After reading a recent news article about this safety concern I wanted to report my experience with my 2000 mercury sable in interest in having the design flaw fixed. While attempting to stop at an intersection by stepping on the brake pedal, the gas pedal also became pressed causing the car to accelerate and lunge forward as the braking action and acceleration action opposed each other. I'm concerned that inherent in the cars' design the pedals are located too close together, creating a safety concern. I was able to react quickly enough to put the car in neutral and stop the car before hitting the car in front of me. . Only to realize after the fact that what had happened is that my foot was pressing both pedals while attempting to stop. Car has adjustable pedals.
2000 Mercury Sable acceleration complaints
Page 3 of 4: complaints 41 to 70 of 71, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Consumer was slowing down for a light when motor suddenly revved realy high, and vehicle proceeded half way through the intersection before it stopped. *ak
Involuntarily accelerates, unable to stop, and must be placed in neutral, and shut off.
With foot pressed down on brake pedal vehicle started to accelerate. Engine was racing, and vehicle suddenly took off and hit a building. Upon impact, none of the airbags deployed. Driver was unaware of speed. Please provide any further information.
While foot was pressed on the brake pedal vehicle started to race. It was like tires were spinning. With foot on brake vehicle took off into a building. Please provide any further information.
On the first occasion I was stopped waiting in line to make a left hand turn, foot on the brake, the car suddenly accele rated as if someone had stomped on the gas pedal. I put both feet on the brake, car still was moving, I put it in park, engine raced so I shut it down. After restarting it returned to normal. The second time it happened, my daughter was driving in stop and go traffic, as she was slowing, with foot on the brake, car again accelerated, the car lurched forward and collided with a vehicle in front of her. She to had to shut down the engine for it to stop. I believe it to be a product failure and have reported it to ford consumer affairs. It appears they have dismissed my claim without investigating it. This car is dangerous.
Engine without warning accelerated tremendously causing the car to strike first the curb, then the library wall, causing considerable damage to car and library wall, airbag did not deploy.
When the driver removes his foot from the gas pedal the vehicle accelerates, the dealer stated that all sable's perform this way, the consumer believes this is a design defect. Nlm
Consumer was activating cruise control at 70 MPH when vehicle accelerated suddendly, reaching speeds of 80 MPH. To avoid hitting a vehicle in front, consumer swerved into an enbankment and was hit by an oncoming vehicle.consumer will be contacting dealer to determine cause.*ak consumer states cruise had previously been set and no more than 20 minutes later, vehicle increased speed to 80 MPH in approximately 5 seconds, the safety belt prevented consumer from hitting the windshield, however did not prevent him from hitting the ceiling with his head, one person was injured in accident.
While vehicle is in park can turn on ignition key and vehicle will jump forward without a prior warning, and that had happened between two other vehicles.
The cruise control would not stay engaged. Nlm
Consumer states power adjustable pedals on his vehicle, which he believe were designed to close together, consumers foot engaged both pedals resulting in acceleration and accident on two occassions.
Gas and brake pedals are too close together when either accelerating or braking. This causes a problem with braking or acceleration. Foot can engage both pedals at once. Can or will cause an accident. Dealership and manufacturer indicated nothing could be done.
Adjustable gas and brake pedals too close-turning into space or pulling into garage-if not to left side of brake pedal-tendency to also apply gas same time as brake-car lunges forward/can cause an accident if do not react quickly. Need to change shaft on brake pedal to bend it furher to left to provide more space from the gas pedal.
Gas pedal keeps sticking, causing vehicle to idles high . Currently at dealer.
While driving 55 MPH applied brakes, and braking distance was longer than usual. Engine started racing. Consumer put vehicle in neutral to slow down.
Brake pedal and accelerator pedal are side by side due to a new design feature that lowers or raises brake pedal and accelerator pedal, causing pedal misapplication.*ak
Sudden acceleration on two occasions; 1st occurred at 593 miles at a service station after turning on the vehicle and shifting into gear, and 2nd occurred at 894 miles when vehicle was going 15-20 MPH and brakes were applied to bring vehicle to a complete stop. Vehicle taken to dealer, and informed consumer that the computer sensor needed readjusting. *ak the dealer reprogrammmed the PCM as the solution for engine surging. The brakes failure was due to being over powered by the engine surge.
Upon releasing emergency parking brake vehicle took off and crashed into a garage.vehicle was parked on a very slight incline. Ignition was running, and vehicle was in park when this happened. Vehicle was towed to the dealership. Ak the manufacturer stated that independent inspector could not determine if defect was the cause.
Consumer was at traffic stop and vehicle idling, as soon as consumer put foot on accelerator pedal ,consumer heard a loud noise and vehicle took off at high rate speed, crashing into a lamp pole, and causing injuires/ a broken sternum. Seatbelts did not lock up, and frontal airbags did not deploy.
Brake and accelerator pedals are made too close together, causing pedal misapplication. Dealer and manufacturer have been notified.
While at stand still with foot on brakes, vehicle started revving up & took off. Hit vheicle in front. Second time at cross walk it happened again. Did not hit anything that time. Third time, had placed it in reverse and it took off backwards after revving up. Been to dealer twice for correction.
Gas and brake pedals are too close together to destinguish which is which because if consumer would put foot down on the pedal there would be a problem.
At 3 MPH coming to a stop with foot off accelerator hit brake pedal. Car would not stop the more I hit the brake pedal engine would race finally could not hold it car took off at an increasing rate of speed even as I pushed harder on the brake pedal it was the brake pedal because if if it was the accelorator the car would have taken off faster final stopped it by shifting to neutral this car belongs to hertz corp salt lake ut they refuse to report problem so I( the driver) am reporting it!
While driving at highway speeds cruise control disengages without warning or manual operation, cause unknown, vehicle has been in for repairs for this problem three times. Dealer cannot identify the problem. *ak the vehcile has been to service eight times. Cruise control dump valve and brake booster return spring was pointed out by the manufactures to be the cause for this failure.
Vehicle would start to spontaneously accelerate on its on power. After engine was turned on and the gear changed to drive, vehicle would jump on its own. While vehicle accelerated, brakes started to malfunction, and vehicle could only stop when the complete engine was turned off. This has happened on two different occasions. Dealer had advised consumer that the vehicle was in "perfect condition". Defect can cause consumer to lose control and an accident.*ak the accelerator and brake pedals engage simultaneously. The pedals are set unusually close together. The driver has no means to know the state of pedal adjustment.
Reporting design flaw with accelerator and brake pedals. Consumer believed that the two pedals are too close and the brake pedal does not sit high enough, this condition causes a problem when applying the the brake--also applied the accelerator pedal at same time. Dealer notified, and informed consumer that the way the vehicle was made, and nothing else could be done at this time. *ak
Applying brakes at 5 MPH or less, pedal very rigid, no power assistance in evidence, engine begins to race on its own. Able to stop vehicle by shifting into neutral and standing on brake pedal. Vehicle returns to normal operation after brief malfunction. Compliance: owner's guide, page 223.
Intermittently when applying the brakes motor started to race and the brakes won't hold. The more consumer pressed on the brake pedal, the faster the motor went, causing unwanted acceleration. Vehicle was taken to dealership twice. Dealership was not able to find any problems with the vehicle. *ak
While driving on city street traveling 20mph, went to adjust the power adjustable pedal which is located on the driver side seat. Instead, hit the button and caused vehicle to accelerate unexpectedly. There was no safety lock feature. There is a potential risk involved. Contacted the manufacturer and consumer union. In the owners manual there is a small mention of not using the adjustable pedal feature while vehicle is in motion.
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