1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS Complaints

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER USED A STARTER BATTERY KIT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE OR CONTACTED AAA TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE AAA REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT THE STALLING MAY BE DUE TO ENGINE MOTOR FAILURE. DEALERSHIP AND SEARS RETAIL STORE PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. ALSO , THE BATTERY AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THIS FAILURE ALMOST CAUSED REAR END COLLISION.*AK OWNER IS AN EX PHILADELPHIA EAGLE FOOTBALL PLAYER NAMED CURTIS BUNCH-BLACK. *TC

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED THE LOSS OF STEERING AND THE BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CHARGED $750.00, AND PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

1. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON CONSTANTLY. 2. LIGHT BEGAN TO BLINK FOR A WHILE THEN REMAIN ON AGAIN. THE CAR SUDDENLY KILLED IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION (WHILE IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF INTERSTATE TRAFFIC WITH NO SHOULDER) 3. PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. WE WERE ADVISED THAT THIS PART BREAKS OFTEN AND IN FACT A RECALL WAS ISSUED BUT ONLY ON POLICE CARS! THE AVERAGE CONSUMER IS LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES FOR THIS EXPENSIVE PART. A PIECE OF PLASTIC COSTING UPWARDS OF $500 ONLY FOR THE PART. UPON REPLACEMENT WE WERE TOLD BY OUR MECHANIC THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM PART IN THESE VEHICLES; AND WHEN THE PART WAS RECEIVED IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT FORD HAD CHANGED THE CONSTRUCTION TO INCLUDE METAL( IN THE AREA THAT USUALLY BREAKS) IN WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY AN ALL PLASTIC PART. WE DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PART, AND I DON'T SUSPECT THAT THE MECHANIC KEPT IT EITHER.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD BEING CRACKED. *MR THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE SAME RECALLS FOR THE CROWN VICTORIA'S AND THUNDERBIRD'S SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO THE MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS BECAUSE THEY WERE MANUFACTURED BY THE SAME COMPANY. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE MONIES SPENT FOR REPAIR. *SC

CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM BUT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *PH THE CONSUMER HAD TO ANTI-FREEZE TO THE VEHICLE ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE 4.6L V8 ENGINES. THE MANUFACTURER USED CARBON FIBER INTAKE MANIFOLDS ON THE ENGINES. DUE TO THE HEAT, THE CARBON FIBER INTAKE WOULD CRACK WHICH CAUSED A LOST OF COOLANT. THE CONSUMER TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT ON;Y FOR POLICE VEHICLE'S. *JB

LTR FM LOUIS HETTINGER(KY) OWNER OF A 1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS 4-DOOR VEHICLE QUESTION IF VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE OF FAST IDLE. *MR THE IAC VALVE WAS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE BUT DID NOT HELP THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THERE WERE OTHER CONSUMERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. (THERE WAS A FAST IDLE UPON START UP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOW DOWN AT SHORT NOTICE. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, THERE WAS NO WAY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE) *SCC *JB

PROBLEMS WITH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS.*MR THE PARTS WERE REPLACED, SOME OF THEM TWICE. FORD PUT UNGREASED PARTS ON. EVENTUALLY THEY DRIED OUT AGAIN AND STARTED SQUEAKING. IF NOT REPLACED THEY WOULD POSSIBLY BREAK WHICH COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL, POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH. *PH THE FRONT BRAKES WERE RESURFACED. *JB

DEALER REPLACED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AT 49000 MILES AT COST $1,800 TO THE CONSUMER. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WILL NOT RELEASE THE BELT. THE CONSUMER TRIED PULLING THE SEAT BELT OUT OF RETRACTOR, INSTEAD THE SEAT BELT BEGAN TO RETRACT TIGHTER AND TIGHTER. CONSUMER HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF SEAT BELT. *AK CONSUMER HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT TO BE RELEASED. THERE WERE TWO RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE SEAT BELTS BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WASN'T INCLUDED. *PH *JB

THE WHOLE CAR WOULD RATTLE IF YOU WOULD HIT A BUMP LIKE IT WAS GOING TO FALL APART TOOK IT TO A TRUSTED REPAIR SHOP THEY SAID IT WAS BODY MOUNTS THE CAR ONLY HAD 15,000 MILES ON IT THE DEALER SAID THAT THE BODY MOUNTS ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY THEN I HAD TO PAY $900.00 TO REPLACE THEM. I AM VERY UPSET AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT!!!!*AK