1997 Mercury Marquis problems

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2007. THE DEALER STATED ON THREE OCCASIONS THAT THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE AVAILABLE. MORE RECENTLY, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,045. UPDATE 04-02-08

NHTSA complaint #10221713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1997 MERCURY MARQUIS WITH CRUISE CONTROL RECALL. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE FIXED IN 2007. CONSUMER STATED IT STILL WAS NOT FIXED BY JANUARY 2008. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PART MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JUNE OR JULY 2008.

NHTSA complaint #10214986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT WENT TO HIS LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. HE BELIEVED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS BEING PERFORMED; HOWEVER, HE LATER LEARNED THAT THE SWITCH HAD ONLY BEEN DISCONNECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2007. HE FELT THIS INFORMATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED EITHER IN THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE OR THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT, IMPLYING THAT THE REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA complaint #10205856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. SUSPENSION FRONT WHEEL BEARING.

NHTSA complaint #10178658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. SUSPENSION FRONT WHEEL BEARING.

NHTSA complaint #10178658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT FREEWAY SPEED, MY 1997 GRAND MARQUIS, LS WAS RUNNING AT NORMAL TEMP. ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHIN A MATTER OF A MINUTE OR TWO, THE TEMP GAUGE MAXED OUT, CAR STARTED SMOKING, ALL COOLANT WAS LOST. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY, AND UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED APPROX A 3-4" CRACK. I WAS STRANDED, HAD TO TOW MY CAR APPROX 134 MILES TO GET HOME. THIS IS A $269.99 PART NOT TO MENTION THE GASKETS, ANTI-FREEZE AND LABOR INVOLVED TO FIX. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE PART AT THE VERY LEAST.

NHTSA complaint #10158905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

FAX LTR FM (OH) OWNER OF 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS EXPERIENCE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS BALL JOINT FAILURE. *TS THE MANIFOLD LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE.

NHTSA complaint #10154114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

FAX LTR FM (OH) OWNER OF 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS EXPERIENCE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS BALL JOINT FAILURE. *TS THE MANIFOLD LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE.

NHTSA complaint #10154114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

MY 93 YEAR OLD AUNT PAID $950.00 TO HAVE THE MANIFOLD REPAIRED 8/6/04 ON HER 1997 MERCURY, AND NOW FORD DOES NOT WANT TO PAY HER, WHAT A BUNCH OF CRAP. MY UNCLE CAME BACK FROM WWII BOUGHT A NEW FORD OR MERCURY EVERY 2-3 YEARS FOR 50 YEARS, WHAT GRATITUDE. I SEE WHY FORD AND GM IS GOING DOWN THE TUBES. IT EXCLUDED CARS THAT WERE MORE THAN 7 YEARS OLD WHEN THEY EXPERIENCED MANIFOLD FAILURE. BASED UPON THAT 7-YEAR PERIOD, WE BELIEVE THAT ALL 1996 AND 1997 CARS ( AND MANY 1998'S ) THAT FAILED IN 2004 - 2005 (APPROX.) OR HAVEN'T YET FAILED, WERE DENIED COVERAGE. THE CONCEPT ADOPTED IN THE SETTLEMENT APPEARED TO BE THAT "CIVILIANS" SHOULD NOT GET WARRANTY COVERAGE LONGER THAN THE 7 YEARS THAT WAS GIVEN TO THOSE CARS COVERED BY THE 1999 OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM. ( ONE OF THE LAWYERS TOLD US THAT THEY SETTLED FOR THE 7-YEAR COVERAGE BECAUSE, DURING A COURT HEARING, THE JUDGE HAD SAID THAT SHE WAS NOT LIKELY TO GRANT COVERAGE LONGER THAN WHAT THE "FLEETS" GOT. )

NHTSA complaint #10153541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHILE ON VACATION THE MANIFOLD IN OUR 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10144792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

DT: THE CONTACT STATED FLUID WAS LEAKING AROUND HIS HEATER HOSE. AFTER REPLACING THE HOSE SEVERAL TIMES IT WAS STILL LEAKING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. THE CONTACT MADE A TEMPORARY PATCH FOR THE CRACK. NO OTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 -

NHTSA complaint #10144110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

CRACK IN PLASTIC EXHAUST MANIFOLD, #2 , ART REPLACED, #3.

NHTSA complaint #10130934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

MY 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS OVERHEATED AND BLEW STEAM AND ANTIFREEZE THROUGHOUT ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ON TO WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE A CRACK IN THE WATER JACKET PORTION OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND MANIFOLD HAS BEEN REDESIGNED BUT IS NOT COVERED BY A RECALL AND THE REPAIR EXPENSE ($989 PLUS TAX) WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM ON POLICE CARS AND SOME OTHERS IS COVERED. A CALL TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY RENDERED SAME RESULTS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND IT HAS ONLY 60000 MILES. I HAVE THE OLD MANIFOLD.

