NHTSA Complaint #10154267 — 1997 MERCURY COUGAR

MAKE: MERCURY MODEL: COUGAR YEAR: 1997 TYPE: PASSENGER CAR SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 05N04 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10018959 SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED COVERAGE PROGRAM 05N04 - EXTENDED COVERAGE FOR COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS PROGRAM IS BEING PROVIDED AS A SETTLEMENT TO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT EXTEND THE COVERAGE OF THE ALL-COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO 7 YEARS FROM THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY START DATE OF THE VEHICLE, WITH NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF MILES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN. *TT ON MARCH 2, 2004, I SENT A LETTER TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY DESCRIBING HOW THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 MERCURY COUGAR HAD RUPTURED ON FEB. 28, 2004. AFTER WAITING A MONTH AND RECEIVING NO REPLY, I CALLED THEIR CUSTOMER COMPLAINT LINE AND DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR A RECALL REIMBURSEMENT, BUT GAVE NO REASON WHY. SINCE MY DAUGHTER ALSO OWNS A 1997 MERCURY COUGAR, I TOLD HER TO HAVE A MECHANIC CHECK HER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE MECHANIC REPLACED HER INTAKE MANIFOLD AT NO CHARGE SINCE IT HAD BEEN RECALLED AS PER THE ABOVE QUOTED STATEMENT. I CALLED FORD BACK WITH THIS INFORMATION AND THEY GAVE ME THE SAME REPLY. I WROTE THEM A LETTER AND THEY DID NOT REPLY. I VISITED MY LOCAL MERCURY DEALER, FROM WHOM I HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW VEHICLE AND AGAIN WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CASE WENT TO COURT AND THE RULING WAS THAT FORD HAD TO PAY EVERY OWNER OF VEHICLES WITH THIS DEFECT A SUM OF $750. I HAVE NOT BEEN PAID ANYTHING AND FORD REFUSES TO GIVE ME ANY ANSWER OTHER THAN WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY GIVEN. I STILL HAVE THE DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD IN MY POSSESSION AND THE REPAIR BILL FOR $1455.28. *JB