NHTSA Complaint #10148043 — 1995 MERCURY MYSTIQUE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE TEMPERATURE GAGE ELEVATED WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAD AN ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING LIKE PLASTIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED EXPOSED WIRES LEADING TO THE FAN AND ENGINE. THE RADIATOR WAS FLUSHED, ENGINE PERFORMANCE ENHANCER WAS ADDED, SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE EXPOSED WIRING WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED A RECALL CONCERNING THE FAN WIRING. THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE IT WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SERVICE DEALER. THE DEALER BEGAN WORKING ON OBTAINING AUTHORIZATION FOR THE RECALL REMEDY, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE THE RECALL REMEDY BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ORIGINAL OWNER DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER. THEREFORE THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V367000, REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE TIME RESTRICTIONS OF THE RECALL REMEDY. *NM