1998 MERCURY SABLE Vehicle Speed Control Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR TWO HOURS IN THE PARKING LOT OF A SMALL COMMUNITY PARK. AS THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE TIME TO CHECK THE SPEEDOMETER BEFORE THE TURN WAS COMPLETED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN WHEN ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BECAUSE THE TURN HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED THE CONTACT VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT OF THE ROAD AND THEN CROSSED THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT. AS THE CONTACT TRIED TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD, SHE DROVE OVER A TWO-FOOT BOULDER AND SEVERAL SMALLER BOULDERS AND THEN CRASHED INTO A FENCE OF TALL BUSHES AND CAME TO A STOP APPROXIMATELY TEN FEET PAST THE BOULDERS THAT HAD BEEN DRAGGED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AS THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THIS ALL TOOK PLACE IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATELY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,300

Mileage: 93,300

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. IN ADDITION, THE HORN WOULD SOUND INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT FURTHER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A BUILDUP OF CORROSION FOUND ON AN UNKNOWN PIN INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE CORROSION OF THE STEERING COLUMN COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

Mileage: 7,000

1999 MERCURY SABLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CUSTOMER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AS HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE AT AN INTERSECTION TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. *KB *TR THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AFTER PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL. UPDATED 03/22/10 UPDATED 05/28/10.*JB

Mileage: 44,933

ON FEBRUARY 14, 2006 AS I DROVE UP TO MY NEIGHBOR'S GARAGE DOOR, MY 1998 MERCURY SABLE WAGON HAD 'A MIND OF IT'S OWN'. IT WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE BRAKE BUT ACCELERATED 'ON IT'S OWN' CAUSING ME TO GO THROUGH THE DOOR AND HIT THE SIDE BRICK WALL OF THE GARAGE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE CAR. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, I FOUND MANY SUCH STORIES WITH SEVERAL MAKES OF CARS. THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSES AN 'SUDDEN INVOLUNTARY ACCELERATION' WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW THE BRAKE TO WORK THESE ARE ONLY A COUPLE OF THE LINKS I FOUND. HTTP://WWW.SAFETYFORUM.COM/FORDSUA/ HTTP://WWW.ANTONY-ANDERSON.COM/CRUISE/9.5-LINKS.HTML#FORD MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. FORTUNATELY, I HAD NO INJURIES EXCEPT TO MY EMOTIONS. I CAN STILL SEE MYSELF GOING THROUGH THAT GARAGE DOOR AND NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP IT. LORRAINE BARNICLE. *NM

Mileage: 108,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALTHOUGH BRAKE PRESSURE REMAINED CONSTANT, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD MOTION. THE VEHICLE GENTLY TAPPED ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE REAR BUMPER. THE DRIVER TURNED OFF THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE SABLE'S BUMPER, GRILL AND HEADLIGHTS. NO PHYSICAL INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED, BUT THE TEST DID NOT DETECT ANY FAILURE CODES. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE THROTTLE PLATE AND AIR MOTOR WERE CARBONATED AND IT WAS SUSPECTED THAT THIS POSSIBLY CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO STICK CAUSING THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *NM UPDATED 2/13/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 73,273

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT SET CRUISE CONTROL SAT ON 35 MPH. WHEN HE WENT TO TAP THE BRAKE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. HE HAD TO TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF BY HAND SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE CAR WOULD SLOW DOWN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

1) VEHICLE WAS HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS WITH NOT EASILY COMING OUT OF THE 'PARK" POSITION. DEALER KEPT STATING THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. 2) OCT.30--TRAVELING AT 70 MPH HEADING FOR A DOWNHILL WITH RELATIVELY SHARP CURVE AT BOTTOM, BRAKED TO CANCEL CRUISE CONTROL WITH NO RESPONSE. AGAIN BRAKED HARD WITH NO RESPONSE. CANCELLED CRUISE CONTROL MANUALLY WITH STEERING WHEEL "OFF" BUTTON---JUST IN TIME TO AVOID A CERTAIN DISASTER! LATER, I ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF ROAD AND AGAIN, THE BRAKE DID NOT CANCEL THE SYSTEM! 3) DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH AND HARNESS HAD A STRANGE BURN IN THE WIRING. HARNESS WAS REPLACED AND (CONSOLE) SHIFT CONTROL AND CRUISE CONTROL NOW ARE WORKING NORMALLY. *JB

Mileage: 51,000

WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO KNOCK DOWN A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK (SUDDEN ACCELERATION) THERE WAS A REPAIR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN JUNE 02, 2004. THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR WHEN THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED AND THERE WAS A STRONG PULL WHEN IN REVERSE. THIS PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN IDLE AIR CONTROL ISSUE. *SC

Mileage: 69,090

CONSUMER PRESSED DOWN ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. INTERNAL FAILURE. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OVERDRIVE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THIS CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO DROP TO ZERO, AND THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, HORN BECAME INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

Mileage: 89,000

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK OR FOOT IS TAKING OF GAS PEDAL TO BRAKE, IT WILL ACCELERATE.HAS TO APPLY A LOT OF PRESSURE TO BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. THIS CAUSES BRAKES AND ROTORS TO WARP. REPLACED PART; HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE REVVED UP WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY BRAKES EVEN HARDER TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED.*AIK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WHILE IN PARK AND WOULD LURCH FORWARD WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NLM DEALER REPROGRAM THE ENGINE PROCESSOR, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY AND CONSUMER DOES NOT REALIZE IT, UNTIL LEANING FOWARD. *TT

ENGINE INCREASES RPM IN PARK OR NEUTRAL WITHOUT ACCELERATOR BEING PRESSED. THIS CONDITION IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T NOTICE THE ENGINE IS INCREASING IN RPM, AND YOU PLACE THE SHIFT LEVER IN DRIVE, THE CAR LEAPS FORWARD.

