2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS Vehicle Speed Control Problems

I started Mercury with foot on break like normal. Shifted into reverse. Car accelerated backwards at full speed. Brakes did not stop car. Attempted to shift into neutral but went into drive instead. Car accelerated forward at full speed with my foot still on break. Car hit metal post and tree knocking them down and dragging the tree 50 to 60 feet before stopping with my foot still on the break. Car had stopped accelerating. I turned off the ignition. This unintended acceleration had happened before. Two different dealers attempted to fix the problem. Both of them thought they had been successful but it happened again. Previously, applying the brakes stopped the car, but not this time. Someone could have been injured severely or killed.

UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WHEN CAR IS STOPPED AT A LIGHT, CAR LUNGES FORWARD. ON ONE OCCASION THE CAR WAS BURNING RUBBER . VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. HAVE TO SHUT OFF IGNITION WHEN THIS HAPPENS. HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. MY WIFE REFUSES TO RIDE IN THE VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED APPROXIMATELY TO 4000. THE CONTACT STATED EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS AGGRESSIVELY DEPRESSED UNTIL THE BRAKES RESPONDED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED TO 4,000 RPM'S/ WITH THE BRAKE FULLY DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED WITH A SERIES OF LUNGES AT A HIGH SPEED. ONLY BY RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SLAMMING ON THE BRAKE, DID THE VEHICLE STOP ABOUT THREE QUARTERS ACROSS THE INTERSECTION WITH THE ENGINE AT A NORMAL IDLE SPEED. NO WARNING LIGHTS DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE HAD A HISTORY OF ALMOST STALLING WHILE COMING TO A STOP. THE DEALER DID NOT FIND ANY CODES. UPDATED 12/04/14

Mileage: 130,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AS THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,696.

Mileage: 147,696

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE UNINTENDEDLY ACCELERATED WHEN THE GEAR LEVER WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO THE NEARBY GARAGE AND ALSO CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURY TO THE LEFT KNEE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 100,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE OF HIS HOME. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED DURING THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED YET THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,400.

Mileage: 50,400

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS EXPERIENCED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN GRADUALLY LUNGING FORWARD SPORADICALLY UNTIL IT BECAME HARDER FOR THE CONTACT TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE PRESSURE WAS RELEASE FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AT FULL FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

Mileage: 162,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE TRAVELING AT 4 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AS A RESULT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. ON A LATER DATE, WHILE PARKING IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE WALL AND THROUGH THE MASTER BATHROOM OF THE HOME. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER PELVIS FROM ATTEMPTING TO APPLY EXTREME FORCE TO THE BRAKE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Mileage: 50,000

SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THIS HAPPENED AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, IT TOOK OFF AT AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF SPEED CROSSED A STREET AND JUMPED TWO CURBS ABOUT 15 INCHES HIGH WITHIN 5 OR 6 SECONDS. MY THOUGHTS WERE "WHAT IS HAPPENING?" & "BRAKE OR YOU ARE GOING TO DIE" THANK GOD THIS VEHICLE DROWN IN HURRICANE KATRINA. I CALLED YOUR OFC IN 2004 AFTER THIS HAPPENED AND WAS SENT A FORM TO FILL OUT AND RETURN TO YOU WHICH I NEVER DID. HOWEVER, WITH THE TOYOTA RECALL IT DISTURBS ME THAT MY FORD DID THE SAME THING. AN INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE MADE AS TO WHY THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE IN MY CASE IT WAS NOT A FLOOR MAT AND NEITHER WAS IT DRIVER'S ERROR. IT IS IMPORTANT TO MYSELF THAT THIS INCIDENT IS REPORTED AND HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL TAKE IT SERIOUS AND FIND OUT WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS BEFORE MORE LIVES ARE LOST. I CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT INJURED AND OTHERS WERE NOT INJURED. MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED $5,000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE AND AT THE TIME THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY SUPPOSEDLY CHECKED THE CAR BUT COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT INTENTION THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. SHE WAS ABLE TO DECELERATE BY DRIVING ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TOWING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

Mileage: 25,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SLOWLY BEGAN TO MOVE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO RACE. THE TIRES BEGAN TO SCREECH AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND WAS FIVE FEET INTO THE OTHER LANE. NO CRASH OCCURRED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TEN MILES TO HIS RESIDENCE. HE WILL HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,500.

