1997 Mercury Marquis Owner Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE DRIVER LOSS STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN UTILITY POLE, BOULDER AND FENCE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURY. THE POLICE WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE STEERING GEAR BOX. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE DAMAGES TO THE STRUCTURE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000. THE DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR BOX IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10294479

Incident

Nov 26, 2009

Mileage

63,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2007. THE DEALER STATED ON THREE OCCASIONS THAT THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE AVAILABLE. MORE RECENTLY, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,045. UPDATE 04-02-08 *BF

NHTSA ID

10221713

Incident

Sep 10, 2007

1997 MERCURY MARQUIS WITH CRUISE CONTROL RECALL. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE FIXED IN 2007. CONSUMER STATED IT STILL WAS NOT FIXED BY JANUARY 2008. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PART MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JUNE OR JULY 2008. *JB

NHTSA ID

10214986

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS. THE CONTACT WENT TO HIS LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. HE BELIEVED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS BEING PERFORMED; HOWEVER, HE LATER LEARNED THAT THE SWITCH HAD ONLY BEEN DISCONNECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2007. HE FELT THIS INFORMATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED EITHER IN THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE OR THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT, IMPLYING THAT THE REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA ID

10205856

Incident

Oct 16, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PIPE THAT EXTENDS FROM THE FENDER WHERE FUEL IS APPLIED HAS RUSTED OUT. THE FAILURE IS CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. THE CONTACT HAS FOUND LARGE PUDDLES OF GASOLINE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT IT NEEDED A GAS FILLER PIPE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PART IS NO LONGER PRODUCED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,000.

NHTSA ID

10190386

Incident

May 7, 2007

Mileage

56,000 mi

1997 MOUNTAINEER, ENGINE RACE, COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. USED THE BRAKES BUT ENGINE RACED AND BANGED INTO OUR HOUSE IN ORDER TO STOP. THIS WAS THE FOURTH INCIDENT, IN A MONTH TIME. OTHER INCIDENTS WERE HITTING A CAR IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO STOP. NO ONE WAS HURT, THANK GOODNESS. BUT THIS WAS SCARY. WE WANT TO SELL THE CAR, BUT CAN'T WITH GOOD CONSCIENCE UNTIL WE CAN FIND THE CULPRIT. PLEASE ADVISE OR CONFIRM DIFFICULTY WITH THE CAR. THANKS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10188225

Incident

Apr 10, 2007

Mileage

70,000 mi

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. SUSPENSION FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10178658

Incident

Nov 22, 2006

Mileage

14,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT FREEWAY SPEED, MY 1997 GRAND MARQUIS, LS WAS RUNNING AT NORMAL TEMP. ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHIN A MATTER OF A MINUTE OR TWO, THE TEMP GAUGE MAXED OUT, CAR STARTED SMOKING, ALL COOLANT WAS LOST. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY, AND UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED APPROX A 3-4" CRACK. I WAS STRANDED, HAD TO TOW MY CAR APPROX 134 MILES TO GET HOME. THIS IS A $269.99 PART NOT TO MENTION THE GASKETS, ANTI-FREEZE AND LABOR INVOLVED TO FIX. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE PART AT THE VERY LEAST. *JB

NHTSA ID

10158905

Incident

Jun 3, 2006

Mileage

2 mi

FAX LTR FM (OH) OWNER OF 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS EXPERIENCE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS BALL JOINT FAILURE. *TS THE MANIFOLD LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE.

