2008 Mercury Grand Marquis Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V385000 (Steering). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the lower intermediate shaft was replaced. The contact stated that it was determined that the upper intermediate shaft and steering column lower bearing did not need to be replaced at the time. Several years after the recall repair was completed, the steering column began lowering unintendedly, and a zip tie was used to keep it in place. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was no longer covered under the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

See attached document from complainant

I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AND SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR CORNER, AFTER BRAKING MY CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND MADE THE CAR JUMP FORWARD. I HAD TO SLIGHTLY RELEASE THE BRAKE SND BRAKE HARDER TO STOP AND AVOID GOING INTO THE INTERSECTION.

THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING ACCELERATE TO 5000 RPM'S. HAD THROTTLE BODY AND MAS REPLACED WHICH SEEMED TO HELP. HOWEVER, IT STILL HAPPENS ONCE IN A WHILE (ONCE EVERY 3 WEEKS AVERAGE). USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND DRIVING FORWARD AT LOW SPEEDS (AROUND 5-10 MPH). HASN'T HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEEDS. WAS TOLD BY ONE MECHANIC THAT THE COMPUTER IS DEFECTIVE???.

THANK GOODNESS, THERE WASN'T AN ACCIDENT. RATHER, I HEARD THAT YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE EVERY 50,000 MILES. HOWEVER, MY CAR IS SO LOW MILEAGE FOR ITS AGE THAT I DECIDED I SHOULD HAVE THE CABLE CHECKED ANYHOW. THEN, I HEARD THAT MANY OF THE AFTERMARKET EMERGENCY CABLES ARE DEFECTIVE. THANKFULLY, MY SON, [XXX] , KNOWS SOMEONE WHO CAN CHECK THE CABLES. WE TESTED CABLES FROM TWO AUTO PARTS RETAIL STORES. ONE FAILED TO HOLD PRESSURE. THE OTHER CABLE EXPLODED RATHER DRAMATICALLY. FORTUNATELY, THE PEOPLE MY SON KNOWS MAKE EMERGENCY CABLES. FROM OUTWARD APPEARANCE, THE CABLE THEY MADE WAS DEFINITELY SUPERIOR. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHEN THEY TESTED THE CABLE, IT HELD PRESSURE WITHOUT DROPPING AT ALL. MY SON ONCE PICKED UP HIS CAR FROM AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP (ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO) AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES DONE. APPARENTLY, THE EXTRA PRESSURE NEW BRAKE PADS PUT ON THE BRAKE LINES CAUSED ONE BRAKE LINE TO SNAP BY THE BACK OF THE CAR. RICH COMPLETELY LOST HIS BRAKES AT 40 MPH. FORTUNATELY, WHEN HE USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, IT DID THE JOB. HE SAID THERE WAS A CAR TURNING RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM AND ON-COMING TRAFFIC ON THE LEFT. WITHOUT A GOOD EMERGENCY BRAKE, HIS OPTIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN QUITE LIMITED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CAR SPEEDING UP WHILE BRAKING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT BLANK WHILE EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION A FEW MINUTES AFTER FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.

ODOMETER FADES OUT MOST OF THE TIME...SOMETIMES IT WILL BRIGHTEN UP SO YOU CAN SEE IT..BUT SOON FADES OUT AGAIN..FORD WANTS $600 TO FIX IT...2008 IS THE ONLY YEAR THAT FITS AND THERE ARE 4 DIFFERENT ONES THAT FIT..CAN'T FIND A USED ONE

THE VEHICLE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED TWO SUDDEN ACCELERATION EVENTS IN TWO DAYS 15 MILES APART WHILE DECELERATING AND USING THE BRAKE IN WHAT COULD ONLY BE RELATED TO AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL. WHILE ON VACATION DURING A 75 DEG EVENING WITH THE CAR AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE I WAS NAVIGATING SOME S TURNS HIGH ON A BLUFF AT 30MPH. WHILE COMING INTO A CORNER WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND SLOWING TO AROUND 20MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD, TURNED AWAY FROM THE CORNER TO AVOID GOING OVER THE CLIFF AND TURNED OFF THE KEY. ALL THIS HAPPENED IN LESS THEN 5 SECONDS. THE NEXT DAY MID AFTERNOON AFTER DRIVING 20 MILES I WAS LEAVING A PARK AND TRAVELING ON A LEVEL STRAIGHT ROAD AT AROUND 25MPH. COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN I LET OFF THE GAS AND STARTED APPLYING THE BRAKE (LIKE THE DAY BEFORE) AT ABOUT 15MPH THE CAR VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD AGAIN, THE REAR TIRE STARTED SPINNING AND IT PUSHED THE CAR THROUGH THE CROSSWALK PAST THE STOP SIGN AND INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC BY ABOUT 4FT BEFORE I GOT THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. ONCE AGAIN THIS ALL HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. AFTER A RESTART EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AGAIN. I DROVE AROUND 250 MI TO GET HOME WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INCIDENT. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THESE EVENTS I HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALER TO PROGRAM A NEW TRANSPONDER KEY, RESET THE KEYLESS ENTRY AND TEST THE THROTTLE TO SEE IF THE INITIAL DEADBAND COULD BE ADJUSTED (NO ADJUSTMENT WAS DONE). AFTER THE INCIDENT I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR TSBS, AND THE ECM WOULD NOT DATALOG ANYTHING SINCE THERE WAS NO TROUBLE LIGHT. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I CONSIDER THIS UNSATISFACTORY, DEEM IT A MAJOR SAFETY DEFECT AND FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO CORRECT THIS IMMEDIATELY. A QUICK SEARCH REVEALS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE THIS.

