NHTSA Complaint #10437692 — 2005 MERCURY SABLE

THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT RUNNING WHILE CRUISING AT 60 MPH IN DARKNESS ON A HEAVILY TRAVELED CONGESTED 6 LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE TIME WAS 6:50 PM AND THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL WEATHER. THE CAR SHOOK FOR A FEW SECONDS AT THE TIME OF SHUT-DOWN. I ATTRIBUTED THE SHAKE OF THE CAR TO A LOADED SEMI FLAT BED TRUCK RUNNING IN THE NEXT LANE AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. WE WERE AT NORMAL SPACING BETWEEN VEHICLES. THERE WAS NEITHER CONTACT WITH THIS TRUCK NOR ANY OTHER VEHICLE. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON I270 NEAR BRIDGETON, MO. WE MERGED ONTO MO 340 AND CONTINUED COASTING UNTIL WE FOUND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER TO CALL FOR HELP. I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES WHILE COASTING, TO NO AVAIL. WHILE WAITING FOR HELP TO ARRIVE, I TRIED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO QUIT RUNNING. THE FUEL TANK REGISTERED ONE-HALF FULL. I RECALLED READING IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL YEARS AGO ABOUT A FUEL SHUT-OFF RESET. I RAISED THE TRUNK LID, READILY FOUND THE RESET. THE RED BUTTON WAS UP--I PUSHED IT DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS LET RUN FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES WITHOUT FINDING ANY PROBLEM. WE CONTINUED ON TO OUR DESTINATION ABOUT 8 MILES AWAY. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN ON 4 DAYS SINCE THEN FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 250 MILES, WITH NO APPARENT PROBLEM. I WRITE THIS BECAUSE I FIND IT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO HAVE AN ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON A VERY CONGESTED INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, AFTER DARK, WITH MOST TRAFFIC RUNNING 65 - 70 MPH. DURING THIS INCIDENT, I FEARED BEING REAR-ENDED AS THERE WAS LIMITED OPPORTUNITY TO GET OFF THE ROAD. *KB