NHTSA ID

10154114

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

MY 93 YEAR OLD AUNT PAID $950.00 TO HAVE THE MANIFOLD REPAIRED 8/6/04 ON HER 1997 MERCURY, AND NOW FORD DOES NOT WANT TO PAY HER, WHAT A BUNCH OF CRAP. MY UNCLE CAME BACK FROM WWII BOUGHT A NEW FORD OR MERCURY EVERY 2-3 YEARS FOR 50 YEARS, WHAT GRATITUDE. I SEE WHY FORD AND GM IS GOING DOWN THE TUBES. IT EXCLUDED CARS THAT WERE MORE THAN 7 YEARS OLD WHEN THEY EXPERIENCED MANIFOLD FAILURE. BASED UPON THAT 7-YEAR PERIOD, WE BELIEVE THAT ALL 1996 AND 1997 CARS ( AND MANY 1998'S ) THAT FAILED IN 2004 - 2005 (APPROX.) OR HAVEN'T YET FAILED, WERE DENIED COVERAGE. THE CONCEPT ADOPTED IN THE SETTLEMENT APPEARED TO BE THAT "CIVILIANS" SHOULD NOT GET WARRANTY COVERAGE LONGER THAN THE 7 YEARS THAT WAS GIVEN TO THOSE CARS COVERED BY THE 1999 OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM. ( ONE OF THE LAWYERS TOLD US THAT THEY SETTLED FOR THE 7-YEAR COVERAGE BECAUSE, DURING A COURT HEARING, THE JUDGE HAD SAID THAT SHE WAS NOT LIKELY TO GRANT COVERAGE LONGER THAN WHAT THE "FLEETS" GOT. )*JB

NHTSA ID

10153541

Incident

Aug 8, 2004

WHILE ON VACATION THE MANIFOLD IN OUR 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10144792

Incident

May 27, 2005

Mileage

94,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED FLUID WAS LEAKING AROUND HIS HEATER HOSE. AFTER REPLACING THE HOSE SEVERAL TIMES IT WAS STILL LEAKING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. THE CONTACT MADE A TEMPORARY PATCH FOR THE CRACK. NO OTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10144110

Incident

Sep 15, 2005

DT: THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED SO BADLY THAT IT SLAPPED CONSUMER'S GRANDSON''S FACE. HE HAS A PERMANENT SCAR FROM IT. THE AIR BAGS SMOKED UP EVERYTHING LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. ALSO, CONSUMER'S GRAND DAUGHTER WAS RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND HER TEETH PRINT WAS IN THE BACK OF THE SEAT. BOTH OF THE CHILDREN WERE IN THEIR SEAT BELTS. CONSUMER FELT THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD HAVE HELD UP BETTER. THIS HAPPENED ON JUNE 18, 2005. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10136248

Incident

Jun 18, 2005

Mileage

7,000 mi

CRACK IN PLASTIC EXHAUST MANIFOLD, #2 , ART REPLACED, #3. *NM

NHTSA ID

10130934

Incident

Jul 27, 2005

Mileage

83,744 mi

MY 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS OVERHEATED AND BLEW STEAM AND ANTIFREEZE THROUGHOUT ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ON TO WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE A CRACK IN THE WATER JACKET PORTION OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND MANIFOLD HAS BEEN REDESIGNED BUT IS NOT COVERED BY A RECALL AND THE REPAIR EXPENSE ($989 PLUS TAX) WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM ON POLICE CARS AND SOME OTHERS IS COVERED. A CALL TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY RENDERED SAME RESULTS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND IT HAS ONLY 60000 MILES. I HAVE THE OLD MANIFOLD.

NHTSA ID

10129982

Incident

Jul 24, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. I STARTED THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO TAKE OUT OF PARK. I THEN REFERED TO THE VEHICLE MANUAL AND FOUND OUT THAT IF THIS HAPPENS THEN I SHOULD CHECK THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THEY WERE OUT SO I CHECKED THE FUSE AND IT WAS BLOWN. I REPLACED IT AND THE BRAKES, LIGHTS AND TRANSMISSION WORKED. I DROVE HOME (16 MILES) AND PARKED THE CAR. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WE PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT NOT UNTIL THE 1/2 THE HOOD WAS MELTED. I CALLED FORD/MERCURY AND THEY TOOK THE INFORMATION. A WEEK LATER I GOT A LETTER STATING THAT MY CAR DID NOT QUALIFY FOR A PROGRAM AND THEREFORE THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I JUST WANTED TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH OTHER CARS. ALL I GOT FROM FORD WAS THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP ME.

