2006 Mercury Montego complaints

AC BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING. IF YOU ARE MOVING SLOW OR STOPPED AT A SIGNAL LIGHT OR STUCK IN TRAFFIC THE AC STARTS BLOWING HOT AIR. IT WORKS FINE AS ALONG AS I AM MOVING. *TR

ENGINE REVS UP, AND CAR LURCHES, TYPICALLY WHEN: MOVING AWAY FROM IDLE; - ALMOST ALWAYS WHEN THE WHEELS ARE TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AND THE CAR IS MOVING AWAY FROM IDLE. THE LURCHING IS SUDDEN AND "VIOLENT" ENOUGH THAT IT CAN CATCH A DRIVER UNPREPARED - THIS HAS BEEN AN OCCASIONAL PROBLEM FOR YEARS - PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING MORE FREQUENT. *TR

MY 2006 MERCURY MONTEAGO LUNGES FORWARD WHEN PUT IN DRIVE,AND LUNGES BACK WHEN PUT IN REVERSE,WRECKING MY REAR BUMPER AND GARAGE. FORD IS VERY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO AUTOMATIC WITH 47,000 MILES AND NOW WHEN I GO TO PASS SOMEONE OR GOING UP A HILL THE CAR WILL EITHER FEEL LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL AND THEN POPS INTO DRIVE REALLY HARD. I DON'T THINK THIS IS NORMAL FOR A 2006 WITH LOW MILES. DID MERCURY EVER HAVE A TRANSMISSION RECALL ON THESE CARS. IF NOT MAYBE THEY SHOULD INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

WHEN I COME TO A STOP MY CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD AS I TAKE MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE. THE RPMS NOTABLY RISE FROM 700 TO OVER 1000. THIS HAS RECENTLY STARTED WITH 66,000 MILES ON THE CAR. *TT

OUR 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO LUNGES, AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WITH NO FOOT PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT IS CLEARLY A MISSED RECALL WITH ISSUES WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. FORD KNOWS ALL ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND SO DO YOU.....I AM NOT THE FIRST TO COMPLAIN! DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED! THE FOLLOWING SITE EXPLAINS IT ALL==> HTTP://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PAGES/FORD-FREESTYLE-500-MERCURY-MONTEGO-THROTTLE-BODY-RECALL/114094741973972?SK=WALL. *TR

SURGING OF THE CAR AT A DEAD STOP AT RED LIGHTS, DRIVE INS, STOP SIGNS. MY TECH, WITH ANALYZER WHILE DRIVING, COULD SEE THAT IT WAS IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT OF THE THROTTLE BODY. *TR

VEHICLE SURGED WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, VEHICLE LUNGED, ENGINE RAN ROUGH AND VEHICLE DIED. VEHICLE WAS HARD TO CONTROL WITH SERVICE BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CODES P2106 AND P061B ARE SHOWING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SURGING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, ONLY SLIGHTLY WHEN SHIFTED INTO GEAR. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL MOUNTING BRACKET FRACTURED, DETACHING PART OF THE FRAME AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE. THE CONTACT GAINED CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL MOUNTING BRACKET AND PART OF THE FRAME WAS CORRODED AND FRACTURED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT BECAUSE OF LIABILITY ISSUES, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

I LIKE MY CAR EXCEPT, EXCEPT FOR BEING SCARED OF DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OR TRYING TO GO UP A HILL AND DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT PASSING SOMEONE. WHEN THE CAR'S ENGINE NEED TO SHIFT IT WILL SHIFT SO HARD IT ALMOST THROW ME INTO THE BACK SEAT OF ANOTHER CAR OR THAT IS HOW I FEEL IF I DON'T HOLD ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTLY. THEIR IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION DRIVE SHAFT OR TRANS SYSTEM AND IT NEEDS TO BE RECALL. I JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER ROLL RETRACTOR WHICH WAS RECALLED ON OTHER MERCURY CARS EXCEPT ACCORDING TO MERCURY NOT MY YEAR OR CAR... COME ON..... YES IT'S SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON MY CAR AS WELL. QUESTION WHAT TO DO....

