1993 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS Complaints

I LOOKED INTO OUR GARAGE THROUGH A WIDOW IN OUR ENTRYWAY AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT OF OUR 1993 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CAR, GARAGE AND CONTENTS, AND ENTRYWAY AND CONTENTS WERE A COMPLETE LOSS.

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED DOWN THE HOUSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND WAS DECLARED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK THE FIRE ORIGINATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONSUMER MENTIONED THAT THE HE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM, ABS SYSTEM AND SHIFTER. THERE WAS GRINDING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE ABS PUMP, MOTOR RELAY, BRAKE LAMP SWITCH AND SWITCH WIRING HARNESS WERE REPLACED. (THERE WERE TWO PURCHASE DATES: 7/16/1996 AND 8/09/1996) *SC *JB

OWNER PURCHASED A SET OF GILLETTE SILVERBEAR TIRES, MANUFACTURED BY FIRESTONE/BRIDGESTONE. THE TIRE SIZE IS P215/75R15. OWNER SAYS THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH OWNER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT THE SIDE WALLS. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THE OWNER HAD THE TIRES FOR ONLY 2 MONTHS BEFORE THE BLOWOUT. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH. *AK

BODY: THIS VEHICLE HAS A LEAK PROBLEM. IT ABSORBS WATER WHENEVER IT RAINS. AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS, WE CANNOT DETERMINE WHERE THE WATER IS ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE MOST CURIOUS FEATURE OF THIS WATER IS THAT THE WATER ACCUMULATES IN THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NEVER ANY WETNESS OR MOISTURE IN THE CEILING OR SEATS OF THE VEHICLE. WATER PUDDLES IN FLOOR OF THE RIGHT PASSENGER REAR FLOOR; AND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. STEERING: THE STEERING SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE IS VERY POOR. STEERING HAS A LOT OF LOST MOTION AND REQUIRES A LOT OF CORRECTION TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN PLACE ON THE ROAD.

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BRAKES FAILED DUE TO A CORRODED BRAKE LINE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. *AK THE BRAKE PEDAL OFFERED NO RESISTANCE, IT TRAVELING TO THE FLOOR. MECHANIC NOTICED HEAVY CORROSION ON THE BRAKE LINES AND FUEL LINES LEADING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER ALL THE WAY BACK. ESTIMATE FOR COMPLETE REPLACEMENT WAS $1140. DOLLARS. UPON EXAMINING THE UNDER BODY OF THE VEHICLE THE MECHANIC STATED THE CORROSION WAS UNUSUALLY HIGH. HE PROCEEDED TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE LINES , AS THE FRONT BRAKES LINES WEREN'T SO BADLY CORRODED WHICH WAS $740. DOLLARS. AS OF TODAY, THERE HAS BEEN NO INJURIES, CRASHES AND ONLY THE REAR BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. *PH *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING DRIVER'S SEAT WILL LIFT UP OFF THE TRACKS, MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT OIL IS LEAKING, AND THEY CAN ALSO SO SMELL GAS FUMES WHILE DRIVING.*JB

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. GARAGE AND HOUSE WERE A TOTAL LOSS.*AK *YH REFERENCED IN EA02-025