NHTSA Complaint #10025445 — 2000 MERCURY SABLE

ON 06/26/03 2000 SABLE PARKED IN FRIENDS DRIVEWAY IN PARK RUNNING WITH A/C ON AND DRIVER LEFT VEHICLE. DRIVER WENT TO FRONT DOOR AND THEN HEARD A BOOM. CAR WENT UP A SLIGHT GRADE AND CONTINUED FOR 15 FEET AND STRUCK FRIENDS NEW MOTOR HOME. OWNER OF MOTOR HOME OPENED CAR DOOR TO MOVE VEHICLE AND FOUND CAR STILL IN PARK. OWNER SELECTED REVERSE AND BACKED CAR AWAY FROM MOTOR HOME. METLIFE AUTO & HOME NOTIFIED. ON 06/27/03 THIS SABLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF. WHEN DRIVER AND 2 PASSENGERS RETURNED TO CAR AND STARTED CAR AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, CAR PROCEEDED FORWARD. CAR WAS SHIFTED BACK TO PARK, DRIVER SAT THERE FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND SHIFTED AGAIN BACK INTO REVERSE AND CAR AGAIN WENT FORWARD. CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND DRIVER RESTARTED CAR A FEW MINUTES LATER AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND CAR WENT BACKWARDS. CAR WAS TAKEN TO MORRIS FORD IN BURNT HILLS, NY. THE FORD DEALERSHIP CONTACTED FORD'S FACTORY HOTLINE AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO REPORTS PERTAINING TO SUCH. FACTORY HOTLINE SAID THEY WOULD PASS INFO UP TO ENGINEERING. THEIR ADVISE WAS FOR THE DRIVER TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE. THAT'S REAL COMFORTING!!! THE TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE SHIFTER CABLE AND FOUND OKAY! THE CAR IS STILL AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THE FACTORY HAS NOT RESPONDED BACK (07/05/03). THE CAR HAS ALSO HAD THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON AFTER PEDAL IS RELEASED. THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE COME ON WITH NO ONE IN THE CAR. THE CAR SHIFTER HAS LOCKED IN PARK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE TO ANOTHER POSITION. THE CAR HAS ACCELERATED WHILE DRIVING WITH NO INCREASE OF PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL. FORD MOTORS NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A PROBLEM THAT THEY SAY DOES NOT EXIST WHEN IT DOES EXIST AS EVIDENT BY THE NUMBER OF REPORTS FOR BOTH THE 2000 SABLE AND THE 2000 TAURUS. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS 2000 SABLE USED, FORD CREDIT OFFERED ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 6 YEARS OR 75,000 MILES WHICH I ACCEPTED. I AM BEGINNING TO WONDER IF THEY DON'T WANT TO HONOR THE WARRANTY.*AK