Custom Report on
2003 MERCURY MARAUDER
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Created on: 3/8/2004
Report Type: Complaints
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CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10050943
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
Details: ALMOST ALL DOMESTIC MANUFACTURERS OF PASSENGER CARS MAKE THEM SO THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSES FARTHER THAN THE ACCELERATOR. THIS IS VERY LIKELY THE REASON FOR MOST "UNINTENDED" ACCELERATION INCIDENTS. IN MY OWN CASE IT INVOLVES A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. IF YOU ACCIDENTLY DEPRESS BOTH AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH WITH A LARGE FOOT IS EASY TO DO, THE BRAKES WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT ALL VEHICLES OF THE SAME PLATFORM DO THE SAME THING. I CAN EASILY SEE WHERE THIS WOULD LEAD TO SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES WHEN AN ELDERLY PERSON HAS THE SAME EXPERIENCE AND THEY PANIC AND ARE AFRAID TO RELEASE THE BRAKE. AS WE SEE MORE AND MORE INCIDENTS OF "UNINTENDED ACCERALTION" KILL AND MAME MORE AND MORE PEOPLE PERHAPS IT'S NOT UNUSUAL BUT THE NORM.*AK
Cause:
Result:
Occurences: 1 Injuries: 0
Fail Date: 06/25/2003 Deaths: 0
MCS Check Date: 12/29/2003
CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10013546
Component: OTHER
Details: PROBLEMS WITH MERCURY 2003 MARAUDER PURCHASED -2/08/03 WOULD LIKE TO FAX CURRENT WARRANTY REPAIR ORDER. LEAKS AROUND LENS COVER, WIPER BLADES REPLACED, REAR LEFT SPEAKER VIBRATES, BRAKE & BRAKE PEDAL SQUEAKING, SPOT ON REAR WINDOW, NEW WINDOW ORDERED, OVERDRIVE LIGHT ON, CAR STALLED HAD TO BE RETURNED, VALVE BODY AND WIRING REPLACED IN TRANSMISSION, SPOT ON DRIVER'S LEATHER SEAT COVER, NEW COVER HAS BEEN ORDERED.
Cause:
Result:
Occurences: 1 Injuries: 0
Fail Date: 03/25/2003 Deaths: 0
MCS Check Date: 4/2/2003
CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10014073
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
Details: AFTER REPAIR OF OVER DRIVE PROBLEM, THE NEXT DAY WHILE CAR WAS IDLING, NOTICED STRONG EXHAUST FUMES COMING IN VEHICLE. HAD TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS. HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD NOT TO WORRY SINCE IT HAS A CERAMIC HONEY COMB FILTER. DEALER STATED WOULD BE A CONCERN IF IT WAS DOING THIS AT 10,000 MILES. CAR IS BEING TAKEN BACK TO DEALER FOR PROBLEM. *JB
Cause:
Result:
Occurences: 3 Injuries: 0
Fail Date: 03/27/2003 Deaths: 0
MCS Check Date: 5/19/2003
CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10014688
Component: OTHER
Details: THE FIREWALL PLASTIC CASE WAS TO LOW TO THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL. WHICH MADE IT HARD TO REACH THE PEDAL IN TIME. *JB
Cause:
Result:
Occurences: 1 Injuries: 0
Fail Date: 03/22/2003 Deaths: 0
MCS Check Date: 4/2/2003
CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10014689
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Details: THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN A TURN WAS MADE. *JB
Cause:
Result:
Occurences: 1 Injuries: 0
Fail Date: 03/22/2003 Deaths: 0
MCS Check Date: 4/2/2003
CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10017190
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
Details: CONSUMER FELT THE FUEL TANK WAS DESIGNED POORLY AND THE SHARP EDGES THAT WENT AROUND FUEL THE TANK WAS VERY DANGEROUS. *NLM. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A KIT AT HIS OWN EXPENSE TO COVER UP THE SHARP EDGES OF THE GAS TANK. *JB
Cause:
Result:
Occurences: 1 Injuries: 0
Fail Date: 06/12/2000 Deaths: 0
MCS Check Date: 5/19/2003
CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10018914
Component: OTHER
Details: WHILE TEST-DRIVING A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER, MY FOOT BECAME ENTANGLE WITH A DRIVER-SIDE COCKPIT LOWER PANEL THAT TRAPPED MY FOOT ONTO THE THROTTLE AND PREVENTED ME FROM ACCESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASH. *JB
Cause:
Result:
Occurences: 1 Injuries: 1
Fail Date: 03/27/2003 Deaths: 0
MCS Check Date: 10/13/2003
CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10032346
Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
Details: CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH
Cause:
Result:
Occurences: 1 Injuries: 0
Fail Date: 07/29/2003 Deaths: 0
MCS Check Date: 10/13/2003
CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10019117
