NHTSA Complaint #10451186 — 2001 MERCURY SABLE

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 SABLE (24V DOHC) AND THE CAR BEGAN ACTING LIKE THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK. I COULD LIFT THE PEDAL UP WITH MY TOE AND THAT DID NOT STOP THE ACCELERATION. I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR THE ENGINE WAS RACING. I OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE "A BROKEN (PLASTIC) RETAINER RING AT THE END OF THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE BY THE THROTTLE BODY" AS SOMEONE ELSE DESCRIBED IT BETTER THAN I COULD IN TECHNICAL DETAILS. I COULD RESET THE CABLE AND SEEMED TO BE FINE UNLESS I ACCELERATED TOO QUICKLY, BECAUSE THAT SEEMED TO WHAT TRIGGERED IT TO GET STUCK. I COULD STILL GO FAST (INTERSTATE SPEED), BUT I COULD NOT GO FAST TOO QUICKLY. I TEMPORARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM BY TAPING THE BROKEN CABLE WITH DUCT TAPE OR ELECTRICAL TAPE WHICH SEEMED TO WORK FOR A COUPLE MONTHS. I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM ABOUT 10 TIMES IN A FOUR MONTH PERIOD BEFORE TRADING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. DUE TO THE RECENT RECALL OF THE LATER MODELS TAURUSES I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT THE ISSUES I HAD. I NEVER INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THIS AND I NEVER TOOK IT TO A PROFESSIONAL FOR DIAGNOSIS. *TR