1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TAPPED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE'S BUMPER. WHILE HE AND THE OWNER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WERE ARGUING, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD A SECOND TIME. AS A RESULT, HIS PASSENGER SIDE DOOR STRUCK THE OTHER VEHICLE'S DRIVER'S SIDE REAR PANEL. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED ONTO A SIDE STREET WHERE IT WILL BE TOWED. THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN, BUT THERE IS NO BRAKING ABILITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED. HE REFERENCED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM (EA03012 SERVICE BRAKES HYDRAULIC). THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE PROGRAM EXPIRED IN 2007. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.

Mileage: 163,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE STUCK ON ICE AT 1 MPH. THE CONTACT SLID INTO A CURB AND BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE'S MAINTENANCE WAS UP-TO-DATE. THE ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT PANEL PARKING BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE PARKING BRAKE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ACTUAL BRAKE FAILURE. FORD WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY APPRECIATED HER SUGGESTION. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY HELP IN THE DESIGN OF FUTURE VEHICLES. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THE VEHICLE HAD ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,965. UPDATED 03-18-08 *BF

Mileage: 39,900

SUDDENLY THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILST ON HIGHWAY. I HAD CHECKED THE FLUID TWO WEEKS PRIOR AND IT WAS FINE. DIAGNOSED AS BRAKE ABRASION OF THE FRONT BRAKES. *TR

Mileage: 76,688

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SPONGY AND HAD TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THE BRAKE LINES FRACTURED CAUSING THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT ONTO THE GROUND. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V086000, REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES, HOSES, LINES AND FITTINGS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED. UPDATED 07/05/06. *JB

Mileage: 50,000

I HAVE A 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS [XXX]THE BRAKES FAILED EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THEIR RECALL 04B26 FOR 97 MERC MARQUIS. THE DEALER AND FORD MOTOR CO. REP CURLINE #2139 SAID THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURE IS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, AND THAT MY MODEL AND YEAR MATCHES THE RECALL, THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. I SUGGEST THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDER THAN THEY WILL ADMIT AND THINK MY REPAIR FALLS UNDER THIS RECALL. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mileage: 91,435

REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURE. RECALL NOTICE WAS FOR FRONT FAILURE, UPON INSPECTION, THOSE LINES WERE FINE. *JB

Mileage: 63,500

DT: THE BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND BROKE. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND COULD TELL THAT HE WAS LOSING BRAKE FLUID. HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE SAFELY HOME. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ON JUNE 15, 2005. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE WAS EXTREMELY CORRODED. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE. *AK

Mileage: 69,500

VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR RECALL PARTS CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING. IT TOOK THE SERVICE MANAGER DAYS BEFORE HE SERVICED VEHICLE AND NEVER RETURNED THE CONSUMER PHONE CALLS. *TS THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE ELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND WAS THEN TOLD THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER NEVER MENTIONED IF THE ELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A SECOND OPINION REGARDING THE MASTER CYLINDER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT LEAKING. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTICE, 04B26 ON 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. IT STATED THE REAR BRAKE TUBE MAY ABRADE AND LEAK UNDER THE FRONT SEATS. THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE REPAIR WORK SCHEDULED. ON THE WAY OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED THE BRAKE LINE BURST. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE LINE DID NOT BRAKE WHERE THE NOTICE HAD STATED, AND IT WAS NOT COVERED. ALSO WAS TOLD THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD CONSUMER THEY WOULD DISCOUNT THE WORK. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED, AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP CONSUMER BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WARRANTY.*AK

BRAKES DID NOT OPERATE WHEN DRIVER APPLIED PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL. TOOK VEHICLE DEALER FOR CHECK UP, AND RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED.*AK WHILE PULLING FROM A PARKING LOT THE BRAKES FAILED. BRAKES REPAIRED BY NEARBY TIRE AND BRAKE SPECIALIST. *TC

Mileage: 88,715

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE REAR BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *JB

Mileage: 108,321

1. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT NORMAL SPEED, APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, AND BRAKES WERE APPLIED. BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED FURTHER THAN NORMAL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY. ON FURTHER INSPECTION I SAW BRAKE FLUID ON THE FRAME RAIL ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR AT A LOCATION UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR (APPROXIMATELY). 2. IT APPEARS THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS RUBBING ON THE CAR BODY/FRAME STRUCTURE AND WORE THROUGH ALLOWING THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. 3. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE YET. I AM STILL INVESTIGATING MY OPTIONS: REPAIR AT MY EXPENSE, FILE A CLAIM WITH FORD, ETC.

