1999 Mercury Mystique

1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE, SECOND OWNER, PURCHASED IS 2005. THE GAS LINE FREEZES WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACHES BELOW 20 DEGREES. THE TANK IS HALF FULL, TREATED FOR WINTER WEATHER AND IT STILL FREEZES. THIS IS NOT NORMAL: I'VE OWNED 2 OTHER VEHICLES (FORD TEMPO/DODGE STRATUS) NEVER HAPPENED. I'VE MISSED WORK DUE TO THIS GAS LINE FREEZE AND AM THE ONLY RESIDENT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT OR THE GAS TANK IS NOT PROTECTED. THIS IS THE SECOND WINTER SEASON THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR

I HAD A STRAP THAT HAD RUSTED UNDERNEATH MY CAR. A 1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE 2.0, SO I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC. HE INDICATED THAT MY GAS TANK STRAP RUSTED THROUGH AND THAT THE OTHER ONE WAS ABOUT TO FAIL AS WELL. HE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A DEFINITE HAZARD AND COULD HAVE PROVED TO BE DANGEROUS IF I DID NOT TAKE CARE OF IT. HE ALSO SAID THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

ON MONDAY, AUGUST 8TH, 2005 IN THE MORNING I DROVE THE CAR TO WORK WITH MY WIFE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. ON OUR WAY FILLED THE GAS TANK AT ESSO STATION AT 7:30 A.M. SHORTLY AFTER DRIVING THE CAR OUT OF THE GAS STATION I HEARD TWO LOUD BANGS IN QUICK SUCCESSION FOLLOWED BY A ROUGH SOUND WHICH SOUNDED LIKE THE CAR WAS DRAGGING A PIECE OF METAL ON THE ROAD. STOPPED THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER AND HAD THE INSPIRATION TO LOOK UNDER IT. I SAW TWO PIECES OF WHAT LOOKED LIKE PUTRID STEEL STRAPS HANGING FROM UNDER THE GAS TANK AND TOUCHING THE PAVEMENT. DROVE THE VEHICLE TO MIDTOWN FORD, THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I REGULARLY SERVICE MY CAR WHERE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ACCEPTED FOR SERVICE AT 7:50 A.M. I ASKED THE MIDTOWN CSR NICK PULSE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT ON THE SPOT TO ASSESS THE VEHICLE'S CONDITION. NICK HAD A QUICK VISUAL INSPECTION LOOKING UNDER THE CAR AND CONFIRMED THAT: A.BOTH STRAPS ARE BROKEN AND THEY APPEAR COMPLETELY RUSTED HAVING A PAPER-LIKE TEXTURE. B.THE GAS TANK AT THAT MOMENT WAS ONLY HOLDING IN PLACE ON THE FUEL PIPE. C.THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE FOR DRIVING. D.IT IS THE FIRST TIME WHEN HE SAW ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING TO A VEHICLE HE SERVICED. AS A RESULT, MIDTOWN FORD SERVICED MY VEHICLE PROMPTLY AND NICK PROVIDED HIGH QUALITY PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE AS ALWAYS. GIVEN THE FACTS PRESENTED ABOVE I ASCERTAIN THE FOLLOWING: 1.THE FUEL TANK STRAPS BROKE UNEXPECTEDLY. 2.I HAD NO INFLUENCE OVER THIS EVENT AND DID NOT INFLUENCE IT. 3.THE BREAKING OF THE STRAPS ENDANGERED MY WIFE''S LIFE AND MINE. THE GAS TANK WAS FULL AND COULD HAVE DROPPED ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING SUDDEN IGNITION OF THE FUEL POTENTIALLY FOLLOWED BY EXPLOSION. 4.AT THE MOMENT OF PURCHASE I WAS NOT INFORMED OF ANY POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK STRAPS OR WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. 5.I DID NOT RECEIVE TO DATE ANY RECALL NOTIFICATION FROM FORD CANADA ON THE ISSUE OF DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK STRAPS OR ON THE OVERALL FUEL SYSTEM. *NM

THERE IS A CONSTANT GAS SMELL DURING THE WINTER TIME. THE SMELL IS WORSE RIGHT AFTER FILLING THE CAR WITH GASOLINE AND ANYTIME THE CAR IS STARTED MORE THAN ONE TIME SUCH AS NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF ERRANDS. THE SMELL IS SO BAD AT TIMES I AM AFRAID TO LEAVE THE CAR CLOSE TO THE HOUSE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS MANY TIMES AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS SUPPOSEDLY CHECKED AND THE FUEL FILTER REPLACED AT ONE POINT. GASOLINE HAS LEAKED AT TIMES FROM BEHIND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. THIS HAPPENS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS FOR THE MOST PART. *AK