1998 Mercury Tracer

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

• 12/28/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE FAILED AFTER COMPLETE TUNEUP. *YH

• 12/28/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE FAILED AFTER COMPLETE TUNEUP. *YH

• 12/21/1998· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  WHEN PUMPING FUEL INTO THE FUEL TANK, IT DOES NOT ENTER THE TANK PROPERLY AND BACKS UP IN THE FILLER NECK, WHICH CAUSES THE FUEL PUMP TO SHUT OFF AND FUEL TO SPILL FROM THE TANK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, DEALER NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 12/17/1998· VISIBILITY

  GLASS ON VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH IN SUNLIGHT DUE TO LARGE AREA OF GLASS AND SLANT OF GLASS (DESIGN), POSSIBLE TINTING WOULD ILLIMINATE PROBLEM.

• 12/14/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING THE HORN STARTED BLOWING AND I HAD TO TAKE THE FUES OUT TO STOP IT. *AK

• 12/14/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ON DECEMBER 11, 2004 I WAS OUT SHOPPING AND I GOT IN THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START I LEFT IT SIT THERE OVER NIGHT AND WENT BACK THE NEXT DAY AND IT STARTED. I HAVE HAD 3 MACHANICKS LOOK AT IT AND NONE OF THEM KNOW WHY IT DID IT.*AK

• 12/01/2005· SUSPENSION

  DT: THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE REAR PASSENGER STRUT BROKE. INSIDE THE STRUT WAS A PIECE OF RUBBER. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

• 11/28/2000· STRUCTURE

  SUNVISOR IS DESIGNED TOO SHORT AND DOES NOT BLOCK THE SUN SUFFICIENTLY. *MJS

• 11/14/2001· VISIBILITY

  INTERMITTENT LOSS OF WINDSHIELD WIPER FUNCTION, WILL WORK IN MEDIUM/HIGH MODE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK *JB

• 11/10/2005· SUSPENSION,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  AFTER ONLY OWNING MY VEHICLE FOR 8 MONTHS, AND BEING TOLD IT WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION, IN A MATTER OF 3 DAYS, MANY PROBLEMS OCCURRED. MY 4WD LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING, ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WHEN ACCELERATING UPHILL, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RAISES TO HIGH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS AND THE CHECK GAUGE LIGHT COMES ON. THE CAR BEGAN DYING, THE IDLE DROPPING AT SLOW SPEEDS, AND EVEN DIED IN MID DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, LEAVING ME TO VEER TOWARDS THE EDGE OF THE ROAD WITH NO POWER STEERING. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HONOR MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, I PAID $1200 FOR. MY ESTIMATE CAME UP TO ALMOST $3000 WITH THE WARRANTY ONLY OPTING TO COVER $ 300. THE PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED BY THE MECHANIC WERE: THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR: $680, SLACK IN BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS (NEED REPLACING): $625, ELECTRICAL AND RELATED REPAIRS: $ 215, SENSOR FOR FRONT AND REAR INTERNAL FAILURE $ 700, T/CASE MOTOR $725. I COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE 4WD ON MY VEHICLE PURCHASED ONLY FOR THAT REASON WITH WINTER COMING DOESN'T EVEN WORK, THE WHOLE THING NEEDS REBUILT. I'VE NEVER EVEN USED IT. I PAID ALL I COULD $900, AND GOT THE CAR BACK JUST TO HAVE IT RESPONDING THE SAME WAY, VIRTUALLY UN-DRIVABLE. AFTER VIEWING SEVERAL WEBSITES, THE FORD/MERCURY WEBSITE LISTED NO RECALLS AND COMPLAINTS FOR MY VEHICLE, BUT ALLDATA.COM LISTED THE THROTTLE POSITION, AND THE SAME 4WD PROBLEMS I'M HAVING; PLUS MINOR ONES I FAILED TO MENTION TO THE MECHANIC, SUCH AS THE REAR SEAT POSITIONING WILL NOT RECLINE, WHISTLING FROM THE WHEEL WELL ETC... I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MY FINDINGS, AND FIND MY SELF IN QUESTION AS TO KEEP THE PIECE OF JUNK, OR BUY A NEW CAR. DID I GET SCREWED BY THE DEALER WHO SOLD IT TO ME, ALONG WITH MY "FAKE" EXTENDED WARRANTY? IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY THE MANUFACTURER CAN PARTAKE IN THE REPAIRS? I ALREADY KNOW SIMILAR PROBLEMS ARE HAPPENING TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. *JB

• 10/25/2001· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT PROPERLY INTO GEARS, THIS CAUSES VEHICLE TO JERK AND SHIFT HARD INTO GEARS, SOMETIMES WOULD FLUTTER WHEN DRIVING AT 50-55MPH.*AK CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO NUMEROUS DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.*SLC

