1997 Mercury Tracer

MY 1997 MERCURY TRACER FAILED THE PA STATE INSPECTION DUE TO BOTH REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS BEING BROKEN. A REVIEW OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS VEHICLE INDICATES THAT THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER LIKE VEHICLES BUT THERE SHOULD BE NO RESULTING OPERATIONAL CONCERN. WHY THEN DID THE STATE INSPECTION FAIL THE VEHICLE? WHAT COURSE OF ACTION CAN I TAKE TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH REAR SPRINGS? *LA

PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG MONITOR ON 1997 MERCURY TRACER.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED AN AMMONIA TYPE SMELL BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE VEHICLE, SOON AFTER, THERE WAS A BURNT PLASTIC ODOR ALSO EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE AND MOMENTS LATER THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND FINALLY THE VEHICLE CEASED TO CONTINUE FUNCTIONING WHILE THE VEHICLE BECAME SMOKY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAG SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, RECALL #02V323000. *JB *NM

TWO WEEKS AGO MY CAR (A 1997 MERCURY TRACER) WAS INVOLVED IN AN CAR ACCIDENT IN KINGMAN, (4 HOURS NORTH WEST OF PHOENIX). THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAULT OF THE AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYING WITHOUT CAUSE, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I THEN NOTIFIED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND IT WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP HERE IN KINGMAN. LATER THE NEXT DAY WHILE THE REPAIR SHOP WAS DOING THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSE, THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES FROM THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE INSURANCE COMPANY NOTIFIED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY OF WHICH I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THEN CONFIRMING THAT TO ME THAT MY CAR WAS IN FACT TOTALED, AND THEY WISHED TO REMOVE THE CAR FROM THE REPAIR SHOP. EARLIER LAST WEEK I SENT AN EMAIL TO FORD MOTORS TELLING OF MY DISGUST OF THE COMPANY BECAUSE I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ON SUCH A SERIOUS ISSUE. ON FRIDAY 11/14 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM FORD MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE ASKING FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACCIDENT. AT THIS TIME I AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE BACK FROM, WHAT I ASSUME, IS THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. *LA

DRIVING ON I-20 EASTBOUND. SMELLED AMMONIA, THEN SMELLED BURNT PLASTIC, AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INTERIOR LIGHT FLICKERED OFF AND ON, CAR BEGAN TO DECREASE SPEED DESPITE PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. WAS ABLE TO GET CAR INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE BEFORE IT COMPLETELY STOPPED MOVING. HOLE BURNT INTO PASSENGER AREA FROM UNDERNEATH DASH AREA. DEFROST AREA WARPED AND BURNT, BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD (GLASS PART) BURNT.

MY GIRLFRIEND OWNS A 1997 MERCURY TRACER. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES. HERE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE HAD A DIAGNOSTIC ANALYSIS CONDUCTED ON THE CAR. THE ANALYSIS SAID THERE WAS A MISFIRE IN THE 4TH CYLINDER AND BEFORE WE COULD CHANGE THE SPARK PLUGS THE CAR WAS NO LONGER DRIVEABLE. IT TURNS OUT THAT MERCURY MAKES A PIECE OF JUNK CAR AND THAT THE VALVE SEATS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A POWDERED METAL. IT APPEARS THAT THE VALVE SEAT CRACKED AND DROPPED INTO THE CYLINDER RESULTING IN THE PISTON HAMMERING DOWN INTO THAT CYLINDER AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. THIS CAR WAS ONLY SIX YEARS OLD AND WAS KEPT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BUT THANKS TO THE INCOMPETENT CRAFTMANSHIP OF THE PEOPLE AT MERCURY MY GIRLFRIEND WAS EXTREMELY INCONVENIENCED (TEMPORALLY AND MOST OF ALL FINANCIALLY) DUE TO THE CHEAPNESS OF THE ENGINE. IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT WE WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR MANUFACTURED BY THE FORD COMPANY. FOREIGN ALL THE WAY. THANK YOU. SALMAAN TOOR

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 5 MPH INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. THE CONSUMER HAD SEEN SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS, THEN THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK THE INSPECTOR STATED THE FIRE STEMMED FROM A SHORT. *SCC THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAG MODULE/SENSOR. *JB