1999 Mercury Mountaineer complaints

----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE ----- FROM: TOM STANGL [email protected] TO: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] SENT: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2000 1:50 AM SUBJECT: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT BLOWOUT INQUIRY > ON JUNE 29, 2000, WHILE DRIVING FROM ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA TO DULUTH, I EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT ON I35. MANY CARS WERE ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME, HOWEVER I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY AND CHANGE THE TIRE. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS IN THE ROAD AND NO OTHER CARS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS AROUND ME. I DROVE TO A DULUTH FIRESTONE DEALER AND HAD THE TIRE REPLACED. UPON EXAMINING THE TIRE, THEY COULD NOT FIND A PUNCTURE. THE TIRE WAS TORN UP FROM THE HIGHSPEED FREEWAY INCIDENT AND MANEUVERING TO THE SIDE. THE TIRE WAS LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER REAR. THE RIM WAS NOT DAMAGED AND I PURCHASED A MATCHING TIRE FROM FIRESTONE. ATTACHED IS A LINE ITEM FROM MY MASTERCARD FOR YOUR REFERENCE. THE TIRES ARE WILDERNESS AT BRAND ON A 1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WITH DOT CODE W2HL. THE TIRES HAD 13,590 MILES ON THEM AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS INCIDENT IS TIED TO THE PROBLEMS CURRENTLY BEING EXPERIENCED BY OTHERS LEADING TO THE RECALL OF THIS LINE OF FIRESTONE TIRES. CURRENTLY THIS INCLUDES DOT CODE VDHL. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS ON THE EXPANSION OF THE RECALL TO INCLUDE MY TIRES NOW THAT IT APPEARS I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS OTHERS WITH MORE SEVERE CONSEQUENCE. REG

I REVIEWED BLOWOUT/FAILURE DATA AND SAW A LARGE NUMBER OF W2HL TIRES THAT FAILED, I AM NOT CONVINCED THESE TIRES ARE ANY BETTER THAN THE VDHL RECALLED TIRES AND WANT THE RECALL TO BE WIDENED TO INCLUDE THE TIRES MADE AT THE WILSON, NORTH CAROLINA PLANT, AS THEY SEEM TO HAVE AN UNACCEPTABLE FAILURE RATE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: 235 75 R15 )

CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT MANUFACTURED IN DECATUR, THE TIRES HAVE PIECES OF THE SIDEWALL BEGINNING TO PEEL AWAY. NLM

UPON INSPECTION OF ALL 4 TIRES ON VEHICLE, 3 OF THE TIRES (1 DRIVER'S FRONT, 2 REAR) WERE NOTED TO HAVE SMALL CRACKS/SPLITS AROUND EACH TIRE SIDEWALL APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES BELOW THE TOP OF THE TREAD. FRONT TIRE HAS THE GREATEST NUMBER OF CRACKS.( DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPY TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRES ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF CRACKING IN THE TREAD. VEHICLE EXPERIENCES ABNORMAL SHAKING DURING SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

VEHICLE VIBRATION NOTICED OFTEN AT HIGH SPEEDS (60-70 MPH). TIRES (4) REPLACED WITH NEW MICHELIN 235/75R15 LTX OWL 6C 104R 78868 TIRES ON 9/6/00. MILEAGE ON TIRES AND VEHICLE AT REPLACEMENT WAS 11,457( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

THIS TIRE IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, ALL TIRES ARE SPLITTING ON THE SIDEWALLS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )

TIRE FAILED AS WE WERE EXITING EXPRESSWAY ON THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE. WE CALLED FOR SERVICE AND ROADRUNNER ROADSERVICE CAME AND REPLACED TIRE WITH SPARE AT APPROXIMATELY 4 PM I HAVE COPY OF RECEIPT. WE TOOK TIRE TO A FIRESTONE STORE AND THEY REPLACED TIRE FREE AFTER WE FORCED THE ISSUE, THEY DID NOT WANT TO REPLACE FOR FREE AT FIRST. TIRES HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ROTATED ON TIME AND TIRE PRESSURE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND CHECKED PROPERLY. TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS CHECKED BY FORD/MERCURY SERVICE DEPT AND WE WERE TOLD OUR TIRES WERE MADE IN CANADA AND THEREFORE WE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE HAD A TIRE FAILURE. FIRESTONE KEPT THE TIRE THAT THEY REPLACED SO WE DO NOT HAVE IT IN OUR POSSESSION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VN TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

