2003 MERCURY MARAUDER Complaints

SPARK PLUG BLEW FROM HEAD AT 55,000 MILES. STARTED CAR BEFORE WORK. HEARD LOUD TICKING. CAR MISSED AND STUMBLED. FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED CYLINDER HEAD. COST $3275.56 *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V328000 CONCERNING THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND AXLE SHAFT. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS MANUFACTURED UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME. THE CONTACT STATED THE PARTS WERE IDENTICAL IN BOTH VEHICLES.*AK UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

CAR SMOKES ON STARTUP, NO HELP FROM DEALER. WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATE WHILE WIPER SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION, AND SOMETIMES THE WINDSHIELD WASHER SPRAYS CONTINUOUSLY AND IT CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. *NM

SIMILAR TO ODI 10142807........FORD MOTOR ISSUED A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V328000 & NHTSA PE 04010) FOR 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA & LINCOLN TOWN CAR ABOUT REAR BEARING SEALS AND AXLES. FORD L/M WILL NOT REPAIR MY 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER BASED ON THIS. IT IS THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY THE REAR END. MARAUDER IS A LIMITED ADDITION WITH THE POLICE PACKAGE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. COST ME OVER $600 TO WHICH I FEEL FORD L/M SHOULD COVER UNDER RECALL 04V328000. *JB

FORD MOTOR ISSUED A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V328000 & NHTSA PE 04010) FOR 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA & LINCOLN TOWN CAR ABOUT REAR BEARING SEALS AND AXLES. FORD L/M WILL NOT REPAIR MY 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER BASED ON THIS. IT IS THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY THE REAR END. MARAUDER IS A LIMITED ADDITION WITH THE POLICE PACKAGE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. *JB

MY 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER SUFFERED PREMATURE WEAR ON THE INNER EDGES OF THE FRONT WHEELS. IT WAS FOUND TO BE WITHIN SPECIFICATION FOR THE CAMBER ALIGNMENT WHILE THIS WEAR IS INDICATIVE OF A CAMBER ISSUE. I REPLACED THE FRONT TIRES AND HAD AN ALIGNMENT. 12,000 MILES LATER THE NEW SET OF TIRES IS EXHIBITING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE FRONT INNER EDGES. DOING FURTHER RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE LOOSE TOLERANCE OF MERCURY'S ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATION. MANY OTHER MARAUDER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE POSES A SIGNIFICANT BLOWOUT PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

NO INJURIES - ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS MY CAR HAS LOST TRACTION, RESULTING IN THE CAR BECOMING UNCONTROLLABLE. *AK

WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 40-60 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR FLOOR BOARDS OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE GAS PEDAL. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH DOWN A ROAD THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, FORD MOTOR COMPANY DECLINED REPAIR OR EXPLANATION AND REFERRED US TO INSURANCE CO. INSURANCE CO DENIED BECAUSE OF NO EVIDENCE OF AN ACCIDENT. *LA

WHILE SHIFTING GEARS VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN. TRANSMISSION WENT INTO OVER DRIVE, AND VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK