10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 32,754 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Leaving work, approximately 150 feet from parking place to parking lot exit into road. When braking to stop before entering roadway, vehicle lurched forward with engine racing at a high RPM. Pushed into neutral until stopped then park with engine still racing. Turned off and sat still for a minute then restarted with no further problem. Mechanic cannot find anything wrong. Not the first time it has happened but was the worst incident with engine being uncontrollable.
- Elon, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the vehicle accelerated independently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the cruise control needed to be disconnected. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 85,000...updated 05/01/13 updated 05/06/13
- Shevlin, MN, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that whenever the air conditioner or cruise control was running, the vehicle would have sudden acceleration failures. The failure also occurred when braking to a complete stop. The contact stated that the vehicle had to be shifted into neutral in order to stop the vehicle by applying the brakes. The contact took the vehicle to a mechanic, but they were unable to determine the cause of the problem. The VIN was not available. The current mileage was 50,000 and the failure mileage was not available.
- Commerce Township, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact was at a complete stop when the vehicle accelerated abnormally. The vehicle crashed into a water heater in the contact's garage. The contact did not sustain any injuries but there were major damages to the front end of the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 115,100.
- Laguna Hills , CA, USA
2002 Mercury Grand Marquis lunges forward (increase RPM @1000, and loud growl from engine compartment) when I let off the accelerator, I.e. approaching a stop light. Once I release the brake and accelerate again, all goes back to normal. There is no "check engine" light, and no other notable problems. It is intermittent and annoying.
- Winter Haven, FL, USA
I have a 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis. While stopped at a light the vehicle has all of a sudden accelerated at high speed uncontrollably. My husband had both feet on the brakes and shifted the car into neutral as the rear tires spun wildly with black smoke rolling off of them. This was terrifying. We took the car to the dealership after contacting Ford and they couldn't find anything wrong so they disengaged the cruise control thinking that may be the problem. The car continues to do this and you never know when it will happen. It can be one month or four months later that this happens. We can't afford to get rid of the car but we are afraid of it. There should be some kind of recourse or allowance for us to get rid of this vehicle. Please help us!
- Avon Park, FL, USA
: the contact stated the vehicle did not always start. When it did start the engine stalled while idling. To alleviate stalling the accelerator pedal must be pumped hard while starting the vehicle. The vehicle has been to the dealership multiple times and they were unable to duplicate the problem. The iac valve was replaced, and the computer was reprogrammed. Neither of these efforts repaired the problem.
- Lost Nation, IA, USA
While driving vehicle off of carwash conveyor, the engine raced to full speed. I had to us both feet on the brake, and shift into neutral to stop the car. With the front tires locked, the car still accellerated over two speed bumps before stopping.
- Jacksonville, FL, USA
While waiting at a stop engine started to rev to a high rate. Driver shifted into neutral to help resolve the problem, which failed. Has been in contact with mechanic, and cause of problem has yet to be determined.
- Great Neck, NY, USA
Sudden acceleration of vehicle
- Poland, OH, USA
When pressing accelerator pedal it sticks. Consumer states that the accelerator stuck on 2 occasions due to defective throttle body system, throttle body was replaced.
- Drexel Hill, PA, USA
Cruise control was set at 65mph on the vehicle. Cruise control would not disengage manually or when brake pedal was applied. Speed increased to 75mph before emergency brake was applied to stop vehicle. Mercury dealer was notified.
- Russellville, TN, USA
When the car was put in reverse the car started back at a rapid speed before the gas pedal was depressed. Later found that the pedal was broken and the spring missing, making the pedal almost touch the bottom of the dash.
- Mt Pleasant, SC, USA
While putting vehicle in gear vehicle sped up without consumer applying pressure to accelerator. Vehicle was totaled. Contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything. The dealer stated that they were waiting to hear from Ford on the engine vibration problem. Consumer was getting the vehicle washed and the attendant explained that while attempting to move the vehicle off the conveyor, the vehicle raced across the highway and although his foot was on the brake, the vehicle would not stop. The vehicle finally came to a rest after crashing into an oncomming van. The vehicle was totalled.
- Upper Darvy, PA, USA
Vehicle acellerated without prior warning. He applied brakes to gain control of vehicle, but brakes failed to stop vehicle. Dealership was aware of problem.
- Huston, TX, USA
- Altaville, CA, USA