Mercury Cougar Complaints (1997)

76 consumer complaints on file.

#10091779August 31, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PROBLEMS WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD.*MR THE MANIFOLD WHICH WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL CRACKED IN THE SAME LOCATION AS THE PREVIOUS FAULTY MANIFOLD WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083627July 27, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH AT ONE TIME WAS ON RECALL. NO NOTIFICATION WAS EVER RECEIVED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND THEY DID NOT HAVE TO HONOR THE RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082642July 26, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, EQUIPMENT
HAD CATASTROPHIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE WHILE ON VACATION. FOMOCO HAS A RECALL ON THIS COMPONENT (97M91) BUT REFUSED TO PROVIDE RELIEF. AS I UNDERSTAND THE RECALL OF THIS KNOWN PROBLEM, FORD WILL ONLY REPLACE WHEN IT FAILS, BUT IT MUST FAIL IN A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME. THIS WAS A SILENT RECALL AS FORD NEVER PUBLICIZED IT. I HAD ATTEMPTED A PREVENTATIVE REPLACEMENT AS I WAS AWARE OF THE INHERENT PROBLEM -- AGAIN MY LOCAL MERCURY DEALER (KING - GAITHERSBURG, MD) WOULD ONLY REPLACE WHEN THE MANIFOLD FAILED. WELL IT DID WHILE I WAS ON VACATION HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HOME. AS THIS WAS A KNOWN MANUFACTOR'S PROBLEM FROM THE DATE OF INSTALLATION, REPLACE MUST BE DONE WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST COMES TO FORD'S KNOWLEDGE. INSTEAD, WHEN ISSUING THE RECALL (MARCH 1999) FORD CHOSE TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE CONSUMER BRINGS IT TO THE DEALERSHIP'S ATTENTION. ONLY THEN WOULD THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL EXISTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082373July 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 MERCURY COUGAR FAILED ON 7/13/2004. THE COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE SPARK PLUG SOCKET AND GROUNDED THE NUMBER 2 SPARK PLUG, LEAKED COOLANT OVER ENGINE. LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED WITH UNDRIVEABLE CAR. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE BY AN ASE MECHANIC REVEALED A FATIGUE CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEAR THE CROSS-OVER TUBE. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. IT WILL COST OVER $900 TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE OLD PART WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER REPAIRS ARE AFFECTED. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080707July 9, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
NO WARNING, DRIVING TO WORK UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS WHEN STEAM AND COOLANT (WHICH COULD BE SMELLED) CAME OUT FROM UNDER HOOD, LIMITING MY VISION. I HAD TO STOP AND LOW COOLANT LEVEL LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED HOME. TOOK CAR TO A CORNER MECHANIC WHO INFORMED US THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED AND IT WOULD COST US $1,200. WE WERE SKEPTICAL BECAUSE ON OTHER VEHICLES WE HAVE, THIS PART IS CAST SO IT DOESN'T BREAK. WE THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED AGAIN TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC THAT WE HAVE USED BEFORE AND HE ALSO SAID THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BROKEN. HE THEN HAD TO ORDER A NEW FORD PART THAT COST US $589.17 PLUS LABOR OF $249.60 AND WRECKER RUN OF $38.40, FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $923.12. UPON CHECKING WITH FORD.COM, WE FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHERS AND UPON SPEAKING WITH SOMEONE OVER THE PHONE WE WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM, SERVICE BULLETIN 97M91" THAT WOULD HAVE REPLACED THIS DEFECTIVE PART AT NO COST TO US, IF THE PART WOULD HAVE BROKEN IN THE MONTH OF MAY, INSTEAD OF JUNE 19, WHEN IT OCCURRED. WE WERE NEVER AWARE OF SUCH A PROGRAM AND ARE EXTREMELY DISTRESSED THAT SUCH A REPUTABLE COMPANY AS FORD WOULD NOT MAKE THIS AN UNLIMITED WARRANTY KNOWING THAT THE PART WILL FAIL AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS MADE OF ALUMINUM WHICH IS DEPENDABLE. WHY WAS THIS NOT USED DURING MANUFACTURING OF THE AUTOMOBILE? SURELY, THE COST THEN WOULD HAVE BEEN MINIMAL TO FORD. COULD THIS POSSIBLY BE REASON WHY IT WAS NOT MADE A VOLUNTARY RECALL? WE WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS PART, CONSIDERING WE WERE ONLY 3 WEEKS OUT OF "97M91."*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080432July 6, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
