'NKOTB' Joey McIntyre Sued -- He Rear-Ended Us!

Joey McIntyre from "New Kids on the Block" does not have the Right Stuff -- not when it comes to driving ... according to the California family suing him for slamming into their car.

The lawsuit was filed by a man named Surendra Patel, and in the docs he says Joey was driving "negligently, carelessly, recklessly" ... when he rear-ended Patel and his family 2 years ago in Burbank, CA.

We spoke to a Patel family member who claims they were stopped at a traffic light at the time of the accident, and all 5 passengers -- including two minor children -- were badly hurt ... though the family member wasn't specific about injuries.

The family is suing to cover medical expenses, lost earnings, property damage and pain and suffering.

In short ... they're hangin' tough.