THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES IN SIX MONTHS. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED. SOMETHING IS STILL DRAINING ALL OF THE POWER AWAY. THE FRONT-SEAT THREE-POINT SEAT BELTS GO SLACK WHILE DRIVING AND DO NOT RETRACT AFTER USE. FORD SAYS IT IS NOT A PROBLEM. THE FRONT AND REAR…
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THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES IN SIX MONTHS. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED. SOMETHING IS STILL DRAINING ALL OF THE POWER AWAY. THE FRONT-SEAT THREE-POINT SEAT BELTS GO SLACK WHILE DRIVING AND DO NOT RETRACT AFTER USE. FORD SAYS IT IS NOT A PROBLEM. THE FRONT AND REAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. WHEN THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN THE BACK END GOES WAY DOWN THEN BACK UP. THE FRONT OFTEN HAS ONE SIDE TO GO ALL THE WAY DOWN WHILE THE OTHER SIDE GOES ALL THE WAY UP. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REPLACED. STILL, IT CANNOT KEEP THE CAR ANYWHERE NEAR CONFORTABLE. THE WINDSHIELD GETS AN OILY FILM ON THE INSIDE THAT WON'T GO AWAY. FINALLY, THE SPEED CONTROL SOMETIMES STARTS ACCELERATING FOR NO REASON AND/OR WILL NOT DEACTIVATE WHEN "OFF" IS PRESSED. EHH, I GUESS THAT'S ABOUT IT FOR NOW. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THESE COMMENTS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #749107
Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
REPLACEMENT OF FUEL TANK DID NOT RECTIFY ROUGH RUNNING CONDITION, FOUND SHORTED WIRING IN THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL CAUSING PROCESSOR TO SHORT OUT AND EGR TO STAY OPEN. MJS
NHTSA ODI #548735
Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 1999
Electrical SystemSteeringSuspension
FRONT AIR STRUTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING.
LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING OCCURS WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #544259
Mileage unknown · Dec 25, 1998
Steering
I PURCHASED THE CAR AT 87,300 MILES AND PUT 1500-2000 MILES ON IT. WORKED LIKE A DREAM = PREVIOUS OWNER SAID HE HAD TAKEN CARE OF CERTAIN PROBLEMS THAT LINCOLN MERCURY SAID COULD POSSIBLE BE WRONG WITH THIS YEAR MODEL. (HAD RECEIPTS) - AT AN OIL CHANGE I WAS INFORMED THAT IT NEEDED LOOKING AT DUE TO A POWER STEERING LEAK - TOO…
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I PURCHASED THE CAR AT 87,300 MILES AND PUT 1500-2000 MILES ON IT. WORKED LIKE A DREAM = PREVIOUS OWNER SAID HE HAD TAKEN CARE OF CERTAIN PROBLEMS THAT LINCOLN MERCURY SAID COULD POSSIBLE BE WRONG WITH THIS YEAR MODEL. (HAD RECEIPTS) - AT AN OIL CHANGE I WAS INFORMED THAT IT NEEDED LOOKING AT DUE TO A POWER STEERING LEAK - TOOK IT IN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC "THE BENZ CONNECTION" AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE POWER STEERING RACK - HAD IT CHANGED AND STILL A MAJOR PROBLEM. SO THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING HOSE - THEN NO POWER STEERING. TOOK IT BACK - THEY REPLACED THE RACK ANOTHER COUPLE OF TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS - THEY TOOK IT TO BILL GILL AND THEY REPLACED THE RACK ANOTHER COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN RETURNED IT TO ME AT 89,295 MILES - AFTER 12 WEEKS WITHOUT A CAR. POWER STEERING WAS STILL VERY HARD AND HAS SOFTENED SOMEWHAT, HOWEVER THEN THE SUSPENSION DROPPED AND POWER STEERING CAME BACK ALTHOUGH STILL "HARD AT TIMES" NOW NO SUSPENSION (RIDE CONTOL) AND AFTER BOUNCING FOR A WEEK THE DIRECT COMPUTER LINK HAS GONE OUT - - - I THINK PERHAPS FROM THE BOUNCING TO THE UNIT? THE CAR SITS ABOUT 5" FROM THE GROUND --- I HAVE KEPT IN CONTACT WITH BILL GILL AND THE BENZ CONNECTION AND WAITED THE THREE WEEKS