Issue ID | 493977 |
Internal NHTSA # | 10082642 |
Manufacurer | Ford Motor Company |
Brand | MERCURY |
Model | COUGAR |
Model Year | 1997 |
File date | 10/07/04 |
Component | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANI |
Product type code | VEHICLE |
Description of the problem | Had catastrophic intake manifold failure while on vacation. Fomoco has a recall on this component (97m91) but refused to provide relief. As i understand the recall of this known problem, ford will only replace when it fails, but it must fail in a specific time frame. This was a silent recall as ford never publicized it. I had attempted a preventative replacement as i was aware of the inherent problem -- again my local mercury dealer (king - gaithersburg, md) would only replace when the manifold failed. Well it did while i was on vacation hundreds of miles from home. As this was a known manufactor's problem from the date of installation, replace must be done when the problem first comes to ford's knowledge. Instead, when issuing the recall (march 1999) ford chose to ignore the problem until the consumer brings it to the dealership's attention. Only then would the dealer acknowledge the recall existed. *ak |
Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 52000 |
Number of Occurences | 1 |
Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
City and State | GERMANTOWN, MD |
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 | 08/04/98 |
Was original owner? | N |
Anti-lock brakes | Y |
Cruise control | Y |
Number of cylinders | 8 |
Drive train type | RWD |
Transmission type | AUTO |
Vehicle speed | 2 |
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 | SOUTHTGATE LINCOLN MERCURY |
Dealer's telephone number | |
Dealer's city | |
Dealer's state code | |
Dealer's ZIP code |