• 10/25/2001· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND REMAIN, HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. MECHANIC EITHER WOULD REPLACE OR RESET THE SENSORS ACCORDING TO WHATEVER CODE APPEARS. *AK *SLC

• 10/21/1999· AIR BAGS

  CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 55MPH AND HIT A TREE, AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AT ALL. *AK

• 09/22/2003· SUSPENSION

  DURING A VEHICLE INSPECTION REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND WERE REPLACED. *AK

• 09/19/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  TWICE WHEN WE HAVE STARTED TO BRAKE, THE ENGINE HAS SPEEDED UP TO VERY HIGH RPMS. ON SAT. 9/17/05 AS I TRIED TO STOP THE ENGINE REVVED SO HIGH THAT I COULD NOT STOP THE VANS FORWARD PROGRESS WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BUT WAS ABLE TO SQUEEZE BY. VERY SCARY. MY WIFE HAD IT HAPPEN WHEN SHE WAS ON AN ICY ROAD AS SHE STARTED TO BRAKE THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP. THE ONLY THING THAT WILL WORK IN THIS SITUATION IS TO TRY & SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL BUT IT HAPPENS SO FAST THERE ISN'T MUCH TIME TO REACT. IF IT HAPPENS IN THE RIGHT SITUATION IT COULD BE VERY DISASTROUS. *NM

• 09/17/1999· STEERING

  WHEN TURNING OR CHANGING GEARS, THE CAR MAKES A POPPING AND RATTLING NOISE. DEALER SAYS SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE STEERING GEAR BOX. *AK

• 09/11/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE STALLS AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WHILE TAKING CORNERS WITH THE CLUTCH ENGAGED. NLM

• 09/05/2003· STEERING,SUSPENSION

  CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A RIGHT TIE ROD AND A RIGHT COIL SPRING. HE HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS REAL DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVEN. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REPLACED THE DAMAGED PARTS WITH THE WARRANTY. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 30000 MILES. *AK

• 09/03/1999· AIR BAGS

  DRIVER'S AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AT ALL WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. *AK

• 08/11/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  AT 2,795 MILES THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. AT 4,162 MILES VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON TWO OCCASIONS. ONE INCIDENT RESULTED IN HITTING A LIGHT POLE. *YC

• 08/05/2005· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  DT : TRUNK LATCH WAS FAULTY. TRUCK LATCH HAD A SENSOR IN IT THAT WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE NOT TO RUN. THE PART THEY REPLACED WAS CALLED A TRUNK LATCH. IT WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO DECELERATE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE TRUNK LID WAS CLOSED BUT THE SENSOR INSIDE OF IT WAS FAULTY BECAUSE IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL EVEN THOUGH THE LID WAS CLOSED. THE SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.*AK *NM

• 07/29/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ON 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE ALTERNATOR FAILED. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED IN OCTOBER 1, 2002. CURRENTLY, AGAIN THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND THE MILEAGE WAS 64,965 MILES ON THE CAR. CURRENTLY. 3 YEARS LATER THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE PRIVATE MECHANIC TO BE FIXED. THE ALTERNATOR THAT WAS REPLACED IN 2002 WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY EITHER. THE OWNER WAS DRIVING THE DIED. THE OWNER HAD TO PAY $700.00 FOR THE REPAIR BILL ON THE FIRST ALTERNATOR. *AK

• 07/28/2000· SUSPENSION

  BALL JOINTS WITHOUT OILING GREASE ZERK FITTINGS WHICH CAUSED THE BALL JOINTS TO CRACK/BREAK DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE RUBBER BOOTS AROUND THE BALL JOINTS ARE DEFLATED WITH NO ZERKS TO INSERT GREASE. *YH

• 07/17/2001· STRUCTURE

  A HOLE IN FIREWALL HAS CAUSED EXHAUST FUMES TO ESCAPE INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO PUT A PIECE OF TAPE OVER THE HOLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, CONSUMER STATES THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE REMEDY, LETTER WRITTEN BY SCOTT ROGERS, HE IS THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. *SLC

• 07/15/2002· SEAT BELTS

  SEATBELT WILL NOT LATCH INTO BUCKLE, CAUSING IT TO BE USELESS IN EVENT OF A CRASH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

• 06/20/2000· AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. *AK *ML

• 06/10/2005· SUSPENSION

  REAR COIL SPRING FRACTURED, WITHOUT PROVOCATION, IN MY 1998 MERCURY TRACER SEDAN. AFTER SPEAKING TO 3 DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT SHOPS AND 2 DIFFERENT FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, IT WAS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT FORD/MERCURY HAS A KNOWN MATERIAL DEFECT THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE. EVERYONE CONCEDES THAT THESE SPRINGS ARE FAILING AT ABSURD RATES BUT FOMO CO POLICY IS TO DENY EVERYTHING (DESPITE WHAT THEIR OWN SERVICE TECHNICIANS ARE ADMITTING) CATASTROPHIC FAILURES WHILE DRIVING FREQUENTLY RESULT IN TIRE BLOWOUTS... THIS PROBLEM OCCURS THROUGHOUT THE TAURUS/SABLE, ESCORT/TRACER, AND TOPAZ/CONTOUR CAR LINES... I STILL HAVE THE SHATTERED SPRING IN MY POSSESSION, FOMOCO EXPRESSED ZERO INTEREST WHEN I CONTACTED THEM...

