2001 Sable
 

My sable, when put in reverse, wants to lunge backwards. If I didn't have the brakes on the car would surely fly down the driveway and into the street. Anyone else had this problem? Any ideas how to stop it? Thanks

my mom's Taurus does the same thing. always has. does the same in first gear. That transmission just engages hard in the low gears (1,2,R). If anyone else has anything to add, please do. I bet my mom would like to have that changed.

Does the engine rev when you put it in reverse? The idle must increase quite abit to make it want to launch down the driveway. Or do you mean it just slams into gear?

on my mom's car, it just shifts hard and without the brake on will move pretty quick (about 15mph in reverse if I've visually gauged it right) without touching the gas. In drive it will do the same thing and shift into second without ever touching the gas. After it warms up this is reduced just on amount of time taken to get to the speed (and not by much). I think the factory setting for the idle is a bit high on that year.

Sable reverse/forward
 

My Sable does the same as the Tarus. It doesn't rev up it just is gung ho to get going. If my foot wasn't on the brake then it would fly into the street.

It kind of sounds like the idle speed is a little too high. check to see if the throttle is fully closed at idle. Check that the idle speed is within specs.