2003 Mercury Marauder Problems

I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. WHEN YOU TRY TO USE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. IT SEEMS MY ISSUE WOULD FIT UNDER THE LCM RECALL FOR 2003-2005 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHEN YOU ENTER THE VIN IT SHOWS NO RECALLS. I'M HOPING THIS IS AN OVERSIGHT SINCE THE MARAUDER IS A VERSION OF GRAND MARQUIS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V861000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (LEVITTOWN FORD LLC, 3195 HEMPSTEAD TURNPIKE, LEVITTOWN, NY 11756) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

SINCE BUYING THE CAR IN 2004 WITH 10K MILES ON IT, I'VE PUT 120K ON IT. IT'S EATEN THRU 5 SETS OF TIRES. I'VE HAD THEM ALIGNED EVERY TIME I CHANGED TIRES.. HAD TWO AXLE ROD'S BREAK. RADIO FAILED. AC WILL CONSTANTLY TURN ON RANDOMLY. *TR

BOTH REAR AXLES AND BEARINGS WERE DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORD HAS ISSUED A BULLETIN ON THIS: ARTICLE NO. 03-5-5 AXLE-REARAXLE SHAFT AND/OR AXLE BEARING PREMATURE WEAR-VEHICLES PRODUCED BEFORE 1/1/2003. MY '03 MERCURY MARAUDER WAS BUILT IN AUG. '02. BOTH AXLES, BEARINGS AND SEALS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $647.55. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT REPLACED UNKNOWN WIRING UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SEAT, BUT THE LIGHT STILL REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

HEAD LIGHT FLICKER ON AND OFF , LOW BEAMS ARE DIM , HIG BEAMS NOT BRIGHT. *TR

REAR AXLES ARE NOT HARDENED PROPERLY,CAUSING LOSS OF LUBRICATION AT WHEEL SEALS. *TR

NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V328000 IS LISTED FOR THE 2003 FORD CROWN VIC'S AND LINCOLN'S BUT NOT THE MERCURY'S??? I HAVE AN 03 MERCURY MARAUDER THAT HAS THE SAME REAREND AS THE OTHERS LIST IN THIS RECALL BUT MY CAR IS NOT LISTED. I JUST HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM THAT IS LISTED IN THE CAMPAIGN AND HAD TO SPEND $1100 TO HAVE MY AXLES, BEARINGS, CARRIER AND WHAT EVER ELSE IS INCLUDED IN THE REBUILD. IS THERE A REASON THAT FORD DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS THE SAME CAR WHICH THEY ARE!!!!!!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS FAILED WHEN STUDDED SNOW TIRES WERE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO SIGNIFY THAT IT IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,800.

ON MY 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER, THE FUEL AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, I HAVE HIT BOTH OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME CAUSING ME TO "BUMP" THE CAR INTO SOMETHING. *NM

SPARK PLUG BLEW FROM HEAD AT 55,000 MILES. STARTED CAR BEFORE WORK. HEARD LOUD TICKING. CAR MISSED AND STUMBLED. FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED CYLINDER HEAD. COST $3275.56 *JB

EVERY TIME I'VE STARTED IT SINCE I OWNED IT, ITS SMOKED EVERY TIME.I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SMOKE IS FROM BUT GOES AWAY ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS OF RUNNING.

THE TIRES FOR MY SIX YEAR OLD CAR ARE ON BACK ORDER FOR MOST OF THE YEAR, EVERY YEAR!!! THE LAST TIME THEY CAME OFF BACK ORDER IT ONLY LASTED FOR FOUR DAYS!!! THIS IS THE ONLY BRAND THAT COMES IN MY STOCK REAR SIZE SO YOU CAN SEE MY FRUSTRATION. MY CAR IS ALMOST NOT DRIVABLE AND NOT SAFE BECAUSE OF THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICES. *TR

BF GOODRICH IS NOT MAKING THE SPECIFIC TIRE SIZE FOR OUR AUTOS, 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER SIZE OF 245/55/18 AND THERE IS NO OTHER TIRE MAKER THAT HAS THIS SIZE. *TR

THE STEERING BECAME JERKY AND HAD TO OVERCORRECT TO KEEP IN TRAFFIC LANE. MAKING TURNS THERE WAS A LOUD CRACKING SOUND. THE DEALER SAID RUST HAD SEIZED THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT AND IT WAS REPLACED. *TR

WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN AT INTERSECTION, CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND I ALMOST RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER, BUILT IN 06/2002, HAS MFR. KNOWN DEFECT IN STEERING SYSTEM DUE TO STICKING VAPS VALVE ON STEERING RACK. THIS UNIT WAS NEVER RECALLED, REPAIRED AND OWNERS NOT NOTIFIED OF POSSIBLE SAFETY DEFECT WITH STEERING SYSTEM. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM DUE TO MANY FAILURES OF THIS CAR LINE BUILT BEFORE 12/2002. VEH. HAS 50K MILES. ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET HURT OR KILLED FIRST? *JB

