MERCURY Complaints

TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY (FMC) VIA WEBSITE: YOUR INQUIRY: HAS ANY MECHANIC EVERY CAME ACROSS A SITUATION SIMILAR TO MY 2004 MOUNTAINEER CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM AS FOLLOWS: EVERY TIME I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL BETWEEN 27-45MPH AND DESCEND A HILL, THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN! THAT'S RIGHT; NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES, NO ENGINE RUNNING! THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY/WARRANTY ISSUE TO ME? THE MERCURY SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT HE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM AND IT'S GOING TO COST ME AT LEAST $70.00, JUST FOR HIM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG! FROM FMC: THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER REGARDING THE CRUISE CONTROL CONCERN ON YOUR 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. I SINCERELY UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION THAT THIS EXPERIENCE HAS BROUGHT YOU. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT COMPLETE VEHICLE SERVICE RECORDS ARE MAINTAINED AT THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP ONLY. AS DEALERSHIPS ARE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED, WE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER VEHICLES' SERVICE RECORDS; THUS, CANNOT DETERMINE IF THIS IS CONSIDERED TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE. MOREOVER, OUR DEALERS DETERMINE HOW THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE WILL BE APPLIED WHEN ASSIGNING TECHNICIANS TO SERVICE VEHICLES. IN THIS INSTANCE, THE $70 DIAGNOSTIC FEE THAT WAS QUOTED TO YOU AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT WOULD APPLY, IS A STANDARD PRACTICE FOR THIS DEALERSHIP. I INVITE YOU TO SPEAK WITH THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER OR THE SERVICE MANAGER, AS HE/SHE WOULD BE IN THE BEST POSITION TO ADDRESS YOUR DIAGNOSTIC FEE. AT THIS TIME, I RECOMMEND THAT YOUR VEHICLE BE INSPECTED BY A LINCOLN-MERCURY DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF ANY SYMPTOMS YOUR VEHICLE MAY BE EXPERIENCING. THEY HAVE FACTORY-TRAINED TECHNICIANS, THE MOST CURRENT ENGINEERING SERVICE INFORMATION, AND THE SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT REQUIRED TO RESOLVE YOUR VEHICLE CONCERNS. IF THERE IS NO COVERAGE UNDER APPLICABLE WARRANTIES, RECALLS OR EXTENDED SERVICE PLANS, REPAIRS AND SERVICES WOULD BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH FMC DEALER. *TR

TRANSMISSION-ENGINE INTERFACE / PROGRAM ON MY 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO IS 'WACKY' -- TO USE A TECHNICAL TERM..... PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN JULY 2006 AND IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCED THE BIG PROBLEM. IT NOW HAS ABOUT 28,000 MILES. DEALER THINKS I'M WACKY FOR REPORTING IT AND SUPPOSEDLY CHANGED THE PROGRAM THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME I REPORTED THE PROBLEM BUT IT STILL EXISTS. THE PROBLEM: WITH ALL PREVIOUS CARS I'VE DRIVEN, TO GO FASTER YOU PUSH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DOWN. TO SPEED UP A LITTLE YOU PRESS A LITTLE; TO SPEED UP A LOT YOU PRESS HARDER. WITH THIS CAR YOU PRESS A LITTLE: NOTHING HAPPENS. YOU PRESS A LITTLE HARDER: NOTHING HAPPENS. YOU PRESS A LITTLE HARDER: NOTHING HAPPENS. SUDDENLY AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS TWO OR THREE GEARS AND JUMPS FORWARD -- WITH TREMENDOUS TORQUE STEER. FORTUNATELY, THE TORQUE STEER IS TO THE RIGHT, SO I HAVE NOT AS YET VEERED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ANTICIPATE THE PROBLEM AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE SO FAR, BUT I FEAR THAT I OR ANOTHER DRIVER MAY NOT ALWAYS BE SO ATTENTIVE. ITS POTENTIALLY EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO ME AND OTHERS ON OR NEAR ROADS..... *TR

RECENTLY HAD TO PAY A FORD DEALER $385 TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES AT 27,000 MILES ON MY 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO PURCHASED NEW IN JULY 2006. FRONT BRAKES IN FINE SHAPE. EVIDENTLY THE DESIGNED REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES ARE SUBSTANDARD FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE REAR BRAKES HAD NOT FAILED YET BUT WERE WITHIN A FEW MILES OF DOING SO, ACCORDING TO A FORD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. *TR

PAINT ON ROOF IS BLISTERING AND PEELING. WE NOTICED IT LAST WEEK AS THE PEELING IS LIFTING REAL HIGH FROM ROOF SURFACE. IT LOOKS AS IF IT HAS BLISTERED THRU THE CLEARCOAT AS WELL AS THE PAINT IT'S SELF. IT IS DOWN TO BARE METAL NO PRIMER, NOT SHOWING SIGNS OF RUST YET. 08/08/10, OUR GRAND MARQUIS IS A 2007 SILVER/GREY IN COLOR. WE LIVE IN NC. OTHERWISE WE LOVE THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD NO OTHER PROBLEMS. *TR