THAT BILL GILL SAID I SHOULD TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE STEERING. WELL, NOW I HAVE ALL THESE MAJOR PROBLEMS - THE DCL JUST WENT OUT TODAY 12/25/1998. BILL GILL DID NOT RETURN MY CALL OF 12/22/1998. I SPENT SEVERAL HOURS ON THE LINE WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE AT LINCOLN MERCURY ON 11/25/98 AND WHEN I CALLED THEM BACK ON 12/22/98 THEY HAD NO RECORD OF MY CONVERSATIONS OTHER THAN I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. ON 12/24/98 I MAILED A LETTER CERTIFIED MAIL TO LINCOLN MERCURY( UNFORTUNATELY I JUST FOUND OUT THAT I HAD PUT IN AN "R" INSTEAD OF A "4" FOR THE EIGHTH DIGIT IN THE VIN). TODAY I FOUND THIS ON THE INTERNET./ PLEASE HELP ME.... THANKS./ - FOR SOME REASON THE RECAP SAYS THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED - BUT I DID NOT SELECT THAT AT ALL.... DID
NHTSA ODI #701592
Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 1998
SteeringVehicle Speed Control
I DID BUY THIS CAR AS IS, BUT ONLY TEST DROVE FIVE MILES. MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM THE DEALER AND TRIED THE CRUSIE CONTROL AND WHEN IT IS TURNED ON IT KEEPS GOING UP IN SPEED AND IS HARD TO SHUT OFF THIS IS VERY DANGERIOUS, ALSO THE STEERING TRYS TO LOCK WHEN GOING AROUND A CURVE. I PURCHASED THE CAR 11/12/98 AN CALLED TH…
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I DID BUY THIS CAR AS IS, BUT ONLY TEST DROVE FIVE MILES. MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM THE DEALER AND TRIED THE CRUSIE CONTROL AND WHEN IT IS TURNED ON IT KEEPS GOING UP IN SPEED AND IS HARD TO SHUT OFF THIS IS VERY DANGERIOUS, ALSO THE STEERING TRYS TO LOCK WHEN GOING AROUND A CURVE. I PURCHASED THE CAR 11/12/98 AN CALLED THE DEALER 11/14/98 TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT AND THE MANAGER SAID THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT, THEY HAD THE CAR FOUR DAYS AND I GOT IT BACK 11/20/98 AND IT WASN'T FIXED. WHEN I CALLED THEY SAID IT WOULD COST TO MUCH TO FIX AND THAT THEY UNHOOKED IT BUT IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. I DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE STEERING TO THEM BUT NOW I FEEL THEY SOULD TAKE CARE OF BOTH PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY ARE SAFTEY RELATED AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA ODI #700794
Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 1998
SteeringFire
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH POWER STEERING FLUID LINE SHORTED OUT, CAUSING A HOLE AGAINST STARTER, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #823291
Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 1998
Steering
RACK AND PINION STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA ODI #534257
Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 1998
SteeringFire
THE DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING SYSTEM LEAKED WITH SPRAY UNTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND CAUSED A FIRE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #821826
Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 1997
SteeringFire
THE DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING HOSE BROKE, CAUSING THE FLUID TO SPRAY ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND CAUSED A FIRE. IN RELATIONS TO EA92-030. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEVERELY CORRODED ROTORS MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE NEARTHE INNER EDGES OF THE BRAKE DISCS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS,HIGHER THAN NORMAL PEDAL EFFORTS, LOUD GRINDING NOISES, AND MODERATE PULLS WHENTHE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS MAY INCREASE MINIMUMSTOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.