1997 Mercury Cougar

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/19/1997· POWER TRAIN

  CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILURE DUE TO POORLY DESIGNED CLUTCH PACKS/CYLINDERS. *AK

• 12/18/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  BRAKE LINE CORRODED BY BATTERY ACID AND BROKE, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTION AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH VEHICLE THAT STOPPED AHEAD. BRAKE COMBINATION VALVE LOCATED IN FRONT OF BATTERY. ALL THE BRAKE LINES RUN PAST THE BATTERY FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER AND TO THE WHEELS AND ARE FULLY PROTECTED BY A PLASTIC COATING EXCEPT THE LINE TO THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. ON THIS LINE THE PLASTIC COATING STARTS AT THE VALVE AND STOPS JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE BATTERY. THE LINE BROKE AT THE POINT WHERE THE COATING STOPS AND IS HEAVILY CORRODED BY BATTERY ACID FOR SEVERAL INCHES. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER INVESTIGATING THIS ACCIDENT FOR ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A COPY OF MY REPORT. *AK

• 12/15/1997· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING, TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO SHIFT. WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO GEAR, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE ANYWHERE. *AK SERVICE MANGER TOLD CONSUMER THAT FORD USED BAD CLUTCH PACKS AND CLUTCH PACK CYLINDERS IN THE 1997 TRANSMISSIONS. *SLC

• 12/09/2000· TIRES

  TIRE DELAMINATED. STEEL BELT BROKEN PER FIRESTONE SERVICE. REPLACED BEFORE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. CHARGED FULL PRICE TO REPLACE PAIR OF TIRES. FIRESTONE STORE REFUSED TO RETURN DAMAGED FRONT TIRE AND MATCHING FRONT TIRE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )

• 12/07/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD .THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP. THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED CAUSING THE LOSS OF ANTIFREEZE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.*AK UPDATED 12/27/2005 - THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD RECALL THIS PART BUT NOT FOR CIVILIAN VEHICLES. *NM

• 12/02/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SMELLED ANTI FREEZE FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ANTIFREEZE FUMES WERE AFFECTING THE CONSUMER'S BREATHING. *AK A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD, PLUG WIRES AND A BAD EXHAUST HOSE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MAF SENSOR WAS CLEANED AND THE WAS ANTIFREEZE REPLACED. *TT *JB

• 11/26/2012· ENGINE

  ON 5/19/2004 I HAD TO HAVE TOWED AND REPLACE DEFECTIVE CRACKED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON A 1997 MERCURY XR7 COUGAR AND HADN'T BEEN PREVIOUSLY INFORMED OF ANY RECALLS THEN RECENTLY I HAD TO REPLACE YET ANOTHER DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD (2ND CAR ) THIS SHOP INFORMED ME OF A CLASS ACTION THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF PREVIOUSLY THAT SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE AUTO ABOVE HOWEVER AS THE NOTIFICATION PROGRAM NEVER NOTIFIED ME ON EITHER CAR. *TR

• 11/24/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE CONSUMER EXAMINED THE ENGINE AND NOTICED COOLANT HAD LEAKED DUE TO A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK *JB *NM

• 11/06/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE TRAVELING 30MPH IN TRAFFIC STARTED APPLYING BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, HAD NO BRAKES, AND VEHICLE KEPT GOING. BRAKE PEDAL WAS ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL HAD FAILED. STOPPED VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC. WAS INFORMED THAT BRAKE BOOSTER PLUNGER, HAD WORN OUT, CAUSING NON BRAKING ABILITY.*AK

• 11/05/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  1997 COUGAR XR7, 4.6LITER ENGINE. CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOD ALLOWS COOLING FLUID TO ESCAPE. PROBLEM HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR OVER THREE YEARS BUT HAS NEVER BEEN LOCATED UNTIL LATELY WHEN FLUID LOSS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY/*AK

• 11/05/2003· SUSPENSION

  LOWER LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE WHEN VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE. *MR THE VEHICLE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY GRINDING TO A HALT. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE LEFT WHEEL RIM WITH EXTENSIVE GRINDING DAMAGE AND WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE LEFT FRONT TIRE AND THE INSIDE OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. *SCC *JB

• 11/05/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  NOTICED PULSATION IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING. ASKED DEALER TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE ALL 4 ROTORS. DEALER SAID WE CUT THE ROTORS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS REMOVES USEABLE SERVICE LIFE AT MY EXPENSE. I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGNE FLAW OF ROTOR WARPING PROBABLY DUE TO HEAT. SEVICE INVOICE STATES THAT ALL FOUR ROTORS WERE TURNED DUE TO WARPING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH LATE YEAR MODEL FORD CARS. I PERSONALLY KNOW OF FOUR FORD OWNERS WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM.

