1997 Mercury Marquis Engine Problems

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

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

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 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

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT ANY WARNING, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED ON IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE HEAT GAUGE MAXING OUT AND A BUZZING NOISE BEGAN SOUNDING. WHAT APPEARED TO BE SMOKE WAS POURING OUT BETWEEN MY HOOD AND COWLING. I MANAGED TO STOP THE CAR AND LIFTED THE HOOD. ANTIFREEZE SMELL WAS STRONG, WATER WAS SHOOTING INTO MY ALTERNATOR AND THE ENGINE WAS EXCESSIVELY HOT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A RELIABLE GARAGE AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD SPLIT OPEN, BUT THE "SMOKE" WAS ACTUALLY STEAM AND NO FIRE HAD ENSUED. LATER THAT DAY, THE MECHANIC CALLED AND SAID A NEW MANIFOLD WOULD COST ABOUT $400, AND ABOUT ANOTHER $400 IN LABOR. THE FINAL BILL WAS ACTUALLY $820 AND $60 FOR TOWING. UPON NOTIFICATION THAT A NEWLY DESIGNED MANIFOLD WAS NOW BEING SOLD, I BECAME SUSPICIOUS ABOUT WHY FORD WOULD DO THAT. I CHECKED FORD AND WAS TOLD "MY VIN# WAS NOT PART OF ANY RECALL, PERIOD! AFTER CHECKING THIS NHTSA SITE HOWEVER, I FOUND SEVERAL INTERESTING FACTS. THERE WERE ABOUT 300 COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME RUPTURE - I BELIEVE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE NOT REPORTING THIS PROBLEM WERE SEVERAL TIMES HIGHER. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT ALL 4.6 LITER ENGINES AT LEAST IN 1997 AND 1998 HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT FORD HAD "QUIETLY" AND I SUSPECT "ILLEGALLY" DID A SELECTED RECALL ON FLEET VEHICLES AND POLICE VEHICLES WITHOUT TELLING ANYONE ELSE. WHY WOULD FORD BE ALLOWED TO SELECTIVELY CORRECT AN ENGINEERING DEFECT. IS MY LIFE WORTH ANY LESS THAN A FLEET CAR DRIVER? I CALLED FORDS CONSUMER HOTLINE AT 1-800-392-3673 AND SPOKE WITH A REP NAMED VICKY. SHE HAD THE AUDACITY TO SAY MY VIN# HAD NO RECALL AND SHE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, FURTHERMORE THAT SHE HAD NO ACCESS TO THIS SITE NOR WAS AWARE OF IT. IF EVER A COMPANY NEEDED REPRIMANDED, FORD DOES. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023983

Incident

Jun 25, 2003

Mileage

113,100 mi

INTAKE MANIFOLD BLEW OUT CAUSING ALL OF THE WATER TO LEAVE THE ENGINE. THIS RESULTED IN ENGINE RUNNING HOT. *MR PH

NHTSA ID

10024080

Mileage

63,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS AT AN IDLE. CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BOOM NOISE, THEN SMOKE OR STEAM STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE CAUSE WAS AS A RESULT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BLOWING UP. THE MECHANIC REPLACE THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD WITH A METAL ONE. TS *TT

NHTSA ID

10003732

Incident

Dec 17, 2002

Mileage

43,000 mi

CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL FUMES ENTERING INSIDE OF VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. DEALERSHIPWAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

8003092

Incident

Dec 1, 2001

CAR WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER UNDER WARRANTY NUMEROUS TIMES WITH COMPLAINT OF LOW ANTIFREEZE IN RADIATOR AND THE FAINT SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE TOWARDS THE FRONT OF CAR, AFTER DRIVING THE CAR. DEALER CLAIMS HE COULD NOT FIND LEAK UNDER WARRANTY, BUT FOUND IT SOON AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD. DEALER SAID PART OF NEW RADIATOR COST WOULD BE COVERED BUT STILL CHARGED $100.00 FOR REPAIR. I RELUCTANTLY HAD TO PAY IT TO GET MY CAR. I HAVE PURCHASED 2 CARS AT THE DEALER AND SO HAS FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. DEALER DID NOT STAND BEHIND WARRANTY TOTALLY SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS PRESENTED AT LEAST TWICE DURING WARRANTY. DEALER DID NOT FULLY COMPLY WITH 3 YEAR FORD WARRANTY IN MY OPINION. DEALER DID NOT REACT TO MY COMPLAINT AFTER THE REPAIR. I WILL NOT BUY OR RECOMMEND PURCHASE OF ANOTHER NEW VEHICLE THERE AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

737877

Incident

Jan 13, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, COULD NOT FIND CAUSE.*AK THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLS BUT STARTS RIGHT UP AGAIN. DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *YH

NHTSA ID

869522

DOME LIGHT, TAIL LIGHT, RIGHT TURN SIGNAL, AND WINDSHIELD WASHER NOT WORKING. PAINT FLAKING. BRAKE FAILURE. RADIO, DASHBOARD LIGHTS NOT WORKING. BATTERY AND MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED. ENGINE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

523598