Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - SWITCHES - BRAKE LIGHT | |||||
| 02176 | 09/02/2002 | 10008580 | Lamp-brake-invadvertent disabling of brake shift interlock. *mj | 08/05/2004 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - SWITCHES - BRAKE LIGHT | ||||||
| RQ03008 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 10/23/2003 | 03/05/2004 | BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE | 04V106000 | |
| Ford conducted a recall in march, 2001 to correct a defect affecting the brake light switch in my 2000 through early-2001 taurus and sable vehicles equipped with power adjustable pedals (recall 01v-078).rq03-008 was opened to investigate complaints concerning the remedy and scope of 01v-078.odi's analysis identified concerns with post-repair failures in recalled vehicles,failures in my 2001-02 vehicles with adjustable pedals that were not included in recall 01v-078, and failures in my 2000 vehicles with fixed pedals.(note: the manufacturer failure data in this resume includes all crashes and injuries, but the complaint information is limited to my 2001-02 vehicles that were not included in the scope of recall 01v-078.)on march 1, 2004, ford notified nhtsa of a safety defect in my 2000 through early-2003 taurus and sable vehicles equipped with adjustable pedals and my 2000 subject vehicles equipped with fixed pedals (recall 04v-106).the notification identified three factors contributing to brake light circuit failures:(1) continuing grease contamination issues that prompted 01v-078; (2) misalignment of the booster rod pin and the brake light switch; and (3) wire assembly fatigue.the first two conditions were limited to vehicles with adjustable pedals and the latter condition affected vehicles with fixed pedals.ford will instruct owners to bring their vehicles to a dealer to have the brake light switch and associated wiring replaced with a re-designed brake light switch and wiring assembly. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | |||
| 07/14/2012 | 95000 | 1 | |
| I went to leave from a local park on a saturday evening, but my vehicle would not move out of park. i had to call a tow truck. the tow truck driver showed me a trick how to get the vehicle to start, by turning the ignition key ever so slightly and then trying to move the shifter to neutral. once in neutral i started the vehicle and drove home. after driving the vehicle for almost a week by starting in neutral, i was stopped on the following friday by police. i was informed that i didn't have any working brake lights. i drove home and looked on the internet if there were any recalls on this vehicle. well, there was a recall done in 2004 (nhtsa action number: rq03008), but i was informed by ford motor company that my vehicle based on its vin was not apart of the recall. i requested to speak to a supervisor and was instructed that someone would contact me on that following monday. i was indeed contacted by ford motor company and informed again, that based on my vin, that i did not qualify as a part of the recall. i was told if more complaints were made, then something could possibly be done. i told the ford representative that i was not interested in having my vehicle repaired as i had the repair done based on the recall information for approximately $50. the issue was exactly as it was described on the nhtsa's website, motortrend and ford motor company's. the repair took approximately 15 minutes and then i was able to start the vehicle in park and the brake lights were functioning. my concern is that for almost a week i drove with no brake lights in a vehicle where i drive around with my wife, a toddler, and an infant and at any point i could have been rear ended because of this defect in the vehicle. the vehicle is 10 years old, it will never have enough complaints. however, it does not diminish the potential for loss of life from this detect. *tr | |||
| 07/14/2012 | 95000 | ||
| I went to leave from a local park on a saturday evening, but my vehicle would not move out of park. i had to call a tow truck. the tow truck driver showed me a trick how to get the vehicle to start, by turning the ignition key ever so slightly and then trying to move the shifter to neutral. once in neutral i started the vehicle and drove home. after driving the vehicle for almost a week by starting in neutral, i was stopped on the following friday by police. i was informed that i didn't have any working brake lights. i drove home and looked on the internet if there were any recalls on this vehicle. well, there was a recall done in 2004 (nhtsa action number: rq03008), but i was informed by ford motor company that my vehicle based on its vin was not apart of the recall. i requested to speak to a supervisor and was instructed that someone would contact me on that following monday. i was indeed contacted by ford motor company and informed again, that based on my vin, that i did not qualify as a part of the recall. i was told if more complaints were made, then something could possibly be done. i told the ford representative that i was not interested in having my vehicle repaired as i had the repair done based on the recall information for approximately $50. the issue was exactly as it was described on the nhtsa's website, motortrend and ford motor company's. the repair took approximately 15 minutes and then i was able to start the vehicle in park and the brake lights were functioning. my concern is that for almost a week i drove with no brake lights in a vehicle where i drive around with my wife, a toddler, and an infant and at any point i could have been rear ended because of this defect in the vehicle. the vehicle is 10 years old, it will never have enough complaints. however, it does not dimish the potential for loss of life from this detect. | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | |||