ORIGINAL TIRES ON A 1999 FORD MOUNTINEER; MECHANIC THAT SERVICED VEHICLE TOLD CONSUMER TIRE WAS BAD, CONSUMER WAS EXPIERENCING A VERY BAD VIBRATION, SO CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRESTONE TIRES WITH MICHELIN, AND THE VIBRATION WENT AWAY.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P225/70/R15 *MW

PE00.020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE . TIRES RUN OUT SIDEWAY, AND CONSUMER TOOKS HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TIRE ARE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS#AT P235/75R1. HE HAS NOTIFIED FIRESTONE.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/15 *MW

PE00020, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON 1999, MERCURY MOUNTAINEER,TIRE SIZE P23575R15, DOT VDHLIPY4198. PASSENGER'S REAR TIRE TREAD BLEWOUT OF THE RIM WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. LUCKILY, DRIVER HAD CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THE FIRESTONE TIRES, P235/75R15 VD. HAS TO WAIT ON A WAITING LIST TO HAVE TIRES REPLACED. *AK

THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS OF THE OBVIOUS TIRE PROBLEM. THE DEALER BALANCED, ROTATED AND ALIGNED THE TIRES. WHEN THE PROBLEM PERSISTED THE DEALER ADVISED THAT I NOTIFY THE FIRESTONE TIRE AND SERVICE CENTER. I WENT TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER AND UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRES WAS TOLD THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE BELTS INSIDE THE TIRE WERE SEPARATING. THE REPRESENTATIVE ALSO CHECKED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND FOUND IT TO ALSO HAVE SEPARATED BELTS. THE FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE RECOMMENDED FOR SAFETY THAT I REPLACE ALL 5 TIRES. THE DEALER PRORATED THE TIRES BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF TREAD REMAINING ON THE TIRES. AS A SAFETY MEASURE I HAD THE TIRES (WILDERNESS AT) REPLACED WITH UNIROYAL TIGER PAWS AT A COST OF $200.32. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO BEAR THE COST OF REPLACING THE TIRES. THE BELTS WERE SEPARATING DUE TO DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME. AS A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL WHO USES THE VEHICLE EXTENSIVELY TO TRAVEL THE DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE A SAFETY HAZARD.( DOT NUMBER: W2/235 TIRE SIZE: 75 15 )

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P23575R15) WORE UNEVENLY EVEN WITH TIRE ROTATIONS EVERY 3 MONTHS. NLM

CONSUMER HAS A 99 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO SEE IF TIRES WERE OKAY. FIRESTONE CENTER PUT THE VEHICLE UP ON A RACK & FOUND THAT TREAD COULD BE EASILY PULLED OFF BY THE FINGER. 10 INCHES & 12 INCH PORTION FROM EACH SIDE. THEY IMMEDIATELY REPLACED THAT ONE WITH A FIRESTONE RECALL TIRE. ANOTHER FIRESTONE DEALER REPLACED THE SET WITH BRIDGESTONE HT. THE DOT# UNKNOWN.*AK THE DEALER CHARGED THE CUSTOMER 50% OF THE COST OF REPLACING NON RECALL TIRES. THE CUSTOMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT OF THE EXPENSES. *YH

RIGHT FRONT FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RIM, THE BLOWOUT WAS SO SEVERE IT TOOK OVER A HALF HOUR TO CHANGE THE TIRE. NLM

ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE BAD SIDEWALL CRACKING ALONG TIRE BEADS, HAVE TALKED TO LOCAL MERCURY DEALER IN ALGONAC MI AND SENT E-MAIL IN REGARD TO THIS PROBLEM TO FORD. IN BOTH CASE TO NO RESULTS.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

VEHICLE WAS GOING SOUTH ON NYS RTE 41 AT 40MPH AND BEGAN PULLING LEFT, DRIVER STEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER THE VEHICLE HAD CROSSED THE NORTHBOUND LANE AND WAS ON ITS LEFT SIDE IN A 5 FT DITCH EAST OF THE NORTHBOUND LANE. THE FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS OFF THE RIM LAYING UNDER THE LEFT FRONT DOOR. ALL TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED AND PROPERLY MAINTAINED AT 26 LBS AS RECOMMENDED ON THE MANUFACTURES STICKER ON THE LEFT FRONT DOOR. THESE TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECENT RECALL, AS THEY DO NOT HAVE THE "VD" DOT #. THE TREAD DID NOT SEPORATE, BUT WAS SIMILAR TO ACCIDENTS AS DEPICTED ON THE NATIONAL TV NEWS.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL 1PY TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

