NHTSA Complaint #10427482 — 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY

IT IS A WELL CARED FOR 2004 THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED TO HAVE A LITTLE SHAKE WHEN ACCELERATING. ONCE I GOT UP PAST 50-55ISH IT ALMOST WENT AWAY. I ASSUMED I HAD A WHEEL OUT OF BALANCE SO WHEN I HAD IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE A FEW DAYS LATER, I HAD THEM DO A ROTATION AND BALANCE. THAT REALLY DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING AND IT GOT WORSE. IF I WAS ACCELERATING UP HILL(WHICH I HAVE TO DO A LOT SINCE I LIVE AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL) THEN IT WAS LIKE I WAS DRIVING OVER HUNDREDS OF BROOMSTICKS THAT SOMEONE HAD LAY ACROSS THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP (NOT MY USUAL ONE, BUT IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO HOME) TO SEE WHAT THEY THOUGHT. THEY LOOKED AND SAID CV SHAFT. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO MY REGULAR SHOP TWO DAYS LATER, THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID 'FOUND TRANSAXLE OUTPUT SHAFT BEARING ON RIGHT SIDE AXLE VERY LOOSE CAUSING EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT WITH RIGHT AXLE.' HE SAID THE RIGHT AXLE WAS BASICALLY LOOSE WHERE IT ATTACHED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH IF IT WAS ACTUALLY A BUSHING OR A BEARING IN ORDER TO TELL ME THE REPAIR COST. MONDAY MORNING I GET A CALL SAYING BASICALLY I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. NOW THE VIBRATION ISN'T AS BAD, BUT IS STILL THERE. IT ALSO FEELS LIKE IT IS WANTING TO TAKE OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED. NOT CHUGGING OUT, BUT LIKE ALL OF A SUDDEN IT GETS A LITTLE SURGE OF POWER THEN STOPS. ALMOST AS IF SOMEONE ELSE IS TAPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL, THEN LETTING OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER I AM USING THE CRUISE CONTROL OR NOT. *TR