NHTSA Complaint #10124974 — 2002 MERCURY COUGAR

MY 2002 MERCURY COUGAR, STARTED GRINDING IN THE THIRD GEAR. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER AND THEY QUOTED ME 1500.00-2500.00 AS AN ESTIMATE REPAIR. I WAS UNABLE TO AFFORD THE COST, SO I HAD TO DRIVE SKIPPING THE THIRD GEAR POSITION. THE SAFTEY ISSUE INVOLVED IS THAT IT IS HARD TO GET ON THE CALIFORNIA RAMPS AT A GOOD SPEED TO KEEP FROM CAUSING A WRECK. COME TO FIND OUT, MERCURY MADE THIRD GEAR WRONG WHEN IT WAS BUILT IN THE FACTORY. SUPPOSEDLY, A LOT OF MERCURY COUGARS ARE COMING BACK WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS IN THIRD GEAR. I FEEL THAT IT IS MERCURY'S DUTY TO RECALL THIS ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS. IT WAS THEIR FAULT IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THANK THE LORD THAT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED TO ME OR SOMEONE ELSE WITH THIS ISSUE (AS FAR AS A WRECK). BUT THERE ARE OTHER COUGARS OUT THERE.