CAR SMOKES ON STARTUP, NO HELP FROM DEALER. WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATE WHILE WIPER SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION, AND SOMETIMES THE WINDSHIELD WASHER SPRAYS CONTINUOUSLY AND IT CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. *NM

WHILE PARKED, THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION AND NOTHING STRUCK THE REAR WINDOW. *SC *JB

HOOD SUPPORT STRUTS FAILED. CAR HOOD FELL ON MY HEAD. *TR

PAINT FLAKING AND THE BUFFING MARKS APPEAR ON HOOD AND FENDERS THE HOODS SHAKES SIDE TO SIDE AND THE TRIM IS COMING APART AROUND THE SIDE WINDOWS THE FRONTEND MAKES NOIES AT SLOW SPEEDS LIKE SOMTHING IS NOT PUT TOGEATHER OR THEY FORGOT TO TIGHEN THE NUTS

ON MY 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER, THE FUEL AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, I HAVE HIT BOTH OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME CAUSING ME TO "BUMP" THE CAR INTO SOMETHING. *NM

THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH WHEN THE CONSUMER ACTIVATED AND SET THE SPEED CONTROL, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT REMAIN AT THE SET SPEED. THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND SHOWED NO SIGN OF DECELERATION TO RESUME. THE DEALER FINALLY RECTIFIED THE PROBLEM. *SCC *JB

WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH IN MY 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER AND WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AT ~45 - 50 MPH. DURING THE IMPACT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK FAILED AND FELL BACKWARDS. LUCKILY MY DAUGHTER (5 YRS OLD) WAS NOT IN THE BOOSTER SEAT THAT IS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. IF SHE HAD BEEN WITH ME, SHE MOST CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS INJURIES. WHEN THE SEAT FELL BACK, MY INSTINCT WAS TO TRY TO STAY UPRIGHT. THIS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT NECK STRAIN. WHEN I THEN CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, I SLID UNDER THE SEAT BELT AND MY KNEE MADE HARD CONTACT WITH THE DASH. *JS

THIS VEHICLE PURCHASED IN JUNE 2003 HAS HAD 6 ALIGNMENTS (THE FIRST AT ABOUT 500 MILES) AND THE STEERING RACK REPLACED ALL BEFORE 3100 MILES BECAUSE OF A CONSTANT PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT I AM NO LONGER ENTITLED TO A "COURTESY" ALIGNMENT. RF TOE IN HAS DRIFTED .8 DEGREES IN 1 WEEK'S TIME AND LF CAMBER 1.3 IN SAME TIME. WILL BE ENTERING LEMON LAW PROCEEDINGS. ADDITIONALLY THE FIT AND FINISH HAS LEFT MUCH TO BE DESIRED, HAVE HAD REAR "PACKAGE" CARRIER, FR HEAD LIGHT, WINDOW MOLDINGS, AIRBAG COVERS AND OTHER TRIM ITEMS REPLACED.*AK

WHILE SHIFTING GEARS VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN. TRANSMISSION WENT INTO OVER DRIVE, AND VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE CUTS OUT AROUND TURNS; MISALIGNMENT, VEHICLE PULLS DRASTICALLY TO THE RIGHT; LOW HANGING PANEL ON DRIVER'S SIDE INTERFERES WITH THROTTLE AND BREAK OPERATIONS; BURNING ODOR EMITTING FORM ENGINE COMPARTMENT; FLUID LEAKING FROM REAR AXLE; SMOKE EMITTING FORM ENGINE COMPARTMENT; LACK OF ACCELERATION BETWEEN 2000-4000 RPM; ENGINE STALLS WHILE IDLING; NOISY CLICKING, CLUNKING, AND GRINDING SOUNDS COMING FROM FRONT AXLE; POOR ACCELERATION BETWEEN 20-40 MPH; FRONT TIRES RAPIDLY WEARING UNEVENLY; SQUEAKING FROM FRONT END; LOOSE RIGHT FRONT EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE; TRUNK ORGANIZER LID CRACKED; ALARM SYSTEM NOT WORKING; REMOTE ENTRY KEY SYSTEM INOPERABLE; STAINS ON LEATHER SEATS; SHARP EDGES AROUND TRUNK; CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONING. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 02/01/03 AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVEN TIMES FOR A TOTAL OUT-OF-SERVICE TIME OF OVER A MONTH. THE ENTIRE REAR END WAS REPLACED BUT THE VEHICLE STILL LEAKS OIL. THE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS ARE POSING VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR ME, AS POWER LACKS SEVERELY BETWEEN 2000-4000 RPM. THE FRONT END CLICKS, GRINDS, CLUNKS, AND SQUEAKS DURING DRIVING. ON MOST OCCASIONS WHILE IN THE SHOP, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS DOCUMENTED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE MY CONCERNS EVEN AFTER THEY VERBALLY CONFIRMED MY COMPLAINTS DURING TEST DRIVES WITH ME. ON SOME OCCASIONS, THEN ATTEMPTED TO MAKE REPAIRS WITHOUT DOCUMENTING IT TO AVOID "LEMON LAW" STATUS. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE, UNRELIABLE, AND HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE. MLG *NLM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT REPLACED UNKNOWN WIRING UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SEAT, BUT THE LIGHT STILL REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH DOWN A ROAD THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, FORD MOTOR COMPANY DECLINED REPAIR OR EXPLANATION AND REFERRED US TO INSURANCE CO. INSURANCE CO DENIED BECAUSE OF NO EVIDENCE OF AN ACCIDENT. *LA