WHILE DRIVING UP A SHORT MODERATE GRADE, THE CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE BATTERY (NEARLY NEW) WAS FINE AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYED WITH ICONS LIT. THE STEERING WAS AFFECTED AND THE CAR DRIFTED TO A STOP ON A LEVEL SURFACE. I WAS SUCCESSFUL IN RESTARTING THE CAR ON THE FIRST TRY AND THIS INCIDENT HAS NOT RECURRED. I DID NOT MAKE NOTE OF WHAT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE, AS I WAS MORE INTERESTED IN RESTARTING THE CAR. I DO HAVE A RATHER HEAVY KEY SET (HEAVIER THAN MOST). *TR

TOOK CAR THROUGH CAR WASH AFTER WINTER AND A LARGE SECTION OF PAINT CAME OFF THE HOOD..THIS IS A FLORIDA CAR..IT WAS THE SECOND WINTER IN BUFFALO..ALSO FOUND OTHER SPOTS ON CAR WHERE PAINT IS COMING OFF...WAS LOOKING FOR A NEWER GRAND MARQUIS AND A LOT OF THEM ALSO HAD PAINT COMING...ALL WERE THE SILVER BIRCH ...THE PAINT DOESN'T APPEAR TO ADHERE TO THE PRIMER...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE HAD A ROUTINE INSPECTION BY THE DEALER AND CORROSION WAS FOUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND A MECHANIC WAS TO FURTHER INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER CONCERNING THE REPAIR SOLUTION FROM THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V704000 (STEERING) AND 13V385000 (STEERING). THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that the wiring harness for the brake pedal sensor was faulty, causing the exterior brake lights to fail to illuminate. The failure almost caused a collision. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to bring the vehicle in to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT BLANK WHILE EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION A FEW MINUTES AFTER FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK DETACHED AND WAS HANGING DOWN UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,824.

THE VEHICLE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED TWO SUDDEN ACCELERATION EVENTS IN TWO DAYS 15 MILES APART WHILE DECELERATING AND USING THE BRAKE IN WHAT COULD ONLY BE RELATED TO AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL. WHILE ON VACATION DURING A 75 DEG EVENING WITH THE CAR AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE I WAS NAVIGATING SOME S TURNS HIGH ON A BLUFF AT 30MPH. WHILE COMING INTO A CORNER WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND SLOWING TO AROUND 20MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD, TURNED AWAY FROM THE CORNER TO AVOID GOING OVER THE CLIFF AND TURNED OFF THE KEY. ALL THIS HAPPENED IN LESS THEN 5 SECONDS. THE NEXT DAY MID AFTERNOON AFTER DRIVING 20 MILES I WAS LEAVING A PARK AND TRAVELING ON A LEVEL STRAIGHT ROAD AT AROUND 25MPH. COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN I LET OFF THE GAS AND STARTED APPLYING THE BRAKE (LIKE THE DAY BEFORE) AT ABOUT 15MPH THE CAR VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD AGAIN, THE REAR TIRE STARTED SPINNING AND IT PUSHED THE CAR THROUGH THE CROSSWALK PAST THE STOP SIGN AND INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC BY ABOUT 4FT BEFORE I GOT THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. ONCE AGAIN THIS ALL HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. AFTER A RESTART EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AGAIN. I DROVE AROUND 250 MI TO GET HOME WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INCIDENT. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THESE EVENTS I HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALER TO PROGRAM A NEW TRANSPONDER KEY, RESET THE KEYLESS ENTRY AND TEST THE THROTTLE TO SEE IF THE INITIAL DEADBAND COULD BE ADJUSTED (NO ADJUSTMENT WAS DONE). AFTER THE INCIDENT I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR TSBS, AND THE ECM WOULD NOT DATALOG ANYTHING SINCE THERE WAS NO TROUBLE LIGHT. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I CONSIDER THIS UNSATISFACTORY, DEEM IT A MAJOR SAFETY DEFECT AND FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO CORRECT THIS IMMEDIATELY. A QUICK SEARCH REVEALS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE THIS.

