1998 Mercury Sable Driver assistance 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

NHTSA ID

10453901

Incident

Apr 2, 2012

Mileage

93,300 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10377898

Incident

May 16, 2010

Mileage

7,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10205004

Incident

Sep 17, 2007

Mileage

44,933 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10151208

Incident

Feb 14, 2006

Mileage

108,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10148041

Incident

Jan 8, 2006

Mileage

73,273 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10142038

Incident

Nov 7, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10141423

Incident

Oct 30, 2005

Mileage

51,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10117379

Incident

Dec 29, 2004

Mileage

69,090 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10091730

Incident

Sep 9, 2004

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

NHTSA ID

10087325

Incident

Jul 25, 2004

Mileage

89,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

8014204

Incident

Aug 10, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

8008489

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

NHTSA ID

8007946

Incident

Oct 25, 2000

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.

NHTSA ID

757431

Incident

Mar 4, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

746357

Incident

May 30, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

888158

Incident

May 1, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

886592

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

884037

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

NHTSA ID

879180

Incident

Jan 19, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

556847

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

NHTSA ID

724011

Incident

Jun 12, 2000

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.

NHTSA ID

713789

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

NHTSA ID

850146

Incident

Oct 1, 1999

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

NHTSA ID

845934

Incident

Oct 5, 1998

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

NHTSA ID

546163

Incident

Feb 14, 1999