1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS Complaints

AIR INTAKE PLENUM DEVELOPED A CRACK WHICH IN TURN SPRAYES COOLANT ONTO THE REAR OF THE ALTERNATOR. I KNOW THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS PART BUT FORD WILL NOT REPLACE IT.THERE IS A LIMITED RECALL ON THIS PART BUT IT BEGINS LESS THAN 4 MONTHS AFTER THE BUILD DATE ON MY CAR, EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED EXISTS ON MANY EARLIER MODELS. I WOULD LIKE MY CAR INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL BUT AM TOLD NO WAY BY FORD. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *AK

MY PRIMARY COMPLAINT IS THE STRESS CRACK ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY FORD, AND HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL PROGRAM FOR THEIR FLEET VEHICLES ONLY. THE COVERAGE IS FOR 7 YEARS FROM THE VEHICLES WARRANTY START DATE, WITH NO MILEAGE LIMITATION. IT COVERS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FOR 4.6 L SOHC ENGINES ON 1996-2001 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE VEHICLES, CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 CROWN VICTORIA TAXIS AND CERTAIN 1998-2001 LINCOLN TOWN CARS, ALL USING THE SAME INTAKE MANIFOLD AS THAT ON MY GRAND MARQUIS (SAME PART NUMBER, SAME PART!). THE RECALL PROGRAM IS 01M02. THE STRESS CRACK CAUSED COMPLETE COOLANT LOSS AND OVERHEATING OF THE ENGINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE RELEASE OF COOLANT ONTO THE WINDSHIELDS OF FOLLOWING VEHICLES. IN ADDITION, THE REEL-TYPE ELECTRIC WINDOW SYSTEM IN THE CAR FAILS IN MORE THAN NORMAL FEQUENCY. I HAVE HAD THREE FAILRES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. *AK

WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY AT SLOW SPEED HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT WELD HOLDING LOWER CONTROL ARM ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAD BROKEN. *AK

TRANSMISSION VIBRATES, SLIPS (SOUNDS LIKE DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS) DURING MODERATE ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND VIBRATES WHEN TRAVELING IN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR AND THEN LOSES POWER.*AK

VEHICLE STALLS, MOSTLY WHILE MAKING TURNS AT SLOW SPEEDS. DEALER FEELS CAUSE IS OVERFILLING OF FUEL FILLER NECK. *AK DEALER REPLACED FILLER PIPE, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS STILL STALLING. *SLC

REAR CROSS OVER LINE SEVERE WEAR TO DIFFERENTAIL RUBBED THROUGH BRAKE LINE POOR DESIGN ON LINE MOUNTING THIS HAPPENED IN THE REAR RIGHT WHERE LINE IS ROUTED TO THE LEFT BRAKE. SOME ONE HAS MAYBE BEEN KILLED DUE TO THIS POSSIBLEY BEING OVER LOOK AT AN ACCIDENT.*AK REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHT IS LIKE DRIVING WITH PARKING LIGHTSNOT ENOUGH LIGHT TO DRIVE BY. THE COMPANY IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND SEEN A LETTER FROM COMPANY SENT TO DEALERS EXPLAINING AND SAYING THEY MAY GET COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS. THEY OFFER NO OPTIONS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE GIVEN UP NIGHT DRIVING WHEN AT ALL POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE CAN NOT SEE TO DRIVE ON OUR LOW BEAMS.*AK

CONSUMER HAS BEEN TO DEALER REGARDING LOW BEAMS 3 TIMES, THE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK VERY WELL AT NIGHT CAUSING CONSUMER DIFFICULTY SEEING, DEALER STATES THERE IS NO PLACE TO INSTALL RUNNING LIGHTS AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. *SLC

CLOCK SPRING IS DEFECTIVE, AND HORN/AIRBAGS DO NOT WORK. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE USELESS ON ASPHALT HIGHWAYS ESPECALLY IN THE RAIN. PARKING LIGHTS ARE BRIGHTER. LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS A SHIELD OVER THE LOW BEAM BULB, IT BLOCKS TOO MUCH LIGHT. PROBLEM IS SO SERIOUS A RECALL IS IN ORDER.*AK