE ACCELERATE POSITION. I DID NOT HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL ON WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND I RARELY USE THIS FUNCTION WHEN DRIVING. THIS COULD BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I HAVE JUST SENT A LETTER TO CHEVROLET DETAILING THIS EVENT. I LISTED PROPERTY DAMAGE ON THIS FORM BECAUSE I HAVE BRAKE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE DUE TO MY EFFORTS TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. THERE IS ALSO BUMPER DAMAGE WHEN I RAN INTO THE CURB. THESE ARE MY APPROXIMATIONS. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT CITY CHEVROLET BEING REPAIRED. *AK