INCIDENT FIRST OCCURRED ON 6/20/2010, ON I-64. I WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD SLIPPED FROM D3 TO D2. I STOPPED VAN AND IT WORKED FINE AFTER RESTARTING, BUT WAS AFRAID TO USE IT; ONLY USED SEVERAL TIMES FOR SHORT TRIPS IN THE INTERIM - NO PROBLEMS, HOWEVER, WITH THE TRANSMISSION. TOOK TO DEALER ON 7/30 - 41,779 MILES - EXTENDED WARRANTY (ESP) EXPIRED 2/5/10. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR AND BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH AT A COST OF $325.22, INCLUDING DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. DEALER ALSO FLUSHED AND FILLED TRANSMISSION - TWICE TO REMOVE WATER - COST: $184.87. I ASKED FOR THE OLD PARTS - DEALER DID NOT RETURN THEM. PICKED UP VEHICLE ON 8/1/10; TRANSMISSION WORKED FINE, BUT THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS) LIGHT TURNED ON AND STAYED ON. DID NOT DRIVE UNTIL 8/6 WHEN I TOOK IT TIRE SHOP TO HAVE TIRES REPLACED - NO CRUISE CONTROL AND THE TCS LIGHT WAS ON. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE TIRE SHOP CHECKED ALLDATAPRO.COM AND FOUND A TSB THAT INDICATED THAT FORD HAD LEARNED THAT SOME 2004-2007 FREESTAR AND MONTEREY TRANSMISSIONS HAD WATER/MOISTURE PROBLEMS CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE TCS, AMONG OTHER THINGS. ALSO, IN CHECKING OTHER COMPLAINTS REPORTED TO NHTSA, FOUND ONE WHERE A FORD DEALER NOTED THAT A TRANSMISSION SEAL HAD FAILED ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER COMPUTER (TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR?) CAUSING BOTH COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. ON 8/7, FOUND THAT DEALER HAD NOT RECONNECTED CRUISE CONTROL, AND NOTICED THAT THE TCS LIGHT TURNED ON AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE TWICE. THEN NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT TO DRIVE 3 - STAYED IN D2 - BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM FROM 6/20! STOPPED AND STARTED VAN AGAIN, NO CHANGE IN THE TRANSMISSION, AND THE TCS LIGHT TURNED ON AFTER PRESSING BRAKE TWICE. HAVE NOT TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR TODAY, AND NOW, AFTER READING MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS REGARDING TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN 2004 MONTEREYS, I'M NOT SURE IF I SHOULD EVEN ATTEMPT TO DRIVE IT THE 38 MILES BACK TO THE DEALER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE REAR AXLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. AT 15,000 MILES, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WITH CONCERNS OF THE NOISE. AGAIN, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. AT 23,000 MILES THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A THIRD TIME. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE REAR AXLE, BEARINGS, SEALS AND THE WHEEL SHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE DID NOT PERSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS WERE ENTIRELY TOO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO SIMULTANEOUSLY DEPRESS BOTH PEDALS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THE BLEED THE BRAKES. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT THE SPECIFICATIONS OF BOTH PEDALS CONFORMED TO GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE PEDAL DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,932 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 23,000. UPDATED 10/13/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/19/19*JB

MERCURY MARINER HYBRID 2009 HAD IT FOR 18 MONTHS AND AUGUST 3, 2010 UPON AN APPROACH TO A STOP LIGHT ENGAGING THE BRAKES I HEARD AN AUDIBLE WARNING SOUND AND LOOKED AT MY CONSOLE TO SEE THE WARNING TO CHECK BRAKES, AT THAT MOMENT MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT SOFT AND TO THE FLOOR, I HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE MARINER TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I PARKED ASAP IN A GAS STATION LEAVING THE MARINER AND CALLING FOR A RIDE BACK TO MY OFFICE TO PICK UP ANOTHER VEHICLE TO GET HOME AND THE NEXT MORNING CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP INSTRUCTING ME TO CONTACT FORD TO GET IT TOWED TO THEM, LATER THAT DAY I GET A CALL FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TELLING ME THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAD 40,000 MILE ON A 18 MONTH VEHICLE AND THE REPAIR COST IS $1,700.00. MY WIFE AND SELF COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR WORSE. I WILL BE WILLING TO COOPERATE TO ANY EXTENT TO HELP ESCALATE THIS CONCERN AS A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD LACK POWER. THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT LOCATED A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V031000- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: BATTERY: CABLES) BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 62,000. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ UPDATED 2/17/2011 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE. THERE WAS ALSO AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE WARNING LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS POTENTIALLY CAUSED BY DEBRIS AND SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED ITSELF. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED NOT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN THREE DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE AND RECOMMENDED A FUEL INJECTION SERVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 178,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 179,000.