1999 Mercury Mystique

I PURCHASED A 1999 MERCURY MYSTIQUE GS FROM PREMIER LINCOLN-MERCURY IN COLLINSVILLE, IL IN APRIL 2000. LAST WEEK I NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS BEGINNING TO WARP. THE PROBLEM HAS GROWN STEADILY IN THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS, AND THE DASH IS NOW SO WARPED THAT THE FRONT DEFROSTER VENTPLATE POPPED OFF THE DASH. I KNOW THAT FORD OFFERED FREE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT FROM AUGUST 2001 THROUGH AUGUST 2002 PURSUANT TO OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM 01B78. HOWEVER, THE TERMS OF THE PROGRAM MADE IT CLEAR THAT NO REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT WOULD BE EFFECTED UNLESS THE PROBLEM WAS EVIDENT. UNFORTUNATELY, AS MY DASH DID NOT BEGIN WARPING UNTIL VERY RECENTLY, FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS AND THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP HAVE INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. FORD WAS OBVIOUSLY AWARE THAT THE DASHBOARDS WERE DEFECTIVE, ELSE IT WOULD NOT HAVE VOLUNTARILTY IMPLEMENTED ONB 01B78. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THOSE OWNERS WHOSE DASHBOARDS DID NOT BEGIN TO WARP UNTIL AFTER AUGUST 31, 2002 SHOULD BE DISTINGUISHED FROM OTHER OWNERS WHOSE DASHES WARPED PRIOR TO AUGUST 31, 2002. I SEE NO QUALITATIVE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. I REGARD THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE - THE WARPED DASH IS INTERFERING WITH MY VISIBILITY, IMPEDED OPERATION OF THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER, AND MIGHT POSSIBLY INTERFERE WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I AM EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF FILING A CLASS ACTION AGAINST FORD, AND WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM OTHER CONTOUR AND MYSTIQUE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS.

IN AUGUST 2001, I RECIEVED A LETTER FROM MERCURY/FORD MOTOR STATING "THE COVER ON YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL MAY WARP". I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED ON 09/22/2001. I HAVE THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO ME AND THE INVOICE FROM THE DEALER STATING "NO WARPAGE CHECKED OK AT THIS TIME". I WAS ADVISED BY JOSEPH CAPEZZUTO TO KEEP THE LETTER FOR FUTURE IF NEEDED. IN THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER 2002 I NOTICED THAT THE BLACK PLASTIC PIECE WAS LOOSE ON ONE SIDE. I PUSHED IT IN TO PLACE SEVERAL TIMES. IT WAS NOT UNTIL OCTOBER 2002 THAT I REALIZED THAT IT WAS WARPING WITH THE PANEL BEGAN TO RAISE. IT IS SEVERAL INCHES HIGH BLOCKING THE LOWER VIEW OF THE WINDSHIELD. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS ADVISED TO LEAVE IT THAT NIGHT FOR NEXT DAY SERVICE. THE NEXT DAY I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED DUE TO THE DEADLINE EXPIRED AUGUST 31, 2002. ALL I WANT IS FOR FORD TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART THAT THEY INSTALLED IN MY CAR IN THE FIRST PLACE. THANK YOU DT

RECALL 01 F 139 000/INSTRUMENT PANEL:DEALER, CAVENAUGH FORD CO. IN BLACKROCK, AR. PHONE# 870/878--6251 REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL. THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL EXPIRED AUGUST 31, 2002. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS RISEN ABOUT 6 INCHES. THE CONSUMER IS COCERNED WITH THIS AFFECTING THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. *SCC

ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAS LIFTED UP AROUND THE VENT FOR THE HEATER/AIR/DEFROSTER WHICH RUNS THE LENGTH OF THE FRONT DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE. PROBLEM IS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. IT DOES CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME FOR TWO REASONS. IT BLOCKS PART OF MY FIELD OF VIEW OUT THE FRONT WINDOW. ALSO THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT VENT PROPERLY TO THE WINDOW MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE WINDOW. I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE AIRBAGS. THANKFULLY I HAVE NOT HAD TO USE THEM HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THE DASHBOARD HAS BECOME UNGLUED. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THE INSTABILITY OF THE DASH PANEL MAY MAKE THE AIRBAG REFUSE TO DEPLOY OR DEPLOY IMPROPERLY.