1997 MERCURY VILLAGER Vehicle Speed Control Problems

DRIVER REPORTS HE MUST HAVE HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME (SEMI-PANIC BRAKE APPLICATION). POLICE REPORT STATES "TIRE MARKS" ON THE (DRY) PAVEMENT. ONE DOES NOT PRODUCE "TIRE MARKS" ON DRY PAVEMENT (NO TURNING INVOLVED) WITHOUT BRAKE APPLICATION. DRIVER HAD EPISODE OF MICROSLEEP: WHEN ALERTED BY THE EVENT TAKING PLACE, HE COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN TIME TO PREVENT HITTING AND FATALLY INJURING A PEDESTRIAN. UPON EXAMINATION OF ACCIDENT VEHICLE, INSPECTOR DISCOVERED UNUSUAL ARCHED ACCELERATOR PEDAL DESIGN WHEREIN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOCATED ONLY 1 5/8 INCH FROM THE ARCHED ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALLOWING BRAKE APPLICATION AND ACCELERATION CONCURRENTLY IF CERTAIN CONDITIONS PREVAIL. EXAMINATION DEMONSTRATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE PEDAL WENT SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. FURTHERMORE, WITH THE 4 5/8 INCH WIDE BOOT THE DRIVER (AND INSPECTOR) WORE, IT WAS EASY TO ACCIDENTALLY CATCH THE EDGE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CONSEQUENTLY ENABLING THE USER TO ACCIDENTALLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL (UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS) AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

Mileage: 188,000

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THEN, WHEN IT IS FREED, THE VAN ACCELERATES RAPIDLY CAUSING THE VAN TO LURCH FORWARD. THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR TWO REASONS. ONE, WHEN MANEUVERING IN TIGHT PARKING LIKE SITUATIONS, THE VAN WILL LURCH FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY, AND TWO, WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC THERE IS A HESITATION THAT COULD CAUSE AND ACCIDENT IF THE RESPONSE TIME BETWEEN PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE TIME THE VAN ACTUALLY STARTS MOVING.*AK

Mileage: 50,000

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED. REQUIRES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO DEPRESS PEDAL, RESULTING IN VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHING FORWARD. DEALER SAYS THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH VILLAGERS. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED. REQUIRES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO DEPRESS PEDAL, RESULTING IN VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHING FORWARD. DEALER SAYS THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH VILLAGERS. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE PERIODICALLY STICKS WHEN YOU ACCELERATE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS MUST BE A PROBLEM SINCE THE PARTS WERE BACKORDERED AND WE HAD TO WAIT A MONTH TO GET IT FIXED THE FIRST TIME. IT IS STICKING AGAIN AND WE ARE TAKING IT BACK TO THOUROUGHBRED FORD IN KANSAS CITY, MO WHERE WE HAD IT REPAIRED THE FIRST TIME. IT COST OVER $200 FOR THE REPAIR. IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP TO CROSS TRAFFIC IT STICKS AND DELAYS YOUR TIME CROSSING THE INTERSECTION.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK. DEALER HAS REPLACED THROTTLE BODY.*AK

AFTER TAKING VEHICLE FOR A TUNE UP FOUND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE BACK FOR SAME PROBLEM, BUT DEALER COULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, AND SAID WHAT EAS CAUSING PROBLEM WAS THROTTLE BOX PEDAL STICKING.*AK

THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR FAILED. MY MECHANIC INDICATES THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH MERCURY VILLAGER VANS. THE ACCELERATOR STICKS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STAND STILL, CAUSING A NEED TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR HARDER WHICH CAUSES A JERKING OF THE VAN.

THE THROTTLE PLATE IS RUBBING ON THE THROTTLE BODY, CAUSING THE GAS PEDAL TO STICK DURING ACCELERATION. *AK

PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE; HAD FOOT ON BRAKES; READY TO SHIFT INTO PARK; SUDDENLY VEHICLE ACCELERATED & WENT ACROSS THE STREET; DEALER CAN NOT CHECK UNTIL THURSDAY. *AK