1999 Mercury Mystique

CAR WAS PARKED IN MOTEL PARKING LOT. I ENTERED CAR AT 6:55AM TO MOVE CAR BY OUR ROOM TO PICKUP BAGS. I HAD MY FOOT ON BRAKE, STARTED ENGINE AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE CAR JUMPED REARWARD AT A HIGH SPEED. I HAD NOT PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR HIT A TELEPHONE POLE (ABOUT 8 FEET BEHIND WERE THE CAR WAS PARKED). MY BODY WENT REARWARD WHEN THE CAR HIT THE POLE. AT THIS TIME, I HAD MY HAND ON THE SHIFTER (FLOORMOUNT) AND IT PULLED THE CAR INTO FORWARD GEAR. THE CAR SHOT FORWARD AND SLAMMED INTO A BRICK COLUMN DIRECTLY INFRONT OF WERE I WAS PARKED. I TRIED TO TURN OFF IGNITION AND HIT THE BRAKE BUT I COULDN'T EFFECT THE FORWARD MOTION. I SAW THE CAR HIT THE POLE AND MY FOREHEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TOLD AT THE HOSPITAL THAT YOU NEED TO BE GOING 35MPH OR FASTER FOR THEM TO DEPLOY. DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ACCIDENTS BEFORE. I KNOW THAT I DID NOT PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR WHEN I ENGAGED REVERSE. I COULD HEAR THE MOTOR REVVING HIGHER THAN NORMAL. I WAS ACCELERATING WHEN THE CAR WAS GOING FORWARD.

THERE IS A CONSTANT GAS SMELL DURING THE WINTER TIME. THE SMELL IS WORSE RIGHT AFTER FILLING THE CAR WITH GASOLINE AND ANYTIME THE CAR IS STARTED MORE THAN ONE TIME SUCH AS NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF ERRANDS. THE SMELL IS SO BAD AT TIMES I AM AFRAID TO LEAVE THE CAR CLOSE TO THE HOUSE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS MANY TIMES AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS SUPPOSEDLY CHECKED AND THE FUEL FILTER REPLACED AT ONE POINT. GASOLINE HAS LEAKED AT TIMES FROM BEHIND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. THIS HAPPENS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS FOR THE MOST PART. *AK

CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK, AND WHEN SHE PLACED RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKES, AUTOMOBILE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND INCREASED THE RPMS, CAUSING AUTOMOBILE TO ADVANCE FORWARD. IT JUMPED THE CONCRETE. *AK THE BRAKE COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE BUT WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED, THE GAS PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. *YH

POWER STEERING IS LOST WHEN DRIVING THRU PUDDLES OR WET STREET. DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. BATTERY LIGHT REMAINS ON FOR SHORT DISTANCE AND BRAKES BECOME VERY NOISEY. CANNOT CONTROL CAR AT THIS POINT AND MUST STOP UNTIL POWER STEERING COMES BACK. ALMOST WENT OFF ROAD AND INTO BANK WHEN TURNING AND THIS HAPPENED. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM YET, AND WILL BE TAKING THE CAR INTO THE SHOP TODAY BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES. 9/15/00. IT HAPPENS DURING RAIN, OF IF PUDDLES ARE IN PARKING LOT.

ABS SYSTEM IS LATE. THIS CAR STOPS VERY QUICKLY ON DRY PAVEMENT AND IT REQUIRES A VERY LONG DISTANCE TO STOP ON WET OR ICY CONDITIONS. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS BEING PUSHED DURING ICY CONDITIONS. I HAVE RETURNED TO MY DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE FROUNT BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE HAVE BEEN CHECKED. THIS CAR DOES NOT FEEL SAFE! HOWEVER, THE DEALER SAYS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I HAVE COMPARED MY CAR TO OTHER OF THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL WHICH HAS CONVINCED ME THAT MY ABS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.