1996 MERCURY MYSTIQUE Suspension Problems

FOR ALONG TIME THERE HAS BEEN BEARING CHANGES. I GAVE MY CAR TO A TENANT AND SHE WANTED IT TO GET INSPECTED, BUT SHE NEEDED BOTH FRONT SPRING COILS TO BE REPLACED. AND FOR A LONG TIME THE AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) BEARINGS HAVE BEEN BAD. IT IS GOING TO COST HER MUCH MONEY. CAN A CLAIM BE MADE BECAUSE OF A RECALL?*AK

Mileage: 185,000

1996 MERCURY MYSTIQUE(68,000). FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD WHAT THEY REFERRED TO AS A "PROGRAM", EVIDENTLY FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SPRINGS.THE PROGRAM WAS BASICALLY A FREE INSPECTION. MY CAR WAS INSPECTED IN 2002 WHILE IT WAS IN FOR ANOTHER RECALL, AT WHICH TIME IT WAS GIVEN A PASSING GRADE.THE PROGRAM EXPIRED @ 150,000 OR DEC. OF 2004 WHICHEVER CAME FIRST.IN FEBRUARY 2005 A 6" CHUNCK OF THE PASS. SIDE SPRING SNAPPED OFF, LUCKILY ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. I HEARD THE NOISE AND WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE THE PIECE FROM THE STREET.ON CLOSE INSPECTION THE PIECE DID NOT BREAK DUE TO CORROSION.I BELIEVE IT WAS DUE TO POOR MATERIAL QUALITY, MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD CAUSE TIRE FAILURE AT HIGHER RATES OF SPEED RESULTING IN POSSIBLE FATALIIES. FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE THE SPRING.*AK

Mileage: 67,975

CONSUMER HAS NOTICED THAT FOR NO APPARENT REASON WINDSHIELD HAS DEVELOPED A STRESS FRACTUR. ALSO , WHEN DRIVING THERE IS VIBRATION COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE, AND HEATER BLOWER SWTICH WAS INOPERABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98M04, NHTSA RECALL NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE. DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO RECALL JOB BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE SPRING COIL MUST HAVE BEEN EITHER RUSTED OR BROKEN TO QUALITY FOR RECALL FIXING. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS CONDERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY. *YH

WHEM BAR BREAKS IT BREAKS THE LINK, AND WEARS THE TIRES DOWN FAST. *AK

NEED TOO RECALL THE STABILIZER BAR FRONT /AND LINKS FRONT AND BACK.

THE CAR HAS HAD A HISTORY OF SUSPENSION, LINKAGE AND BEARING FAILURES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. MERCURY DEALERS AND MANUFACTURERS HAVE NOT BEEN HELPFUL. THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALER EXPLAINED TO ME OFF THE RECORD THAT THESE CARS HAVE A HISTORY OF FRONT END FAILURES HOWEVER, THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. YOU ARE INVITED TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR AND EXPERIENCE THE VIBRATION AND POOR HANDLING TO ASSIT YOU IN YOUR INVESTIGATION.

I WHOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT MY CAR I HAVE TALKED TO TWO OTHER PEOPLE WHO I DONT EVEN KNOW THAT DRIVE THE SAME CAR I HAVE. FRIST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY MY WHOLE FRONT END VIBRATES WHEN WE SIT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SING IN PARK OR REVERSE. ALSO EVERYTIME IT RAINS OR WE WASH OUR CAR AND THEN OPEN THE TRUNK WATER POURS OUT OF THE TAIL LIGHTS. AND MY WIRE HARNESS IS MELTED AND THE WIRES ARE BURNED UP, WE HAVE NO POWER MIRRORS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, RADIO. WE TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER IN SHARON PA AND GOT IT LOOKED AT $840.00 TO REPAIR. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. I HAVE 3 MORE YEARS TO PAY ON THIS CAR. WE WERE TOLD TO DRIVE IT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE, DUE TO A POSSIBLE FIRE. THAT IS VERY HARD TO DO WHEN IT IS YOUR ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I WOULD REALLY LIKE IF YOU COULD HELP US OUT. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE YEAR 1996 MERCURY MYSTIQUE IS A BIG DEFECT. *AK

I WHOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT MY CAR I HAVE TALKED TO TWO OTHER PEOPLE WHO I DONT EVEN KNOW THAT DRIVE THE SAME CAR I HAVE. FRIST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THE MY WHOLE FRONT END VIBRATES WHEN WE SIT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SING IN PARK OR REVERSE. ALSO EVERYTIME IT RAINS OR WE WASH OUR CAR AND THEN OPEN THE TRUNK WATER POURS OUT OF THE TAIL LIGHTS. AND MY WIRE HARDEST IS MELTED AND THE WIRES ARE BURNED UP, WE HAVE NO POWER MIRRORS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, RADIO. WE TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER IN SHARON PA AND GOT IT LOOKED AT $840.00 TO REPAIR. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. I HAVE 3 MORE YEARS TO PAY ON THIS CAR. WE WERE TOLD TO DRIVE IT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE, DUE TO A POSSIBLE FIRE. THAT IS VERY HARD TO DO WHEN IT IS YOUR ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I WOULD REALLY LIKE IF YOU COULD HELP US OUT. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE YEAR 1996 MERCURY MYSTIQUE IS A BIG DEFECT.

WHEN CONSUMER HAS AIR CONDITIONER ON AND IF HE PULLS UP TO A STOP SIGN VEHICLE SHAKE AND VIBRATES REAL BADLY. HE HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

FRONT END MISALIGNED CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR TO TIRES. YH

WHEN DRIVING 55 MPH OR ABOVE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN VIBRATES, CAUSE UNKNOW., DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BROKEN STOP CAUSES SWAY BAR TO MOVE AND RUB ON FRONT CONTOL ARM CAUSING VIBRATION AND POSSIBLE STEERING DIFFICULTY!

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN IN DRIVE AND STOPS AT RED LIGHT. ALSO WHEN HEATER FAN IS ON WE GET A BAD OIL FUMES/SMELLS . WE HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERS 7OR 8 TIMES . THEY STILL HAVEN'T FOUND THE PROBLEM. THE SMELL SOMETIMES GETS VERY BAD. *AK

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED. DEALER CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND IS NOT AWARE OF ANY REMEDIES. *AK

WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP THE CAR MAKES A LOUD POPPING NOISE. DEALER HAS CAR. *AK