• 11/05/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

  BECAUSE THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY CAUSED VIBRATION AND SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER CUT THE ROTORS. *AK

• 11/03/1998· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELT FAILED.

• 10/26/2000· TIRES

  AT 4;30 AM ON OCT. 15, 2000, I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON I-95 IN SOUTHERN GEORGIA ON A RETURN TRIP FROM LOUISVILLE, KY. TO POMPANO BEACH, FL. WHEN I HEARD A NOISE IN THE REAR OF MY CAR AND REALIZED THAT I HAD A TIRE PROBLEM. AT ONCE I KNEW THAT THE TIRE HAD NOT DEFLATED AND THAT I WAS IN CONTROL OF THE CAR. I REDUCED MY SPEED AND TURNED ON MY EMERGENCY BLINKERS AND COULD HEAR A FLAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR. SINCE THE ROAD WAS VERY DARK AND THE TRAFFIC VERY FAST I FELT LIKE IT WAS SAFER TO PROCEED THAN TO STOP AND CHANGE A DRIVER SIDE TIRE ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT. I DROVE SLOWLY SEVERAL MILES TO THE NEXT EXIT WHERE I REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SMALL SPARE. I FOUND THAT AN 8 INCH SECTION OF THE TREAD HAD COME OFF. ALTHOUGH MY TIRES ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, I BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. TWO OF THE THREE REMAINING TIRES HAVE HAIRLINE CRACKS AT THE EDGE OF THE TREAD AND COULD BE READY TO DO THE SAME THING. I CONTACTED A LINCOLN-MERCURY DEALER WHO SAID HE COULD NOT HELP ME (OTHER THAN SELLING ME NEW TIRES) AND SENT ME TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER WHO SAID HE COULD SELL ME A NEW SET OF TIRES AND GIVE ME A 20% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION DISCOUNT. I'M STILL TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO AND STILL HAVE THE THREE REMAINING TIRES ON MY CAR AND THE FAILED ONE IN THE TRUNK. I'M WONDERING IF OTHERS HAVE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE FR 680 AND IF IT WILL ALSO BE COVERED BY A RECALL.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2M3 IPN 2 TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)

• 10/26/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

  I BOUGHT MY COUGAR IN 1997. AT 6,113 MILES THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND HAD TO BE TURNED . AT 8,788 MILES THE ROTERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT 15,718 MILES THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AGAIN AND HAD TO BE TURNED AGAIN. AT 16,992 MILES THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AGAIN AND TURNED ONCE AGAIN. AT 20,990 MILES MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES,PREMIUM AFTERMARKET ROTORS AND PADS WERE ORDERED AND WERE INSTALLED AT 21,461 MILES.THEN AT 26,402 THE BRAKE PROBLEM CONTINUES THE ROTORS WERE TURNED AGAIN. I HAVE TRIED TO BE PATIENT WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT CENTROPLEX FORD BUT THE LAST TIME THEY TURNED THE ROTORS THEY SAID THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND I AM VERY CONCERNED. MY WARRANTY WILL RUN OUT SOON AND I WOULD LIKE MY BRAKES FIXED FOR GOOD .

• 10/12/1999· STEERING

  THE PANIC HORN WHICH IS A PART OF THEANTI-THEFT ALARM WENT OFF , CAUSING THE WIRE HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD TO BURN UP TWICE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 10/06/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING BRAKE DISC ROTORS WARPED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE ROTORS NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 10/04/2002· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WARPED. MR

• 09/21/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE MANIFOLD CRACKED IN THE SAME LOCATION, OVERHEATING THE CAR FOR THE SECOND TIME. *BF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND WAS RECALLED. THE NEW MANIFOLD WAS ALSO MADE OF PLASTIC AND OVER TIME IT ALSO FAILED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE INSTALLED THE NEW RE-DESIGNED TWO PIECE, HALF PLASTIC HALF METAL MANIFOLD. *NM

• 09/20/2000· TIRES

  PE00 020 ; WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH AND HEARD A NOISE, DRIVER REAR TIRE EXPLODED,AND CAR WOULDN'T START. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK

• 09/19/2001· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD SEAL FAILED DUE TO LEAKING WATER. *YH

• 09/16/2002· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTS SPEEDING BY ITSELF.DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

• 09/13/2002· SUSPENSION

  THE CAR SHOOK AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT FOR A YEAR AND NOBODY COULD LOCATED THE PROBLEM. THE BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED AND THE PULLING STOPPED. NLM

