1997 Mercury Grand Marquis complaints

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE HEAT GAUGE STARTED RISING RAPIDLY. I PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP DUE TO THE FACT THE PART IS IN HIGH DEMAND. IT IS NOW A ITEM THAT FORD STOCKS AND THEY CAN'T KEEP ENOUGH TO SUPPLY THE DEMAND. IT COST ME $700. THIS SHOULD NOT BE MADE OF PLASTIC! IT IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT AND HAS TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE HEAT. THIS WAS NOT A WISE CHOICE ON FORD'S PART. *LA

THE LENS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS DEVELOPS A CLOUDY APPEARANCE. WHEN THIS OCCURS IT DECREASES THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATION, WHICH RESULTS IN POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER FEELS THE CLOUDINESS IS CAUSED BY THE SUNLIGHT DETERIORATING THE LENS. THE DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACE THE LENS.*AK

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR RESULTING IN LOSS OF COOLANT FLUID. THE REPAIR COST IS $700. THESE MANIFOLDS HAVE A HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM AND NEEDED TO BE RECALLED. *LA

INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE INTAKE PLASTIC MANIFOLD, COOLANT WENT INSIDE ENGINE. *AK

A REAR BRAKE LINE ON OUR 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS TOTALLY FAILED. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WENT TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE CAR JUST BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. FORTUNATELY THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND NOT WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY. WE PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN NOVEMBER 1996 AND HAD ONLY 47,441 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. AN INSPECTION OF THE REAR BRAKE LINES SHOWED THEY WERE BOTH EXTREMELY CORRODED ALONG THEIR ENTIRE LENGTH. THE MERCURY DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKE AND FUEL LINE ASSEMBLY ($1223) ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. THE FINAL COST TO REPAIR THE LEAKING BRAKE LINE WAS $1901. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THIS RELATIVELY SMALL MERCURY DEALERSHIP ESTIMATED THEY DO THIS REPAIR ABOUT ONCE A MONTH ON MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS AND LINCOLN TOWN CARS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM RESULTING FROM MERCURY EITHER SPECIFYING OR USING AN INADEQUATE MATERIAL FOR THIS CRITICAL SAFETY PART. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT NHTSA IS CONDUCTING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS OF THIS BASIC PROBLEM (ACTION# EA03-012) AND CONTACTED MERCURY CUSTOMER RELATIONS PRIOR TO MAKING THE REPAIR. THEY POLITELY SAID THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT IS MY PROBLEM NOT THEIRS. I SUSPECT THAT THE 710 BRAKE LINE FAILURES LISTED IN NHTSA ACTION# EA03-012 FOR 1995-1997 GRAND MARQUIS, TOWN CAR AND CROWN VICTORIA VEHICLES IS JUST THE SURFACE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE MOST REPAIRS LIKE MIN

OWNER SAID INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. *AK

AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT 40/50 MPH DUE TO A CRACK IN THE BAG, PER DEALERSHIP. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE COMPRESSOR MALFUNCTIONED, AND VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE, BECAUSE IT SWERVED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. COULD HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, BUT THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED.*AK

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NOT ANTIFREEZE IN THE VEHICLE AND COULD SMELL COOLANT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLES PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE MANUFACTURER MADE SMFE FINIANCIAL ADJUSTMENTS FOR SOME VEHICLESS BUT NOT FOR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. *AK *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CONSUMER HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND THE FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT. *AK

WHEN DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT. FOUND ON NUMEROUS WEBSITES THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH SEEMS TO HAPPEN FREQUENTLY. HOWEVER, THE RECALL FOR THE PART IS ONLY FOR SERVICE VEHICLES AND DOES NOT COVER PRIVATE VEHICLES. THE PART NUMBER IS THE SAME FOR BOTH VEHICLES AND IS A HAZARD ON THE VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS COMMERCIAL OR NOT. PRIVATE VEHICLES SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE RECALL.*AK

I HAVE A 1997 GRAND MARQUIS WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED JULY 14, 2003 WHILE RETURNING FROM A WEEKEND VACATION. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD SON, 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND 4 MONTH OLD PUPPY. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS A OVER 95 DEGREES. WE HAD A LONG TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. FORD HAS RECALLED ALL POLICE AND FLEET VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM - INDIVIDUALS DO NOT RANK FOR THE RECALL. (DISCRIMINATION? I BELIEVE MANY WOULD THINK SO!) FORD HAS ADMITTED A PROBLEM BY RECALLING POLICE AND FLEET VEHICLES. IF THEY WON'T DO A FULL RECALL FOR US "REGULAR FOLKS", THEY SHOULD AT LEAST REIMBURSE US FOR THE REPAIRS AND, IF APPLICABLE, TOWING AND CAR RENTAL COSTS.*AK