FOR NO REASON AT ALL ANTIFREEZE STARTED LEAKING FROM THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD IN MY 1997 COUGAR WITH A 4.6L MOTOR. I SEARCHED THE WEB AND LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON SOME PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS. FOUND ALL INFO I COULD AND COPIED IT FOR THE LOCAL MERCURY DEALER TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. DROPPED IT OFF FOR SERVICE, ONLY TO GET A CALL THAT MY VIN WAS NOT ONE THAT WAS AWARDED THE EXTENDED 7 YEAR WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THE LENGTH OF TIME WE OWNED THIS COUGAR FIT THE TIME CRITERIA. IM REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD THAT THEY ARE NOT COVERING ALL OF THEIR PLASTIC JUNK MANIFOLDS. I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER FOR COMPLAINTS, BUT THE MAN SAID I AM SORRY I CAN NOT HELP YOU, BUT I WILL TYPE YOUR INFO IN OUR DATABASE. SO I AM NO SPENDING $900.00 TO REPAIR A CAR WITH 82K MILES ON IT FOR SOMETHING I WOULD NOT HAVE EXPECTED TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH. TO PROVE THAT THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM, THEY NOW REPLACE THE ORIGINAL MANIFOLD WITH A NEW PART NUMBER, AND DESIGN. THEY ADMIT IT WAS A BAD DEAL, BUT STILL WILL NOT HELP ME. I TOLD THEM THAT WHILE THEY WERE TYPING MY COMPLAINT, ALSO TYPE THAT THIS IS MY LAST FORD, AND ALSO MY FAMILIES LAST FORD. IT'S A SAD TESTAMENT FOR THE USA WORKERS. HENRY FORD WOULD NOT BE PLEASED. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075878June 4, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
RECALL REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. *MR THE ORIGINAL INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AT THE FRONT MOTOR. FORD REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PLASTIC MANIFOLD WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PLASTIC MANIFOLD. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072958May 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
I HAVE A 1997 MERCURY COUGAR. AFTER SEEING A LOW COOLANT LIGHT, AND STOPPING THE CAR, I OPENED THE HOOD AND HAD COOLANT EVERYWHERE! THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM WITH FORD PRODUCED AUTOMOBILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067995April 28, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE A 1997 MERCURY COUGAR. I FEW WEEKS AGO I STARTED SMELLING ANTI-FREEZE AND I NOTICED MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS OVER THE HALF WAY MARK. THEN MY "LOW COOLANT" LIGHT CAME ON. I ADDED SOME ANTI-FREEZE UNTIL I COULD GET THE CAR INTO MY MECHANIC. AFTER CHECKING OUT MY CAR, HE SAID I HAD A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. I LEFT THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS AND WHEN HE CALLED ME TO PICK IT UP, HE HIT ME WITH A $875 BILL. WOW!!! I DON'T HAVE $875, SO I HAD TO BORROW IT! I NEED MY CAR. THEN TWO DAYS AFTER I GET THE CAR FIXED, I'M TALKING TO A FRIEND AND HE TELLS ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON 1997 4.6 LITER ENGINES IN THE MERCURY COUGARS. I WENT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP ME AND GAVE ME A 1-800 FOR FORD. I CALLED FORD. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET THE WORK DONE AT A FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY DEALER. SO EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY PARTICULAR CAR, FOR THE PARTICULAR PROBLEM I HAD, I CAN'T GET REIMBURSED FOR THE WORK. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHERE TO GO FROM HERE??? EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO THE PROPERTY, THANK GOD, THE PROBLEM STILL COST ME TIME, MONEY AND WAS AN INCONVENIENCE. I FEEL THAT SINCE IT WAS A RECALL, I SHOULD AT LEAST BE REIMBURSED FOR THE PARTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062611March 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE LOW COOLANT WARNINGING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE CAME INTO THE VEHICLE COMPARTMENT. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE MOVED TO THE HIGHEST SETTING. COPIOUS SMOKE ESCAPED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FORWARD TUBE OF THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD SHOWED A RUPTURE ABOUT FOUR INCHES LONG ON THE FRONT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. REAPAIR COST WAS $1455, INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF THE SPARK PLUGS, WHICH HAD BEEN SOAKED IN ANTIFREEZE. THE TEXAS COMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ISSUED A WARNING TO ME BY LETTER THAT A CONCERNED CITIZEN HAD REPORTED MY VEHICLE WAS SEEN EMITTING EXCESSIVE SMOKE AND THAT IF I DID NOT TAKE ACTION TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD CHARGE ME WITH A VIOLATION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED WITH A NEW FORD INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT HAS THE FORWARD TUBE MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM AND THE REST PLASTIC. FORD REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL SAYING THAT HUMAN LIFE HAS NOT BEEN ENDANGERED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070402January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS TYPE OF CAR HAS A HORRIBLE TENDANCY TO BLOW HEAD-GASKETS, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL YET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044786December 2, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SMELLED ANTI FREEZE FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ANTIFREEZE FUMES WERE AFFECTING THE CONSUMER'S BREATHING. *AK A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD, PLUG WIRES AND A BAD EXHAUST HOSE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MAF SENSOR WAS CLEANED AND THE WAS ANTIFREEZE REPLACED. *TT *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044020November 24, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CONSUMER EXAMINED THE ENGINE AND NOTICED COOLANT HAD LEAKED DUE TO A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK *JB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046538November 5, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
LOWER LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE WHEN VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE. *MR THE VEHICLE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY GRINDING TO A HALT. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE LEFT WHEEL RIM WITH EXTENSIVE GRINDING DAMAGE AND WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE LEFT FRONT TIRE AND THE INSIDE OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045531November 5, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
1997 COUGAR XR7, 4.6LITER ENGINE. CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOD ALLOWS COOLING FLUID TO ESCAPE. PROBLEM HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR OVER THREE YEARS BUT HAS NEVER BEEN LOCATED UNTIL LATELY WHEN FLUID LOSS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY/*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038298September 2, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT ON VEHICLE BROKE AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE.*MR THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL RIM SHOWED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC SWITCH THE TWO LEFT TIRES FROM FRONT TO BACK. THE VEHICLE DIDN'T WOBBLE OR HAVE ANY VIBRATION AFTER THE FACT. THE CONSUMER HAD GREASED FITTINGS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED NO GREASE WOULD BE NEEDED FOR 100,00 MILES. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031533July 30, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
ON 7/29/2003 WHILE FUELING T GAS WAS LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. OWNER LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THREE HOLES IN THE FUEL LINE. OWNER STATED THAT DRIVESHAFT WAS RUBBING ON THE FUEL LINE WHICH CAUSED THE HOLES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021761May 28, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH THE VEHICLE INTAKE PLASTIC MANIFOLD OVER HEATED WITH NO WARNING AND THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007560February 15, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT SEPARATED. PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10000759January 7, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
WE HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH THIS VEHICLE. ONE OF WHICH IS THE BRAKES. ANOTHER IS THE COOLING SYSTEM. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE MANIFOLD BUT OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER WLLL NOT REPLACE EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE ASKED THEM TO DO SO. IN ADDITION THE ENGINE HAD A PROBLEM WHICH NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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