2002 Mercury Sable: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Jul 12, 2016 · Acceleration, Brakes · 300,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercury sable. When the accelerator pedal was depressed at 50 MPH, the vehicle rapidly accelerated. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact was unaware of how the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who stated that the cruise control cable was fractured. The contact performed a temporary repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 300,000.

Filed Apr 29, 2013 · Acceleration · 64,253 miles · CA

Traveling on highway, preparing to turn left onto a freeway onramp. As I took my foot off the gas pedal, the speed suddenly increased and the engine revved. I applied the brake, but the engine continued to rev, as the throttle was now stuck. The vehicle continued forward and I had to throw it into park to stop the forward motion. The engine even revved faster and I turned off the ignition and engine stopped. When I re-started the engine, it immediately continued to rev over 4300 RPM as the throttle was stuck. I had the vehicle towed to an automotive repair shop. The mechanic said the throttle control cable had become stuck against the collar shoulder, resulting in the throttle becoming stuck and unable to disengage. *tr update by smch: it was the cruise control cable not the throttle cable

Filed Dec 13, 2012 · Acceleration · 120,000 miles · CA

While I was driving to work, my car suddenly began to accelerate by itself. It was full throttle, and I could not stop it from speeding up. Thank god I was entering the highway when this happened, because I could not slow the car down. While on the highway, I held my foot all the way down on the brake, and the car would still not go below 65 MPH. Without my foot on the brake, it got up to 95 MPH and would have kept getting higher. So I drove with my foot on the brake at 65 MPH, weaving in and out of traffic. I tried switching into neutral, but this had no effect. I called 911 and they sent a police officer out to follow me. I was driving like this for 10-15 minutes with my life constantly flashing before my eyes. Eventually, I was instructed by 911 to turn off the ignition off while in neutral (which I did not know could be done until they told me). If there had been traffic on the highway at any point, I would have gotten into a terrible accident and could have injured/killed myself and others. It was a very traumatic experience, and I am extremely shaken up. According to the auto shop that is working on my car, the incident occurred because the cable that runs from the cruise control to the throttle body broke.

Filed Oct 30, 2012 · Acceleration · 121,000 miles · NY

I was driving on route 31 west in medina ny and the car would not stop I had to put my car in park and my transmission was really grinding. Thank god no one was in the area or someone would have been really hurt ? I brought the car to the repair shop and the cause was the cruise control and it was removed.

Filed Oct 29, 2012 · Acceleration · 145,000 miles · MI

While driving at 35 MPH, gas pedal was stuck down to floor, RPM and speedometer controls were at the maximum and the engine revved up. Vehicle started to accelerate so I depressed brake pedal slowing the vehicle down enough to shift it into park and shut the vehicle off. A passerby stopped by and taped the cruise control cable back together.

Filed Aug 23, 2012 · Acceleration · 131,000 miles · CT

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercury sable. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH there was an increase on engine rpms and the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact mentioned the brakes failed to stop the vehicle. However, once the vehicle was shifted into neutral and then park he was able to turn the engine off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnose that the cruise control cable failed. The contact had the cable disconnected. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 131,000 and the current mileage was 132,000.

Filed Jul 27, 2012 · Acceleration · 86,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercury sable. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle began to accelerate abnormally. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis where the contact was informed that the cruise control cable was broke and caused the vehicle to accelerate. The contact requested the cruise control be disconnected. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the case was under investigation. The failure and the current mileages were 86,000.

Filed May 10, 2012 · Acceleration · 87,510 miles · CA

The cruise control gas cable broke off the holder by the throttle valve, resulting in jamming the throttle valve in open position, the car became out of control as the brakes are not able to slow down the car, only turning off the ignition helped slowing down the car so no brake booster. One very dangerous situation. The design and material are of substandard. I have it documented with pictures.

Filed Apr 17, 2012 · Acceleration · 81,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercury sable. The contact stated that he heard a banging noise while driving 50 MPH and the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact shifted into neutral and shut off the engine. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the cruise control cable was damaged and caused the failure. The mechanic disconnected the cruise control cable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 81,000.

Filed Mar 14, 2012 · Acceleration, Engine · 105,000 miles · MI

When cruise control is on and active and gas pedal manually depressed ( to pass car) throttle will stick open. Ball on throttle plate comes out of saddle on cruise control cable. When foot taken off gas ball on throttle plate does not return to original saddle position at end of cruise control cable. Ball on throttle plate gets stuck on edge of entrance to cable saddle. Throttle sticks partway open with amount open depending on cruise control cable position / amount of throttle commanded by cruise control. I fixed by placing a piece of 1/2" o.d. Tube over cable (slit along length and then over cable, cable tie in position). This is enough to keep ball on throttle from coming out of saddle on cruise cable. Basically snap lock in saddle is wearing out after repeatedly pressing on gas while cruise control is on and active. No more problems for 20,000 miles.

Filed Mar 12, 2012 · Acceleration · 86,448 miles · WV

Cruise control cable broke or came loose causing throttle return spring to fall off. I could not stop car no matter how hard I pushed the brake pedal. The engine ran at full speed. The cruise control was not on. I was able to quickly put car in neutral and turn off the engine. I started the engine again and it revved up to full speed immediately. It was very difficult to move the car off the main road without starting the engine. We were fortunate there were no cars in front of us when this happened. We were about 50 yards from having to make a sharp left turn to go onto the main highway and traffic. We never would have been able to make the turn without crashing or the car turning over. My wife and I had just picked up two of our dogs at the vet and were returning home. The car was towed to the nearest ford garage in the next town. I believe ford has a bigger problem than they are admitting. The mercury's should be included in their problem.

Filed Feb 6, 2007 · Acceleration · 100,000 miles · FL

Tl*- the contact owns a 2002 mercury sable. While driving 15 MPH and due to heavy traffic the cruise control cable jumped out of its socket and the vehicle started to accelerate. The contact applied the brakes, but the vehicle did not respond. The driver had to turn the vehicle's power off completely to stop it from accelerating. The contact scheduled an appointment with a repair facility. The failure mileage was 100,000. *ak the consumer stated he experienced unwanted acceleration. Updated 02.27.07.