MERCURY Complaints

I WAS TRAVELING WEST AT ABOUT 70 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE ON I-66 OUT OF WASHINGTON, DC WITH FOUR PEOPLE IN THE CAR. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE DIED AND WE WERE LEFT WITH ONLY THE ELECTRIC MOTOR ON THE HYBRID AND A DASH WARNING OF A RED TRIANGLE AND THE STATEMENT "STOP SAFELY SOON." THE CAR QUICKLY LOST POWER TO ABOUT 30 MPH AND WE STRUGGLED TO GET ACROSS THE FOUR LANES TO THE SHOULDER. THE ELECTRONICS IN THE CAR STILL OPERATED (RADIO, DASH LIGHTS, ETC.), BUT THE GAS ENGINE STALLED. ONCE ON THE SHOULDER, WE STOPPED. THE FORD OWNER'S MANUAL TOLD US TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND TRY TO RE-START. WE DID THIS AND THE CAR RE-STARTED. WE STARTED TO DRIVE, BUT THE CAR DID THE SAME THING AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES. THE CAR DID THE SAME THING ON ABOUT 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS UNTIL WE COULD GET TO AN EXIT THAT HAD BUSINESSES. THE FORD DEALER IN THIS AREA (AWAY FROM MY HOME) STATES THAT THE ELECTRONIC COOLING PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND THAT PARTS FAIL, MY COMPLAINT IS THAT FORD SHOULD NOT TELL OWNERS TO RE-START THE CAR AND TRY TO PROCEED ON. IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN IT CONTINUES TO FAIL AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THE NEXT FAILURE MIGHT OCCUR (ON A BRIDGE, IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, ON A BUSY, FAST INTERSTATE). MOREOVER, HAVING REVIEWED COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE AND ELSEWHERE ON THE INTERNET ABOUT FORD HYBRIDS, I KNOW THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCE THIS SITUATION WHERE THE CAR ENGINE STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO VARIOUS PROBLEMS (E.G., THE ELECTRONIC COOLING PUMP, BAD SENSORS, OR A CORRUPTED PCM). *TR

WHILE DRIVING LAST WEEK MY WIFE NOTICED THAT WHEN TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT THE STEERING STIFFENED UP AND HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP AS TO NOT HIT THE VEHICLE TO HER LEFT . I CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND NOTICED IT IS MOSTLY AFFECTED AT LOW SPEED WHILE MAKING TURNS EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT THIS HAD NO WARNING AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS.IT IS JUST LUCK THAT A WALKER OR JOGGER WERE NOT ON THE STREETS AT THE TIME .THIS NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION I WILL ATTEMPT AT REPAIR MYSELF AS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY POSSIBLE RACK AND PINION ALSO TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AT TIMES. *TR

THE FACTORY-SUPPLIED VEHICLE SERVICE JACK FAILED DURING A SPARE TIRE CHANGE. THE JACK IS A STANDARD MECHANICAL SCREW JACK WITH A 16-INCH LONG, 3/8-INCH DIAMETER HORIZONTAL BOLT SCREWED INTO A THREADED SUPPORT MEMBER IN THE JACK. THE THREADS IN THE THREADED SUPPORT MEMBER BECAME STRIPPED WHILE THE JACK WAS LIFTING THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE JACK TO FULLY COLLAPSE AND THE VEHICLE TO FALL TO THE GROUND. THE THREADED NUT IN THE SUPPORT MEMBER NO LONGER HOLDS THE 16-INCH BOLT IN PLACE, AND METAL SHAVINGS ARE SEEN ON THE HORIZONTAL BOLT. THERE IS NO SIGN OF THREAD WEAR ON THE BOLT ITSELF, SO THE FAILURE IS PURELY DUE TO THE THREADED NUT INSIDE THE SUPPORT MEMBER OF THE JACK. AT THE TIME OF THE COLLAPSE, THE BOLT WAS BEING TURNED USING THE FACTORY-SUPPLIED JACK HANDLE. THE JACK WAS RAISED APPROXIMATELY 10 VERTICAL INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BASE TO THE TOP OF THE CAR CONTACT POINT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE JACK HAD NOT YET LIFTED THE VEHICLE ENOUGH OFF THE GROUND TO CHANGE THE TIRE. *TR

THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN FELT DIFFERENT WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY, KIND OF SLUGGISH AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. THE TEMP ROSE AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO LET COOL DOWN I COULDN'T START IT UP AGAIN. HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS SHOT. NOT WORTH REPAIRING. HAD IT TOWED BACK HOME AND ITS BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY EVER SINCE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS OPENING THE REAR DOOR WHEN THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW FRACTURED AND DROPPED ON THE CONTACT'S HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE HINGES FROM THE LIFT GATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 05/08/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ONLY THE LIFT GATE HINGES WERE REPAIRED. THE HYDRAULIC LIFT WOULD NOT RAISE FULLY. THE CRACK AROUND THE MERCURY MEDALLION WAS NOT REPAIRED. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-20 MPH, THE FRONT WHEELS SEIZED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HALT. THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, PERFORMING AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ACCELERATING. THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT ALSO BEGAN TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY. AS THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE IDLE WAS ADJUSTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

WHILE DRIVING I EXPERIENCE ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER ON A SIDE STREET AND INTO A PARKING LOT PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. IT CONTINUED TO REV HIGH AND SUBSEQUENTLY I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN I TURNED BACK ON IT CONTINUED TO REV AND I TURNED IT OFF. ON SECOND ATTEMPT OF TURNING VEHICLE ON IT BEGAN TO IDLE CORRECTLY. HAS RECURRED 5 TIMES SINCE FIRST MALFUNCTION ON OCT. 31ST. *TR

WHEN I ACCELERATED MY VEHICLE THE THROTTLE STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. MY CAR ACCELERATED TO OVER 40MPH IN A RESIDENTIAL ZONE. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO THE CUTOUT RPM LIMIT. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD TO INSPECT THE PROBLEM I SAW THAT THE PLASTIC COLLAR HOLDING THE CABLE IN PLACE BROKE OFF, CAUSING THE ENTIRE CABLE TO MOVE FREELY. ONE PIECE OF THE CABLE WAS STUCK OUTSIDE OF THE COLLAR CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO ENGAGE WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING PUSHED. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2000 MERCURY SABLE AROUND A CURVE TO THE LEFT WHEN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE TO THE LEFT CAUSING HER TO LOOSE CONTROL AND STRIKE 2 GUARD RAILS,2 VEHICLES TRAVELING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND THEN HEAD-ON INTO A STONE RETAINING WALL. VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGE AND MY DAUGHTER SUFFERED A MINOR HEAD INJURY. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN AFTER STRIKING THE WALL HEAD-ON. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE DEFECTIVE, RUSTED AND MAY HAVE CAUSE HER TO LOOSE CONTROL AND THE REAR-END OF THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE TO THE LEFT. 1 WEEK PRIOR TO VEHICLE CRASH/INCIDENT, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SLID TO THE LEFT ON DRY PAVEMENT WHILE TURNING TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE TIRES WERE FAIRLY NEW AND IN GOOD CONDITION. PLEASE REVIEW THE 2000 MERCURY SABLE FOR DEFECTS IN THE REAR COIL SPRINGS AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT FAILURE. *TR