NHTSA Complaint #10424613 — 2003 MERCURY SABLE

I WAS DRIVING WHEN I REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS GOING MUCH FASTER THAN IT SHOULD BE. I WAS GOING UP A HILL SO I MOVED BOTH OF MY FEET AWAY FROM THE PEDALS AND REALIZED THAT IT WAS STILL GAINING SPEED. I PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKES AND MANAGED TO BRING IT MOSTLY TO A STOP ABOUT 80 FEET FROM AN INTERSECTION AND ANOTHER CAR. I PUT IT INTO PARK, BUT STILL HAD TO HOLD THE BRAKE DOWN HARD IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING FORWARD. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED, I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND IT "PEELED OUT" AND WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD, TURNED AT THE INTERSECTION THEN INTO A VACANT PARKING LOT. I PUT IT IN PARK IMMEDIATELY AND SHUT IT OFF. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO 5000 RPM, SO I SHUT IT OFF AGAIN AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WAS DEFINITELY ACCELERATING WITHOUT ANY INPUT ON MY PART. THE BRAKES WERE ABLE TO SLOW IT DOWN, BUT ONLY WITH FULL PRESSURE AND IT TOOK MUCH FURTHER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE TO COME TO A STOP. I WAS DRIVING A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. *TR