• 09/10/1999· SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN

  WHEN TRAVELING THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. ALSO, THERE IS VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 09/02/2004· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  INTAKE MANIFOLD 1997 COUGAR, ENGINE FAILURE. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD TO PAY 900.00 TO REPLACE A PLASTIC PART IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND WANTS THE PART TO BE RECALLED. *TC

• 09/02/2003· SUSPENSION

  LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT ON VEHICLE BROKE AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE.*MR THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL RIM SHOWED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC SWITCH THE TWO LEFT TIRES FROM FRONT TO BACK. THE VEHICLE DIDN'T WOBBLE OR HAVE ANY VIBRATION AFTER THE FACT. THE CONSUMER HAD GREASED FITTINGS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED NO GREASE WOULD BE NEEDED FOR 100,00 MILES. *PH

• 08/31/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PROBLEMS WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD.*MR THE MANIFOLD WHICH WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL CRACKED IN THE SAME LOCATION AS THE PREVIOUS FAULTY MANIFOLD WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. *NM

• 08/15/1999· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  FRONT END PROBLEMS CAUSING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION (SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS), FRONT BRAKES ALSO EXPERIENCE LOCKING UP ON OCCASIONS, BOTH THESE FAILURES ARE CAUSING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEMS. MJS

• 08/12/1998· SEAT BELTS

  AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTORS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THOSE THE KIND OF SEAT BELTS CAME WITH THE CAR. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT BOTH REAR SHOULDER HARNESSES DO NOT LOCK AND THAT THEY CAN BE PULLED IN AND OUT WITH EASE, THE REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLIES ALSO FAILED TO LOCK. *SLC

• 08/07/1997· POWER TRAIN

  STOPPED VEHICLE IN STREET, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, TILTED THE STEERING WHEE, . GOT OUT AND VEHICLE JUMPED INTO REVERSE AND ROLLED BACK. DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK

• 08/03/1999· AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH IMPACT, ANOTHER VEHICLE DROVE RIGHT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE SIDE. BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER OR PROVIDE FURTHER INFOMATION. *AK

• 07/30/2003· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN

  ON 7/29/2003 WHILE FUELING T GAS WAS LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. OWNER LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THREE HOLES IN THE FUEL LINE. OWNER STATED THAT DRIVESHAFT WAS RUBBING ON THE FUEL LINE WHICH CAUSED THE HOLES. *AK

• 07/27/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH AT ONE TIME WAS ON RECALL. NO NOTIFICATION WAS EVER RECEIVED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND THEY DID NOT HAVE TO HONOR THE RECALL. *AK

• 07/26/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT

  HAD CATASTROPHIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE WHILE ON VACATION. FOMOCO HAS A RECALL ON THIS COMPONENT (97M91) BUT REFUSED TO PROVIDE RELIEF. AS I UNDERSTAND THE RECALL OF THIS KNOWN PROBLEM, FORD WILL ONLY REPLACE WHEN IT FAILS, BUT IT MUST FAIL IN A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME. THIS WAS A SILENT RECALL AS FORD NEVER PUBLICIZED IT. I HAD ATTEMPTED A PREVENTATIVE REPLACEMENT AS I WAS AWARE OF THE INHERENT PROBLEM -- AGAIN MY LOCAL MERCURY DEALER (KING - GAITHERSBURG, MD) WOULD ONLY REPLACE WHEN THE MANIFOLD FAILED. WELL IT DID WHILE I WAS ON VACATION HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HOME. AS THIS WAS A KNOWN MANUFACTOR'S PROBLEM FROM THE DATE OF INSTALLATION, REPLACE MUST BE DONE WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST COMES TO FORD'S KNOWLEDGE. INSTEAD, WHEN ISSUING THE RECALL (MARCH 1999) FORD CHOSE TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE CONSUMER BRINGS IT TO THE DEALERSHIP'S ATTENTION. ONLY THEN WOULD THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL EXISTED. *AK

• 07/22/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER'S REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT IN HIS 1997 MERCURY COUGAR .***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUEMR WAS NOT REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE REPAIRS WERE NOT MADE AT A FORD/MERCURY DEALER. *NM

• 07/21/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  I PARKED OUR 1997 COUGAR IN THE DRIVEWAY AROUND 5:00P.M. ON 07/15/05. I HAVE NOT BEEN HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. ABOUT 1:00A.M. ON 07/16/05, WE WERE AWAKEN BY NEIGHBORS WHO HAD SPOTTED THE CAR ON FIRE. THE FIREMEN SAID IT APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM STARTING ON THE RIGHT SIDE. SINCE IT WAS TOTALLY BURNED, WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. I E-MAILED THE FORD CORPORATE & FILLED OUT THE INFORMATION INCLUDING THE VIN ASKING ABOUT A RECALL, BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM THEM EXCEPT THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIVING MY E-MAIL.