PE00 020, CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON SIDE ROAD AND HEARD A BANGING NOISE, VEHICLE VEERED LEFT TO RIGHT. SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE AND STEERED ONTO THE SHOULDER IN THE SAND. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM RIM, AND TIRE WAS HITTING UP AGAINST VEHICLE AND IT WAS VERY HOT. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, P23575R15, AND DOT W2HLITY488. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. SHE CONTACTED FIRESTONE. MANUFACTURER TOLD HER THAT THIS TIRE NOT ON RECALL. CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH MICHELIN TIRES.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW

TIRE BLOWOUT WHICH DAMAGED THE RIGHT FRONT RIM - COULDN'T AFFORD A NEW RIM, THUS MY TIRE IS NOT IN COMPLETE BALANCE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R-15 )

DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL CANNOT BE ENGAGED WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS IN 1:00, 5:00, 7:00 OR 11:00 POSITION. ACCORDING TO DEALER IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. CANNOT USE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS AT ABOUT 10% OF THE INTERSECTIONS WHEN NEEDED.

WAS DRIVING 40MPH ONTO A RAMP WHEN IT FELT LIKE THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD BLOWNOUT & WENT FLAT. PULLED OVER & CHECKED BEFORE CHANGING TIRE & NOTICED THE TREAD HAD LEFT THE TIRE. TOOK TIRE TO FIRESTONE SHOP & IT WAS REPLACED. MECHANIC INDICATED CONSUMER RAN OVER AN OBJECT TO CAUSE THE FLAT. DID NOT HAVE THE TIRE. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT SIZE P235/75R15 HAD 2,000 MILES ON IT. *AK

I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE MAUFACTURER AND THE TIRE COMPANY HAVE REFUSED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE OF IT SINCE 1996. FORD CONTINUES TO SUPPLY THESE TIRES. THE PURCHASER HAS NO CHOICE IN THE MAKE OF TIRES THAT FORD SUPPLYS ON THE CAR. IT IS MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MY LOVED ONES THEY ARE PLAYING WITH AND I DON'T APPRECIATE IT AT ALL. IF THESE TIRES WERE ON THEIR CARS, I AM SURE THEY WOULD REPLACE THEM IMMEDIATELY. WHY MUST IT TAKE MORE DEATHS ,ROLLOVERS, ACCIDENTS FOR SOME ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON THIS MATTER.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235R15 )

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON UNCOMMANDED - - INTERMITTENTLY. OCCURS MOST OFTEN WHEN MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN. OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN USING TURN SIGNAL LEVER. OCCURS LESS FREQUENTLY WHEN TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE SPEED OF THE WIPERS IS ALSO AFFECTED, MOST OFTEN STARTS IN THE SLOW SPEED MODE, WIPER SPEED REMAINS THE SAME DESPITE INCREASE/DECREASE BY TURNING SWITCH.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FORD REPRESENTATIVE WILL NOT AUTHORIZE NEEDED REPAIRS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NOTICED DEFECTIVE STUD/LUG ASSEMBLY ON TIRE ROTATION. QUESTION HOW MANY OTHER VEHICLES MAY HAVE SAME DEFECT? IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE? *AK

WHE BRAKES ARE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS GONE THROUGH FORD'S DISPUTE RESOLUTION BOARD.*AK

HORN, WHICH IS LOCATED IN MIDDLE OF STEERING WHEEL AND UNDERNEATH PLASTIC PANEL OF AIRBAG, IS TOO HARD TO PRESS. CONSUMER MUST USE BOTH HANDS BEFORE HORN WILL SOUND. *AK

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT FAILED TO TURN OFF. WOULD REMAIN ON CONTINUOUSLY WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. WOULD FLASH A CODE FIRST WHEN LIGHT COMES ON. BEEN TO DEALER TWICE & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL TURN ON BY THEMSELVES WITHOUT TOUCHING SWITCH, AND THEY WILL NOT FUNCTION ON HIGH SPEED, CAUSING A DISTRACTION OR POOR VISIBILITY. *AK

ABS SENSOR FAILED, HOWEVER SYSTEM CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSOR. MJS

WINDSHIED WIPERS FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY. WOULD STOP OR GO ON THEIR OWN. CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY TO DRIVER. HAD WIPERS REPAIRED SEVEN TIMES SO FAR. BEEN THROUGH LEMON LAW. PROBLEM HAS SINCE RETURNED. *AK