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Details: ENGINE CUTS OUT AROUND TURNS; MISALIGNMENT, VEHICLE PULLS DRASTICALLY TO THE RIGHT; LOW HANGING PANEL ON DRIVER'S SIDE INTERFERES WITH THROTTLE AND BREAK OPERATIONS; BURNING ODOR EMITTING FORM ENGINE COMPARTMENT; FLUID LEAKING FROM REAR AXLE; SMOKE EMITTING FORM ENGINE COMPARTMENT; LACK OF ACCELERATION BETWEEN 2000-4000 RPM; ENGINE STALLS WHILE IDLING; NOISY CLICKING, CLUNKING, AND GRINDING SOUNDS COMING FROM FRONT AXLE; POOR ACCELERATION BETWEEN 20-40 MPH; FRONT TIRES RAPIDLY WEARING UNEVENLY; SQUEAKING FROM FRONT END; LOOSE RIGHT FRONT EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE; TRUNK ORGANIZER LID CRACKED; ALARM SYSTEM NOT WORKING; REMOTE ENTRY KEY SYSTEM INOPERABLE; STAINS ON LEATHER SEATS; SHARP EDGES AROUND TRUNK; CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONING. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 02/01/03 AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVEN TIMES FOR A TOTAL OUT-OF-SERVICE TIME OF OVER A MONTH. THE ENTIRE REAR END WAS REPLACED BUT THE VEHICLE STILL LEAKS OIL. THE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS ARE POSING VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR ME, AS POWER LACKS SEVERELY BETWEEN 2000-4000 RPM. THE FRONT END CLICKS, GRINDS, CLUNKS, AND SQUEAKS DURING DRIVING. ON MOST OCCASIONS WHILE IN THE SHOP, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS DOCUMENTED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE MY CONCERNS EVEN AFTER THEY VERBALLY CONFIRMED MY COMPLAINTS DURING TEST DRIVES WITH ME. ON SOME OCCASIONS, THEN ATTEMPTED TO MAKE REPAIRS WITHOUT DOCUMENTING IT TO AVOID "LEMON LAW" STATUS. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE, UNRELIABLE, AND HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE. MLG *NLM
Cause:
Result:
Occurences: 1 Injuries: 0
Fail Date: 02/02/2003 Deaths: 0
MCS Check Date: 10/13/2003
CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10025253
Component: POWER TRAINRIVELINEIFFERENTIAL UNIT
Details: ON MY 2003 VEHICLE, THERE WAS APPARENETLY A SPARE AXLE PIN CONTAINED IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FROM THE FACTORY. WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN, THIS PIN WAS THRUST AGAINST THE PUMPKIN (DIFFERENTIAL COVER), PUNCTURED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER AND CAUSED THE DIFFERENTIAL TO LEAK FLUID. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE "SPARE PIN" WHEN THEY REPAIRED THE DIFFERENTIAL COVER. HAD I BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE, AND HAD THE PIN BECOME SUDDENTLY CAUGHT IN THE RING (INSTEAD OF THROWN AGAINSTED THE COVER), THIS CONDICITON COULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY LOCK UP (THE REAR DIFFERNTIAL). THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER. I AM A POLICE OFFICER IN THE NAVY AND AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *AK
Cause:
Result:
Occurences: 1 Injuries: 1
Fail Date: 06/24/2003 Deaths: 0
MCS Check Date: 10/13/2003
CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10030525
Component: WHEELS
Details: INSUFFICIENT FRONT END ALIGNMENT PROCEDURES TO ACCOMMODATE LACK OF APPROPRIATE ALIGNMENT EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO HANDLE THE 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER WHEELS. AS SUCH, I DID NOT FIND OUT MY ALIGNMENT WAS OUT ON MY NEW MARAUDER UNTIL THE TIRES HAD WORN OFF THE INSIDE CORNER TREAD AND WAS NOTICED BY THE MERCURY TECHNICIAN. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW SET OF TIRES AT 13,182 MILES AND THEN LOCATE A NON-MERCURY DEALER WHO HAD THE CLIPS NECESSARY TO ATTACH TO THE MARAUDER WHEELS TO ACCOMMODATE ALIGNMENT. OWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE TO CHECK ALIGNMENT PROACTIVELY ON THEIR VEHICLES IF NOT PROACTIVELY CHECKED OR REQUESTED TO BE CHECKED BY THEIR DEALER SERVICE GROUPS. *PH
Cause:
Result:
Occurences: 1 Injuries: 0
Fail Date: 06/09/2003 Deaths: 0
MCS Check Date: 10/13/2003
CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10032793
Component: SUSPENSION:FRONT
Details: THIS VEHICLE PURCHASED IN JUNE 2003 HAS HAD 6 ALIGNMENTS (THE FIRST AT ABOUT 500 MILES) AND THE STEERING RACK REPLACED ALL BEFORE 3100 MILES BECAUSE OF A CONSTANT PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT I AM NO LONGER ENTITLED TO A "COURTESY" ALIGNMENT. RF TOE IN HAS DRIFTED .8 DEGREES IN 1 WEEK'S TIME AND LF CAMBER 1.3 IN SAME TIME. WILL BE ENTERING LEMON LAW PROCEEDINGS. ADDITIONALLY THE FIT AND FINISH HAS LEFT MUCH TO BE DESIRED, HAVE HAD REAR "PACKAGE" CARRIER, FR HEAD LIGHT, WINDOW MOLDINGS, AIRBAG COVERS AND OTHER TRIM ITEMS REPLACED.*AK
Cause:
Result:
Occurences: 4 Injuries: 0
Fail Date: 08/13/2003 Deaths: 0
MCS Check Date: 10/13/2003
CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10060928
Component: VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
Details: WHILE PARKED THE VEHICLE'S REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Cause:
Result:
Occurences: 1 Injuries: 0
Fail Date: 02/24/2004 Deaths: 0
MCS Check Date: 3/1/2004
Manufacturer Contact Information
Mercury Division
Ford Motor Company
Customer Assistance Center
16800 Executive Plaza Drive
P.O. Box 6248
Dearborn, MI 48121
Toll free: 1-800-392-3673
TDD toll free: 1-800-232-5952
Web site: www.ford.com