WHILE ENTERING ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM A SERVICE ROAD, SMOKE/STEAM BEGAN COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, AND WE BEGAN TO SMELL THE ANTIFREEZE AS IT BURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND MANIFOLD. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND ENGINE TEMPERATURE GUAGE BEGAN TO RISE RAPIDLY. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A NEARBY FORD DEALER. THE REPAIR GUY LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND WITHOUT CLOSE EXAMINATION TOLD ME THAT THE INTAKE'S BASE WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND THAT IT HAD FAILED AND BEGAN LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT. THE LEAK WAS RIGHT BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR. HE SAID THAT IT IS A "COMMON" PROBLEM AND THAT HE HAD SEEN FIVE SUCH INCIDENTS IN RECENT MONTHS. HE DID EXPLAIN THAT FORD RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND HAD COME OUT WITH A REPLACEMENT PART WITH AN ALUMINUM BASE. THE TOTAL REPAIR BILL WAS $816.56 - NO OFFER TO REPLACE N/C BECAUSE OF A KNOWN DEFECT. THE REPAIR GUY DID SAY IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.*AK

1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS - 76,000 MILES - CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSING COOLANT TO BE DUMPED, ENGINE TO OVERHEAT RAPIDLY AND WITH NO WARNING. NOT KNOWN YET IF ENGINE HAS BEEN DAMAGED. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE THROUGH FORD MOTOR COMPANY OR THROUGH LITIGATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 55 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD SPLIT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

AS A RESULT OF A CRACK WHICH OCCURRED IN THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD OF 1997, MERCURY, GRAND MARQUIS, VEHICLE BROKE DOWN ON THE FREEWAY. SUBSEQUENTLY HAD TO HAVE MANIFOLD/ HEAD GASKET, AND MANIFOLD GASKETS REPLACED AT A COST OF ALMOST $2,000. OF SIGNIFICANT CONCERN, WAS THE DANGER TO WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED DURING HIGH TRAFFIC ON A BUSY FREEWAY! *NLM

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE ON A NOTIFICATION LIST WHEN THE RECALL ON INTAKE MANIFOLDS FOR 4.6L FORD/MERCURY ENGINES FINALLY HAPPENS. THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAKED WATER OUTSIDE THE ENGINE. *JB

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MILES AN HOUR, WITH NO WARNING. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE COOLANT LOSE UNTIL A/C STARTED BLOWING HOT AIR. AFTER WALKING 6 MILES TO A PHONE AND A 2 HOUR WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE DEALER. WHEN I TOLD SERVICE REP WHAT HAPPENED,, HE SAID "YOU GOT A CRACKED MANIFOLD." IF THIS HAS HAPPENED SO OFTEN THAT THE SERVICE REP CAN TELL YOU WHAT WENT WRONG WITH OUT RAISING THE HOOD, THEN THERE IS A PROBLEM! FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR GIVE FREE REPLACEMENTS AND FREE LABOR EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS. THE WEB SITE, "MY AUTOSTATS.COM" HAS 138 COMPLAINTS LISTED AT THIS TIME,ON THIS PROBLEM AND NO INVESTIGATIONS OR FINDINGS ARE LISTED. THIS CAR IS TARGETED TOWARDS THE OLDER DRIVER AND NO ONE WOULD WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO THEIR PARENTS OR EVEN GRAND PARENTS. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A CRACK WATER MAIN FOLD. DEALER NOTIFIED.

I WOULD LIKE TO BE ON A NOTIFICATION LIST WHEN THE RECALL ON INTAKE MANIFOLDS FOR 4.6L FORD/MERC ENGINES FINALLY HAPPENS. OUR '97 GRAND MARQUIS INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AND WE (FORTUNATELY) HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A BACK ROADS AREA. WE HAD TO GET TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE FOR $700 THEY REPLACED THE 'COMPOSITE' PLASTIC MANIFOLD. I ALSO HAVE A 2001 G.MARQUIS, IF IT'S COVERED BY THE RUMORED FORTH COMING RECALL. *JB

