NHTSA Complaint #734812 — 1994 MERCURY SABLE

I AM A MERCURY SABLE 1994 OWNER. AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK TODAY, I BEGAN TO HAVE ENGINE TROUBLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY GARAGE. I WAS INFORMED LATER THIS MORNING THAT I HAD BLOWN A HEAD GASKET. THE GARAGE SUGGESTED THAT I TOW THE CAR TO A NEARBY FORD DEALER, NOVATO FORD. REMEMBERING THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A LETTER REGARDING HEAD GASKETS AND BEFORE TOWING TO THE NOVATO FORD DEALERSHIP, I DECIDED TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION, THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT HE ALSO REMEMBERED THIS "HEAD GASKET" SITUATION AND PUT ME ON HOLD. WHEN HE RETURNED HE INFORMED ME THAT SINCE MY MILEAGE WAS OVER 100,000 (CURRENTLY 105,693), I WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. I THEN CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE 800 392-3673 AND REFERENCED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE UNDER SERVICE PROGRAM, #98M01. QUOTING THE LETTER - THE LETTER STATES, "FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS PROVIDING EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE UNDER SERVICE PROGRAM, #98M01, TO OWNERS OF 1994 AND 1995 TAURUS AND SABLE AND 1995 WINDSTAR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L FWD ENGINE. REASON FOR THIS PROGRAM: PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKETS MAY OCCUR AND MAY RESULT IN ENGINE OVERHEATING OR IN EXTREME CASES COULD CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE IF THE OVERHEAT CONDITION IS IGNORED. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE IS FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND WE ARE TAKING THIS ACTION AS PART OF OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN YOUR CONFIDENCE IN OUR PRODUCTS." I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. I EXPLAINED THAT I ACQUIRED THE CAR IN 1997 AT 44,000 MILES. UPON RECEIVING THE JUNE 1998 LETTER, I DID GO TO MY LOCAL HILLTOP FORD DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK OUT THE HEAD GASKET(S). I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE FINE.