Hi, is there any kind of car malfunction that would cause a car to suddenly accelerate?

Question

I'm thinking a break malfunction maybe. Thank you

Thank you so much both of you, and especially Ed. Everybody was taking my mother for crazy, she was complaining to me about the car speeding up and wanted to have it checked and then a few days ago when she was parking the car it lost control and took off by itself, it hit another parked car which stopped the motion, otherwise it was going to go onto a road, yes thanks to God, and that morning that it happened I had prayed after her as she left home, 1/2 an hour before it happened.
Nobody believes her, they think she pressed the gas pedal and didn't know it. They even ticketed her for 'failure to control car.' Thank you very much for your info, now I know what to point out to mechanics and others and proof towards the summons that this kind of thing does happen. My mother is thankful too.

Answer 1

I had a 2003 Ranger.
At times the engine accelerated to 3500-4000 RPM's, always when the brake was engaged.
It would happen on turns, coming to a stop, and sometimes slowing down in traffic and at a light or stop.
It once drug me through a stop to the middle of a two lane highway. No traffic, thank God. It would happen when I engaged speed control, and accelerate about 15 or so mph. I had to disengage the speed control.
I kept a record of date, time, and mileage. Numerous occasions. The acceleration would only last a few seconds and then revert to lower revving.
No dealer could find the problem, after 5 trips. I received a hearing with the arbitration board and it was considered a lemon and replaced.
I drove a new 2003 for a few days before purchase. Same thing happened. Drove a 2004 for one day, before purchase, same thing. Finally got a Taurus and perfectly satisfactory.

The truck had only 16,000 miles and was still under warranty.
I reported to the lemon law in the state of purchase.

If this is a similar problem, you must keep records, have a dealer check it each time, send registered letters each time to the MFG. with a copy, not registered, to the dealer.

Three attempts at repair without results fall under the lemon law.

You didn't state the age or mileage.

This condition is life threatening to you and others. Do not neglect it.

Answer 2

Something fuel/throttle/speed control-related.

Brakes wouldn't affect a car like that unless they were applied under throttle and then disengaged.