2002 Mercury Mountaineer Complaint Log

WHEN BRAKING BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO AN EMBANKMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM

1.) WOULD FEEL VIBRATIONS DURING SHIFTS, CAR WOULD NOT NOT SHIFT 2.) TRUCK RENDERED UNDRIVABLE ON FIRST INCIDENT 8/02, SECOND INCIDENT 8/03 CAUGHT EARLY. 3.) TORK CONVERTER REPLACED BOTH TIMES. *AK

THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE TRYING TO CLOSE IT. PRIOR TO THE GLASS SHATTERING THE LEFT STRUT CAME APART FROM THE WINDOW. THE CONSUMER REPLACED IT INTO PLACE AND ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE WINDOW WHEN IT SHATTERED. PE04045.PCO. *AK

CONSUMER CALLED AND REQUESTS SEVERAL TIMES FOR CERTAIN PARTS. IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS AND DEALER HAS NOT RESPONDED. CONSUMER WAS WAITING TO GET VEHICLE SERVICED.*AK

REAR WINDOW SHATTERRED WHILE CLOSING THE REAR HATCH DOOR. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK PE04045.PCO

NEW SHOWROOM 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE ENGINE IN THIS VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED TWICE WITHOUT WARNING; NO OVERHEATING, NO DASHBOARD LIGHT INDICATORS EITHER TIME. JULY 2004/ODOMETER READING 92213, THE MECHANICS AT THE FREEWAY LINCOLN MERCURY WERE BAFFLED. THEY ADVISED ME THAT ALL THE FLUIDS WERE IN THE VEHICLE. LATER (ONE WEEK) THEY FOUND A "HOLE" IN THE RADIATOR. I WAS TOLD I HAD A NEW ENGINE, WITH A NEW WARRANTY. 2ND TIME WAS JUNE 06, ODOMETER 166199,(NEW ENGINE 73986) NO WARNING, NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS, NO OVERHEATING. PER A DIFFERENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC NOT ONLY WAS THE ENGINE NOT NEW BUT IT HAD SEVERE CORROSION IN IT AND SHOWED SIGNS OF MULTIPLE OVERHEATING CONDITIONS. THEY TOLD ME OF AN "ALL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN" DATED 1/21/02 FOR MY VEHICLE'S ENGINE REGARDING THE "ENGINE HEAD GASKET"---"SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHICLE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA DUE TO PARTICLE CONTAMINATION OR SCRATCHES AND DENTS TO BLOCK MATING SURFACES." ACTION: REFER TO THE FOLLOWING SERVICE INFORMATION FOR RECOMMENDED GASKET SEALING SURFACE PREPARATION PROCEDURES. IF THE ENGINE DIAGNOSIS POINTS TO A FAULTY HEAD GASKET (LEAKS OIL, LEAKS COOLANT, OIL OR COOLANT CONTAMINATION, OR AIR IN COOLANT), THOROUGH CLEANING PROCEDURES ARE NECESSARY FOR A SUCCESSFUL HEAD GASKET REPAIR. DIAGNOSIS AND POST- REPAIR CONFIRMATION CAN BE DONE SUCCESSFULLY UTILIZING LEAK DETECTION METHODS SUCH AS A BLACK LIGHT DYE PROCESS. SERVICE PROCEDURE:TO SUM UP, A SUCCESSFUL LEAK REPAIR DEPENDS ON:ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS OF THE LEAK USING FORD-RECOMMENDED TEST EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES .SURFACE PREPARATION AND GASKET INSTALLATION USING THE APPROVED TOOLS, CLEANERS, AND METHODS.EXERCISING CARE AND CLEANLINESS DURING DISASSEMBLY/ASSEMBLY OF COMPONENTS USE OF GENUINE FORD OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS<USE OF A FORD REMANUFACTURER

AT 43577 MILES I AM HAVING TO REPLACE MY REAR-END. THIS IS GOING TO COST APPROXIMATELY. 1500.00. ALSO ABS SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED. *LA