1. ANY TIME THE ENGINE IS ON, BUT ESPECIALLY WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON. 2. WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR (DRIVE OR REVERSE), THE ENGINE REVS UP TO APPROXIMATELY 1300 RPM FOR APPROXIMATELY A SECOND. IF THE BRAKE IS NOT FIRMLY APPLIED, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD OR BACKWARD 3. NOTHING YET; THROTTLE BODY CLEANING OR REPLACEMENT IS SUGGESTED

2006 MERCURY MONTEGO NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT IS A CVT TRANSMISSION. DEALER STATED THAT NOW THEY KNOW THEY HAVE PROBLEMS BUT THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED TO SELL THEM.

TRANSMISSION ON 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO PREMIER AWD/ CVT TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH ONLY 78429 MILES ON IT. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO AWD. AT SLOW SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO LURCH IN BOTH DRIVE AND REVERSE. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE BRAND NEW. IT HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORSENING WITH AGE. ON OCTOBER 20TH, 2010 THE SLOW SPEED LURCH IN REVERSE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BACK INTO A POLE CAUSING BODY DAMAGE TO THE DECKLID AND BUMPER. *TR

2006 MERCURY MONTEGO WAS ISSUED A RECALL RELATED TO REAR BRAKES. THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. 12,000 MILES LATER THE REAR BRAKES NEED TO BE DONE AGAIN FORD ISSUED TSB 07-5-9 FOR PREMATURE PAD WEAR AND RECOMMEND REPLACING FRONT BRAKES AS WELL TO ENSURE PROPER BRAKING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE MANY WHO ARE UNAWARE WILL JUST REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES CREATING UNEVEN BRAKING PERFORMANCE. SPOKE WITH DEALERSHIP AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. NONE WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FIXING THIS BRAKING PROBLEM CORRECTLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE SEAT BELT AND WAS STUCK IN THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE SEAT WHILE THE SEAT BELT REMAINED BUCKLED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,753 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,756.

1. NORMAL DRIVING. CAR STOPPED MOVING. STRANDED XMAS EVENING IN RAIN STORM. 2. RT. FROND AXLE CAME OUT OF TRANS-AXLE TOWED TO DEALER. 3. FOUND DEFECTIVE MIDSHIP BEARING HAD TO CUT DUE TO EXCESSIVE PRESSURE ON AXLE. PER DEALER INVOICE. *TR

WE OWN A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO AND WE HAVE AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE AND MORE. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED AND I SHIFT IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE WILL REV UP AND TRY TO FORCE THE CAR TO MOVE SO I APPLY MT BRAKES EVEN HARDER. THIS ONLY LASTS A FEW SECONDS. THEN I SHIFT INTO "DRIVE" AND WITH THE BRAKE STILL APPLIED, IT MAY DO IT AGAIN AND TRY TO TAKE OFF WHEN IN FACT I WAS NOT YET READY TO PRESS ON MY ACCELERATOR AND IT JUST WANTS TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE MONTEGO AS WELL AS OTHER FORD PRODUCT'S AND HERE IS AN EXAMPLE HTTP://WWW.FORDTAURUS.NET/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=5&T=4399&VIEW=NEXT THAT IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT OUR CAR DOES AND IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS!!! HOW OFTEN DOES THIS HAPPEN? ALMOST DAILY BUT NOT ALL THE TIME AND THAT'S THE SCARY PART BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE READY FOR IT OR IT MAY CATCH YOU OFF-GUARD AND YOU VERY WELL COULD RUN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OR BACK OF YOU OR POSSIBLY MAYBE INJURE OR KILL SOMEONE. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO....PLEASE!!! THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE THAT I CAN FIND BUT THERE SURE NEEDS TO BE. SIMILAR FORD PRODUCT'S HAVE THIS ISSUE AND WE NEED SOMEONE WITH SOME AUTHORITY AND ABILITY TO RESEARCH THE ISSUES ON THESE MONTEGO'S! *TR

RECENTLY HAD TO PAY A FORD DEALER $385 TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES AT 27,000 MILES ON MY 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO PURCHASED NEW IN JULY 2006. FRONT BRAKES IN FINE SHAPE. EVIDENTLY THE DESIGNED REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES ARE SUBSTANDARD FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE REAR BRAKES HAD NOT FAILED YET BUT WERE WITHIN A FEW MILES OF DOING SO, ACCORDING TO A FORD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. *TR

