10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
500,000 miles

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problem #1

Oct 022001

Celica

  • 500,000 miles
This incident occurred when my 1996 Toyota Celica malfunctioned while I was traveling on I-75 South near piqua, Ohio. My lane of traffic (passing lane) was slowing down due to construction, so I attempted to slow down. To my surprise, my brake pedal would not respond (either due to a malfunction of either the cruise control or accelerator--or both), and I had to move to the median. Unfortunately, when I tried to brake again, the brakes would not engage and the median ended. My car traveled airborne off the median and plummeted to the road beneath I-75. My car took out a set of cable wires, jumped a fence, before landing on the busy road below and stopped when it hit a concrete bridge support. An ambulance was called as well as the Ohio state highway patrol. Everyone involved was surprised that my passenger and I were not instantly killed! we did suffer some minor injuries and the car was totaled. I distinctly remember stepping on the brake pedal several times to no avail. I reported this to Toyota and they were initially very cooperative and understanding. They would not promise anything, but asked what I expected. I told them I thought that Toyota should at least replace my car. They did not see a problem with this. They later assumed no liability and refused to do anything. To follow up, I would have needed to come up with $25,000 to hire an accident reconstructionist. I did not have that amount of cash, so I dropped it. I recently have been amazed in reading several complaints very similar to mine and think that the time is right for Toyota to right what was obviously a wrong in the construction of my car. My passenger has swelling to her left eye that has healed, but I have had pain in my elbow and shoulder ever since. Thanks for listening. I would appreciate anything you can do to assist. I can not provide the VIN #, as the car was totaled several years ago. I left the number [xxx] as the VIN number. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S

- Vandalia, OH, USA