I PURCHASED MY 2002 MOUNTAINEER ON JUNE 20, 2004. WHEN I AM DRIVING AND HIT THE SPEED OF 75 MPH I HEAR A LOUD WHISTLING SOUND AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET RID OF THE NOISE IS TO REDUCE MY SPEED TO UNDER 75 MPH. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH ANOTHER PERSON WHO OWNS THE SAME SUV AND HE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM ONLY ON A LARGER SCALE. HE HAS HAD THE WEATHER STRIPPING REPLACED TWICE AND STILL THE NOISE REMAINS. I WILL BE TAKING IT IN SOON TO HAVE IT CHECKED OVER SINCE I AM ALSO HAVING ANOTHER PROBLEM WHEN I STOP AND APPLY THE BRAKES (LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE). *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON A NEIGHBORHOOD ROAD THE ENTIRE ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY FELL OF ONTO THE FLOOR. I FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF THE NUTS USED TO AFFIX THE ASSEMBLY TO THE FIRE WALL. HAD THIS OCCURRED ON INTERSTATE DRIVING OR IN HEAVY CITY TRAFFIC AN ACCIDENT COULD HAPPEN. *AK

WHILE CLOSING THE REAR DOOR THE WINDOW BROKE. THE DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN PARTS. *NM PE04045_PCO PHONECON CONFIRMED RELATED TO INVEST.

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO CHANGE TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. GOODYEAR#P24570R16 PLEASE PROVIDE THE DOT NUMBER AND MODEL NAME OF TIRE.*AK

SUDDEN FLOW OF VERY HOT AIR FORM THE AIR VENTS. *BF THE PROBLEM HAPPENED WHEN THE AIR CONDITION WAS OFF AND THE AIR BLOWER OR FAN WAS TURNED ON. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM NOW HAPPENS WHEN THE AIR CONDITION IS ON. *JB

I WAS MAKING SURE ALL THE DOORS OF MY 2002' MOUNTAINEER WERE CLOSED AND WHEN I SHUT THE BACK LIFT GATE ONE OF THE CONNECTING BRACKETS CAME OUT OF PLACE AND CAUSED THE WHOLE THING TO SHATTER A SPRAY GLASS IN MY FACE. I HAD GLASS STUCK IN MY SCALP AND HAD TO WASH OUT MY EYES FOR 4 HOURS AS WELL AS MY HANDS AND FACE BEING CUT. I READ ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT BY FORD, I CONTACTED FORD ON THIS AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME SINCE MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRENTY THEY DONT CARE AND THE PART COST OVER $1200 TO BE REPLACED - BECAUSE THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED YOU CANNOT GET JUST THE GLASS I NEED BODY PARTS TOO.*AK PE04045.PCO

PASSENGER-SIDE LIFT CYLINDER BRACKET BECAME DETACHED. AS I WAS CLOSING THE LIFTGATE GLASS, THE WINDOW EXPLODED AND THE METAL PIECE FELL TO THE GROUND. I SUSTAINED A MINOR CUT TO MY ANKLE. THE DEBRIS FIELD WAS AS FAR AS 10FT. FORTUNATELY, MY SONS WERE NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS ADVISED ME THAT I CAN TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER. *AK PE04045.PCO

AS I WAS DRIVING, ALL 5 OF THE TIRE STUDS ON MY 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER BROKE, WHICH THEN CAUSED MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO FALL OFF. WHEN THE TIRE FELL OFF IT TORE THE FENDER OF MY CAR. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE TIRE OR HUB CAP. *JB

SUBJECT REGARDING REAR LIFTGATE APPLIQUE (TRIM PANEL) CRACKS. *AK DOB=02/02 AND WILL CK. DESIGN VERSION. 061604_PCO

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW FELL OFF TRACK, CAUSING THE GLASS TO FALL INSIDE THE PANEL OF THE DOOR FRAME. ONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE WINDOW. ALSO, CONSUMER WENT TO LIFT UP THE TAILGATE AND THE CABLE SNAPPED IN HALF. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CABLE IN THE BACK OF THE TRUNK. HOWEVER, MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL OR UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

I HAVE A CONTINUED PROBLEM OF THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 5-6 TIMES. THEY CHANGED THE SENSOR AND A WHILE LATER IT COMES BACK ON. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MY BRAKES HAVE GONE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE DEALERSHIP MAINTAINS THAT MERCURY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND MAY BE WORKING ON A RECALL. MY LIGHT IS NOW ON AGAIN AND HAVE PLACED A CALL TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE MANAGER TO RETURN TO TOWN TO SEE WHAT HE WOULD LIKE TO DO. OH, AND I DO HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I HAVE PAID OVER $2,000. WHAT IS THAT FOR? WHAT WILL IT TAKE, MY BRAKES TO GO OUT?

WITHOUT WARNING RIGHT SIDE LIFTGATE HINGE SNAPPED, CAUSING THE LIFTGATE TO HIT THE CONSUMER IN THE CHEST.*AK PE04045_PCO

REAR LIFTGATE APPLIQUE (TRIM PANEL) CRACKED FOR NO REASON.*AK

THE VECHICLE HESITATES AND BUCKS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP SUCH AS A STOP SIGN/TRAFFIC LIGHT OR INCREASING SPEED TO PASS OR GO UP HILL. WE HAVE REPEATEDLY COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE. PRIOR TO JUNE THEY TOLD US NOTHING WAS WRONG BUT THIS PAST MONTH THEY DID A DOWNLOAD. IT WORKED PROPERLY FOR 1-2 DAYS. WE'VE HEARD THE SAME COMPLAINT FROM OTHERS. OUR FEAR IS THAT ONE DAY WE WILL GET IN AN ACCIDENT IF IT DIES ALL TOGETHER IN THE MIDDLE OF ENTERING A STREET OR PASSING SOMEONE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE LIFTGATE DID SHATTER IN MY SON'S FACE IN MARCH '04. THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME DENIED IT WAS A RECALL AND WE HAD TO FIGHT WITH THEM FOR A LONG TIME AS WELL.

CONSUMER STATED THE ABS HAD FAILED. CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WENT OUT ON HER TWICE AND SHE DROVE IT TO THE DEALER . SHE STATED THE FIRST TIME SHE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, SHE WAS TOLD THERE WAS SOME KIND OF A LEAK. THE SECOND TIME THEY DID NOT SAY ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL MAKING A THUMPING NOISE. *PH THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM HAD A RIGHT INNER SEAL LEAK AND A REAR SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES. *SCC *JB

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEARINGS HAVE GONE BAD. THE COMPLETE DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED IN JULY, 2003, SEPTEMBER 04, AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO FIX THE PROBLEM THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS REPLACED IN OCTOBER 2005. NOW IT IS FEBRUARY 2006 AND THE BAD BEARING NOISE IS BACK. WE ARE TAKING IT INTO THE DEALER YET AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WE ARE ALSO GOING TO NOTIFY FORD AND THE CALIFORNIA CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY AND BBB. *JB

STRUTS GAVE OUT ON HATCHBACK, CAUSING HATCH TO FALL ON OWNER'S HEAD, KNOCKING HER BACKWARDS, GLASS IN HATCH SHATTERED INTO HER HAIR AND SKIN.*AK PE04045.PCO

THE VEHICLE QUICKLY SHIFTS WHENEVER YOU ACCELERATE, IT'S RATHER JERKY AND STARTLING. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE GEARS ARE CHANGING INCORRECTLY THUS CAUSING A JERKY MOTION. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL REACTION, WHICH I DISAGREE. I MOST RECENTLY CONTACTED THE MERCURY HOME OFFICE, WHO SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTICS CHECK. I SAW SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE AND THOUGHT THAT I SHOULD REPORT MY PROBLEM. *JB

2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER REAR HATCH STRUT FAILURE - THREE (3) OCCASIONS WITHIN FOUR WEEKS. DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION TO PROBLEM. FORD ENGINEERING SUGGESTED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR HATCH/GLASS/STRUT ASSEMBLY BE REPLACED. BACK-ORDERED DIRECT FROM FORD'S SUPPLIER DUE TO HIGH DEMAND FOR REPLACEMENTS.*AK DOB IS 6/01 MOUNT ROTATING AND RESULTING IN STRUT DETACHMENT. REPLACED ENTIRE GLASS ASSEMBLY AFTER NUMERIOUS ATTEMPTS TO REGLUE MOUNT. 06140 PE04045.PCO

ABS SENSOR LIGHT STAYED ON. CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE PRODUCED A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, AND THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER CLAIMED ABS SYSTEM FAILED. *AK

DRIVE TRAIN VIBRATION. *NLM

THE REAR GLASS ON MY 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER EXPLODED WHEN IT WAS BEING CLOSED. IT HAPPENED MID-STREAM WHILE BEING SHUT.*AK PE04045.PCO

AT 34,365 MILES WE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR END. IT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. NOW AT 58,472 MILES WE ARE HAVING TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $1400.*AK

THE SERVICE DEPT. STATES THAT THE WIRING IS BAD.AFTER REPLACING THE WIRING THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST.I'AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR IF THE WIRING IS BAD THERES A CHANCE THAT THE CAR WILL CATCH A FIRE.

THE FRONT END DASH HAS A VERY LOUD RATTLE WHILE LETTING UP ON THE GAS OR DEPRESSING THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FIVE TIMES. THEY HAVE READJUSTED THE A/C LINES MANY TIMES, TIGHTENED ITEMS IN THE ENGINE, AND REPLACED A MISSING BOLT IN THE FIREWALL. IT WAS FIXED ONCE THAT LAST A COUPLE OF MONTHS, BUT THE NOISE IS BACK. IT WILL BE GOING IN THE SHOP FOR THE SIXTH TIME. ALSO, THERE IS A SQUEAK WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE AND THEY REPLACED THE BALL BEARING JOINTS. HOWEVER, THE SQUEAK IS BACK.*AK

BRACKET ON LEFT SIDE OF LIFT GATE BROKE, THE LIFT GATE DETACHED FROM THE BRACKET AND CYLINDERS. THE LIFT GATE FELL ON MY UPPER BODY AS A RESULT I HAVE BEEN SEEKING MEDICAL ATTENTION. *JB PE04045.PCO

I BOUGHT A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER MAY 16TH 2003 WITH APPROX 45,000 MILES. ABOUT A WEEK LATER WE NOTICED THAT THE SHIFTING SEEMED TO BE JERKY GOING FROM 2-3 GEARS. TOOK IT BACK INTO THE PERSON I BOUGHT IT FROM AND HE CALLED OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO HE PURCHASED IT FROM 2 DAYS PRIOR FOR ME. THEY STATED THERE WERE NOT BULLETINS OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHECKED AND IT APPEARED TO BE OK. A COUPLE OF MONTHS WENT BY AND THEN A SOFT SHUDDER STARTED WHEN GOING TO THE NEXT GEARS. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION PLACE AND THE TECH STATED THAT HE HAD SEEN 2 OF THESE INCIDENTS IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. RECOMMENDED I GET RID OF THE VEHICLE AS THERE WAS A FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION DESIGN. IN NOVEMBER OF 2003 WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED (APPROX $250). CLEARED UP THE PROBLEM FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS BUT REAPPEARED AND THEN WENT INTO A HARD SHIFT GOING TO EACH GEAR. FEB 2004 TOOK IT BACK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY WILL CHARGE ME $2700 TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT FORD TRANSMISSION. THE REAL KICKER IS I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR'S TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON IT TOO. I GUESS SHAME ON ME FOR CONTINUING TO BUY FORD. *AK

WHEN SHUTTING MY REAR HATCH ON MY 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER MY LIFT CRACKED UNDERNEATH THE WINDOW. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD THEY SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS - I COULD NOT AFFORD IT. THEN MY HATCH WAS HARDER AND HARDER TO CLOSE. ONE DAY WHILE TRYING TO SHUT IT THE ENTIRE WINDOW AND HATCH FELL ON MY HEAD THE LATCH CAME UNDONE. NOW I HEAR THE CYLINDER ARE A DEFECT WHAT ABOUT THE ENTIRE HATCH. THIS WHOLE UNIT IS A DEFECT.*AK

THE SIDE AIR BAGS IN MY 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. ALTHOUGH NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 5 MILES PER HOUR AT THE TIME, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS SITUATION. FORD'S RESPONSE HAS BEEN LESS THAN SATISFACTORY. DESPITE THE FACT THAT I PROMPLTLY NOTIFIED FORD OF THE INCIDENT, NO ONE AT FORD'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT HAS CONTACTED ME TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM AS PROMISED. IN FACT, WHEN I CALLED FORD ON MARCH 1, 2003 TO FOLLOW-UP, A TELEPHONE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT FORD'S COMPUTER RECORDS SHOW THAT A CONSUMER AFFAIRS AGENT HAD CONTACTED ME ON FEBRUARY 27, 2003. I RECEIVED NO SUCH CALL AND I AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM AN AGENT FROM THAT DEPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, FORD DID NOT AUTHORIZE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF MY DEALERSHIP TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE UNTIL FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2003. *JB

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE COLLIDES WITH LIGHT POLE DAMAGING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

ABS LIGHT CONTINUALLY COMES ON. ON SEVERAL OCASSIONS, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH A SHUDDERING NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP 5 / 6 TIMES TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THE SENSOR HAS BEEN CHANGED AND AFTER A MONTH OR SO, IT COMES BACK ON AGAIN. ON MY LAST VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD MECURY WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY WERE WORKING ON A SOLUTION. THEY SAID I WOULD BE CONTACTED IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THAT WAS MONTHS AGO AND MY LIGHT IS BACK ON AGAIN. WHAT WILL IT TAKE, AN ACCIDENT? NOW I AM WAITING FOR THE MANAGER TO RETURN TO TOWN TO GIVE ME A CALL.

VEHICLE RELEASES EXTREMELY BAD/ OVER POWERING SULFUR SMELL AT UNEVEN INTERVALS WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPED. IT CAN EVEN BE SMELLED INSIDE THE CABIN. HAPPENS 5 OR 6 TIMES ON A NORMAL DAY. MERCURY SAYS THEY ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM AND HAD IT ON A FEW OTHER VEHICLES, BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. MERCURY TOLD ME TO SWITCH BRANDS OF GAS- THAT HAS NOT WORKED. *JB

2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER: WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY DOWNSHIFTING FROM 4TH GEAR TO 2ND GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING IN LONGER DISTANCE IN CITY TRAFFIC. WE ARE AFRAID OF BEING REAR ENDED. THE VEHICLE ALSO DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY WHEN COLD. WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE 20?S (20 DEGREES ON THE FAHRENHEIT SCALE) IT WILL ONLY GO BETWEEN 10-15 MPH UNTIL WARM. WHEELS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE SPINNING. THE VEHICLE ALSO MAKES A HOWLING NOISE (SOUNDS COMPUTER GENERATED) AT BETWEEN 55-70 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 11,000 MILES. IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEMS. FORD HAS OFFERED A CASH SETTLEMENT OF $6200.00. WE DO HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. CAN THESE PROBLEMS BE FIXED? THE FIRST ISSUE IS THE ONE OF GREATEST CONCERN. *LA

