When parking a newly acquired used 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis at idle speed in a local shopping center, the engine accelerated and the harder I pressed the brake the faster the engine ran. To the extent the traction control activated and the wheels spun in place. The only way I prevented crashing into three parked was to shift the transmission into neutral with the engine racing. What apparently happened was my foot was not centered on the brake pedal and the pedal traveled to the point where I was also pressing on the accelerator. Evidently the travel distance of the brake pedal was so long I pressed on the accelerator pedal at the same time. I took the car to a Mercury dealer and was told this was a common problem, but he could not correct it because the brake and accelerator pedals were operating as designed. The dealers technician reported that my complaint was that the pedals seemed to close together. This may be true, but the problem in my mind is the travel distance of the brake pedal. I was also told Ford has not as yet issued a solution to this safety problem.

- Cape Coral, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis. After attempting to stop at a stop light, the contact depressed the brake pedal, but there was no response. He had to pump the brakes twice in order to stop the vehicle. The dealer could not remedy the failure. Approximately one month later, the failure recurred. The dealer could not duplicate the failure again. The failure occurred seven previous times, in which the vehicle was taken to the dealer four of those times. The vehicle has not been repaired. The speed was unknown. The failure mileage was 190 and current mileage was 37,000.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

: the contact stated while normally applying the brakes, the vehicle lurched forward suddenly, requiring extreme pressure on the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. It was taken to a service dealer, who was unable to determine the problem. Updated 10/18/2006 - prior to the above incident the vehicle lurched forward while approaching a stoplight. The more pressure the consumer applied to the brake pedal the more the engine raced. The vehicle continued to travel forward through the crosswalk and into the street. Luckily no one was in the crosswalk and no cars were coming through the intersection. The consumer has to turn the vehicle off to get it to stop.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA