1993 MERCURY SABLE Complaints

HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN MY MERCURY 3.8LITER V6 ENGINE AT ABOUT 84,600 MILES. MY 1993 MERCURY SABLE GS WAGON (VIN = [XXX]) HAD A SUDDEN HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON MAY 23, 2002 AT ABOUT 84,600 MILES. THE REPAIR COSTS CAME TO OVER $2200. THIS HEAD GASKET FAILURE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON 1988-1995 FORD TAURUS AND MERCURY SABLE VEHICLES WITH THIS ENGINE (FORD TSB # 98-4-9 AND FORD SERVICE CAMPAIGN 98M01). I TALKED TO FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS (800-392-3673) TWICE ABOUT MY CASE  BOTH TIMES TO FORD ASSOCIATES IN THEIR SAN DIEGO CUSTOMER RELATIONS OFFICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON MAY 30, 2002 (SPOKE TO A LADY WHO GAVE HER NAME AS [XXX]) AND THE SECOND TIME WAS ON JUNE 6, 2002 (SPOKE TO A LADY WHO GAVE HER NAME AS [XXX]). THEY WERE ABLE TO PULL UP MY CASE ON THEIR COMPUTER VIA MY HOME PHONE NUMBER ([XXX]). I WAS TOLD THAT FORD HAD A 7YEAR/100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THIS HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS UNDER THE 100,000 MILE REQUIREMENT (MY CAR HAS ONLY ABOUT 84,600 MILES), MY CAR DID NOT MEET THE 7 YEAR REQUIREMENT (MY CAR IS 9 YEARS OLD). DUE TO THESE REASONS I WAS TOLD THAT FORD WILL NOT COVER MY REPAIR EITHER FULLY OR PARTIALLY. THIS IS THE FIRST FORD-MANUFACTURED VEHICLE THAT I HAVE BOUGHT IN MY LIFE. I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 1993 AND MAINTAINED IT EXCEPTIONALLY WELL. I HAVE ALL THE MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS RIGHT FROM DAY ONE IN 1993. I EXPECTED IT TO LAST ME TILL AT LEAST 100,000 MILES WITHOUT MAJOR PROBLEMS. THE HEAD GASKET IS A NON-MAINTENANCE ITEM AND IT IS QUITE REASONABLE TO EXPECT IT TO LAST AT LEAST 100,000 MILES. THIS MAJOR PROBLEM AND FORDS UNCOOPERATIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS ME HAVE LEFT A VERY BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH. MY ONLY RECOURSE IS TO NEVER BUY A FORD-MANUFACTURED VEHICLE AGAIN AND TO TELL MY FRIENDS ABOUT MY BAD EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH FORD. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FRONT COIL SPRING RECALL WAS DONE IN DECEMBER OF 1999, AFTER THAT CONSUMER ALWAYS HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. DURING ROUTINE REPAIR WORK MECHANIC FOUND PASSENGER FRONT COIL SPRING BROKEN.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE TEMPERATURE STARTED CLIMBING AND NO HEAT FROM VENTS. PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO GARAGE WHERE DIAGNOSED AS BLOWN HEAD GASKET.*AK

ENGINE WAS UNABLE TO BE TURN OFF WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW. DEALER NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *TT *TT

EVERYTIME WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT WILL STALL OUT AT 35MPH. WOULD HAVE NO WARNING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. INTERMITTENT STALLING PROBLEM. HAD NOT BEEN TO DEALERSHIP.*AK *JG

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLS WHEN ACCELERATING ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY OR THROUGH AN INTERSECTION.*AK. *JB

ANTIFREEZE LEAK DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK THERE WAS A RECALL ON BLOWER HEAD GASKET AT ONE TIME, BUT THE DEALER POINTED OUT THAT THE RECALL TIME WAS OVER. THE CONSUMER REPLACED A MOTION SENSOR ON THE TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS ALSO WAS ON RECALL A LONG TIME AGO. *YH

CONSUMER STATED THERE IS CONSTANT COOLANT FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE DAMAGED.*AK *SLC

CONSUMER STATED ANTI-COOLANT IS LEAKING ON ENGINE AND ON EXHAUST SYSTEM, CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT ENGINE GASKET HAD BLOWN, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THER WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE.*AK *JG