NHTSA Complaint #10606868 — 2005 MERCURY SABLE

MY 2005 MERCURY SABLE SUDDENLY HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL STOP WORKING APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS AGO. THE NEXT DAY SOME SERIOUS ISSUES BEGAN TO HAPPEN. I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A CURVY 4 LANE ROAD AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 45MPH. KNOWING THERE WAS AN UP COMING LIGHT I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND ANTICIPATED THE NORMAL DECELERATION. SUDDENLY RATHER THAN SLOWING DOWN MY ENGINE INDEPENDENTLY REVVED UP TO 3/4 RPM CAUSING ME TO INSTANTLY JUMP TO 50/55 MPH. APART FROM THE IMMEDIATE PANIC I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE REACT IN THIS MANNER AND WAS AT A LOSS FOR WHAT TO DO. I HIT THE BRAKES EXTREMELY HARD TO COMBAT THE ACCELERATION WHILE PUTTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL (STILL GOING 40+ MPH). DESPITE HAVING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL IT WAS STILL REVVING ITSELF AT AROUND 3 RPM. AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO A SAFE SPEED I TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CAR OFF. I LEFT THE CAR RESTING FOR ABOUT MINUTES AND WHEN STARTED AGAIN, IT IMMEDIATELY BEGAN REVVING THE SAME AS BEFORE. I AM VERY CONCERNED AND HAVE BEEN SINCE TROUBLESHOOTING WITH MY MECHANIC. THIS IS CLEARLY A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERS MY MPG WHILE PUTTING TRIPLE THE STRESS ON MY BRAKES. *TR