1997 Mercury Cougar

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

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

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

I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT DUE TO A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MANY FORD CARS WITH A 4.6 LITER ENGINE. I OR MY KIDS HAVE OWNED A 1997 MERCURY COUGAR SINCE NEW. RECENTLY THIS CAR WHICH HAD BEEN IN STORAGE FOR SEVERAL YEARS WAS GIVEN TO MY SON WHO IS LAID OFF AND ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE HIS BACHELORS DEGREE. I SPENT MONEY TO REPAIR SENSOR, FREEZEPLUG AND HE PUT NEW TIRES ON THIS CAR. I AM WRITING BECAUSE I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD I WAS TOO LATE BECAUSE THE CLASS ACTION INVOLVING THE FAULTY PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD EXPIRED IN 2007 OR AT 75,000 MILES. THE CAR IN QUESTION HAS SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 75,000 MILES. HOW COULD I HAVE TAKEN PART IN REPAIRING OR REIMBURSEMENT OF OVER $800 I HAD TO PAY TO GET THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED. I THEN FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE IN THE SAME POSITION I AM IN. I FOUND THE FOLLOWING LINK ON THE INTERNET VERY INFORMATIVE AND GIVES SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND EXPLAINS SOME SAFETY ISSUES CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE STILL DRIVING THESE CARS POSSIBLY NOT KNOWING THE ENGINE COULD BLOW UP AT ANY TIME IN ANY PLACE INCLUDING TRAFFIC. SEE LINK BELOW HTTP://PUBLIC.FOTKI.COM/TRSI/FORD_SUCKS/FORD_INTAKE_RECALL/MANIFOLD2.HTML CAN OR WILL YOU HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. AT THE LEAST PEOPLE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE THAT THEIR CAR WITH THIS PLASTIC MANIFOLD COULD LEAVE THEM STRANDED IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE LINK I INCLUDED DOES GIVE EXAMPLES O

INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK AND ANTI-FREEZE SPILLING OUT AND A LOT OF STEAM SMOKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING,CAR IN SHOP NOW A IT WILL COST ME $600.00 TO FIX. *TR

IGNITION FAILED TO TURN WITH KEY. PUT LUBRICANT (WD-40) IN HOLE AND TAPPED WITH HAMMER UNTIL KEY TURNED.

FORD HEADLIGHTS: CLOUDY LENSES: FORD MADE AUTOS HAVE PLASTIC LENSES/HEADLIGHTS THAT CLOUD UP OVER TIME, WITHIN 5 YEARS TO 10 YEARS, THAT LIMIT EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT. I PERSONALLY HAVE HIT CURBS AND NARROWLY MISSED PEDESTRIANS ETC DUE TO INABILITY TO SEE THEM AT NIGHT DUE TO LOW HEADLIGHT BRIGHTNESS. THE FORD/MERCURY DEALER INFORMS ME THAT TO REPLACE THE FOGGED LENSES, I WILL HAVE TO PAY HIM $350.00 PER HEADLIGHT FOR A WHOLE NEW ASSEMBLY. LENSES ARE NOT SOLD SEPARATELY, HE SAYS. CANNOT BE CLEANED, HE SAYS. WHY, WHY, WHY DO YOU LET FORD GET BY WITH SELLING CARS THAT HAVE THESE DEFECTIVE, PRONE TO FAILURE HEADLIGHT LENSES? PEOPLE CAN'T SEE WHERE THEY ARE GOING AT NIGHT! DOESN'T THAT CONCERN YOU? LOOK THROUGH ANY PARKING LOT, SEE THE FORD PRODUCTS WITH DARKENED, RUINED LENSES. THESE ARE ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN TO 1000'S OF DRIVERS WHO CAN'T AFFORD $350 PER HEADLIGHT EVERY 5 YEARS OR SO! FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS AND/OR OFFER REASONABLE COST REPLACEMENTS. $350 PER LENS IS NOT REASONABLE! *NM