I OWN A 1997 GRAND MARQUIS WITH 36,000 MILES. WHEN EXITING MY CAR I WOULD SMELL PLASTIC BURNING. THIS HAPPENED MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN I DROVE LONGER. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH COVERED MOST OF THE COST, BUT I STILL NEEDED TO PAY FOR PARTS THAT WEREN'T COVERED. WHEN ASKED HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH A CAR HAVING SUCH LOW MILEAGE, THEY HAD NO ANSWER, JUST THAT IT HAPPENS. I HAD MY CAR SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER OF 2002 FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND FLUID CHECK AND ALSO, UPON THEIR RECOMMENDATION, HAD MY TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF HEAD GASKETS LEAKING IN THIS MODEL AND IF SOMEONE CAN PLEASE TELL MY WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN. *NLM

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, AND LEAKED WATER INSIDE THE ENGINE. *JB

INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT CROSSOVER RUPTURE AT 79000 MILES. *JB

THE PLASTIC PART ON THE 4.6 LITER ENGINE OF MY 1997 GRAND MARQUIS FAILED IN A REMOTE PART OF ARIZONA WHICH RESULTED IN COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT ALL 4.6 ENGINES IN CROWN VICTORIA'S, MERCURY'S, LINCOLN'S, AND FORD TRUCKS HAD THIS PART ON WHICH MANY FAILED. FORD MOTOR CO. SO MUCH AS ADMITTED THAT THIS PART WAS UNACCEPTABLE, BECAUSE THE PLASTIC PART WAS REPLACED WITH A METAL ONE. HOWEVER THEY DECLINE TO DO ANYTHING IF THE CAR IS BEYOND WARRANTY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAD A HIDDEN WARRANTY FOR POLICE CARS AND TAXIS WITH NO MILEAGE RESTRICTIONS. HELP !!!!!!! *NLM

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. *JB *NLM

PLASTIC MANIFOLD CRACKED OPEN RELEASING ALL COOLING FLUID DRIVING 30 MPH, OUTSIDE TEMP 58 DEGREES... DESPITE THE UNWISE - IF NOT STUPID - DECISION TO SAVE COSTS BY MANUFACTURING ONE OF THE HOTTEST PARTS ON A CAR, PLASTIC, THIS CAR SHOULD DEFINITELY BE RECALLED FOR THAT REASON, AND THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD BE TOLD TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT AT THEIR COST OR TO REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS WHO ALREADY HAD TO PAY THIS $ 600.00+ FOR REPLACING THIS PART WITH A METAL ONE. *JB

WE ALSO HAD THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK ON THE INTERSTATE AT A REPAIR COST OF ABOUT $950.00 FORD HAS RECALLED FLEET BOUGHT 4.6L ENGINES, HOWEVER INDIVIDUAL OWNERS HAVE TO PAY $$$ FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *JB

THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HOT, WHILE DRIVING. *JB

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. *AK *JB

1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS HAS 21,000 MILES. THE AIR BLEND DOOR HAS BROKEN CAUSING NO WARM AIR TO VEHICLE INTERIOR AND A CONSTANT CLICKING NOISE BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE IS NO WARM AIR TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A VISUAL SAFETY HAZARD. *JB

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE.*JB

1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS CRACKED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD.

NAR 02/10/2003. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE CONSUMER STOPPED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK. FORD REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FOR 4.6L ENGINES ARE PLASTIC AND HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE 1996 WHEN THEY WERE RECALLED AND FORD STILL USED THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD ANYWAY. MY MANIFOLD CRACKED RIGHT BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR SPEWING ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND FORD WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR OR CHANGE THE MANIFOLDS. DT

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER DETERMINED THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED, CAUSING ALL COOLANT TO LEAK FROM VEHICLE. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 25-30MPH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BROKE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

FAILURE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS SUDDEN/CATESTROPHIC AND HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. ENGINE COOLANT CAUSED A CLOUD OF STEAM SO THICK, FORWARD VISION WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED. BLOCKED FORWARD VISION COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. DT

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 40PMH THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A CRACKED AND LOSE ALL ANTIFREEZE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT DUE TO FORD MANUFACTUERS USING A MANIFOLD MADE OF PLASTIC AND NOT METAL, HE HAD TO PAY A LARGE SUM OF MONEY TO REPLACE IT. PH