• 06/08/2005· SEATS

  DT: A BROKEN ROD UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT ALLOWED THE SEAT TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH. IT FELT LIKE THE SEAT MAY BREAK COMPLETELY AND CAUSE THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS. A SEAT BOLT RECALL WAS DONE IN 2003. *NM CONSUMER BOUGHT A NEW SEAT TRACK AND PUT IT ON THEMSELVES.*SB

• 05/27/1999· SUSPENSION

  WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE VIBRATES WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN AND IN THE ENGINE. *AK

• 05/11/2007· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE I AM ON THE FOOT BRAKE SLOWING DOWN, CAR SUDDENLY REVS, SHIFTS INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATES. I AM UNABLE TO HOLD BACK THE VEHICLE EVEN WHEN PUSHING AS HARD AS I CAN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HAVE TO KNOCK THE SHIFT LEVER INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP.*AK

• 04/19/1999· SUSPENSION

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT AFTER SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS HAD BEEN DONE AND SET OF TIRES HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *AK

• 04/07/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER ONCE READ ABOVE NORMAL, WAS TRAVELING, HEARD A NOISE IN ENGINE, SLOWED DOWN AND VECHICLE SHUT DOWN. I BELIEVE THERMOSTAT MAY BE DEFECTIVE, THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER HEAD. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE IT WAS FULL OF COOLANT AND OIL WAS FULL AND HAD JUST BEEN CHANGED. I HAVE ALWAY HAD ALL MAINTANANCE DONE ON TIME, THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AT 45,000 MILES ON ANY VEHICLE. *AK

• 04/05/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  HAD PARKED VEHICLE. NOTICED VEHICLE MAKING NOISES PRIOR TO BEING PARKED. DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON. LIFTED HOOD & GOT FLASHLIGHT. RETURNED & VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AROUND THE STARTER & DASHBOARD AREA. PUT FLAMES OUT W/FIRE EXTINGUISHER. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. INFORMED FIRE WAS NEAR RUBBER BOOT. WHAT CAUSED FIRE NOT FOUND. *AK

• 03/30/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  HORN DIFFICULT TO ACTIVATE DUE TO DESIGN.

• 03/07/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  OIL DIPSTICK KEPT 'POPPING' UP AND SQUIRTING OIL ON ENGINE. *AK

• 03/06/2001· TIRES

  TIRE SIZE P18565R14, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WITH 14,900 MILES. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON SUPER HIGHWAY WITH NO SHOULDER WHEN HEARD A THUMPING NOISE, CONSUMER NOTICED LEFT REAR/OUTER, AND TOP PORTION TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREADED, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON RIM BEFORE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP.*AK UNIROYAL TIGER PAW TIRE, P18565R14, DOT AP7JJK7U188. *SLC

• 03/04/2002· POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE STOPPING AT SPOT LIGHT AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE SURGED WHILE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.*AK CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO HAVE THE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION FUNCTIONS CHECKED. TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED AND ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE. *JG

• 03/02/2005· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF HER 1998 MERCURY TRACER AND COLLIDED HEAD ON INTO A GUARDRAIL. NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NM THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS SMASHED INTO THE ENGINE. *SC *JB

• 02/27/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TWICE TO CORTESE. THE HORN WILL NOT SOUND UNLESS YOU PRESS REALLY HARD ON THE HORN ICON. CORTESE TOLD ME THAT THEY CHECKED OTHER TRACERS ON THE LOT AND QUOTING NOW "THAT'S JUST THE WAY THEY ARE". THEY SAID TO QUOTE "PRESS REALLY HARD ON THE HORN ICON" I FEEL THIS IS UNSAFE. IF I NEED TO WARN AN ONCOMING CAR IN A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT SITUATION I WOULD BE UNABLE TO DO SO. I FEEL THERE MUST BE AWAY FOR MERCURY TO RETRO FIT ANOTHER HORN SOMEHOW. CORTESE ALSO SAID PART OF THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE AIRBAG BEING JUST UNDERNEATH THE HORN.

• 02/26/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  CALIPER SEALS FAILED, CAUSING FLUID LOSS AS WELL AS BRAKE FAILURE. ALSO, MASTER CYLINDER FAILED.