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

MAKE: MERCURY MODEL: COUGAR YEAR: 1997 TYPE: PASSENGER CAR SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 05N04 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10018959 SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED COVERAGE PROGRAM 05N04 - EXTENDED COVERAGE FOR COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS PROGRAM IS BEING PROVIDED AS A SETTLEMENT TO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT EXTEND THE COVERAGE OF THE ALL-COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO 7 YEARS FROM THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY START DATE OF THE VEHICLE, WITH NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF MILES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN. *TT ON MARCH 2, 2004, I SENT A LETTER TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY DESCRIBING HOW THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 MERCURY COUGAR HAD RUPTURED ON FEB. 28, 2004. AFTER WAITING A MONTH AND RECEIVING NO REPLY, I CALLED THEIR CUSTOMER COMPLAINT LINE AND DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR A RECALL REIMBURSEMENT, BUT GAVE NO REASON WHY. SINCE MY DAUGHTER ALSO OWNS A 1997 MERCURY COUGAR, I TOLD HER TO HAVE A MECHANIC CHECK HER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE MECHANIC REPLACED HER INTAKE MANIFOLD AT NO CHARGE SINCE IT HAD BEEN RECALLED AS PER THE ABOVE QUOTED STATEMENT. I CALLED FORD BACK WITH THIS INFORMATION AND THEY GAVE ME THE SAME REPLY. I WROTE THEM A LETTER AND THEY DID NOT REPLY. I VISITED MY LOCAL MERCURY DEALER, FROM WHOM I HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW VEHICLE AND AGAIN WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CASE WENT TO COURT AND THE RULING WAS THAT FORD HAD TO PAY EVERY OWNER OF VEHICLES WITH THIS DEFECT A

1 .HEAVY LOSS OF COOLANT,SPRAYING ALL OVER ENGINE AREA CONTINUOUSLY AND WOULD NOT MAINTAIN PROPER LEVELS. 2. CAR OVERHEATING AND RISK OF BURNING UP THE ENGINE. 3. REPLACED "PLASTIC" MANIFOLD,COOLANT,THERMOSTAT AND GASKET. THIS MANIFOLD WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY THAT I CONTACTED AFTER THE INCIDENT AND WAS TOLD MY VIN DID NOT FALL INTO THE CATEGORY. I NOW LOOKED IT UP AND IT CERTAINLY DOES. THE OUTCOME OF THE LAWSUIT HAD DATES INVOLVED AND MY INCIDENT HAPPENED SEVEN MONTHS AFTER THE JUDGES DECISION OF SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE WARRANTY. AFTER CALLING FORD AND SPEAKING WITH 3 "CUSTOMER SERVICE" PEOPLE THEIR SCRIPT WAS THE LEGAL DECISION AND THEY (FORD) WAS NOT GOING TO DO A THING FOR ME. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE THAT HAD THIS HAPPEN AND HAVE NO IDEA OF THIS "PLASTIC MANIFOLD" THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THE CAR AND PAID GOOD MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT FORD CAUSED AND NOW WILL NOT STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT. *JB

I HAVE A 1997 MERCURY COUGAR XR7 THAT HAS 42,000 MILES ON IT. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED IN MY GARAGE AND LIQUIDS LEAKED ALL OVER GARAGE. MY CAR WAS ONE OF THE EXCLUDED VEHICLES IN FORDS CLASS ACTION AND RECALL OF CRACKED MANIFOLDS. *NM

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

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

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.