SHORTLY AFTER CAR WAS PURCHASED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED TO GO ON WHEN THEY WEREN'T PROMPTED TO DO SO. CHANNEL 7 NEWS DID A REPORT ON THIS AND CALLED THEM PHANTOM WIPERS. THE PROBLEM THEY REPORTED IS THE EXACT PROBLEM I AM HAVING. ALSO, WHEN IT RAINS HEAVILY AND I NEED THE FAST WIPER SPEED, ONLY THE SLOW ONE WORKS EVEN WHEN I PUT IT ON FOR THE FAST SPEED. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING. THE WIPERS GO ON AND OFF AT ANY TIME - THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY TO WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS RUINING THE WINDSHIELD AS IT HAS DRY WIPERS GO ON AND OFF AND MOVING DIRT CONSTANTLY ACROSS THE GLASS - MUST BE DOING SOME KIND OF DAMAGE TO THE GLASS AND OF COURSE WEARING THE WIPERS OUT - ALL CAUSING ME UNNCESSARY EXPENSES. IT IS EXTREMELY RIDICULOUS TO BE TOLD - " THERE IS NO FIX". PLEEEEEEEEAAAAAASSSSSEEEEE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I HAVE ALWAYS PURCHASED ONLY MERCURY CARS - FOR THE QUALITY AND THE SERVICE. I CAN ASSURE YOU THIS IS THE LAST MERCURY VEHICLE I WILL PURCHASE.

NO SUMMARY.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME ON WHILE SWITCH IS IN OFF MODE, OR WHEN TURN SIGNAL IS USED. ALSO WIPER WOULD STOP WORKING WHILE OPERATING. DEALER NOTIFED AND WAITING ON REPAIR PARTS. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON ALL BY THEMSELVES WHEN CONSUMER LEAST EXPECTS. *AK

VEHICLE ACCELERATES SUDDENLY, RESULTIG IN A COLLISION THAT CAUSED MINOR INJURIES . A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED . HOWEVER, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

DURING WET WEATHER CONDITIONS THE DOME LIGHT FILLS UP WITH WATER AND WILL LEAK ALL ON THE INSIDE. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND/OR A FIRE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN HEAVY RAIN IN DARK EARLY MORNING HOURS ON I-94 IN SE MICHIGAN. WHEN PASSING A TRACTOR TRAILER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS (FRONT AND REAR) SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OFF AT NEXT EXIT, AND WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE. DRIVEN BACK TO DEALER IN DRY DAYLIGHT HOURS FOR WARRANTY FIX. NOTHING CONCLUSIVE FOUND, THEN I READ ABOUT YOUR INVESTIGATION IN THE NEWSPAPAER ON 8/20/99.

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN CONSUMER HIT A BUMP AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON, STEERING WHEEL WENT TO THE RIGHT, AND THE CONSUMER ALMOST HIT AN ENBANKMENT. *AK

FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND GO OFF WITHOUT APPLICATION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. PART TO CORRECT IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 15 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, IT FEELS LIKE VEHICLE WILL TIP OVER.ALSO, AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT AND THEN PROCEEDING, VEHICLE JERKS AND HESITATES.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD TURN ON AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT INDICATIONS. OCCURS ON BUMPS AND TURNS WHEN INITIALIZING TURN SIGNAL. *AK *YC

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES, DISTRACTING THE DRIVER. DEALER CLAIMS MODULE IS ON BACK ORDER. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE TO BE TURNED ON HIGH IN ORDER TO FUNCTION. WHEN THE WIPERS ARE ON, THEY RUN AT SLOW PACE. DEALER CAN NOT FIX THEM. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES AND STAY ON. SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT COME ON EVEN WITH APPLICATION. DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND SOMETIME'S DON'T WORK AT ALL. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING AND UPON HITTING A BUMP IN THE RAOD, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING THE BLADES TO WEAR. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER IS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON SPONTANEOUSLY. THEY DO NOT OPERATE AT HIGH SPEED UNLESS I ACTIVATE MY TURN SIGNAL WHICH WILL ACTIVATE THE HIGH SPEED (BUT NOT ALWAYS). A RIGHT HAND TURN (WITH OR WITHOUT TURN SIGNAL) SEEMS TO TRIGGER THEM TO COME ON (BUT NOT ALWAYS). WHEN THEY DO COME ON SPONTANEOUSLY, THEY WILL BE IN THE PAUSE MODE AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS. THEY STOP OPERATING JUST AS SPONTANEOUSLY. THEY HAVE COME ON AT TIMES EVEN BEFORE I LEAVE MY DRIVEWAY, SOMETIMES AFTER 20 MILES OR MORE, BUT USUALLY WITHIN 1-2 MILES OF DRIVING. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT VARSITY TOLD ME HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THE NEXT DAY HE TOLD ME HE HAD 5 VEHICLES THAT MORNING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT FORD ENGINEERS WERE LOOKING INTO IT. I HAVE A FEAR THE WIPERS WILL NOT OPERATE IN A RAINSTORM AND I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK