NHTSA Complaint #764227 — 2002 MERCURY COUGAR

ON APPROX. THE 15TH OF MARCH, MY DAUGHTER LOST ALL POWER IN CAR WHILE DRIVING THROUGH LUNCH TRAFFIC IN TOWN AND WAS NEARLY REARENDED BY A PETROLUEM TANKER. WE BROUGHT CAR IN TO DEALERSHIP. THEY RAN A BATTERY TEST AND B/C THAT CAME BACK FINE THEY REFUSED TO DO ANY FURTHER TESTING. SHE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING THE KEY TO TURN OVER TO START CAR. THEY FIXED THAT PROBLEM AT THE SAME TIME. ON THE 15TH OF MAY, THE CAR CAME OUT OF THE SHOP FOR THE 2ND TIME AFTER IT HAD LOST POWER TWICE ON HER WHILE DRIVING AGAIN.HER. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED FORD HEADQUARTERS FOR RECALLS. NONE HAD BEEN POSTED, BUT FORD SAID IF THEY CHECK THE FUEL FILTER AT THE BOTTEM OF THE FUEL TANK WE WOULD PROBABLY FIND THE PROBLEM WITH LOSING ALL POWER(BRAKING, STEERING, ECT.) WAS THAT THE FILTER WAS CLOGGED THEREFORE NO GAS WAS GETTING TO THE MOTOR AND THUS THIS WAS WHY THE CAR WAS LOSING POWER. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND SAID THAT WAS A TEMPORARY FIX FOR APPROX THE NEXT 3000 MILES(FOR IT WAS HAPPENING ABOUT EVERY 3000 MILES). AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING THE CAR IN EVERY 3000 MILES TO REMAIN SAFE FROM LOSING POWER WHEN IT BECAME CLOGGED AGAIN. WE DECIDED THAT SINCE FORD KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO DO A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT ANYONE IN MY FAMILY WHO DROVE OR RODE IN THE CAR WOULD BE PUTTING THEIR LIFE IN DANGER SO WE TRIED TO TRADE THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP WANTED US TO PAY A $6,000 DEFICIT SO WE DECIDED TO KEEP THE CAR UNTIL WE COULD COMPLETE THE LEMON LAW PROCESS. THREE WEEKS LATER, MY DAUGHTER STATED SHE HAD GOT REALLY BAD GAS MILEAGE(15 MILES TOOK 1/4 OF A TANK SHE MEASURED IT) THE DAY BEFORE AND SHE WAS AFRAID THAT THE CAR WAS GOING TO LOSE POWER AGAIN. IT WAS A FRIDAY SO THE CAR COULDN'T GO TO THE DEALERSHIP TIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK. THAT NIGHT, THE 6TH OF JUNE.SHE LOST BRAKES AND STEERING WHILE GOING AROUND A CURVE. THE CAR HIT SOMETHING IN THE DITCH AND ROLLED 1.5X'S TO REST UPSIDE DOWN. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.SEATBEAT HELD HER IN CAR.PICTURES OF CAR AND SCENE AVAIL. *AK