NHTSA complaint #10129982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

(THIS COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL) MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TODAY AROUND 70 MPH OR UNDER ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SHE TURNED A CORNER AND THE CAR FELL DOWN LOW WITH A CLUNG ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. SHE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME, WHERE I AND THE TOW DRIVER SAW THE MOST HORRIFYING SIGHT, THE BALL JOINT JUST CAME APART. THE BALL CAME RIGHT OUT OF THE SOCKET. THE SOCKET SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED SO THE BALL, EVEN IF BADLY WORN WOULD NEVER LEAVE THE SOCKET. I WENT TODAY TO GET 4 BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES FOR HER CAR, AND WHILE TALKING TO A CUSTOMER OF THE PROBLEM HE TOLD ME HIS DAUGHTER ALMOST HAD A BAD ACCIDENT WHEN HIS 1995 COUGARS BALL JOINT ASSEMBLE LET GO. I'M SPEAKING OF THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVE THE BALL JOINT AND THE BOLTS ON THE CAR IF YOU NEED THEM. *AK THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE CONSUMER MADE THE REPAIRS HIMSELF. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10113617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LEAK WATER AND THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. *BF

NHTSA complaint #10107428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. I HAVE A 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS WITH ELECTRONIC LIGHTS. THEY ARE ALL CONTROLLED WITH A PROCESSOR CALLED AN LCM FOR LIGHT CONTROL MODULE. IT IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE CHEAPER AUTOMATIC DIMMER ON THE DASHBOARD. THE LIGHTS WENT OUT LAST SUMMER, AND THE LENSES TURNED YELLOW. I TRIED NEW BULBS, THAT DID NOT WORK. I CHECKED FUSES AND RELAYS AND ALL WERE FINE. I REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THAT DID NOT WORK. FINALLY THIS FALL I CALLED FORDS TECHNICAL LINE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A BULLETIN OR RECALL OR A QUICK FIX. ALL I COULD GET OUT OF THEM WAS BRING IT IN. I, THEN DECIDED TO CALL PARTS, AND WAS TOLD THAT TO FIX IT WOULD COST $200.00. NEEDLESS TO SAY I FOUND A WAY TO BYPASS THE COMPUTER, AND WIRED IN A RELAY THAT WAS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY. I SPENT 2 HOURS WET SANDING AND RUBBING OUT THE LENSES TO GET THEM BRIGHT ENOUGH. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. WE HAVE MANY OBSTACLES THAT DEPEND ON BRIGHT LIGHT DRIVING, INCLUDING WILD DEER, AND EDGES OF ROADS LEADING TO LAKES.*AK......$200.00 WAS COST FOR LCM, NO LABOR , PART *F7AB-136788-AA.

NHTSA complaint #10106908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. I HAVE A 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS WITH ELECTRONIC LIGHTS. THEY ARE ALL CONTROLLED WITH A PROCESSOR CALLED AN LCM FOR LIGHT CONTROL MODULE. IT IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE CHEAPER AUTOMATIC DIMMER ON THE DASHBOARD. THE LIGHTS WENT OUT LAST SUMMER, AND THE LENSES TURNED YELLOW. I TRIED NEW BULBS, THAT DID NOT WORK. I CHECKED FUSES AND RELAYS AND ALL WERE FINE. I REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THAT DID NOT WORK. FINALLY THIS FALL I CALLED FORDS TECHNICAL LINE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A BULLETIN OR RECALL OR A QUICK FIX. ALL I COULD GET OUT OF THEM WAS BRING IT IN. I, THEN DECIDED TO CALL PARTS, AND WAS TOLD THAT TO FIX IT WOULD COST $200.00. NEEDLESS TO SAY I FOUND A WAY TO BYPASS THE COMPUTER, AND WIRED IN A RELAY THAT WAS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY. I SPENT 2 HOURS WET SANDING AND RUBBING OUT THE LENSES TO GET THEM BRIGHT ENOUGH. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. WE HAVE MANY OBSTACLES THAT DEPEND ON BRIGHT LIGHT DRIVING, INCLUDING WILD DEER, AND EDGES OF ROADS LEADING TO LAKES.*AK......$200.00 WAS COST FOR LCM, NO LABOR , PART *F7AB-136788-AA.

NHTSA complaint #10106908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THESE MANIFOLDS. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WERE PROVIDING ANY ASSISTANCE. THEY CLAIMED THE PART WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10099785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.