Mileage: 101,000

WITHIN A WEEK OF CHANGING THE TIRES THE BRAKES FAILED. *PH THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT TO REAR BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED DUE TO RUST. (SON ON BEHALF OF HIS MOTHER ANNETTE MEYERS). *JB

BRAKE LINE FAILURE...RUBBING/EXTREME CORROSION FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER 6 YEARS AND IS CAUSED BY ROUTING/RETAINERS/RUBBER INSULATORS/EXTREMELY POOR CORROSION PROTECTION ON THE EUROPEAN METRIC BUBBLE FLARE LINES. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON OUR PREVIOUS GRAND MARQUIS-1993 AFTER 6 YEARS. IN THIS CASE VEHICLE RESIDED IN SYRACUSE ONLY 2 YEARS AND SPENT 4 MORE IN S.E. MASSACHUSETTS. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AND THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS TYPE VEHICLE(1990-1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA/MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS) A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED/ISSUED. *CB

Mileage: 64,000

A REAR BRAKE LINE ON OUR 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS TOTALLY FAILED. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WENT TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE CAR JUST BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. FORTUNATELY THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND NOT WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY. WE PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN NOVEMBER 1996 AND HAD ONLY 47,441 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. AN INSPECTION OF THE REAR BRAKE LINES SHOWED THEY WERE BOTH EXTREMELY CORRODED ALONG THEIR ENTIRE LENGTH. THE MERCURY DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKE AND FUEL LINE ASSEMBLY ($1223) ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. THE FINAL COST TO REPAIR THE LEAKING BRAKE LINE WAS $1901. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THIS RELATIVELY SMALL MERCURY DEALERSHIP ESTIMATED THEY DO THIS REPAIR ABOUT ONCE A MONTH ON MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS AND LINCOLN TOWN CARS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM RESULTING FROM MERCURY EITHER SPECIFYING OR USING AN INADEQUATE MATERIAL FOR THIS CRITICAL SAFETY PART. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT NHTSA IS CONDUCTING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS OF THIS BASIC PROBLEM (ACTION# EA03-012) AND CONTACTED MERCURY CUSTOMER RELATIONS PRIOR TO MAKING THE REPAIR. THEY POLITELY SAID THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT IS MY PROBLEM NOT THEIRS. I SUSPECT THAT THE 710 BRAKE LINE FAILURES LISTED IN NHTSA ACTION# EA03-012 FOR 1995-1997 GRAND MARQUIS, TOWN CAR AND CROWN VICTORIA VEHICLES IS JUST THE SURFACE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE MOST REPAIRS LIKE MINE ARE MADE OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOT REPORTED. *JB

Mileage: 47,441

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS WHEN THE BRAKES FADEDON A COLD/RAINY NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE. THE HOLE RUBBED IN THE LINE AT THE CROSS MEMBER. THE NEW BRAKE LINE WAS REROUTED AWAY FROM THE BODY AND WAS INSULATED.*SCC REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHIVLE. *AK

WHENEVER USING CRUISE CONTROL BRAKES GO OUT. ONCE CONSUMER SLID AND LANDED IN A DITCH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND STEEPING ON THE BRAKES, PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO THE FLOORBOARD. DEALER REPAIRED METAL BRAKE LINE AND ADDED BRAKE FLUID. AK *SLC REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

