22 of the 517 complaints about the 1992 Mercury Sable are about the throttle and cruise control — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 131,254 miles.
22
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY SO I PUT ON THE CRUISE CONTROL, WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES THE CAR SLOWED DOWN, THEN WHEN I REASLED THE BRAKES THE CAR RADILY SPEED UP, AND IT IS HARD TO SHUT IT OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10098210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING RPMS REVVED TO 4700, AND VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN ON ITS OWN,SMOKE CAME OUT OF TRANSMISSION AND VEHICLE STALLED. TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. CONTACTED DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #8015913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING WAS THE INABILITY TO SHIFT THE CAR OUT OF "PARK" IN THE NORMAL WAY - START THE CAR, DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND PULL THE SHIFT LEVER DOWN. THE ONLY WAY THAT I COULD GET THE CAR INTO GEAR WAS TO PULL DOWN ON THE SHIFT LEVER WHILE TURNING THE KEY AND THEN START THE ENGINE WHILE IN NEUTRAL. I DISCOVERED, IN A CONVERSATION WITH A FORD MECHANIC, THAT THIS IS A SYMPTOM OF A FAILURE SOMEWHERE IN THE "BRAKE LIGHT" CIRCUIT. SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A BLOWN BRAKE LIGHT BULB WOULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS ANOTHER SYMPTOM THAT WAS NOT DISCUSSED WITH THE MECHANIC, AS I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS RELATED, BUT COULD IN ITSELF, CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. APPARENTLY THE DE-ACTIVATION IS CONTROLLED BY A COMPONENT WIRED INTO THE BRAKE LIGHT CIRCUIT. AFTER I GOT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING (DIRTY CONTACTS ON THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH), EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. THE CAR SHIFTED AS IT WAS SUPPOSE TO AND THE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN DISENGAGED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN MY OPINION, THE INTERELATIONSHIP OF THESE COMPONENTS HAS GOOD POTENTIAL TO BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. IT WOULD BE EASY TO INADVERTANTLY PUT THE CAR IN FORWARD GEAR WHILE INTENDING TO PUT IT IN REVERSE WHEN STARTING IT IN NEUTRAL. THE CAR COULD ROLL WHEN STARTING IT IN THIS MANNER. THE FAILURE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE GAVE ME THE SENSATION OF FLOORING THE CAR AND PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME. NOT USUALLY A VERY GOOD THING TO DO. THAT'S IT. I HOPE IT HELPS.
NHTSA complaint #734392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH. VEHICLE TOOK OFF ON ITS OWN, AND ENGINE KEPT RACING.
NHTSA complaint #862068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED RECALL FAILURE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE CAUSING ERRATIC SPEED CONTROL. (97V-025) MJS
NHTSA complaint #550404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UPON TURNING INTO A CAR WASH CONSUMER SHIFTED TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A FENCE AND DROP DOWN THREE FEET INTO A HOUSE. CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES WHEN HE SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #837343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN STOPPED.
NHTSA complaint #545115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
NHTSA complaint #544041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AT SLOW SPEEDS, DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SENSOR ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #531201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AFTER PARKING BRAKE WAS RELEASED. ALSO BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. DEALERS STATED ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS FAULTY.
NHTSA complaint #820131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL #97S65 (THROTTLE CONTROL). AFTER THE REPAIR OF THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE'S CONDITION REMAINED THE SAME. OWNER STATES THAT WHEN RUNNING SPEED CONTROL THE THROTTLE IDLES .DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED .
NHTSA complaint #816417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
RECALL # 97V025000, RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN APRIL OF 97. .MADE APPOINTMENT ON 7/10/97. AFTER ARRIVING AT DEALERSHIP CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. DEALER WILL CONTACT WHEN AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #814313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FROM MANUFACTURER IN MAY ,CALLED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE VEHICLE IN. DEALER SAID THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS FOR THIS RECALL, AND DON'T KNOW WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. MFR. RECALL #97S65.
NHTSA complaint #812739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
RECALL RELATED, 97V025, THROTTLE CONTROL, CONTACTED DEALERSHIP ON 21 MAY, SAID PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, IN FOR REPAIR, NO PARTS AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #812702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT THE CONSUMER PLACING HIS FOOT ON THE GAS; IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR HAD TO BE PLACED IN NETURAL. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN DETAIL.
NHTSA complaint #804720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE POSITION SENDER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #501603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
GAS PEDAL LOST ALL RESISTANCE/WENT TO FLOOR, WHEN PRESSED HARD, RENDERING VEHICLE INOPERABLE DUE TO FAILURE OF ACCELERATOR CABLE. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #500531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. TT
NHTSA complaint #977612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR WAS BEING CHECK BY FRIEND BECAUSE OF THE RPM RACING GOT OUT OF CAR TOOK OFF DRAGGING PERSON TO HOUSE WENT INTO LADY BEDROOM WITH LADY IN BED INJURY 2 PEOPLE
NHTSA complaint #970961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGE, VEHICLE ACCELERATES, DEALER CAN NOT LOCATE PROBLEM SO THEY DISCONNECT THE CRUISE. TT
NHTSA complaint #965973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS ACCELERATOR, CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #482582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #961860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.