• 07/21/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 MERCURY COUGAR FAILED ON 7/13/2004. THE COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE SPARK PLUG SOCKET AND GROUNDED THE NUMBER 2 SPARK PLUG, LEAKED COOLANT OVER ENGINE. LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED WITH UNDRIVEABLE CAR. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE BY AN ASE MECHANIC REVEALED A FATIGUE CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEAR THE CROSS-OVER TUBE. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. IT WILL COST OVER $900 TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE OLD PART WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER REPAIRS ARE AFFECTED. *LA

• 07/12/1999· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  VEHICLE EXPERIENING A RATTLE IN THE DASH. NLM

• 07/11/2011· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL WAS NOTED LEAKING FROM FUEL LINES JUST AFT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, FUEL WAS SEEM RUNNING DOWN THE FUEL LINES AND SIDE OF FUEL TANK. LEAK WAS CAUSED BY FUEL LINES CHAFFING THROUGH ON TOP OF TANK. CAR HAD 51,000 MILES ON IT. *TT

• 07/10/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE CONSUMER NOTICE LITTLE BY LITTLE THE LIGHTS STOPED WORKING,THERE IS LITTLE EVIDENCE OF A FIRE/BURNING, HOWEVER OWNER DOES NOT KNOW WHEN OR HOW IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *ET

• 07/09/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NO WARNING, DRIVING TO WORK UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS WHEN STEAM AND COOLANT (WHICH COULD BE SMELLED) CAME OUT FROM UNDER HOOD, LIMITING MY VISION. I HAD TO STOP AND LOW COOLANT LEVEL LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED HOME. TOOK CAR TO A CORNER MECHANIC WHO INFORMED US THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED AND IT WOULD COST US $1,200. WE WERE SKEPTICAL BECAUSE ON OTHER VEHICLES WE HAVE, THIS PART IS CAST SO IT DOESN'T BREAK. WE THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED AGAIN TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC THAT WE HAVE USED BEFORE AND HE ALSO SAID THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BROKEN. HE THEN HAD TO ORDER A NEW FORD PART THAT COST US $589.17 PLUS LABOR OF $249.60 AND WRECKER RUN OF $38.40, FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $923.12. UPON CHECKING WITH FORD.COM, WE FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHERS AND UPON SPEAKING WITH SOMEONE OVER THE PHONE WE WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM, SERVICE BULLETIN 97M91" THAT WOULD HAVE REPLACED THIS DEFECTIVE PART AT NO COST TO US, IF THE PART WOULD HAVE BROKEN IN THE MONTH OF MAY, INSTEAD OF JUNE 19, WHEN IT OCCURRED. WE WERE NEVER AWARE OF SUCH A PROGRAM AND ARE EXTREMELY DISTRESSED THAT SUCH A REPUTABLE COMPANY AS FORD WOULD NOT MAKE THIS AN UNLIMITED WARRANTY KNOWING THAT THE PART WILL FAIL AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS MADE OF ALUMINUM WHICH IS DEPENDABLE. WHY WAS THIS NOT USED DURING MANUFACTURING OF THE AUTOMOBILE? SURELY, THE COST THEN WOULD HAVE BEEN MINIMAL TO FORD. COULD THIS POSSIBLY BE REASON WHY IT WAS NOT MADE A VOLUNTARY RECALL? WE WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS PART, CONSIDERING WE WERE ONLY 3 WEEKS OUT OF "97M91."*AK

• 07/08/1999· VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE

  WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT NOT CLEAR THE ENTIRE WINDOW. THEY DO NOT GO ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER ALSO OBTAINED SIX STITCHES TO THE HEAD FROM THE DESIGN OF THE SUNVISOR BEING SUPPORTED BY A VERTICAL ROD INSTEAD OF A HORIZONTAL ONE. *JG