IN NOVEMBER OF 2001 I LEFT FOR A TRIP IN MY MERCURY, ABOUT HALFWAY TO MY DESTINATION, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF MY CAR FAILED, THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF MY COOLANT SYSTEM EVACUATED IN LESS THAN ONE MINUTE. I THOUGHT I HAD RUPTURED A HOSE, UPON CLOSER INSPECTION; IT APPEARED TO ME THAT A HOSE HAD BLOWN CLOSE TO THE ENGINE BLOCK IN A PLACE THAT I COULD NOT SEE WELL. A MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THE NEXT DAY THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS PLASTIC AND THAT IT HAD CRACKED. BUT LUCKILY FOR ME HE WOULD HELP ME OUT, HE HAPPENED TO HAVE A SPARE MANIFOLD THAT HE HAD TAKEN OFF OF ANOTHER CAR LIKE MINE. APPARENTLY, SOMEONE HAD BLOWN A HEAD GASKET IN THEIR 97 GRAND MARQUIS AND THE OWNERS WERE CONVINCED THAT IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. SO THE MECHANIC REPLACED THEIR MANIFOLD AND KEPT THEIR OLD ONE THAT WAS STILL GOOD. THE MECHANIC WAS WILLING TO SELL ME THE MANIFOLD AND REPLACE THE BROKEN ONE ON MY CAR FOR ABOUT HALF THE PRICE IT WAS GOING TO COST ME TO HAVE THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE IT. THE DEALER WOULD HAVE BILLED ME NEARLY $600.00, SO I TOLD HIM TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. HE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE PLASTIC INTAKES AND HAD REDESIGNED THEM. THE ONE HE PLACED ON MY CAR WAS SUPPOSEDLY OF THE NEW DESIGN. LATER IN A MOMENTARY LAPSE OF JUDGMENT I TOLD HIM TO DISPOSE OF THE ORIGINAL, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS CRACKED IN THE SAME PLACE AS THE ONE IN THE PICTURES FOUND AT THIS WEBSITE HTTP://PUBLIC.FOTKI.COM/TRSI/FORD_INTAKE_RECALL/ LAST NIGHT AS I WAS RUNNING SOME ERRANDS AROUND TO

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS MADE OF A PLASTIC MATERIAL. IT DEVELOPED A CRACK AND A MAJOR COOLANT LEAK AT THE FRONT OF THE MANIFOLD. THE CAR WAS RUNNING AT NORMAL TEMP BEFORE THE FAILURE, IT JUST CRACKED WITH NO WARNING. THIS IS A MAJOR FIX BECAUSE THE ENTIRE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THE PART ALONE IS $283. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART, IN MY OPINION. DT

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS WHEN THE BRAKES FADEDON A COLD/RAINY NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE. THE HOLE RUBBED IN THE LINE AT THE CROSS MEMBER. THE NEW BRAKE LINE WAS REROUTED AWAY FROM THE BODY AND WAS INSULATED.*SCC REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS CRACKED CAUSING LEAKS. MR

CONSUMER NOTICE COOLANT SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING SOON AFTER NOTICE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RISING WITH INDICATION LIGHT FLASHING. CONSUMER PULL VEHICLE OVER LOOK UNDER HOOD AND NOTICE COOLANT UNDER HOOD AND GROUND VEHICLE WAS SERVICE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEED TO BE REPLACE. MR THE CONSUMER STATES THAT FORD ACKNOWLEDGES THIS PROBLEM TO FLEET OWNERS AND HAS A RECALL, BUT AREN'T ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAS MADE THE REPAIRS WITH PARTS PURCHASED FROM THE FORD DEALER. (CRACKED ALONG THE SEAM, DUMPED COOLANT ALL OVER THE UPPER ENGINE AND ONTO THE GROUND) *SCC

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VALCRO UNDER THE SEAT HAD COME LOOSE AND STUCK HOLES THROUGH THE SEAT COVER. *MR THE CONSUMER ADDED; THE OWNER KEPT SEATS COVERED MOST OF THE TIME WITH SOFT RUGS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION. REMOVE AND REPAIRED THE PASSENGER/DRIVER SEAT-DMAGE CAUSED THE VELCRO UNDER THE SEAT COVER TO LOOSEN. THE CONSUMER SUGGESTS THAT THE DEALER REIMBURSE FOR THE COST OF REPAIR. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT OTHER MERCURY'S FROM 96-97 WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, AND FORD SENT A REPAIR KIT TO DEALERS, WHICH ARE NOW NOT AVAILABLE. *SCC

VEHICLE HANDLES WITH DIFFICULTY, NOT MAINTAINING STEERING CONTROL, AND CHANGING DIRECTIONS UPON WIND GUST. OWNER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP, WHICH WAS NOT ABLE TO DETECT CAUSE OF ERRATICAL STEERING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD RUPTURED CAUSING COOLANT TO ENTER THE CYLINDERS AND MAY HAVE CAUSED CRACK IN ENGINE BLOCK. *JG

PLASTIC MANIFOLD FAILED. HAS BEEN REPLACED ON COP CARS WITH A REDESIGNED PART. FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE PART AT NO CHARGE. NLM