| 10/08/2012 | 151000 | 1 | |
| I was driving my car and while i was braking for a stop light i couldn't stop. something was giving my car gas as i was trying to stop. ever since then when i drive it my rpm's are high and makes a noise. i called the shop and had my idle air control valve replaced because that's what the automotive place said was wrong. since then it's been in 3 other times and had the part replaced just in case it was a faulty part. now the mechanics are baffled as am i. i did research and noticed this was a common complaint on these vehicles. i just took it in again today december 6,2012 and we can't figure out the problem. it's getting worse to where i can't really drive it because when i go to brake it won't stop. i can be at a complete stop and not touch the gas and my car will get up to 45mph without me even touching the gas pedal. *tr | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 1 | ||
| Problems with braking system on 2003 mercury sable station wagon.*mr (nar) *cb | |||
| 03/01/2005 | 3 | 10/31/2002 | |
| While driving in high speeds consumer heard a loud clanking noise coming from the front. consumer applied the brakes, and the vehicle failed to stop completely. vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. *ak there was a gas smell inside of the vehicle, a steering vibration and the oil pan gasket was replaced. *jb | |||
| 12000 | 1 | ||
| Dealer indicated that parts won't be available for 4 to 6 weeks. lincoln mercury, 24400 center ridge, westlake oh, 440-835-3700. *ak | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK | |||
| 04/21/2004 | 1 | ||
| Customer is asking for info about a customer complaint**cc the consumer has a similar situation and would like to find out more information. *tr | |||
| 04/15/2005 | 6 | ||
| When stopping on an incline for a light or sign with foot on brakes vehicle rolled backwards when foot was taken off the brakes to accelerate. would either depress the brakes again or accelerator pedal to keep vehicle from hitting another vehicle behind. had taken vehicle to dealerships but mechanic did not notice or find anything wrong. this problem happened at least 6 times before.*ak | |||
| 04/21/2004 | 12000 | 3 | 03/10/2003 |
| Consumer was concerned that brake pedal went to the floor intermittently when applied. vehicle was to dealer on several occasions, and dealer was unable to locate the problem. afterwards vehicle was involved in a crash because the brake pedal went to the floor while coming onto oncoming traffic. no injuries were reported. vehicle was taken to the dealer, whoinformed the consumer that the problem was the master cylinder. *ak | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK - CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | |||
| 01/07/2006 | 33396 | 2 | 01/10/2005 |
| Abs activated after going over several bumps in a series and brakes applied lightly. lightly being as when slowing down in traffic for a traffic light and stopping. abs light did not come on. however, abs light has subsequently come on. abs light does not necessarily come on again the next time the vehicle is started. also the brakes can appear to be fine until the next series of bumps is encountered when driving. *nm | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - MASTER CYLINDER | |||
| 04/21/2004 | 12000 | 3 | 03/10/2003 |
| Consumer was concerned that brake pedal went to the floor intermittently when applied. vehicle was to dealer on several occasions, and dealer was unable to locate the problem. afterwards vehicle was involved in a crash because the brake pedal went to the floor while coming onto oncoming traffic. no injuries were reported. vehicle was taken to the dealer, whoinformed the consumer that the problem was the master cylinder. *ak | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - PEDALS AND LINKAGES | |||
| 04/20/2008 | 10000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 mercury sable. while attempting to depress the brake pedal and place the vehicle into drive, the contact's foot struck the accelerator pedal instead. the vehicle accelerated forward at a fast pace. the contact feels that the accelerator and brake pedals are too close together and could cause a crash when pressed incorrectly. he called the manufacturer and was advised to have the vehicle inspected. while driving 25 mph, the contact had to slam on the brakes in order to avoid a crash. he noticed that the steering column failed intermittently, but was able to drive the vehicle safely to his destination. the vehicle was taken to a local repair shop and inspected by a technician, who stated that he does not work on steering failures. the contact was instructed to take the vehicle to a dealer. the vehicle has not yet been inspected and no repairs have been performed. the contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. the failure mileage was 10,000 and current mileage was 57,063. | |||
| 1 | |||
| There is a problem with the distance between the brake and accelerator pedals, causing driver to unintentionally press the accelerator pedal when trying to brake. *ak | |||
| 1 | 11/17/2003 | ||
| The accelerator and brake pedal were too close together and caused the consumer to inadvertently depress the gas pedal. *nlm *scc *jb | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - SWITCHES - BRAKE LIGHT | |||
| 03/22/2004 | 2 | ||
| Nhtsa recall 04v105000 concerning air filter paper/fire. consumer made an appointment on 3/22/2004 for recall repairs. dealer did not have the parts, but told consumer when the appointment was made that the parts were available. also, dealer performed the recall for the brake light switch which the consumer had no information on this recall. dealer did not know when the parts will be available to repair the air filter paper.*ak | |||