THE FIRST TIME THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON I-275 GOING TO JURY DUTY. IT WAS RUSH HOUR, STOP & GO TRAFFIC. I WAS EXCELLERATING AND AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES PER HOUR, THE TRUCK LIKE "SLAMMED" INTO GEAR. IT STARTED ME & I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED. I CONTACTED THE DEALER ON MY CELL PHONE AND ASKED TO BRING IT IN. I WAS TOLD SINCE I WAS IN JURY DUTY, I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MY SERVICE ENDED AND THEN BRING IT IN. I ASKED IF THE TRANSMISSION OR DRIVETRAIN COULD FURTHER DAMAGE & WAS TOLD NO. I WAS AFRAID TO KEEP DRIVING IT BUT DID NOT HAVE A CHOICE AT THE TIME. I KEPT TRACK OF THE TIMES THE TRUCK "SLAMMED" INTO GEAR WHICH UP UNTIL THE TIME I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN, WAS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS WARM & IT WAS ON EXCELLERATIONS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS & TIMES. THE SERVICE PEOPLE SAID IT DID NOT DO IT WHILE THEY TEST DROVE IT BUT FORD'S KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IT & THE REPAIR WAS TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER CHIP & THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM IT DID NOT. I HAD TO RE-SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. THIS TIME THE DEALER PLACED A RECORDING DEVICE ON THE TRUCK & WERE ABLE TO CAPTURE IT ACTING UP. THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION & THAT'S WHAT HE'D LIKE TO DO TO REPAIR IT BUT I'D HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL FORD'S RETRIEVED THE DATA. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT ONLY HAD 800 MILES ON IT! WHILE WAITING FOR A DETERMINATION, I HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE ABOUT 6 OR 7 MILES AND AN AWFUL ODOR FILLED THE CAB. IT SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING BURNING UNDER THE VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER & CHECKED UNDER THE TRUCK FOR A FIRE. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING THAT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS BURNING. I CALLED THE DEALER & COMPLAINED AGAIN ABOUT IT SLAMMING INTO GEAR & NOW THE AWFUL SMELL. I WONDERED IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS BURNING. I WAS TOLD IT WAS ANOTHER COMPLAINT OTHERS MADE AS WELL. IT WAS COMING FROM THE EXHAUST (VALVE?) FOR THE 3RD TRY, THESE 2 ISSUES & OTHERS ARE NOW BEING REPAIRED. DT

SUDDENLY STALLS WHEN BRAKING & STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED WHEN ENGINE WARM AND HAS LESS THEN 1/2 TANK OF GAS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH AND WITH NO WARNING ENGINE COOLANT HOSE CLAMP CAME OFF, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. THEN, ENGINE WILL START TO LOSE POWER,MAKING IT TO BE HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT OF SEAT BELT FOR MORE ROOM SEAT BELT BOLTS SNAPPED, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO HANG. CONSUMER NOT TO HAVE SEAT BELT ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

ABOUT ONCE A YEAR WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH OUR TRANSMISSION. AFTER THIS HAPPENING SO MANY TIMES I DECIDED TO CHECK ONLINE FOR ANYONE ELSE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. CAN NOT BELIEVE HOW MANY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT STILL NO RECALLS. MY HUSBAND KNEW THE FIRST TIME THEY TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEY WERE JUST PUTTING A "BAND-AIDE" ON THE PROBLEM AND NOT TRULY FIXING IT. METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND THE FIRST TIME AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGH AND SLIPS. ALSO THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT PUTTING FOOT ON GAS PEDAL. PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY BAD WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE. *TR

WHILE COMING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AT A VERY LOW SPEED AIR BAGS DEPLOYED HITTING THE CONSUMER. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THEY HIT THE GAS PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AS A RESULT OF THEM BEING LOCATED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER ALMOST RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. MR

WHILE GETTING INTO VEHICLE, WIND HIT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND DOOR HIT AGAINST CONSUMER'S LEG. DOOR IS CURVED WHICH HAD A POINT ON END OF DOOR. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THERE WAS A WATER POT HOLE IN STREET. ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A SUDDEN STOP AND CONSUMERS SON HIT VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF.CONSUMERS SON HYDROPLANED HITTING OTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON THEN OVER TO THE RIGHT LEFT SIDE. *JG