NHTSA Complaint #10127348 — 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR

WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE IDLE SPEED WILL SUDDENLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY JUMP TO A VERY HIGH RPM. IT IS DIFFICULT TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM SUDDENLY SURGING AHEAD. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. IT HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES. THE FIRST TIME I WAS SO STARTLED, I WASN'T SURE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I THOUGHT MAYBE I HAD ACCIDENTLY HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND JAMMED IT. THE SECOND TIME, I REALIZED IT WAS NONE OF MY DOING. I WAS TRAVELING IN BUFFALO NEW YORK AND TOOK THE CAR TO A LINCOLN DEALER THERE ON JUNE 7, 2004. THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WHEN I DROVE BACK TO VIRGINIA, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO CHERNER LINCOLN DEALER IN ANNANDALE ON JUNE 15, 2004.THET SAID IT WAS A FAULTY IDLE CONTROL VALVE AND REPLACED IT. ON JUNE 19, 2005 IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO CHERNER LINCOLN. THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND SO THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE CAR. IN ALL FOUR INCIDENTS I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME AND THAT NO DAMAGE WAS DONE. THIS IS A 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH 32000 MILES.