Mileage: 44,500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE WAITING TO TURN AT A STOP SIGN THE ENGINE INCREASED IN RPMS AND ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED , AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER AWAITING A DIAGNOSTIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR AN INSURANCE ESTIMATE AND REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,000.*AK

Mileage: 58,000

TL* - ON 12/20/06 WHILE EXITING THE DRIVEWAY HIS 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TRY TO APPLY THE BREAK PEDAL, BUT COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP ON TIME BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS 4 INCHES HIGHER THAN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT IS CONCERN FOR SAFETY, BECAUSE HE HAS EXPERIENCE THE SAME INCIDENT SEVERAL OF TIMES.

Mileage: 18,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED WITH THE IGNITION ON; THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE AFTER IT TRAVELED 60 FT. THIS HAD OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. ALSO, WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SPED UNCONTROLLABLY TO 80 MPH. THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, BUT DID NOT DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. ALSO, WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BRUISE TO THE SHOULDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER TWICE, WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.

Mileage: 24,000

DT*: ON THREE OCCASIONS WHEN THE GEAR WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD OR WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE SAME THING WOULD OCCUR CAUSING THE TIRES TO SCREECH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERS WHO DETERMINED THAT THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS WERE TO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. WHEN DEPRESSING ONE PEDAL THE OTHER PEDAL WAS ALSO APPLIED. THE DEALERS ALSO DETERMINED THAT BECAUSE THE PEDALS WERE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY IT WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATE. THE DEALERS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE. UPDATED 7/14/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 18,091

2003 GRAND MARQUIS DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATOR, THE THROTTLE STICKING OPEN AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS.*MR THERE WAS ALSO A RATTLE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE DIGITAL READOUT ON THE DASH WAS NOT READING PROPERLY. *TT

Mileage: 1,000

THE ENGINE REVVED IN FULL THROTTLE WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE FROM PARK; RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. THIS OCCURRED WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IN THE CAR WASH LINE. THE REPAIR SHOP FAILED TO DETERMINED WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE, BUT THE CONSUMER FEELS DUE THROUGH THEIR OWN RESEARCH THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/CRUISE CONTROL. *TT

Mileage: 10,000

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, THE VEHICLE KICKED INTO A FAST IDLE. *BF *SC

Mileage: 20,397

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT SUDDEN ACCELERATION. CONSUMER WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. DID NOT PRESS THE ACCELERATOR, AND VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND FLATTENED TWO TIRES.CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. *AK

Mileage: 20,000

RENTAL AUTO WAS PARKED FACE OUT IN HOTEL PARKING LOT. DRIVER STARTED AUTO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER PUT ON SEAT BELTS; WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, DRIVER SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED A A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (TIRES SMOKING) ACROSS PARKING LOT DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED INTO TWO PARKED CARS IN OPPOSITE PARKING SPACES. BOTH PARKED CARS WERE DRIVEN BACK APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 FEET, ONE OF THE AUTOS WENT THROUGH HEDGES AND CRASHED INTO A CAR PARKED AT THE STREET. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STOP CAR, AND FINALLY TURNED OFF IGNITION AFTER COLLISION. WITNESS TO POLICE REPORT STATED THAT HEARD TIRES SCREECHING AND TIRES WERE STILL SMOKING AFTER AUTOS COLLIDED. CAR WAS TOWED TO HERTZ LOT. HAVE NOT GOTTEN REPORT OF CAUSE FROM HERTZ. THE ENTIRE EVENT FROM PLACING THE CAR IN DRIVE UNTIL IT STRUCK THE PARKED CARS TOOK ABOUT 2 SECONDS (THE AUTO TRAVELLED APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET TO IMPACT).*AK

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ZOOMED FORWARD WHILE LEAVING A PARKING LOT. *PH ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED ALL THE LINKAGES AND PEDAL ASSEMBLY BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE DEFECT WHICH CAUSED THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. *TT *JB

Mileage: 1,828

CONSUMER STATED THAT DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS, WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL CONSUMER STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AND RUN INTO A POST.*AK

WHILE DRIVING UNDER RAINING CONDITIONS CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING. INSTRUMENT LIGHTS PANEL WAS OFF, AND WINDSHIELD WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER REPLACED TWO COMPUTERS IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK

BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSELY LOCATED. WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL CONSUMER CAN HIT THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME. *AK

WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE, THE ACCELERATOR SURGED. *MR *SCC

Mileage: 61,000

AFTER STARTING AND SHIFTING INTO DRIVE THE ENGINE RACED AND THERE WAS UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP EVEN WHILE APPLYING BRAKE. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AFTER CRASH AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SOUND LIKE IT WAS RUNNING. *PH

THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK IN THE IDLE POSITION.*JB