MERCURY Complaints

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE STOP SAFELY NOW WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V526000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM).THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. DJR

THIS IS REFERENCE TO NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10653141. I DISCOVERED THE JULY 1, 2014 FORD'S SAFETY RECALL 14S05 NOTICE TO ALL US FORD DEALERS. ON PAGE 6 A QUESTION AND ANSWER FOR THE FORD DEALERS FROM FORD'S SERVICE ENGINEERING OPERATIONS, REVEALS FORD NEVER ATTENDED THE REPROGRAMMING THE MODULES TO FIX THE SAFETY RECALL FOR ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FOR ESCAPES AND MARINERS 2008-2011 MODELS. THIS IS THE EXCERPTS FROM THIS DOCUMENT TILTED JULY 1, 2014 TO: ALL US FORD AND LINCOLN DEALERS SUBJECT SAFETY RECALL 14S05. Q3. WHAT DOES THE SOFTWARE UPDATES DO? A. THE SOFTWARE UPDATES MAY EXTEND THE TIME STEERING ASSIST IS MAINTAINED. IN ADDITION, THE UPDATE PROVIDES INCREASED DRIVER AWARENESS BY SOUNDING A CHIME AND DISPLAYING THE WRENCH LIGHT OR WARNING IN THE MESSAGE CENTER WHEN A FAULT IS DETECTED. Q4. WHAT IF A CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST AFTER THE MODULES HAVE BEEN REPROGRAMMED? A. THE MODULES WERE REPROGRAMMED TO PREVENT SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SOFTWARE UPDATE WILL PROVIDE AUDIBLE AND VISUAL INDICATIONS TO THE DRIVER IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF A TORQUE SENSOR FAULT. ANY SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ASSIST REPAIRS EXPERIENCED AFTER COMPLETION OF MODULE REPROGRAMMING ARE NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL. Q5. WHAT SHOULD I TELL A CUSTOMER WHO EXPERIENCES LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST AFTER THE RECALL HAS BEEN PERFORMED? A. THE MODULES WERE REPROGRAMMED TO PREVENT SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING IN THE EVENT OF A TORQUE SENSOR FAULT. CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN OR TORQUE SENSOR IS AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR

WHILE BRAKING ABS WAS ENGAGED AND WORKED. AFTER ABS STOPPED BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT. VALVE IN ABS CONTROL UNIT WAS STUCK OPEN CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LOOP THROUGH AND AFFECT BRAKE PRESSURE. THIS CAUSED A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL AND INCREASED STOP DISTANCE. AFTER TALKING TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND RESEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND MANY OTHER FUSION/MILAN OWNERS TO HAVE THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE VALVE IN THEIR ABS CONTROL UNIT BEING STUCK OPEN.

I DROVE DOWN MY DRIVEWAY, TURNED LEFT TO PULL INTO MY GARAGE. AS I APPROACHED THE DOOR OPENING, TURNING, SLOWING, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAK AND BEFORE STRAIGHTENING THE WHEEL, IT SEEMED LIKE THE CAR HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. I COULD NOT STOP IT. MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BREAK PRESSING WITH ALL MY STRENGTH. THE CAR DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT HIT THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE DOOR OPENING.

FORD HAS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE- 06S45 WHICH ARE THE EXACT SYMPTOMS I AM CURRENTLY HAVING. THE DRIVER, PASSENGER OR BOTH DOORS WILL NOT LATCH/LOCK WHEN IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. THIS IS A DIRECT SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THE DOOR CAN STAY OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THE LOCK HAS TO BE WARMED UP AND THEN WILL LOCK PROPERLY WHICH WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE IT CAN ONLY BE MOISTURE RELATED. I AM AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND THIS SHOULD BE A CONSIDERED A SAFETY RECALL AND ANY VEHICLE WITH THE SAME DIAGNOSIS. THIS IS A ENGINEERING/DESIGN FLAW OF FORD BECAUSE MANY FORD MAKES, MODELS AND YEARS EXPERIENCE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TIRE WOULD DEFLATE ON AND OFF. WENT IN TO THE SHOP TODAY TO GET IT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RIP IN SIDEWALL. REPAIRMEN STATED IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE, NOT ANYTHING I DID. HAD TO BUY A NEW TIRE. *TR

DRIVER SIDE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY IS NOT FUNCTIONAL SEEMS THE LED PORTION OF THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $400-500 FROM THE DEALER. THIS IS THE SECOND TAILLIGHT IN THE 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP THAT IT HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED. VERY POOR DESIGN AND SAFETY CONCERN OF MINE SINCE THIS IS NO LONGER A $2.00 BULB REPLACEMENT BUT AN ENTIRE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY. *TR

THE ISSUE DESCRIBED IN PE08066 HAPPENED TO ME LAST NIGHT. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 50 MPH MY HEADLIGHTS TUNED OFF SPONTANEOUSLY. LUCKILY I HAD OTHER CARS IN FRONT AND BEHIND ME AND COULD STILL SEE THE ROAD BECAUSE OF THEIR LIGHTS. MY TURN SIGNAL FUNCTIONED WHEN I SIGNALED I WAS PULLING OVER, AND IT APPEARED MY SIDE MARKERS WERE STILL ON (YELLOW GLOW OFF CARS AROUND ME). I DO NOT KNOW IF MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE STILL ON. I TURNED MY HEADLIGHT DIAL FROM AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL HEADLIGHTS, AND THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE. THEN, MY HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON SPONTANEOUSLY. THEY WERE OUT FOR A TOTAL FOR 10-15 SECOND. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING A FEW TIMES. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER (AFTER LOCAL SHOP SAID IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE, BUT MAY BE UNDER WARRANTY). THE DEALER SAID ON NOVEMBER 18TH THAT THE LCM IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER IT MAY TAKE A FEW WEEKS. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE DEALER'S SUGGESTION FOR WORKAROUND IS TO USE THE "FLASH-TO-PASS" LEVER, WHICH MOMENTARILY TURNS ON HIGH BEAM LIGHTS. THIS IS NOT A PRACTICAL SOLUTION, HOLDING THE PASSING LIGHTS DURING A 45 MINUTE DRIVE TO WORK EVERY DAY. THE DEALER REFUSES TO PROVIDE A RENTAL/LOANER VEHICLE. I'M CONCERNED WITH THE LONG TERM EFFECTS ON THE "FLASH-TO-PASS", WHICH MAY GO OUT AS WELL, AS IT IS NOT DESIGNED FOR CONTINUAL USE LIKE THIS. I HAVE TO DRIVE TO WORK IN THE DARK EVERY MORNING, DEALING WITH INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHTS, AND TRYING TO MANUALLY HOLD THE FLASH-TO-PASS LIGHTS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH SHOULD BE RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY! *TR

STARTED VEHICLE TO MOVE IT IN MY DRIVEWAY. PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THROTTLE STUCK OPEN AND VEHICLE SLAMMED MY GARAGE CORNER. TRIED PUTTING IT IN PARK AND IT WENT INTO REVERSE (BRAKE OVERRIDE DID NOT WORK) INSTEAD AND CROSSED STREET, WENT ACROSS NEIGHBORS LANDSCAPING STONES AND SLAMMED INTO THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR'S FRONT PORCH AT WHICH TIME THE IGNITION SHUT DOWN AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES TO ALL THREE HOMES. *JS