Pilot Error Shocks SoFla Family

A South Florida family said their car engine started racing at almost full power without warning and without them placing their foot on the gas -- and it's not a Toyota.

Jill Levy and her husband were coming back from a trip two weeks ago and got within a block of their home when they claim their 2006 Honda Pilot nearly raced out of control.

As they were on a residential street, the engine began racing to 5,000 RPMs unexpectedly. Levy's husband got his foot on the brake and car into park before it took off.

"As my husband, who was driving at the time, took his foot off the accelerator and pressed down on the brake, the car surged to 5000 RPMs," Levy said. "We could feel it pulling and it sounded extremely loud, almost like an airplane." 

They turned the engine off, but when they started it back up, up went the RPMs.

"After I said 'shut the car off a few times,' he turned it off, he turned it back on again and it did the same thing," Levy said.

They quickly turned on a video camera which captured the whole thing.

Levy had owned the car for four years and didn't have any trouble before the unsettling experience.

Toyota has recalled thousands of its cars after reports indicated the cars were taking off without pressing the accelerator. One California driver was killed along with his passengers when their Toyota went out of control and couldn't be stopped.

The Levy's sent the '06 Honda Pilot to Brickle Motors -- the Honda dealer near them -- and say they also sent the video. 

"I have no idea what they did with the vehicle but we also let them know there were other complaints about this problem and they did not seem to be concerned about it," Levy said.

Levy filed a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and records indicate that 13 other complaints were also made on acceleration issues WITH the Honda Pilot.

Honda said it takes every reported vehicle concern seriously.

Honda's District Technical Manager inspected the vehicle, but was unable to duplicate the consumer's concern and found no defects in the vehicle.

Levy is concerned that other drivers may have the same experience they did and without warning may not be able to react quickly enough.

"It was an extremely frightening experience and Honda has said there is nothing the matter with the car but I think people should be aware this could happen to them and to know what to do in the event it does happen," she said.

Honda said some of the complaints filed were actually problems with the transmission and not accelerator problems.

Levy refused to put her children in the car after their alleged experience and the family no longer owns the Pilot.
 

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