NHTSA Complaint #756594 — 1999 MERCURY COUGAR

ENGINE> VEHICLE HAS BEEN HESITATING SINCE 10/01. VEHICLE BROUGHT IN FOR REGULAR CHECK AND DESCRIPTION OF HESITATION/BUCKING ESP. ON HIGHWAY PROVIDED TO SERVICE REP. VEHICLE SERVICED HESITATION PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS IGNITION WIRES IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. IGNITION WIRES REPLACED, LUBE, OIL, FILTER, AND FLUIDS TOPPED. ALSO TOLD ALL FOUR TIRES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. DECLINED TIRE REPLACEMENT AT THIS TIME. TOTAL COST FOR SERVICE WITH TAX &LABOR=$346.70 VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN THE SAME WAY. ALSO COOLANT AND AIRBAG ICONS CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. SCHEDULED FOR SERVICING AGAIN ON 12/5/01. DIAGNOSIS AIRBAG CENSOR IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT (STILL UNDER WARRANTY ) AND IN NEED OF A NEW COLLANT EXPANSION CONTAINER (APPROX. COST $200.) CAR IN ON 12/31/01 ,AIRBAG SENSOR REPLACED AND CAR CHECKED AGAIN FOR CAUSE OF HESITATION. RESPONSE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE CUSTOMER'S CONCERN. HESITATION CONTINUED AND ON 1/05/02 WHILE RETURNING HOME ON SECONDARY ROAD, CHECK OIL LIGHT ICON CAME ON. DEALERSHIP NEARBY SO ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DRIVE CAR THERE . VEHICLE DIED, NO POWER STEERING. LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL UNDER VEHICLE. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSIS> ENGINE GONE AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. IMPLODED FROM WITHIN