NHTSA ID

10128324

Incident

May 14, 2005

Mileage

139,000 mi

(THIS COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL) MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TODAY AROUND 70 MPH OR UNDER ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SHE TURNED A CORNER AND THE CAR FELL DOWN LOW WITH A CLUNG ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. SHE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME, WHERE I AND THE TOW DRIVER SAW THE MOST HORRIFYING SIGHT, THE BALL JOINT JUST CAME APART. THE BALL CAME RIGHT OUT OF THE SOCKET. THE SOCKET SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED SO THE BALL, EVEN IF BADLY WORN WOULD NEVER LEAVE THE SOCKET. I WENT TODAY TO GET 4 BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES FOR HER CAR, AND WHILE TALKING TO A CUSTOMER OF THE PROBLEM HE TOLD ME HIS DAUGHTER ALMOST HAD A BAD ACCIDENT WHEN HIS 1995 COUGARS BALL JOINT ASSEMBLE LET GO. I'M SPEAKING OF THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVE THE BALL JOINT AND THE BOLTS ON THE CAR IF YOU NEED THEM. *AK THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE CONSUMER MADE THE REPAIRS HIMSELF. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10113617

Incident

Mar 7, 2005

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THESE MANIFOLDS. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WERE PROVIDING ANY ASSISTANCE. THEY CLAIMED THE PART WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK *SC

NHTSA ID

10099785

Incident

Nov 9, 2004

Mileage

85,304 mi

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. I HAVE A 1997 MERCURY MARQUIS WITH ELECTRONIC LIGHTS. THEY ARE ALL CONTROLLED WITH A PROCESSOR CALLED AN LCM FOR LIGHT CONTROL MODULE. IT IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE CHEAPER AUTOMATIC DIMMER ON THE DASHBOARD. THE LIGHTS WENT OUT LAST SUMMER, AND THE LENSES TURNED YELLOW. I TRIED NEW BULBS, THAT DID NOT WORK. I CHECKED FUSES AND RELAYS AND ALL WERE FINE. I REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THAT DID NOT WORK. FINALLY THIS FALL I CALLED FORDS TECHNICAL LINE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A BULLETIN OR RECALL OR A QUICK FIX. ALL I COULD GET OUT OF THEM WAS BRING IT IN. I, THEN DECIDED TO CALL PARTS, AND WAS TOLD THAT TO FIX IT WOULD COST $200.00. NEEDLESS TO SAY I FOUND A WAY TO BYPASS THE COMPUTER, AND WIRED IN A RELAY THAT WAS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY. I SPENT 2 HOURS WET SANDING AND RUBBING OUT THE LENSES TO GET THEM BRIGHT ENOUGH. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. WE HAVE MANY OBSTACLES THAT DEPEND ON BRIGHT LIGHT DRIVING, INCLUDING WILD DEER, AND EDGES OF ROADS LEADING TO LAKES.*AK......$200.00 WAS COST FOR LCM, NO LABOR , PART *F7AB-136788-AA. *AK

NHTSA ID

10106908

Incident

May 1, 2004

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LEAK WATER AND THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. *BF *SC

NHTSA ID

10107428

Incident

Dec 1, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 80 MPH TEMPERATURE GAUGE REACH ED ITS PEAK , FOLLOWED BY SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE, AND THEY REPLACED THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WITH A METAL ONE BECAUSE IT HAD BLOWN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER PART WAS REPLACED COOLANT WAS COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. VEHICLE WAS THEN FLAT BEDDED TO ANOTHER GARAGE, AND THEY REINSTALLED THE CYLINDER HEAD, REPAIRED THE TIMING CHAIN, AND REPLACED THE EXHAUST.*AK

NHTSA ID

10098963

Incident

Sep 3, 2004

Mileage

73,674 mi

WHILE DRIVING, CAR BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCING THE ABILITY TO STOP AND THERBY ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. UPON INVESTIGATION, FOUND BRAKE FLUID WAS SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10093947

Incident

Aug 15, 2004

Mileage

20,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND LEAKED COOLANT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A CRACKED MANIFOLD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10088021

Incident

Aug 13, 2004

Mileage

92,000 mi

COMPLAINT ABOUT ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. *MR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE "PLASTIC" INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A STRESS CRACK AND CAUSED LEAKAGE OF ANTIFREEZE INTO THE PLUGS WHICH CAUSED THE DAMAGE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10087459

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

FAILURE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD ON 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. *MR THE INTAKE MAINIFOLD SPLIT OPEN. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE, DUE TO THE UNAVAILABILITY OF PARTS. THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10083355

Incident

Feb 20, 2004