TRANSMISSION-ENGINE INTERFACE / PROGRAM ON MY 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO IS 'WACKY' -- TO USE A TECHNICAL TERM..... PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN JULY 2006 AND IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCED THE BIG PROBLEM. IT NOW HAS ABOUT 28,000 MILES. DEALER THINKS I'M WACKY FOR REPORTING IT AND SUPPOSEDLY CHANGED THE PROGRAM THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME I REPORTED THE PROBLEM BUT IT STILL EXISTS. THE PROBLEM: WITH ALL PREVIOUS CARS I'VE DRIVEN, TO GO FASTER YOU PUSH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DOWN. TO SPEED UP A LITTLE YOU PRESS A LITTLE; TO SPEED UP A LOT YOU PRESS HARDER. WITH THIS CAR YOU PRESS A LITTLE: NOTHING HAPPENS. YOU PRESS A LITTLE HARDER: NOTHING HAPPENS. YOU PRESS A LITTLE HARDER: NOTHING HAPPENS. SUDDENLY AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS TWO OR THREE GEARS AND JUMPS FORWARD -- WITH TREMENDOUS TORQUE STEER. FORTUNATELY, THE TORQUE STEER IS TO THE RIGHT, SO I HAVE NOT AS YET VEERED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ANTICIPATE THE PROBLEM AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE SO FAR, BUT I FEAR THAT I OR ANOTHER DRIVER MAY NOT ALWAYS BE SO ATTENTIVE. ITS POTENTIALLY EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO ME AND OTHERS ON OR NEAR ROADS..... *TR

AFTER HEAVY RAIN OR A CAR WASH THE DOORS ARE FULL OF WATER. I NEED TO PHYSICALLY LIFT THE RUBBER GASKETS TO ALLOW THE DOORS TO DRAIN FULLY AFTER EITHER EVENT. CORROSION PROBLEMS ARE SURELY GOING TO RESULT. ANY PLANS FOR A FIX? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR, AND MADE A CLUNKING NOISE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN FLUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A HARSH SHIFTING FAILURE WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS AS THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,394. UPDATED 07/28/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/30/10*JB

CLIP HOLDING FUEL FILTER HOSE TO THE FUEL FILTER FAILED ALLOWING THE HOSE TO COME LOOSE AND LEAK FUEL UNDER PRESSURE. THE CAR HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 4 BLOCKS SO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS STILL COOL. HAD THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BEEN HOT AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED A FIRE WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE OCCURRED. THE FUEL FILTER HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED, AS CONFIRMED BY MY SERVICE RECORDS, MAKING IT THE FILTER INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. *TR

WATER IS ACCUMULATING IN THE DOORS OF MY CAR. *TR

I TURNED ON ROAD HEADING SOUTH AND INCREASED SPEED TO LIMIT OF 55 MPH AND SET CRUISE CONTROL. THE ROAD SLOPED SLIGHTLY DOWNWARD AND THE CAR WAS NOT REQUIRING GAS. THE SENSOR GOT CONFUSED AND THE ENGINE CUT OUT LEAVING ME SUDDENLY WITHOUT POWER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER OFF THE ROAD PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART IT I DI NOT HAVE A RECURRENCE BUT AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. I TOOK CAR INTO A DEALER AND THEY RESET THE SOFTWARE BUT TOLD ME IT HAPPENS TO ALL CAR MANUFACTURER ON A RARE OCCASION AND COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. IF I WAS NOT IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE I COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY.*TR

2 PROBLEMS WITH CAR 1) TRANSMISSION FAILED AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES AND 2) CYLINDER 5 FAILED AT 30,000 MILES. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN I REALIZED THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME WAS SITTING STILL WITHOUT ANY BREAK LIGHTS. I HIT MY BREAKS BUT I SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE HEAD ON. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS PUSHED BACK TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD. MY AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. I WOULD THINK THAT WITH THE BUMPER AND GRILL BEING PUSHED BACK TOWARD THE ENGINE THE AIRBAG WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. MY SON AND I WERE BOTH WEARING SEATBELTS AND SUFFERED INJURIES FROM THOSE. DESPITE THE SEAT BELT I WAS STILL THROWN FORWARD ALMOST SLAMMING INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I AM SEVERELY BRUISED ACROSS MY ABDOMEN AND RIGHT SHOULDER, I HAVE SHOULDER AND NECK PAIN. I CAN HARDLY USE MY RIGHT ARM AND CAN NOT LAY DOWN WITH OUT EXCRUCIATING PAIN IN MY CHEST AND SHOULDER. MY SON ONLY SUFFERED MINOR BRUISES AND SORENESS. I WONDER IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN THROWN SO FAR IF THE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED. I ALSO DON'T THINK MY SEAT BELT SHOULD HAVE GIVEN THAT MUCH AND SHOULD HAVE KEPT ME PLASTERED AGAINST THE SEAT. THE SEAT BELT DID LOCK UP AND KEPT ME FROM MOVING IN TWO OTHER INCIDENTS, WHERE I WAS ONLY SORE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WAS CONSISTENTLY FADING. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,500.