MY WIFE DRIVING, COME TO NARROW WITH APPROACHING CAR, HIT BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN WHERE SHE WOULD NOT HAVE TO PASS ON BRIDGE WITH OTHER CAR, HER CAR SLOWED, NOTHING SEEM WRONG WITH BRAKES, BUT SOME MILES LATER, COMING UPON A CURVE, HIT BRAKES TO SLOW TO MAKE CURVE, NO BRAKES. SHE BOUGHT FLUID, AS FLUID WAS GONE, DROVE ABOUT 20 MILES BACK HOME. WHEN I CAME IN, NO FLUID IN RESVERE, PUT SOME IN, PUMPED BRAKES, FLUID POURED OUT ON CONCRETE UNDER FRONT DRIVERS DOOR. HAD TOWED TO DEALER, THE LINE HAD RUBBED WHOLE IN LINE UP AGAINST FRAME. THEY REPAIRED IT, REFLUIDED IT AND CHARGE ME ALMOST 82.00. I DID CALL MERCURY CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THEY GOT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO BRING IT TO THE PRICE STATED. FIRST PRICE WAS OVER 100.00. MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER WHO IS 8 MONTHS WITH CHILD WAS IN THE CAR WITH MY WIFE. *AK

MY WIFE DRIVING, COME TO NARROW WITH APPROACHING CAR, HIT BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN WHERE SHE WOULD NOT HAVE TO PASS ON BRIDGE WITH OTHER CAR, HER CAR SLOWED, NOTHING SEEM WRONG WITH BRAKES, BUT SOME MILES LATER, COMING UPON A CURVE, HIT BRAKES TO SLOW TO MAKE CURVE, NO BRAKES. SHE BOUGHT FLUID, AS FLUID WAS GONE, DROVE ABOUT 20 MILES BACK HOME. WHEN I CAME IN, NO FLUID IN RESVERE, PUT SOME IN, PUMPED BRAKES, FLUID POURED OUT ON CONCRETE UNDER FRONT DRIVERS DOOR. HAD TOWED TO DEALER, THE LINE HAD RUBBED WHOLE IN LINE UP AGAINST FRAME. THEY REPAIRED IT, REFLUIDED IT AND CHARGE ME ALMOST 82.00. I DID CALL MERCURY CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THEY GOT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO BRING IT TO THE PRICE STATED. FIRST PRICE WAS OVER 100.00. MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER WHO IS 8 MONTHS WITH CHILD WAS IN THE CAR WITH MY WIFE. *AK REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY CHATTER. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

CONSUMER'S BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED. WARRANTY EXPIRED, CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO COVER THE COST. *AK *ML

THE BRAKE LINE IS COVERED WITH RUBBER PROTECTOR, WHICH WAS CHAFFED BY THE VEHICLE AND RESULTED IN A HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE FROM CHAFFING. *ET REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

THE VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING AND CONSTANT STEERING PRESSURE TO THE RIGHT MUST BE MAINTAINED, DEARLER HAS ROTATED THE TIRES AND REBUILT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE IRREPAIRABLE. *ET

POOR DESIGN: RIGID, FRAME MOUNTED BRAKE LINE WAS IN CONTACT WITH UPPER AUTOMOBILE BODY. BRAKE LINE CRACKED DUE TO UPPER BODY MOVEMENT, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION WHILE DRIVING. REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

BRAKE ROTORS WARPED CAUSING VIBRATION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

BRAKES FAILED. *YC

BRAKES REPAIRED AT 13000 MILES, DUE TO FAILURE. *YC

CONSUMER SAYS THAT SOMETHING UNDER THE VEHICLE HAS RUBBED THROUGH THE BRAKE LINE THAT GOES TO THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK REFERENCED IN RQ03-004

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKING PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS/CALIPERS. PROBLEM IS REOCCURIRING. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

WHEN OPERATING VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH OR OVER, , PREPARING TO STOP , BRAKES WILL BEGIN TO VIBRATE, HEAVIER VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING AT A FASTER SPEED. *AK

DUE TO DESIGN AND THE SPACE FROM THE GAS PEDAL TOTHE BRAKE PEDAL, THE OWNER WAS INVOLVED IN AN MINOR ACCIDENT . MANFACTURER CONTACTED; HE STATED THAT THIS WAS THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. *AK