NHTSA Complaint #10292412 — 2000 FORD CROWN VICTORIA

ON 15 NOV 2009, MY CAR STARTED SPITTING AND SPUTTERING, I THOUGHT IT WAS BAD GASOLINE. ON 16 NOV 2009, I HAD MY CAR CHECKED BY MY GARAGE, WAS TOLD THAT #5 SPARK PLUG AND COIL WAS BAD DUE TO LEAKING COOLANT AT MY INTAKE MANIFOLD. AFTER CONTACTING MY LOCAL FORD DEALER THINKING I COULD JUST BUY A PART VS. A WHOLE MANIFOLD (LIKE I WAS TOLD I NEEDED), I LEARNED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND REPAIRS WERE COVERED BY FORD FOR ONLY 7 YEARS OF AUTO'S LIFE. WELL NATURALLY, MY CAR IS 9 YRS OLD NOW AND I'M FACING A $1100.00 REPAIR BILL. I WAS TOLD THE MANIFOLD COULD RUPTURE AT ANY TIME LEAVING ME AND MY 2 YR OLD GRANDSON STRANDED AT ANY TIME. I FEEL LIKE FORD IS HOLDING ME HOSTAGE. WITH THE SPITTING AND SPUTTERING THE CAR WAS DOING, WE COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE ALWAYS DRIVEN FORD/MERCURY PRODUCTS, BUT I'M NOT IMPRESSED WITH WHAT'S JUST HAPPENED. I DON'T WANT TO BE "FOUND ON ROAD DEAD" (FORD).