NHTSA Complaint #10470961 — 2000 MERCURY SABLE

DROVE THE CAR AWAY FROM THE DEALER AND IT WAS RUNNING FINE. STOPPED AND GOT GAS. THEN LEFT GAS STATION AND PROCEEDED ONTO THE CAPITAL BELTWAY. AFTER A COUPLE MILES THE CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET THE CAR STOPPED WAS TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE CONTINUED AT 4000 RPMS. THE CAR WAS THEN SHUT OFF AFTER GETTING IT STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD BACKED OUT OF THE SOCKET APPROXIMATELY A HALF INCH AND WEDGED OVER TO ONE SIDE HOLDING THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE OPEN AT THE 4000 RPM LEVEL. NEITHER MYSELF OR MY MECHANIC HAVE NO IDEA WHY THIS HAPPENED AND ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE CABLE WAS PUSHED BACK OVER FROM THE SIDE AND IT POPPED BACK INTO PLACE. I CAN MANUALLY PULL THE CABLE BACK OUT AND THERE IS NO LOCKING DEVICE TO KEEP IT FROM COMING OUT AGAIN. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FIND A NEW REPLACEMENT CABLE AND HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR PEACE OF MIND TO OPERATE THIS CAR. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR MY SON TO USE AT COLLEGE. HE HAS PRACTICALLY NO DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND I HATE TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I LET HIM DRIVE THE CAR HOME.