NHTSA Complaint #731021 — 1995 MERCURY MYSTIQUE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. ONLY THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD OPERATE AND THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS WOULD NOT COME ON FOR SAFETY. WHEN GEARSHIFT WAS PUT INTO "PARK" IT WOULD NOT COME OUT BECAUSE INTERLOCK IS ELECTRICALLY ACTIVATED (CAR COULD NOT BE PUSHED TO SAFE LOCATION OUT OF TRAFFIC). SEVERAL HEAVY GUAGE RED WIRES THAT CONNECT TO BATTERY POSITIVE TERMINAL (AND RUN UNDERNEATH THE BATTERY) LOST INSULATION AND SHORTED OUT CAUSING ABRUPT LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER TO ALL ITEMS EXCEPT INTERIOR LIGHTS. FORD SENT LETTER 10/1999 EXTENDING WARRANTY FOR "CERTAIN" UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESSES THAT COULD EXPERIENCE INSULATION CRACKING AND FAILURE, BUT WILL NOT ACCEPT WARRANTY CLAIM FOR MY SITUATION. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION (THE CAR STALLED WITH ABSOLUTETLY NO WARNING) AND MAY EXIST ON OTHER MYSTIQUES AND CONTOURS. I HAVE ELECTRONIC IMAGES OF FAULTY WIRES AND FORD'S EXTENDED WARRANTY LETTER FOR YOUR INSPECTION. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED THIS INFORMATION. THANK YOU.