• 07/06/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  FOR NO REASON AT ALL ANTIFREEZE STARTED LEAKING FROM THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD IN MY 1997 COUGAR WITH A 4.6L MOTOR. I SEARCHED THE WEB AND LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON SOME PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS. FOUND ALL INFO I COULD AND COPIED IT FOR THE LOCAL MERCURY DEALER TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. DROPPED IT OFF FOR SERVICE, ONLY TO GET A CALL THAT MY VIN WAS NOT ONE THAT WAS AWARDED THE EXTENDED 7 YEAR WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THE LENGTH OF TIME WE OWNED THIS COUGAR FIT THE TIME CRITERIA. IM REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD THAT THEY ARE NOT COVERING ALL OF THEIR PLASTIC JUNK MANIFOLDS. I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER FOR COMPLAINTS, BUT THE MAN SAID I AM SORRY I CAN NOT HELP YOU, BUT I WILL TYPE YOUR INFO IN OUR DATABASE. SO I AM NO SPENDING $900.00 TO REPAIR A CAR WITH 82K MILES ON IT FOR SOMETHING I WOULD NOT HAVE EXPECTED TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH. TO PROVE THAT THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM, THEY NOW REPLACE THE ORIGINAL MANIFOLD WITH A NEW PART NUMBER, AND DESIGN. THEY ADMIT IT WAS A BAD DEAL, BUT STILL WILL NOT HELP ME. I TOLD THEM THAT WHILE THEY WERE TYPING MY COMPLAINT, ALSO TYPE THAT THIS IS MY LAST FORD, AND ALSO MY FAMILIES LAST FORD. IT'S A SAD TESTAMENT FOR THE USA WORKERS. HENRY FORD WOULD NOT BE PLEASED. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

• 07/04/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES BEGAN VIBRATING EXCESSIVELY AT APPROX. 30,000 MILES.

• 06/23/2013· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  MY VEHICLES BECAME TOTALLY DISABLED ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY WITH HEAVY AFTER HOURS RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE MANIFOLD WHICH IS MADE OF PLASTIC BROKE WERE THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR WAS BUILT IN, I ALSO NOTICED THAT A FEW SPARKPLUGS WERE FLOODED WITH COOLANT. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A LAWSUIT ON THESE VEHICLES BUT NO ONE KNEW ABOUT IT AND ONLY FLEET VEHICLES WERE COVERED AND NOT CIVILIAN VEHICLES. I WONDER IF THERE IS ANY CHANCE FOR ME TO SEEK A DEALERSHIP AND GET REIMBURSED FOR THESE DAMAGES. *TR

• 06/23/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I WOULD LIKE YOU TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER AND THE RESPONSIBLE GARAGE (OSMAN) ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I MAY HAVE CHECKED THE WRONG BLOCK. I WAS TRAVELING TO TAMPA,FL. ON I-4 TO A WEDDING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A WHITE STEAM APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR, LUCKILY I HAD JUST COME UPON A REST AREA AND PULLED INTO THE AREA AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. CHECKED TO SEE WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG AND I REALLY COULDN'T TELL FROM ALL OF THE STEAM AND THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS UP ALL THE WAY. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE CARRIER AND REQUESTED ROAD SIDE SERVICE WHICH THEY IMMEDIATELY PROVIDED FOR MY. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE IN KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA AND INSPECTED AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND IT WAS THE 6TH ONE HE HAD REPLACED IN THE LAST YEAR, HE CALLED THE MERCURY GARAGE AND TOLD ME THE PART WOULD BE $ 576.00 AND OTHER GASKETS NOT INCLUDED AND ANTI-FREEZE, AND TOWING AND WOULD BE AROUND $ 650.00. CAR IS STILL IN THE GARAGE, SO I AM NOT SURE WHETHER IT WAS LEFT OR RIGHT, I PICK CAR UP TOMORROW, SO WITH RENTAL AND EVERYTHING I WILL SPEND APROXIMATELY $ 825.00 FOR THIS PROBLEM. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AS THIS IS A SMALL TOWN GARAGE AND IF HE HAS DONE 6 NOW THINK OF A LARGER TOWN & GARAGE. ANOTHER GENTLEMAN CAME INTO THE GARAGE TO BUY A TRAILER HITCH AND HEARD US TALKING AND HE SAID HIS 97 GRAND MARQUIS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT COST HIM $ 800.00 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MECHANIC SAID FORD MOTORS DEFINITELY HAS A PROBLEM IN THIS AREA.THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS PROBLEM.*AK

• 06/20/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  FRONT HYDRAULIC DISC ROTORS ARE 1/2 INCH BIGGER THAT REAR ROTORS WHICH CAUSES ROTORS TO WARP. BRAKES OVERHEAT, STEERING STARTS SHAKING, AND FRONT END WILL NOSE DIVE IF VEHICLE BRAKES TOO HARD, CAUSING WHEELS TO LOCK UP. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

• 06/17/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN

  THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. GAS IS LEAKAGE FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, CONSUMER REPLACED TRANSMISSION FOUR TIMES. *AK

• 06/13/2001· TIRES

  PLEASE HELP FOR OTHER DRIVER. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2M3 IPN TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)