1997 MERCURY COUGAR DEVELOPED A CRACKED MANIFOLD.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR 1996 AND 1997 MERCURY COUGARS BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *NM

WHILE VEHICLE PARKED FOR 15 MIN,UTES A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *BF

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING THE COOLANT TO LEAK OUT. COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL WELL OVER SEVEN YEARS AGO, AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL THE CONSUMER WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MENTIONED IN THE LETTER. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE RADIATOR LEAKED ANTIFREEZE ONTO THE STREET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND ACCORDING TO THE RECALL LETTER THE MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. *NM......*AK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

RECALL REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. *MR THE ORIGINAL INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AT THE FRONT MOTOR. FORD REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PLASTIC MANIFOLD WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PLASTIC MANIFOLD. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB

I HAVE A 1997 MERCURY COUGAR. AFTER SEEING A LOW COOLANT LIGHT, AND STOPPING THE CAR, I OPENED THE HOOD AND HAD COOLANT EVERYWHERE! THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM WITH FORD PRODUCED AUTOMOBILES. *AK

I HAVE A 1997 MERCURY COUGAR. I FEW WEEKS AGO I STARTED SMELLING ANTI-FREEZE AND I NOTICED MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS OVER THE HALF WAY MARK. THEN MY "LOW COOLANT" LIGHT CAME ON. I ADDED SOME ANTI-FREEZE UNTIL I COULD GET THE CAR INTO MY MECHANIC. AFTER CHECKING OUT MY CAR, HE SAID I HAD A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. I LEFT THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS AND WHEN HE CALLED ME TO PICK IT UP, HE HIT ME WITH A $875 BILL. WOW!!! I DON'T HAVE $875, SO I HAD TO BORROW IT! I NEED MY CAR. THEN TWO DAYS AFTER I GET THE CAR FIXED, I'M TALKING TO A FRIEND AND HE TELLS ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON 1997 4.6 LITER ENGINES IN THE MERCURY COUGARS. I WENT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP ME AND GAVE ME A 1-800 FOR FORD. I CALLED FORD. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET THE WORK DONE AT A FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY DEALER. SO EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY PARTICULAR CAR, FOR THE PARTICULAR PROBLEM I HAD, I CAN'T GET REIMBURSED FOR THE WORK. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHERE TO GO FROM HERE??? EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO THE PROPERTY, THANK GOD, THE PROBLEM STILL COST ME TIME, MONEY AND WAS AN INCONVENIENCE. I FEEL THAT SINCE IT WAS A RECALL, I SHOULD AT LEAST BE REIMBURSED FOR THE PARTS.*AK

THE LOW COOLANT WARNINGING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE CAME INTO THE VEHICLE COMPARTMENT. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE MOVED TO THE HIGHEST SETTING. COPIOUS SMOKE ESCAPED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FORWARD TUBE OF THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD SHOWED A RUPTURE ABOUT FOUR INCHES LONG ON THE FRONT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. REAPAIR COST WAS $1455, INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF THE SPARK PLUGS, WHICH HAD BEEN SOAKED IN ANTIFREEZE. THE TEXAS COMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ISSUED A WARNING TO ME BY LETTER THAT A CONCERNED CITIZEN HAD REPORTED MY VEHICLE WAS SEEN EMITTING EXCESSIVE SMOKE AND THAT IF I DID NOT TAKE ACTION TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD CHARGE ME WITH A VIOLATION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED WITH A NEW FORD INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT HAS THE FORWARD TUBE MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM AND THE REST PLASTIC. FORD REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL SAYING THAT HUMAN LIFE HAS NOT BEEN ENDANGERED. *AK

THIS TYPE OF CAR HAS A HORRIBLE TENDANCY TO BLOW HEAD-GASKETS, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL YET.

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH THE VEHICLE INTAKE PLASTIC MANIFOLD OVER HEATED WITH NO WARNING AND THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER. *TT

LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT SEPARATED. PH

WE HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH THIS VEHICLE. ONE OF WHICH IS THE BRAKES. ANOTHER IS THE COOLING SYSTEM. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE MANIFOLD BUT OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER WLLL NOT REPLACE EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE ASKED THEM TO DO SO. IN ADDITION THE ENGINE HAD A PROBLEM WHICH NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT.

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WARPED. MR

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

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

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

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

TRANSMISSION VIBRATES AND WAS ERRATIC, TORQUE CONVERTER WAS CLEANED, TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WAS INOPERATIVE. *YH

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

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 (TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )

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)

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