• 02/21/2003· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE HORN STARTED BLOWING ON ITS ON.*JB

• 02/20/2002· SUSPENSION

  CONSUMER STATED THAT FIRST TIME 2 NEW TIRES WERE NEEDED AT 19,022 MILES, MECHANIC SAID NO PROBLEM WITH REAR SUSPENSION, PROBLEM DUE TO LACK OF ROTATION, SECOND TIME 4 NEW TIRES WERE NEEDED AT 26,851 MILES MECHANIC SAID PROBLEM WITH STRUTS AND COILS FOR EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. REPEATED COMPLAINTS TO FORD DEALER IGNORED. *YD

• 02/19/2004· SUSPENSION,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  THE REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE ON MY 1998 MERCURY TRACER. WHEN SEEKING A REPAIR, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH FORD/MERCURY MODELS OF THIS SIZE (ESCORT/TRACER/TEMPO). WITH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN, ONE CAN OBSERVE THE REAR TIRES OF A CAR WITH THESE SPRINGS BROKEN COME OFF THE ROAD. WITH FORD WELL AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW IN THESE AUTOS, THERE OUGHT TO BE A RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE ONLY 47,700 MILES ON THIS CAR; I HAVE NOW REPLACED A BUSTED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND THE RESISTOR ASSOCIATED WITH CIRCULATION SYSTEM WHICH COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED AND FORD SHOULD ADDRESS THESE FLAWS.

• 02/18/2010· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  SPEEDS UP ON ITS OWN WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHTS. OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. MOST OF ALL IN THE WINTER TIME. TRIED TO REPAIRED IT AT STATION BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. *TR

• 02/17/2001· STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,STRUCTURE

  MANY TIMES CAR IN SHOP FOR SQUEALING STEERING WHEEL NOISE WHEN TURNING A FAR RIGHT, RATTLING NOISE, GRINDING NOISE FROM ENGINE, RALLTING NOISE FROM DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR JAM, GAS-PIL/EXHAUST SMELL COMING THRU WHEN AC/DEFROST ON, BRAKES SQUEALING EVEN AFTER NEW BRAKE PADS, MANY TIMES I WAS TOLD THAT SOMETHING MAYBE COMING LOOSE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT BREAKS BEFORE THEY CAN FIX IT. JUST RECENTLY AS OF 2-6-01 FORD FACTORY GUY TOLD ME I WAS IMAGINING THINGS. HE ALONG WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THERE ISN'T A PROBLEM, AND WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT BREAKS BEFORE THEY CAN FIX. WARRANTY EXPIRES APRIL 6, 2001. I CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING BREAKS, THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. SOMETIMES THE RATTLING NOISE ISN'T CONSTANT, OR VERY LOUD, BUT SOMETIMES IT IS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING THAT THEY CAN'T HEAR IT. MAYBE BEING AROUND ENGINES ALL THE TIME IT HAS AFFECTED THEIR HEARING. I DO KNOW THAT I AM NOT IMAGINING THINGS. JUST YESTERDAY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE IN PARK, IT TOOK ME SEVERAL MINUTES TRYING TO MOVE TO THE STEERING WHEEL SO THAT I COULD TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THIS ISN'T CONSTANT BUT OCCASIONALLY, IT DOES HAPPEN HOWEVER. DURING OUR SUMMER, WITH TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT AND HEAT INDEX, KEY IN IGNITION GOT SO HOT THAT I BURNT MY HAND, THERE WAS ALSO A BURNING RUBBER SMELL. NO DEALER/REPAIR SHOPS WERE OPEN ON A SATURDAY, THE ONE PLACE I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE CAR TOO (FORD'S QUALITY CONTROL SHOP) TOLD ME THAT SINCE ITS UNDER WARRANTY, & THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT TO TAKE IT BACK THERE. WHICH I DID A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, OF COURSE THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS ALOT COOLER, SO THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. JUST RECENTLY I NOTICED DIFFERENCES IN THE TRANSMISSION. CAR NOT ALWAYS MOVING WHEN PRESS ON GAS PEDAL, SOMETIMES A JERKING MOTION WHEN SHIFT FROM PARK INTO REVERSE. A CRACKING SOUND FRONT DRIVERSIDE TIRE, I MADE A HARD LEFT TURN TO GET OUT OF PARKING SPOT. FORD DISPUTE BOARD CONTACTED

• 02/02/2002· SUSPENSION

  BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS AT VERY LOW MILEAGE,COULD HAVE CAUSED TIRE BLOWOUTS,SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*AK

• 02/02/2002· SUSPENSION

  BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS AT VERY LOW MILEAGE, COULD HAVE CAUSED BLOWOUTS, SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK

• 01/28/2002· AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 20-25 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK *SLC

• 01/15/2004· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  HOLE IN MY BLOCK WITH OIL LEAK AND VALVE GASKETS SO BAD I TURNED THE CAR IN.