NHTSA Complaint #10157182 — 2002 MERCURY SABLE

MY CAR WAS RUNNING FINE, I PURCHASED THE CAR JUNE 2003, I HAVE KEPT UP WITH TYPICAL VEHICLE MAINTENANCE. MY LAST OIL CHANGE THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS LOW, CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PULLED OVER, TURNED THE CAR OFF. I LET THE CAR REST FOR 10 MINUTES TRIED TO START AGAIN AND THE ENGINE WOULD RUN BUT CHUGGED AND VIBRATED. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE FAMILY MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THE CAMSHAFT BROKE. MY SABLE HAS 72,000 MILES, I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 21,000 MILES FROM COLUMBIA FORD IN COLUMBIA CT. MY MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE WAS BUILT POORLY BECAUSE THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, IT IS VERY RARE. SO HERE I AM, THREE YEARS INTO MY LOAN AND THREE YEARS TO GO--$8000 LEFT TO PAY AND IT IS GOING TO COST $3000+ TO PUT IN A NEW ENGINE. ANYONE WANT A CAR FOR $8000 WITHOUT AN ENGINE? I WOULD NEVER BY A FORD OR A MERCURY AGAIN!! *JB