TAKATA RECALL THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR, WHEN A PASSENGER IS SETTING IN THE CAR SEAT AND THE CAR IS MOVING, I HAVE TAKEN NOTE THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH PANEL WILL GO OFF AND OWN. I HAVE NOT SEEN THE LIGHT GO OFF AND OWN.

I HAVE A 2008 MECURY GRAND MARQUIS ,I WAS IN A WRECK IN DECEMBER 10,2017 FRONTAL IMPACT MY AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF OR WORK DURING MY WRECK ALSO MY SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK AS WELL. I GOT HURT IN THE WRECK BECAUSE NON OF MY SAFETY EQUIPMENT WORK. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM FORD DEALERSHIP AIRBAGS WE'RE REPLACED WHEN PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE CAR HE TAP A POLE IN A PARKING LOT. I COMPLAINT WITH FORD AND DEALERSHIP I DON'T KNOW WHAT AIRBAG IS IN MY CAR . I THINK IT'S A TAKATA AIR BAG THAT IS IN MY CAR DEALERSHIP SOLD ME A UNSAFE CAR AND KNEW ABOUT IT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY KNOWS ABOUT MY MATTER AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO SHOP WHO WORKED ON CAR WHEN PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE CAR. CUSS ME OUT FOR ASKING WHAT BEEN DONE ON THE CAR . I ASK FORD I WANT MY CAR FIXED AND REPAIRED FOR IT TO BE SAFE SO I AM STILL WAITING ON THEM. I ALSO WANT TRAMWAY AUTO BODY SHOP IN SANFORD NC TO BE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR UNSAFE CAR REPAIR. ALSO WANT FORD TO RECALL THE CAR AS UNSAFE OR TAKATA AIR BAGS COULD BEEN REPLACED AND INSTALL ON YOUR CAR UNSAFE CLAIM REPAIRS COULD BE DONE BY UNFIT SHOP WITH OUT OWNERS NOTICE. GEICO INSURANCE HAS BEEN TOLD ABOUT AIRBAG NON DEPLOYMENT FAULTY EQUIPMENT AND DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING ACCELERATE TO 5000 RPM'S. HAD THROTTLE BODY AND MAS REPLACED WHICH SEEMED TO HELP. HOWEVER, IT STILL HAPPENS ONCE IN A WHILE (ONCE EVERY 3 WEEKS AVERAGE). USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND DRIVING FORWARD AT LOW SPEEDS (AROUND 5-10 MPH). HASN'T HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEEDS. WAS TOLD BY ONE MECHANIC THAT THE COMPUTER IS DEFECTIVE???.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND ENTERING A DRIVE-THRU LANE AT A BANK, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK; HOWEVER, THE GEAR FAILED TO SHIFT. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILURE WAS ALSO EXPERIENCED IN APPROXIMATELY 2016. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MALLOY FORD (1911 VALLEY AVENUE, WINCHESTER, VA 22601, (540)-667-4434) AND REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER CABLE FAILED. THE GEAR SHIFTER CABLE WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. **TR CONSUMER STATED THE SHIFT CABLE FAILURE PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM SHUTTING OFF THE CAR AND KEEPS IT IN GEAR AND MOVING OF THE CAR UNLESS THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED! TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE WAS REPLACED 2 TIMES. UPDATED 11/8/18*JB

PASSENGERS SIDE SEATBELT LOCKS

I HAVE A 2008 MECURY GRAND MARQUIS ,I WAS IN A WRECK IN DECEMBER 10,2017 FRONTAL IMPACT MY AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF OR WORK DURING MY WRECK ALSO MY SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK AS WELL. I GOT HURT IN THE WRECK BECAUSE NON OF MY SAFETY EQUIPMENT WORK. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM FORD DEALERSHIP AIRBAGS WE'RE REPLACED WHEN PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE CAR HE TAP A POLE IN A PARKING LOT. I COMPLAINT WITH FORD AND DEALERSHIP I DON'T KNOW WHAT AIRBAG IS IN MY CAR . I THINK IT'S A TAKATA AIR BAG THAT IS IN MY CAR DEALERSHIP SOLD ME A UNSAFE CAR AND KNEW ABOUT IT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY KNOWS ABOUT MY MATTER AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO SHOP WHO WORKED ON CAR WHEN PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE CAR. CUSS ME OUT FOR ASKING WHAT BEEN DONE ON THE CAR . I ASK FORD I WANT MY CAR FIXED AND REPAIRED FOR IT TO BE SAFE SO I AM STILL WAITING ON THEM. I ALSO WANT TRAMWAY AUTO BODY SHOP IN SANFORD NC TO BE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR UNSAFE CAR REPAIR. ALSO WANT FORD TO RECALL THE CAR AS UNSAFE OR TAKATA AIR BAGS COULD BEEN REPLACED AND INSTALL ON YOUR CAR UNSAFE CLAIM REPAIRS COULD BE DONE BY UNFIT SHOP WITH OUT OWNERS NOTICE. GEICO INSURANCE HAS BEEN TOLD ABOUT AIRBAG NON DEPLOYMENT FAULTY EQUIPMENT AND DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

