NHTSA Complaint #10451167 — 2002 MERCURY SABLE

CRUISE CONTROL CABLE BROKE OR CAME LOOSE CAUSING THROTTLE RETURN SPRING TO FALL OFF. I COULD NOT STOP CAR NO MATTER HOW HARD I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ENGINE RAN AT FULL SPEED. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON. I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. I STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN AND IT REVVED UP TO FULL SPEED IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE THE CAR OFF THE MAIN ROAD WITHOUT STARTING THE ENGINE. WE WERE FORTUNATE THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF US WHEN THIS HAPPENED. WE WERE ABOUT 50 YARDS FROM HAVING TO MAKE A SHARP LEFT TURN TO GO ONTO THE MAIN HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC. WE NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THE TURN WITHOUT CRASHING OR THE CAR TURNING OVER. MY WIFE AND I HAD JUST PICKED UP TWO OF OUR DOGS AT THE VET AND WERE RETURNING HOME. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD GARAGE IN THE NEXT TOWN. I BELIEVE FORD HAS A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN THEY ARE ADMITTING. THE MERCURY'S SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THEIR PROBLEM. *TR