DRIVER HAD BRAKED TO TURN INTO PARKING SPACE IN PARKING GARAGE. VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AND SLAMMED INTO GARAGE WALL. NO INJURIES, BUT BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

WHILE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, BRAKES WOULD NOT COMPLETELY ENGAGE TO STOP VEHICLE. ENGINE ACCELERATED WHILE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN VEHICLE. THEN, ON MAY 14TH, 2001 CONSUMER'S WIFE WENT TO STOP VEHICLE WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK/ WOULD NOT BRING VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. ENGINE ACTED AS THOUGH IT WANTED TO ACCELERATE. *AK THE BRAKE HAD FAILED TWICE. *YH

VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND APPLYING BRAKES, ENGINE REVVS, CONSUMER HIT BUILDING ON ONE OCCASION. *AK

AFTER COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE AND REV UP ENGINE. WOULD TAKE OFF WHEN FOOT WAS OFF BRAKE. HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT.*AK

COMING TO A STOP, ENGINE STARTED TO RACE WHILE APPLYING BRAKES, AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWAD. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN IGNITION OFF, AND IT RESTARED AS NORMAL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE.*AK *SLC

CONSUMER HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWLY STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, CONSUMER NUDGED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT DUE TO LOSS OF BRAKE CONTROL (NO DAMAGE). *SLC

CONSUMER HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWLY STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, CONSUMER NUDGED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT DUE TO LOSS OF BRAKE CONTROL (NO DAMAGE). *SLC

ACCELERATOR RELEASING FROM SPEED OF 15 MPH TO 20-25 MPH WHEN EASING OFF GAS PEDAL. *AK

WHEN GOING DOWNHILL WITH FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES UNREASONABLY AND EXCESSIVE BRAKING IS REQUIRED. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN CONTROLLOING THE SPEED OF THE CAR ESPECIALLY IN WET OR OTHER SLIPPERY CONDITIONS.

WHILE STOPPING AT AN ENTER SECTION VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. CONSUMER FINALLY STOPPED VEHICLE BY PUTTING FOOT ON BRAKE. *AK

VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD WHEN TRYING TO STOP, THIS HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY. WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT WHEN THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER OR A/C IS OPERATING AND WHEN DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO COME TO A STOP, THERE IS A REACTION IN WHICH COMPRESSOR CAUSES THIS FORWARD ACCELERATION. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND DEALER HAS NOT OFFERED TO REPAIR. IT HAS BEEN TO THE GARAGE THE 4TH TIME. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ONE INCIDENT RESULTING IN VEHICLE REAR ENDING OTHER VEHICLE. MJS

STOPPING AT INTERSECTION WITH BRAKES APPLIED, ENGINE BEGAN THROTTLING AND CAUSED RACING AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. STANDING ON THE BRAKES DID NOT CONTROL THE CAR AND DISENGAGING THE TRANSMISSION INTO "N" LEFT THE ENGINE STILL RACING! *AK

ENGINE ACCELLERATES WHEN YOU COME TO STOP THE CAR; YOU CAN NOT STOP THE CAR AND CAN NOT PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. ALMOST CRASHED 2X AND ALMOST RAN OVER CHILDREN IN CHURCH PARKING LOT. PLEASE HELP

LOCKED TORQUE CONVERTER SEEMS TO DISENGAGE WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. ALSO, SPEED CONTROL CANNOT CONTROL SPEED OF CAR GOING DOWN ANY SLIGHT HILL. SEEMS TO BE NOT LOCKED UP, ETC. CANNOT USE ENGINE COMPRESSION, ETC, TO SLOW VEHICLE. CRUISE CONTROL US IS USELESS ON ANY TYPE OF DOWNGRADE! IS THIS A DESIGN FLAW OR CAN IT BE REPAIRED? VEHICLE IS A LEASED CAR THROUGH WHEELS, INC. THANK YOU. *AK

THE ENGINE IDLES TOO FAST. YH

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED TO STOP CAR, THE ENGINE ROARS AND CAR ACCELERATES. REQUIRES ADDITITIONAL EFFORT TO STOP CAR AND THE ENGINE RACES UNTIL CAR IS PUT INTO NEUTRAL OR PARK. PROCESSOR FAILED COMPLETELY ON 12/19/98 AND WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW UNIT.

THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL UNIT DESIGN IS POOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE SPEED AFTER THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED.

COMING TO A STOP ENGINE WILL BEGIN TO RACE, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK