NHTSA complaint: 2002 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS LEAVING A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT WHEN I STARTED THE CAR UP AND EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE STARTED TO RACE EXTREMELY FAST CAUSING THE CAR TO MOVE BACKWARDS WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION, BUT I WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE CAR BEHIND ME AND I HIT IT. I WAS MOVING ABOUT 10 TO 20 MILES PER HOUR WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHICH FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE CAR RAN OKAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SOUTH HILLS LINCOLN DEALERSHIP WHERE IT HAD BEEN PURCHASED. THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I HAVE ONLY 27,100 MILES ON THE CAR. IT IS A 2002 MODEL AND I HAVE OWNED IT SINCE IT WAS NEW. I CALLED FORD TO TRY TO GET HELP BUT THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR FOUR DAYS AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I NOW HAVE A CAR WITH JUST OVER 27,000 MILES AND AM CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO AND FORD COULD NOT CARE LESS. I DID HAVE OTHER INSTANCES (ABOUT SIX) WHEN ON STARTUP THE ENGINE WOULD BEGIN TO RACE. I WOULD IMMEDIATELY TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART IT AND THEN IT WOULD BE OKAY. IN SEPTEMBER, 2010, I DID TAKE THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE, BUT THIS DID NOT DO ANY GOOD. THE CAR MIGHT GO A MONTH OR TWO WITHOUT A PROBLEM. THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS IN GEAR. OTHER THAN THIS, THE CAR IS IN PERFECT CONDITION AND
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation