2003 MERCURY MARAUDER Complaints

ON THE ABOVE DATE WHILE LEAVING A PLACE OF BUSINESS AT APPROXIMATELY 10:15 PM I HAD NO HEAD LIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHT AUTOLAMP POSITION NOR THE HEADLIGHT MANUAL POSITION WOULD TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON. I SPENT ABOUT 00:20 MINUTES TRYING TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON. I HAD TO DRIVE ABOUT 3 MILES ALONG A VERY DARK SECONDARY ROAD IN SOUTH CAROLINA WITH ONLY THE FOG LIGHTS WORKING BEFORE THE HEAD LIGHTS EVENTUALLY CAME ON. THE NEXT EVENING MORE TIME WAS SPENT TRYING TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON, BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE NOT WORKED SINCE. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE HEADLIGHT AUTOLAMP POSITION TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING THE HEADLIGHT MANUAL POSITION TO WORK BUT NEITHER OF THE HEADLIGHT POSITIONS IS WORKING ON THE CAR. I HAVE A CAR THAT I CAN ONLY DRIVE DURING THE DAY LIGHT HOURS. MY RESEARCH HAS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE 'LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE' THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING. *TR

HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, SIDE MARKERS, FOG LAMPS ALL DIED UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TWICE ON FRIDAY NIGHT. FAULTY 'LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE' (PART NUMBER 3W7Z-13C788-AA ON MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE) TO BLAME. PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA CLOSED (PE08066), BUT PROBLEMS REMAIN - *ALL* 2001-2004 PANTHER PLATFORM VEHICLES WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM EVENTUALLY IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY DUE TO THE RELAY BEING SIZED TO SMALL AND EVENTUALLY BURNING OUT. MASSIVE SAFETY ISSUE WITH LOSING YOUR LIGHTING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON DARK BACKROADS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE LIGHT CONTROL MODULE WHICH THE CONTACT STATED HE REPAIRED HIMSELF BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY. THE DEALER WAS CALLED WHO STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $500 FOR A NEW REPLACEMENT PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COMPLETELY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE UNLESS THEY WERE ON FULL SPEED. THE WIPERS WOULD ALSO COME ON AUTOMATICALLY AND SPRAY THE FLUID WHEN THEY WERE NOT MANUALLY OPERATED. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF WHEN THEY WERE IN THE OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND WAS CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

SINCE BUYING THE CAR IN 2004 WITH 10K MILES ON IT, I'VE PUT 120K ON IT. IT'S EATEN THRU 5 SETS OF TIRES. I'VE HAD THEM ALIGNED EVERY TIME I CHANGED TIRES.. HAD TWO AXLE ROD'S BREAK. RADIO FAILED. AC WILL CONSTANTLY TURN ON RANDOMLY. *TR

REAR AXLES ARE NOT HARDENED PROPERLY,CAUSING LOSS OF LUBRICATION AT WHEEL SEALS. *TR

HEADLIGHTS TURN THEMSELVES OFF AND ON EVERY FEW MINUTES OR SO AT NIGHT OR ANYTIME... *TR

NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V328000 IS LISTED FOR THE 2003 FORD CROWN VIC'S AND LINCOLN'S BUT NOT THE MERCURY'S??? I HAVE AN 03 MERCURY MARAUDER THAT HAS THE SAME REAREND AS THE OTHERS LIST IN THIS RECALL BUT MY CAR IS NOT LISTED. I JUST HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM THAT IS LISTED IN THE CAMPAIGN AND HAD TO SPEND $1100 TO HAVE MY AXLES, BEARINGS, CARRIER AND WHAT EVER ELSE IS INCLUDED IN THE REBUILD. IS THERE A REASON THAT FORD DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS THE SAME CAR WHICH THEY ARE!!!!!!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS FAILED WHEN STUDDED SNOW TIRES WERE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO SIGNIFY THAT IT IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,800.