THE AA CONTROL WENT OUT IN APRIL 2010. I HAD BOUGHT A FORD CERTIFIED 2008 GRAND MARQUIS THAT WAS OVER ON THE MILAGE WARRENTY BUT STILL UNDER THE TIME WARENTY. THE BLOWER WOULD ONLY BLOW AIR THROUGHT THE DEFROSTERS UNDER THE WINDSHIELD. I BROUGHT IT TI THE DEALER WERE I PURCHASED IT AND AFTER INSPECTION DETERMONED THAT THE AC CONTROL UNIT #3W7Z*19980 WENT BAD AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED @650.00 FORD WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRENTY. I HAD IT RELACED. IN FEB. 2011 IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THE PART WAS COVERED UNDER THE 1 YEAR WARRENTY BUT SINCE I DRIVE FOR A LIVING FORD WOULD NOT COVER IT BEAUSE OF THE MILES. THATS ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS TIMES THE OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS UNIT. MY COMPLAINT IS THIS IS A PART THAT SHOULD NEVER GO BAD IN A 2 YR. TIME FRAME THEN GO BAD AGIN IN LESS THAN A YEAR. WHATS GOING ON HERE? *TT

LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION AREA WHEN GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS AND MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 13 TIMES AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME NOT TO BRING IT BACK, THAT I NEED TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT. *TR

TAKATA RECALL THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR, WHEN A PASSENGER IS SETTING IN THE CAR SEAT AND THE CAR IS MOVING, I HAVE TAKEN NOTE THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH PANEL WILL GO OFF AND OWN. I HAVE NOT SEEN THE LIGHT GO OFF AND OWN.

IN JULY 2009 I PURCHASED A SLIGHTLY USED 2008 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. ON MANY OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING I HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKES ONLY TO FEEL THE CAR ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS, BUT I FEEL THAT IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME .... THE PROBLEM RESIDES IN THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. MY CAR HAS AUTO-ADJUST PEDAL HEIGHT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY BOTH PEDALS ADJUST AS A SINGLE UNIT, RATHER THAN ONE-AT-A-TIME. SIMPLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS TOO FAR TO THE LEFT - ABOUT TWO INCHES FROM THE RHS EDGE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND WHEN I DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, OFTEN THE RIGHT-HAND EDGE OF THE SOLE OF MY SHOE CONTACTS THE SURFACE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, LEADING TO THE SURGE OF POWER -- WHICH IS THE PROBLEM. THIS IS MADE WORSE IN THAT WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE PEDAL WILL PASS TO AND THROUGH THE PLANE OF THE SURFACE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THUS MAKING THIS SHOE-CONTACT MORE LIKELY. THERE IS ABUNDANT ROOM TO MOVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE RIGHT - WITH A NEWLY-DESIGNED PEDAL SHAFT. (THE PRESENT PEDAL "HOOKS" TO THE LEFT AT THE BOTTOM PART, SORT OF LIKE THE LOWER PART OF THIS "9" DIGIT) OR, THE PEDALS COULD BE RAISED UP/LOWERED INDEPENDENTLY, IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE VERTICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM. A THICKER RUBBER PAD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD ACCOMPLISH THIS HANDILY -- IT WOULD NEED TO BE ABOUT ONE INCH THICKER. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITHIN A SHORT TIME OF BUYING THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM SEVERAL TIMES, INCLUDING TODAY, BUT SO FAR THEY HAVE BEEN UNRESPONSIVE. (BUT OF COURSE TODAY'S CONVERSATION MAY BEAR FRUIT. WE SHALL SEE.) IN THE NOTES OF MY FIRST CALL, ACCORDING TO THE PERSON WHO READ THEM TO ME ON A SUBSEQUENT CALL, MY CONCERN WAS DESCRIBED AS "... OWNER NEEDS TO KNOW THE LOCATION OF THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS ..." OR WORDS SUCH AS THOSE! *CN