NHTSA complaint: 2005 LINCOLN TOWN CAR — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID
I TOOK DELIVERY OF MY NEW TOWN CAR AND ON THE SHORT DRIVE HOME, I REAR ENDED A CAR STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I SAW THE LIGHT WAS RED AND BEGAN BY STOP NORMALLY AND THEN REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKES AND THE ENGINE REVVED FASTER, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WOULD GRAB AND RELEASE AND THEN I STRUCK THE STOPPED CAR. THE IMPACT DID NOT SET OFF THE AIR BAGS BUT DID CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE BUMPERS OF BOTH CARS. I THOUGHT PERHAPS THE ACCELERATOR HAD STUCK AND TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. APPARENTLY MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND THE ACCELERATOR WHEN I TRIED TO STOP. A FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME MODEL TOWN CAR AS I HAVE SAID THAT THIS HAPPENED TO HIM 4 TIMES WHEN HIS CAR WAS NEW. MY SON'S WIFE HAS A 2004 EXPEDITION AND HE SAYS THAT HE HATES TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. ANOTHER FRIEND EXPRESSED THE SAME CONCERN. MY NEPHEW HAS A 2005 FORD DIESEL PICKUP AND I AM TOLD THAT HE WAS BACKING UP TO A DOCK AND HIT THE ACCELERATOR ALONG WITH THE BRAKE AND SLAMMED INTO THE DOCK BREAKING HIS TAIL LIGHT. THIS VEHICLE AND THE OTHERS I HAVE MENTIONED HAVE PEDALS THAT ADJUST IN AND OUT TOGETHER AND IN ALL POSITIONS THE HEIGHT IS THE SAME ON BOTH, AFTER THE SLACK IS TAKEN UP ON THE BRAKE. I HAD A 1997 TOWN CAR AND THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR IS ALMOST TWICE AS WIDE ON THE '97 I REPORTED THIS TO FORD AND I DO NOT LIKE THEIR RESPONSE. I WILL QUOTE ONE SENTENCE T
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation