NHTSA Complaint #10478669 — 2008 LINCOLN MKX

ON 9.25.12, I TRIED TO ENTER AN EXPRESSWAY WITH AN INCLINE ENTRANCE RAMP DURING RUSH HOUR. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND SHAKE, (SPUTTERING UNDER ACCELERATION) AND FINALLY STOPPED IN THE EXPRESSWAY. THE CAR NEVER SHUT OFF, NO ENGINE LIGHTS APPEARED, AND AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO VERY SLOWLY DRIVE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY. FOR THE NEXT 20 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AT 5-8 MPH UNTIL REACHING AN EXIT AND A PARKING LOT. THE CAR NEVER TURNED OFF, NEVER DIED, AND NO ENGINE LIGHTS APPEARED WHILE DRIVING TO THE PARKING LOT. ONCE IN THE PARKING LOT, I CALLED A LOCAL LINCOLN DEALER WHO ADVISED ME TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE MKZ APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO REACH MY HOME. SINCE 9.25.12, I HAVE DRIVEN THE MKZ ONCE FOR A BRIEF "RIDE AROUND THE BLOCK" AND THE CAR NOW APPEARS TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS HAD AN "UNINTENDED ACCELERATION" ISSUE. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP, THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE IN A SMOOTH MOTION BUT RATHER A "CHOPPY" MANNER WHERE YOUR BODY "JERKS BACK AND FORTH". I HAVE NEVER TAKEN THE MKZ INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE "UNINTENDED ACCELERATION" AND HAVE JUST ACCEPTED THIS POOR/CHOPPY ACCELERATION FROM A DEAD STOP. *TR