1988 Honda Accord

ON 12/24/02 I WAS REAR-ENDED BY A DODGE NEON TRAVELING ABOUT 25-30 MPH. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AT THE TIME. MY CAR HONDA [VIN [XXX]] WAS TOTALED. DURING THE CRASH THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT FAILED. THE RESULT WAS I WAS THROWN FORWARD INTO THE STEERING COLUMN WITH GREAT FORCE. I SUFFERED MULTIPLE INJURIES BUT IN PARTICULAR I BROKE THREE RIBS ON THE LOWER RIGHT SIDE OF MY RIB CAGE . THERE IS NO QUESTION BUT THAT THE BROKEN SEAT CONTRIBUTED TO MY INJURIES. IT IS MY PRACTICE TO ALWAYS WEAR A SEAT BELT. BROKEN SEAT = BROKEN RIBS + CHEST TRAUMA ???? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I STARTED THE CAR AND REVERSED IT FROM GARAGE. CAR STALLED. I FORGOT TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK BEFORE TAKING THE KEY OUT OF IGNITION. AFTER SOME TIME I STARTED THE CAR STANDING OUTSIDE WHILE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS STILL WIDELY OPENED. IMMEDIATELY THE CAR WENT BACKWARD PULLING ME WITH THE OPEN DOOR. I FELL ON THE GROUND. MY LEG GOT CAUGHT IN THE FRONT WHEEL. I GOT SOME SCRATCH ON MY LEFT LEG WITH SEVERE PAIN THROUGH OUT MY LEFT LEG. THE DOOR OF THE CAR HIT ON THE SIDE OF HOUSE WHICH STOPPED THE FURTHER MOVEMENT OF THE CAR. OTHERWISE I COULD HAVE BEEN BADLY INJURED. AS A SAFETY, A CAR MUST NOT START WHEN IT IS IN REVERSE OR DRIVE MODE. THIS CAR DOES EVERY THING. ON PREVIOUS 3 OCCASIONS THE CAR STARTED AND WENT FORWARD WHILE ON DRIVE MODE. THESE ARE VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WHICH CAN CAUSE SEVERE INJURY TO DEATH. I NOW NEED MY CAR TO BE FIXED (BODY AND TRANSMISSION). ANY HELP FROM NTSB OR MANUFACTURER IS APPRECIATED.*AK

DAUGHTER HAD DRIVEN CAR ABOUT 10 MILES TO GET HOME. SHE PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND CAME IN. SHE SAID NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR. SOME MINUTES LATER A NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND SAID THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. WE CHECKED AND THERE WAS SMOKE AND SPARKS FROM UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. GOT SO BAD WE CALLED 911 AND FIRE COMPANY FORCED THE HOOD OPEN AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MELTED/DAMAGED. AM EXPECTING THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO TOTAL THE CAR AFTER THEY LOOK AT IT TODAY MARCH 13. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN RECENTLY WORKED ON.*AK

THE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION RESULTING IN A LARGE BLISTER ON THE TREAD FACE. I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM ASS REPAIRING A FLAT TIRE ON ANOTHER WHEEL OF MY DAUGHTER'S CAR. THIS FAILURE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WE HAVE HAD WITH THE FIRESTONE NAMEBRAND. ANOTHER DAUGHTER HAD SIMILAR FAILURES ON BRAND NEW TIRES PURCHASED FROM FIRESTONE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASSIONS OVER A 4 MONTH PERIOD. THESE FAILURES WERE ON 16" WHEELS ON A 1997 DODGE AVENGER. THE INCIDENTS TOOK PLACE BEFORE THE WELL PUBLICIZED CURRENT RECALL INVOLVING THE SIZE THAT FITS THE FORD EXPLORER. SHE HAS SINCE SOLD THAT VEHICLE SO I AM NOT ABLE TO AD SPECIFICS CONCERNING THOSE INCIDENTS. BUT, DUE TO THE NUMBER OF FAILURES WE HAD INVOLVING FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE SEVERITY OF THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES INVOLVING DIFFERENT SIZE TIRES THAT MAY NOT CURRENTLY BE IN THE RECALL, I FEEL IT ESSENTIAL TO CALL THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION. I DO HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THIS MOST RECENT FAILURE I COULD PROVIDE IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC ADDRESS I COULD E-MAIL THEM TO. OF COURSE, I HAVE POSSESSION OF THE TIRE AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE IT TO YOU FOR ANALYSIS IF IT WOULD AID YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO THESE FAILURES. WE DO NOT HAVE THE ORIGINAL RECEIPT FOR THE TIRES WHICH MAY BE 18 MONTHS OLD (ESTIMATED). WE WERE TOLD WHEN WE CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER THAT SINCE WE LACKED THAT, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THERE ARE 3 OTHER FIRESTONE AFFINITY TIRES ON THAT CAR. I'M SURE YOU CAN APPRECIATE THE INSECURITY I HAVE WITH THOSE REMAINING ON HER CAR THOUGH REPLACEMENT IS NOT AN INEXPENSIVE CONSIDERATION. I WILL WRITE FIRESTONE AT THEIR WEBSITE (ASSUMING THEY HAVE ONE) AFTER I HEAR FROM YOU. I AM CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT BEEN ISOLATED FOR US. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK SOMETHING CAN BE DONE BEFORE PEOPLE LOOSE LIVES USING A PRODUCT THEY HAVE MISPLACED CONFIDENCE IN. AN ALTERNATIVE NUMBER TO REACH ME DURING THE DAY IS MY CELL PHONE (225)907-5911. I AM RETIRED SO THESE NUMBERS SHOULD. *AK