RADIO - FM STOPPED WORKING; AM CONTINUES WITHOUT PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS 4 & 1/2 YEARS OLD WITH 58,200 MILES. *TR

INSUFFICIENT FRONT END ALIGNMENT PROCEDURES TO ACCOMMODATE LACK OF APPROPRIATE ALIGNMENT EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO HANDLE THE 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER WHEELS. AS SUCH, I DID NOT FIND OUT MY ALIGNMENT WAS OUT ON MY NEW MARAUDER UNTIL THE TIRES HAD WORN OFF THE INSIDE CORNER TREAD AND WAS NOTICED BY THE MERCURY TECHNICIAN. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW SET OF TIRES AT 13,182 MILES AND THEN LOCATE A NON-MERCURY DEALER WHO HAD THE CLIPS NECESSARY TO ATTACH TO THE MARAUDER WHEELS TO ACCOMMODATE ALIGNMENT. OWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE TO CHECK ALIGNMENT PROACTIVELY ON THEIR VEHICLES IF NOT PROACTIVELY CHECKED OR REQUESTED TO BE CHECKED BY THEIR DEALER SERVICE GROUPS. *PH

ENGINE CUTS OUT AROUND TURNS; MISALIGNMENT, VEHICLE PULLS DRASTICALLY TO THE RIGHT; LOW HANGING PANEL ON DRIVER'S SIDE INTERFERES WITH THROTTLE AND BREAK OPERATIONS; BURNING ODOR EMITTING FORM ENGINE COMPARTMENT; FLUID LEAKING FROM REAR AXLE; SMOKE EMITTING FORM ENGINE COMPARTMENT; LACK OF ACCELERATION BETWEEN 2000-4000 RPM; ENGINE STALLS WHILE IDLING; NOISY CLICKING, CLUNKING, AND GRINDING SOUNDS COMING FROM FRONT AXLE; POOR ACCELERATION BETWEEN 20-40 MPH; FRONT TIRES RAPIDLY WEARING UNEVENLY; SQUEAKING FROM FRONT END; LOOSE RIGHT FRONT EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE; TRUNK ORGANIZER LID CRACKED; ALARM SYSTEM NOT WORKING; REMOTE ENTRY KEY SYSTEM INOPERABLE; STAINS ON LEATHER SEATS; SHARP EDGES AROUND TRUNK; CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONING. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 02/01/03 AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVEN TIMES FOR A TOTAL OUT-OF-SERVICE TIME OF OVER A MONTH. THE ENTIRE REAR END WAS REPLACED BUT THE VEHICLE STILL LEAKS OIL. THE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS ARE POSING VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR ME, AS POWER LACKS SEVERELY BETWEEN 2000-4000 RPM. THE FRONT END CLICKS, GRINDS, CLUNKS, AND SQUEAKS DURING DRIVING. ON MOST OCCASIONS WHILE IN THE SHOP, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS DOCUMENTED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE MY CONCERNS EVEN AFTER THEY VERBALLY CONFIRMED MY COMPLAINTS DURING TEST DRIVES WITH ME. ON SOME OCCASIONS, THEN ATTEMPTED TO MAKE REPAIRS WITHOUT DOCUMENTING IT TO AVOID "LEMON LAW" STATUS. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE, UNRELIABLE, AND HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE. MLG *NLM

CONSUMER FELT THE FUEL TANK WAS DESIGNED POORLY AND THE SHARP EDGES THAT WENT AROUND FUEL THE TANK WAS VERY DANGEROUS. *NLM. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A KIT AT HIS OWN EXPENSE TO COVER UP THE SHARP EDGES OF THE GAS TANK. *JB