Clean CARFAX, inspection, new tires, purchased two months prior to this incident. Weather clear, daylight, no other cars, nothing in the road, and cruise control put on. Going about 60 mph when suddenly car skidded and steering stopped working (resistance made it impossible to turn wheel). Continued to attempt to steer and correct direction of car from oncoming lanes, when it turned to the right, skidded to the right, hit an embankment, flipped, and skidded 50 feet into the brush between a telephone pole and trees.
It was a one car accident, so insurance is quick to dismiss the defective part. Police report shows skid marks support a possible wheel problem. No ticket was issued. There were injuries. Insurance company wants to settle for much less than what was paid for car, and less than a comparable car would cost. They say they have to blame someone for the accident, so driver gets blame. They did not interview driver or get police report. We found other complaints detailing similar accidents where car lost control under normal driving conditions.
Can someone help? This is not right.
Update from Jul 5, 2017: Forgot to add that dealer told us noise during acceleration was due to a racing muffler being put on car. There was a slight vibration that we were told was the muffler. Looking at the photos after car was totaled, it does not look to be a racing muffler.
click to see larger images
Clean CARFAX, inspection, new tires, purchased two months prior to this incident. Weather clear, daylight, no other cars, nothing in the road, and cruise control put on. Going about 60 mph when suddenly car skidded and steering stopped working (resistance made it impossible to turn wheel). Continued to attempt to steer and correct direction of car from oncoming lanes, when it turned to the right, skidded to the right, hit an embankment, flipped, and skidded 50 feet into the brush between a telephone pole and trees.
It was a one car accident, so insurance is quick to dismiss the defective part. Police report shows skid marks support a possible wheel problem. No ticket was issued. There were injuries. Insurance company wants to settle for much less than what was paid for car, and less than a comparable car would cost. They say they have to blame someone for the accident, so driver gets blame. They did not interview driver or get police report. We found other complaints detailing similar accidents where car lost control under normal driving conditions.
Can someone help? This is not right.
Update from Jul 5, 2017: Forgot to add that dealer told us noise during acceleration was due to a racing muffler being put on car. There was a slight vibration that we were told was the muffler. Looking at the photos after car was totaled, it does not look to be a racing muffler.
- Dorothy S., Forest, US