1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS

AUTOZONE- VALUCRAFT BRAND- BALL JOINTS PART NUMBER VFA2101 I RECENTLY HAD MY BALL JOINTS REPLACED AND I HAD A PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINT FASTENING HARDWARE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE CITY ROAD IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT 45 MPH. IT CAUSED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF DAMAGE AND IT ALSO ALMOST CAUSE ME GREAT INJURY. I SUSPECT AUTOZONE IS USING LOW GRADE NUTS CAUSE THE NUT THAT WAS ON THE BALL JOINT SHEARED OFF CAUSING ME TO BEND A CONTROL ARM, CRACK MY FRAME, BLOW A TIRE, ALL WHILE BARELY MISSING A

Mileage: 213,760

AUTOZONE- VALUCRAFT BRAND- BALL JOINTS PART NUMBER VFA2101 I RECENTLY HAD MY BALL JOINTS REPLACED AND I HAD A PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINT FASTENING HARDWARE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE CITY ROAD IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT 45 MPH. IT CAUSED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF DAMAGE AND IT ALSO ALMOST CAUSE ME GREAT INJURY. I SUSPECT AUTOZONE IS USING LOW GRADE NUTS CAUSE THE NUT THAT WAS ON THE BALL JOINT SHEARED OFF CAUSING ME TO BEND A CONTROL ARM, CRACK MY FRAME, BLOW A TIRE, ALL WHILE BARELY MISSING A

Mileage: 213,760

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BOOMING NOISE FROM INSIDE HIS HOME. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE

Mileage: 63,000

1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. CONSUMER STATES FAULTY REAR BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HIS WIFE APPLIED THE BRAKES FIRMLY, BUT NOT HARD, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD STRIKING A SIGN AND DAMAGING THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER LATER DISCOVERED THE BRAKES WERE SPONGY AND FAILED TO EFFECTIVELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE SPONGY BRAKES WERE NORMAL. THE CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY RESTORED THE BRAKES BACK TO NORMAL OPERATION.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLS AS ACCELERATION WAS SLUGGISH AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NEEDED TO BE PUMPED TO INCREASE SPEED. AT OTHER TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY FOR NO REASON AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD HAVE TO BE PUMPED BEFORE THE SPEED WOULD REDUCE TO NORMAL. WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH, ON A DR

DT: THE CALLER SAID HER CAR BURNED UP IN 2000. NOW SHE IS FINDING OUT ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CRUISE CONTROL FIRES. SHE BELIEVES THAT THE CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED. AT THE TIME SHE WAS TOLD TO CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY, THEY SAID TO CALL MANUFACTURER, AND SHE WAS GETTING THE RUN AROUND. SHE SAW ON CNN AND THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT THE CURRENT PROBLEM THEY ARE HAVING AND WANTED SOMEONE TO HELP HER. THERE IS A FIRE REPORT. *AK THE VEHICLE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND D

DT: THE CALLER SAID HER CAR BURNED UP IN 2000. NOW SHE IS FINDING OUT ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CRUISE CONTROL FIRES. SHE BELIEVES THAT THE CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED. AT THE TIME SHE WAS TOLD TO CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY, THEY SAID TO CALL MANUFACTURER, AND SHE WAS GETTING THE RUN AROUND. SHE SAW ON CNN AND THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT THE CURRENT PROBLEM THEY ARE HAVING AND WANTED SOMEONE TO HELP HER. THERE IS A FIRE REPORT. *AK THE VEHICLE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND D

1) NORMAL DRIVING USAGE; 2) PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, OVERHEATING CAR; 3) PART WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED $590 FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *AK

Mileage: 107,400

POWER STEERING RESERVOIR HOSE SEPARATED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, BLACK TOXIC SMOKE SUDDENLY STARTED BELLOWING OUT FROM AROUND THE RADIO AREA IN THE CENTER DASHBOARD. A LOUD RAPID CLICKING SOUND WAS ALSO HEARD. UPON REALIZING WHAT WAS GOING ON, I STEERED THE CAR SAFELY OFF THE HIGHWAY RAMP AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. I INSPECTED THE ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. UPON A 15 MIN SHUTDOWN I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND BOTH THE SMOKE AND CLICKING SOUND HAD CEASED SO I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER. ON 28 DEC 00 TH

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH TOXIC BLACK SMOKE AND A LOUD CLICKING SOUND SUDDENLY APPEARED FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE. I STEERED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN APPX.10 MIN. ON RESTART THE VEHICLE SMOKE & CLICKING SOUND CEASED. DEALER REMOVED RADIO AND GLOVE COMPARTMENT BUT COULD NOT DETECT ROOT CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION CONDUCTED. CONSUMER REQUIRED TO PAY ALL COSTS RELATED TO INCIDENT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY STARTED MOVING FRM SIDE TO SIDE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, RESULTING IN CRASH. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 35 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *ML

LEFT FRONT DOOR HINGE WON'T STAY OPEN, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *YC

WHILE PARKED SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OPENDED THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. VEHICLE MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND DUE TO PIECE THAT IS BROKEN IN THE FUEL TANK. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD RESULTING IN A FIRE.

ENGINE FIRE. QCAW

WHILE DRIVING THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AND THEN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES. THE NEXT MORNING, A TOW TRUCK DRIVER CRANKED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT ONTO THE TOW TRUCK. BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS SECURED TO THE TOW TRUCK, IT BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM UNDER THE ENGINE AREA AND SUDDENLY IT BURST INTO FLAMES.

VEHICLE ACCELERATED AFTER HAVING SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO PARK, CAUSES VEHICLE TO TAKE OFF WHILE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LURCH FOUR TO FIVE BLOCKS, AND LANDED INTO SOMEONE'S FRONT YARD. ONE INJURY WAS SUSTANED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK