2004 MERCURY SABLE Recalls, Complaints & Safety

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. FRED BEANS FORD OF DOYLESTOWN (876 N EASTON RD, DOYLESTOWN, PA 18902), (215) 348-2901) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STOP LAMP SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16E026000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE RECALL WAS FOR THE YEAR 2003 VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,800.

WHILE PARKED, TRIED TO PUT CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY BUT CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. ONLY WAY TO GET CAR TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK IS TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKES THEN SHIFT CAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE KEY TURNED TO OFF POSITION. BREAK LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED. I CHECKED ALL THE FUSES AND REPLACED THE BREAK LAMP BULBS TO TROUBLESHOOT ISSUE ACCORDING TO OWNERS MANUAL HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. WHEN RESEARCHING ONLINE I READ ABOUT THE SAME EXACT ISSUES OCCURRING IN SAME MODEL AND MAKE THAT WERE RECALLED. I WENT TO MY NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP TO INFORM THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND GET SOME ASSISTANCE IN FIXING THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT HELP IN THE MATTER, AND STATED THAT MY PARTICULAR VIN # AND YEAR MODEL 2004 HAD NO RECALLS. THE RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR FAULTY BREAK LIGHT SWITCHES IN 2003 AND PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS OF MERCURY SABLES. I'VE READ ABOUT NUMEROUS ISSUES OCCURRING WITH OTHER 2004 MERCURY SABLE OWNERS THAT ALSO CANNOT GET HELP WITH THIS MATTER. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATES TO FIND OUT WHY 2004 MODELS ARE ALSO EXHIBITING SAME RECALL SAFETY ISSUES. THE PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY LIES WITH THE PART (SAME BREAK LIGHT SWITCH) FORD INSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES AND NOT NECESSARILY THE YEAR THE VEHICLE WAS MADE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PRIMARY MISSION AND ROLE OF THE NHTSA IS TO HELP KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE AND INFORMED ABOUT POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES. THEREFORE, I HOPE THEY NOT ONLY INVESTIGATE WHY FORD USED THE SAME FAULTY PART ON OTHER YEAR MODEL VEHICLES BUT ALSO ISSUE THE NECESSARY RECALL FOR SAID VEHICLES WITH THOSE PARTS. IF, WHILE TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY, A CAR SLAMS INTO US BECAUSE NO BREAK LIGHTS WILL ENGAGE, WHOSE FAULT IS THAT? I'VE BROUGHT THIS SAFERY ISSUE CONCERN TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD AND NOW THE NHTSA. FAILURE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PUTS THE PUBLIC IN DANGER!

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING ON A CITY STREET. I DON'T KNOW WHY BUT IT APPEARS TO BE A CRITICAL SAFETY PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND ONLY HAS 78,000 MILES , VERY LOW FOR A 2004 VEHICLE. FORD MOTOR DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL OF ANY KIND ON THIS CAR. I AM A RETIRED SENIOR CITIZEN AND THIS IS MY ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION.

CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF TO ABOVE 55 MPH AT LOCAL ROAD, WHEN PUT TO PARKING, THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING AT MORE THAN 3500 RPM, IT WAS CRAZY, NEARLY KILLED SOME KIDS.

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED CAUSING INABILITY TO GET SHIFT LEVER OUT OF PARK MODE. BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON ALL THE TIME OR NOT COME ON AT ALL. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTED AFTER PARKING IN OUR GARAGE AND NOTICING THE BRAKE LIGHTS BEING ON ALL THE TIME. I DISCOVERED THAT TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH TO FIRST INDENT THAT THE SHIFT LEVER CAN BE PLACED IN THE NEUTRAL MODE SO ENGINE CAN BE STARTED. IN DRIVING THE CAR, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. WHEN STOPPING THE CAR AND SHIFTING TO THE PARK MODE, THE SHIFT LEVER CANNOT BE TAKEN OUT OF THE PARK MODE WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE SEQUENCE DESCRIBED ABOVE. THERE WAS A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS ON THE 2000-2004 SABLES (REFERENCE 04V106000), BUT FORD TELLS ME THE 2004 SABLES ARE NOT UNDER RECALL ALTHOUGH THE 2004 MODELS USE THE SAME DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAUSING THE EXACT PROBLEMS AS THE 2000-2003 MODELS. *TR

I CONTACTED KEN GRODY FORD IN BUENA PARK,CA 2-3 MONTHS AGO TO ASK IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON MY CAR? THE MANAGER I SPOKE WITH TOLD ME "NO!" HE ALSO MAILED ME A COPY OF HIS "OASIS" SEARCH WHICH SHOWED NO RECALLS! HELP! [XXX] PLEASE MAIL ME RECALL ALERTS ON MY CAR! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY LIGHT RANDOMLY FLASHED AND THE ALARM RANDOMLY SOUNDED WITHIN LESS THAN THAN TWO DAYS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE RPMS INCREASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND EXHIBITED RAPID ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

DRIVING ALONG RESIDENTIAL AREA, EXTREMELY LOUD BANG WITH BURNING RUBBER SMOKE. STOPPED IN ROAD LOOKED UNDER HOOD FOUND NOTHING WRONG. TRIED TO DRIVE AGAIN AND THERE WAS A BUMPING NOISE AND MORE RUBBER SMELL AND SMOKE. REPEAT INSPECTION DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVERS WHEEL CLEARANCE WAS DROPPED AND RUBBING ON THE WHEEL. SEARCH OF INTERNET SHOWS THAT SPRINGS ARE ROUTINELY BREAKING AND CAUSING INJURY AND DEATH.

CAR WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK, NOR WILL BRAKE LIGHTS OPERATE WHEN PEDAL DEPRESSED. EXACT SYMPTOMS AS DESCRIBED IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR RECALLS. ONLY WAYTO GET CAR OUT OF PARK IS TO PLACE IN NEUTRAL AFTER TURNING KEY IN IGNITION TO FIRST AVAIALBLE POSITION, THEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE SHIFT LOCK. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM W/ A FAILED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY. IT'S TOO DANGEROUS OF A PROBLEM TO NOT HAVE A RECALL. MANY OTHER MODEL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. WHY NOT THIS MODEL?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

THE CAR WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK, NOR DO THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK AND SOMETIMES THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. RECALL #04S12 OR 04V106000. HOWEVER THE RECALL STOPS AT 2003. MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME DEFECTIVE SWITCH IN IT BUT FORD IS REFUSING TO REPLACE IT. THEY CLAIM MY VEHICLE WAS MADE A FEW DAYS AFTER THE RECALL STOPPED. WELL THAT DOESN'T MAKE MY BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH ANY SAFER. I'M BEING HANDED A LINE OF CRAP BY FORD. THEY INSTALLED A DEFECTIVE SWITCH AND HAVE ADMITTED ITS DEFECTIVE AND WONT FIX MINE BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURE DATE. WHAT COURT WOULDN'T PROSECUTE FORD IF I HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE SWITCH THAT THEY KNOW IS DEFECTIVE BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT. *TR

CAR WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK, NOR WILL BRAKE LIGHTS OPERATE WHEN PEDAL DEPRESSED. EXACT SYMPTOMS AS DESCRIBED IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR RECALLS. ONLY WAYTO GET CAR OUT OF PARK IS TO PLACE IN NEUTRAL AFTER TURNING KEY IN IGNITION TO FIRST AVAILABLE POSITION, THEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE SHIFT LOCK. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE, THREE POINT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY COMES UNLATCHED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS IS EVEN AFTER THE BELT TONGUE IS IN PLACE, YOU HEAR A CLICK FROM THE LATCH CLOSING AND LOCKING AND THE BELT HAS BEEN PULLED ON TO TEST THE CONNECTION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND THE ATTENDANT SAID THAT THE SEAT BELT LATCH WAS LIKELY NOT WORKING DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 200,000 MILES AND IS VERY MUCH STILL DRIVABLE. THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO CHARGE THE VEHICLE OWNER OVER $300.00 FOR THE REPAIR AND WILL NOT REPAIR WITHOUT PAYMENT. THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD BE GUARANTEED TO WORK PROPERLY OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT AN EXPENSIVE FIX AS VERY FEW PEOPLE DRIVE THEIR CARS OVER 120,000 MILES AS IS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE ENGINE KEEPS CONSTANT SPEED EVEN AFTER REMOVING FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IT'S LIKE A STUCK THROTTLE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO APPLY BRAKE AND SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND STAMP ON THE ACCELERATOR. TRAFFIC HAD COME TO A STOP AND MY ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING AT 3500 RPMS PRETTY SCARY, ONLY THING HOLDING CAR BACK IS BRAKES. *TR

STARTED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH. PRESSED HARD ON BRAKES TO STOP, PUT IT ON PARK MODE. STILL RPM WAS AROUND 4000. TURNED OFF ENGINE. WHEN CRANKED BACK, RPM KEPT ON INCREASING WITHOUT FOOT ON ACCELERATOR. TAPPED HARD ON ACCELERATOR COUPLE OF TIMES, RPM WENT BACK TO NORMAL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND EXHIBITED RAPID ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

WHILE DRIVING AND I GO OVER 50 MPH MY CAR WILL SPEED UP WHICH CAUSE THE THROTTLE CABLE TO COME APART AN D THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION SPEEDS UP. *TR

I RECEIVED A PANICKED PHONE CALL FROM MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AFTER A LIFE THREATENING EXPERIENCE. SHE WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN, THE ENGINE RACED TO 4,000 RPM AND STAYED THERE, WHILE SHE FRANTICALLY PRESSED THE BRAKE. THANKFULLY SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS SHE PULLED OFF IT THE ROAD. SHE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES SHE STARTED THE CAR, AGAIN IT RACED TO 4,000 RPM. AFTER TRYING THIS MULTIPLE TIMES I HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME. A CALL TO FORD VERIFIED THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS OR RECALL WORK DONE ON THIS VEHICLE. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE, TO MY AMAZEMENT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE.IN FEAR FOR MY CHILD AND ANYONE ELSE WHO MIGHT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE I HAVE REMOVED IT FROM USE, AND FEEL STUCK WITH UNSAFE VEHICLE. I AM HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE LACK OF RESPONSE/RESOLVE FROM THE MANUFACTURE. *TR

THROTTLE GETS STUCK. THIS WAS REPAIRED IN FEBRUARY OF 2009 AND HAS OCCURRED AGAIN NOW IN OCTOBER 2013. STATEMENT FROM FORD DEALERSHIP NOV 4, 2013: SPEED CONTROL CABLE BROKEN NEEDS REPLACE MAY BE CAUSING THROTTLE LINKAGE TO BIND. DEALERSHIP INDICATES THAT A RECALL ON THE 2000-2003 MERCURY SABLES COVERS THE EXACT REPAIRS THAT ARE NECESSARY ON MY VEHICLE BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED AS IT IS A 2004. CONTACTED FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SHOULDER AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,794.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SITTING IDLE AT A TRAFFIC STOP. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND THE RPMS INCREASED BEFORE THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED. FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 203,000.

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AT PEDAL FAULTY WITH SAME SYMPTOMS AS RECALL NHTSA I.D. # 04V10600...BRAKE LIGHTS WON'T ACTIVATE WHEN PEDAL DEPRESSED WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED AND WHEN PARKED TRANSMISSION RANGE SELECTOR IS STUCK IN PARK POSITION. THESE SYMPTOMS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT FROM THE REAR AND OR LEAVE FAMILY MEMBERS STRANDED. CURIOUSLY THIS RECALL DOESN'T LIST THE RECALLED SWITCHES PART NUMBER AND CERTAINLY FORD MOTORS WON'T ADMIT THAT A FEW WERE INSTALLED ON 2004 MODELS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND ENGAGE THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

MY MERCURY SABLE 2004 BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THE FIRST TIME I WAS CRUISING AT 35MPH AND HAD TROUBLE STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN. BRAKING CAUSED A VIBRATION THE RPM'S WERE NOT GOING DOWN. DRIVING FURTHER I NOTED THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. TAPPING THE THE GAS PEDAL QUICKLY SOMETIMES CAUSED THE RPM'S TO GO BACK TO NORMAL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL GARAGE AND HAD THE THROTTLE (CABLES, ETC) CHECKED. ALL WERE REPORTED OK. THE ISSUE HAS HAPPENED OFF AND ON BUT YESTERDAY (11/28/12) WAS THE WORST. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND MY ISSUE IS EXACTLY THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUE REPORTED BY MANY OTHER TAURUS/SABLE OWNERS. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND AM NOW CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. I CONTACTED FORD AND GOT A CASE NUMBER ASSIGNED. I AM WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM. *TR

THROTTLE GOT STUCK AND CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND NOW ITS A CONSTANT PROBLEM EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR I CAN GET IT TO STOP MOMENTARILY BY QUICKLY APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL WHERE IT WILL STOP ACCELERATING FOR A MOMENT BUT ONCE THE RPMS DROP AS LOW AS THEY ARE GOING TO GO IT STARTS ACCELERATING ALL OVER AGAIN WHEN IN PARK IT REVS OUT AT UP TO 5000 RPMS I KNOW YOU ARE ALREADY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN THE 05 & 06 MODELS BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING ABOUT 04'S ALSO EVERYTHING I'VE RESEARCHED SAYS ITS THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE BEING DISCONNECTED WHICH WAS THE FIRST THING I CHECKED AND MINE IS STILL CONNECTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 8 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR MOVE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT NO WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

WITHOUT WARNING I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER WITH MY 2004 MERCURY SABLE. AFTER DRIVING MY CAR APPROXIMATELY 46 MILES (I LIVE 47 MILES FROM JOB) I CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND WHEN I WENT TO PROCEED THROUGH THE STOP SIGN, I WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. I HAD LOST FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. NO SLIPPING, NO BANGING, NO GRINDING OR ANY OTHER NOISES THAT ALMOST ALWAYS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP (AAMCO OF MINEOLA, NY) AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. I NEVER IN ALL MY 32 YEARS OF DRIVING HAD A TRANSMISSION FAIL IN THE MANNER THAT THIS TRANSMISSION DID. I ALSO TRULY FELT IT WAS A TORQUE CONVERTER OR INPUT SHAFT FAILURE BUT I AM NOT A MECHANIC (I DO HAVE A GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF HOW A CAR AND IT'S COMPONENTS WORK) AND JUST DECIDED TO GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED. I DID NOT THINK MUCH ABOUT THIS UNTIL I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT MY FORD FREESTAR IS INVOLVED IN A RECALL (11S25/NHTSA RECALL 12V-006) WHICH DESCRIBED THE SAME FAILURE. IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT IT IS ALSO A MODEL YEAR 2004 AND IS EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME MODEL TRANSMISSION (AX4S). I AM NOW VERY CONFIDENT THAT THE TRANSMISSION'S TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED JUST AS IT IS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL FOR MY FORD FREESTAR. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE SPLINES IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER WHEN IT IS MANUFACTURED AND A POSSIBLE FAILURE OF THE INPUT SHAFT (WHICH THE TORQUE CONVERTER SPINS ON). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT 50 MPH, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL POP. THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED TO 4000 WHILE THE CONTACT WAS APPLYING EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT COASTED OFF THE ROADWAY AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED TO 50 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO BECOME JAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY HAVING THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE DISCONNECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000. UPDATED 3/2/12 *CN

I NOTICED THAT THE CAR DID NOT DECELERATE WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN I BRAKED, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE RACE EVEN FASTER. AT THE LIGHT I KEPT IT IN NEUTRAL AND GAVE IT GAS WHILE BRAKED. THEN IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL IDLE SPEED. IT HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THAT FIRST INCIDENT. PREVIOUS TO THAT FIRST INCIDENT, I NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL NO LONGER WORKED. *TR