Ignition Switch problems of the 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid

Experienced two in-traffic drive-train shut-downs as dangerous as the g. M. Ignition switch malfunctions. . . Traveling in 60mph-70mph night-time valentine's night freeway traffic on the I-405 in santa ana, CA. In the #3 lane of 5 lanes, the check engine warning light suddenly flashed on - accompanied by the `screech' of the `check gauges' tone - and the drive-train lost all power -- along with the absolutely worthless text "stop safely now". With no power steering, and limited brake booster reserves, I activated the hazard flashers - and thanks to alert and courteous traffic, was able to stop in a "reverse gore-point" between the freeway lanes and an outside transition road. Things could have come out far-worse if overtaking drivers had been inattentive - or we had to cross the path of a big-rig with limited braking- or steering capabilities. As an accident reconstructionist, this is unacceptable. This is the second of our family's fomoco hybrids to experience such in-use drive-train shut-downs that provide the driver with no usable warnings of impending doom - not even "limp-away power" . . . The "after-it's-too-late" message-panel might as well display "kiss your a$$ goodbye". The idiot fomoco engineers who decided to "protect" the hybrid battery by "stalling" the vehicle on the freeway obviously never considered what a freeway-speed rear-end impact would do to their precious battery. . . Or to the "replaceable" living occupants of the vehicle.

Experienced the second of two in-traffic drive-train shut-downs as dangerous as the g. M. Ignition switch malfunctions (see odi#: 10683675) our initial stopping place - in a "reverse gore-point" between the n/b freeway lanes of the I-405 freeway in santa ana, CA and an outside transition road was unsafe in the full-darkness of a non-illuminated high-speed intersection; with traffic zooming by on both sides, with the flashers still active, I res-started the engine -- all dash warnings cycled on then off normally; on a distinct up-grade, I revv'd the engine against the service brakes, and watched for a suitable gap in traffic over-taking us on our right side. Seeing such a gap, I released the service brakes and accelerated to 30 mph towards the outer shoulder. . . But only made it part-way across the 2 lanes when the second shut-down occurred. . . The same "check engine" light. . . The same squealing enunciator tone. . . The same worthless "stop safely now" message and again, thanks to courteous and alert over-taking drivers, I was able to coast to a relatively broad shoulder section beside a `disappearing¿ right travel lane. It was now 7:55pm. We were on our cell phone to the aaa when a highway patrol officer stopped behind us to check our situation, and provide additional protection until a tow-truck could arrive on-scene. This is the second of our family's fomoco hybrids to experience such in-use drive-train shut-downs that provide the driver with no usable warnings of impending doom - not even "limp-away power" . . . The "after-it's-too-late" message-panel might as well display "kiss your a$$ goodbye". The idiot fomoco engineers who decided to "protect" the hybrid battery by "stalling" the vehicle on the freeway obviously never considered what a freeway-speed rear-end impact would do to their precious battery. . . Or to the "replaceable" living occupants of the vehicle.