1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS Complaints

I GUESS WE WERE LUCKY. AT 105,260 MILES, DURING THE TEST DRIVE AFTER A MAJOR TUNEUP, THE PLASTIC INTAKE ON OUR 1997 GRAND MARQUIS INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. THE MECHANIC WAS ALMOST AT THE SHOP, SO NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS DONE EXCEPT TO OUR POCKETBOOK. UPON LOOKING AT THE CONSISTENCY OF THE MANIFOLD FAILURE, AND THAT THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD, IF THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRENTY, HAS BEEN COVERED FOR CARS IN SERVICE, SUCH AS POLICE CARS, BUT NOT FOR PASSENGER CARS, AND THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS DEFECT FOR SOME TIME AND, FROM WHAT I CAN DETERMINE, DID NOT ISSUE ANY RECALLS, I'M INCLINED TO BELIEVE THIS IS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED. *AK

97 MERCURY MARQUIS GS, IT HAS 91K MI ON IT. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY WITH A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC COOLANT CROSSOVER. THE COOLANT SPRAYED ALL OVER INSIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT WAS THE WEEKEND I WAS ON A RURAL HIGHWAY IN THE STICKS WITH MY TWO KIDS AGES 4 & 6 IN THE CAR SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BOSTON & THE UNIVERSITY OF NH. NOT WANTING TO BECOME STRANDED IN SUB ZERO DEGREE WEATHER IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE, I MANAGED TO CRAWL IT INTO THE DRIVEWAY OF A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT DIED & WOULD NOT START, THE MOTOR WAS SUPER HOT! THE MECHANIC ADDED COOLANT MANAGED TO GET THE ENGINE TURN OVER AFTER SITTING FOR THE WEEKEND & CALLED TO TELL ME THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED & THAT IS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL BY FORD. IT COST ME OVER $1200 FOR THE EXPENSES INCURRED AS A RESULT(PARTS & LABOR, HOTEL & RENTAL CAR EXPENSES). THE ENGINE MIRACULOUSLY HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE FOR CLOSE TO A YEAR NOW WITH A NEWLY FACTORY REDESIGNED (ALUMINUM COOLANT CROSSOVER) FORD INTAKE MANIFOLD. *LA

WHILE REVERSING IN THE DRIVEWAY THE LOWER BALL JOINT FELL OFF. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LOWER BALL JOINT. *AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN SHE SMELLED ANTI-FREEZE, SHE PULLED OVER AND THEN THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED. *SCC *JB

THE ENGINE ON MY '97 GRAND MARQUIS BLEW UP WITH 37,057 MILES ON IT. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPT, A VALVE STUCK OPEN, THE ENGINE BACKFIRED INTO THE INTAKE AND BLEW IT OUT. I NEED TO REPLACE THE INTAKE AND THE CYLINDER HEAD, AND HAVE BEEN QUOTED ABOUT $3500 TO REPAIR IT. ACCORDING TO THE FORD FACTORY REP, FORD WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR IS OVER 6 YEARS OLD. *LA

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE HEAT GAUGE STARTED RISING RAPIDLY. I PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP DUE TO THE FACT THE PART IS IN HIGH DEMAND. IT IS NOW A ITEM THAT FORD STOCKS AND THEY CAN'T KEEP ENOUGH TO SUPPLY THE DEMAND. IT COST ME $700. THIS SHOULD NOT BE MADE OF PLASTIC! IT IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT AND HAS TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE HEAT. THIS WAS NOT A WISE CHOICE ON FORD'S PART. *LA

THE LENS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS DEVELOPS A CLOUDY APPEARANCE. WHEN THIS OCCURS IT DECREASES THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATION, WHICH RESULTS IN POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER FEELS THE CLOUDINESS IS CAUSED BY THE SUNLIGHT DETERIORATING THE LENS. THE DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACE THE LENS.*AK

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR RESULTING IN LOSS OF COOLANT FLUID. THE REPAIR COST IS $700. THESE MANIFOLDS HAVE A HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM AND NEEDED TO BE RECALLED. *LA

INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE INTAKE PLASTIC MANIFOLD, COOLANT WENT INSIDE ENGINE. *AK