Issue ID | 491228 |
Internal NHTSA # | 10080707 |
Manufacurer | Ford Motor Company |
Brand | MERCURY |
Model | COUGAR |
Model Year | 1997 |
File date | 19/06/02 |
Component | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANI |
Product type code | VEHICLE |
Description of the problem | 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 |
Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 75180 |
Number of Occurences | 1 |
Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
City and State | LOUISVILLE, KY |
VIN pattern | 1MELM62W7VHXXXXXX |
Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | N |
Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
Was incedent reported to police? | N |
Was medical attention required? | |
Was part original equipment? | |
No. of injured persons | |
No. of fatalities | |
Date of purchase | 23/05/97 |
Was original owner? | N |
Anti-lock brakes | N |
Cruise control | Y |
Number of cylinders | 8 |
Drive train type | RWD |
Transmission type | AUTO |
Vehicle speed | 35 |
DoT tire identifier | |
Tire size | |
Location of tire code | |
Type of tire failure code | |
Was defective tire repaired? | |
Date of manufacture | |
Type of child seat code | |
Type of restraint | |
Dealer's name | |
Dealer's telephone number | |
Dealer's city | |
Dealer's state code | |
Dealer's ZIP code |