NHTSA Complaint #10467885 — 2006 MERCURY MARINER

I WAS ENTERING THE INTERSTATE 430 AT THE MAUMELLE, ARKANSAS ON RAMP AND BEGAN ACCELERATING TO MERGE WITH RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I NOTICED THAT I HAD ACCELERATED FASTER THAN NORMAL...70 MPH. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO SLOW DOWN, BUT I DIDN'T SLOW DOWN. I THOUGHT I MUST HAVE HIT THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON, SO I HIT THE OFF BUTTON AND BRAKE AND SLOWED SLIGHTLY...60MPH THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON. I LET OFF THE BRAKE AND CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING BACK UP TO 65 MPH VERY QUICKLY. BY THIS TIME, I WAS ENTERING THE INTERSTATE 40 ON RAMP/CRYSTAL HILL EXIT IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS. I REALIZED THAT MY BRAKES WERE NOT SLOWING MY SUV AND I HAD TO GET THE CAR TO A STOP. I STAYED ON THE CRYSTAL HILL EXIT...PUSHING ON BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD. I ONLY SLOWED TO ABOUT 40 OR 50 MPH. I TURNED MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND BEGAN EDGING TO THE SHOULDER. SO STILL PUSHING ON MY BRAKES, I PUT THE SUV IN NEUTRAL. I FINALLY STOPPED ABOUT 100 FEET FROM THE STOP SIGN AT THE CRYSTAL HILL ROAD. WHEN I STOPPED, I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS REVVING A LOT SO I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED THE SUV OFF. I TRIED TO STAY CALM FOR ME AND MY BABY SINCE I WAS 35 WEEKS PREGNANT. I WAS LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO CRASH THE CAR TO STOP IT OR I DIDN'T GO INTO LABOR, BUT PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL WORKED. MY HUSBAND HAD MY SUV TOWED TO CRAIN FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE AIR INTAKE VALVE AND THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE SUV WAS MESSED AND BARELY GOT IT IN THE GARAGE TO REPAIR WHICH THE DEALERSHIP IS WORKING ON...ONE WEEK LATER. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS VERBAL FROM THE DEALERSHIP...NOTHING IN WRITING AS OF YET. *TR