LOUD CLUNKING FROM REAR SUSPENSION, REPLACED REAR SHOCK AND TIGHTENED TORSION BARS ETC. NOISE WAS REDUCED BUT NEVER FULLY CORRECTED. CONSEQUENTLY MY CAR IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND RUINED ALL 4 TIRES IN JUST 32,000 MILES. SERVICE CENTER IS REFUSING TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY. THEY HAVE STATED THAT THE TIRES CUPPING ON THE INSIDE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE ON THESE VEHICLES SO IS THERE MORE WRONG HERE THAN THEY ARE SAYING. I HAVE MY CAR SERVICED THERE EVERY 3,000 MILES AND TIRES ROTATED EVERY 6,000 MILES. I PAY THEM TO TAKE CARE OF MY CAR, IF I WOULD NOT HAVE NOTICED MY TIRES BEING CUPPED THEY WOULD HAVE NEVER SAID ANYTHING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO WITH PIRELLI P400 TOURING TIRES. HE NOTICED A BULGE ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. AS OF AUGUST 7, 2007, THERE HAS BEEN NO RESOLUTION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE, VIN AND DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. AT 60 MPH ON A CLEAR DAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE'S RPMS INCREASED. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND SHUT IT OFF WITHOUT EVER TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES, INCLUDING ONCE WHEN THE MECHANIC WAS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF IT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE LEFT REAR BRAKE SEIZED, FORCING THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER LANE. THE CONTACT SWERVED OFF THE EXIT RAMP AND EXITED THE VEHICLE DUE TO SMOKE RISING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT BRAKES. THE CONTACT ACCIDENTALLY LEFT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE GEAR, BUT THE VEHICLE REMAINED IDLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE CALIPERS ON THE DRIVER FRONT AND PASSENGER REAR BRAKES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO DENIED THE CLAIM, STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.*AK

THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE AREA EMITTED UNUSUAL SOUNDS. IT WAS NOTED THAT THE REAR DISC BRAKE WAS GOUGED. THE PART WAS REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE MERCURY MONTEGO AWD HAD APPROXIMATELY 30,500 MILES. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK AT 3500 RPM'S. THE CONTACT BELIEVES IT WAS CAUSED BY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. THREE ATTEMPTS WERE MADE AT RESTARTING THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT WOULD IDLE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BOTH TIMES AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. UPDATED 08/25/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE FRONT SPRING BRACKETS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/06/06.

I PURCHASED A NEW MERCURY MONTEGO PREMIER WITH A 6 SPEED ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT IS AN EXCELLENT VEHICLE WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT WHILE TRAVELING DOWN STEEP GRADES THERE IS NO WAY TO DOWNSHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. I HAVE TO RELY ON THE BRAKES ONLY AND THEY OVERHEAT ON LONG MOUNTAINOUS GRADES. SOME ARE 7% TO 9.5% GRADES IN WEATERN N.C. ,NORTHERN GA. , AND EASTERN TN. WITH NO WAY OF GOING TO A LOWER GEAR TO HELP SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN , THE BRAKES TAKE EXTREME ABUSE AND COULD FAIL FROM OVERHEATING. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE LIVING IN THE WESTERN STATES AND HAVING THIS PROBLEM. ON A RECENT TRIP, MY SPOKE ALUMINUM WHEELS WERE BLACK WITH RESIDUE FROM BRAKE DUST. I FEEL THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO DRIVING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN COULD HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM WHERE I LIVE AND TRAVEL A LOT. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *JB