Consumer states that all instrumental dash panel lights started flashing on and off. Smoke came from under the hood, vehicle caught on fire. Contacted dealer.
1996 Mercury Mystique electrical complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 47, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I am writing in regards to my 1996 mercury mystique in which just had a fire. On monday, december 10th, 2001, as I was driving, smoke startecome out of both exits where my rear seat shoulder harness seatbelts release. I immediately pulled over and run to a business for help. A gentleman sprayed sprayed the fire extingisher into the opening on the side walls where smoke was coming out. The fire department arrived also. The fireman checked my fuse bux and found a fuse melted into the box. My extended warranty - western general - says the part between the seat and panel was bent making wires touch and start a fire. The dealer won't admit anything. They gutted the whole inside, bending the part western general mentioned, in order to get to the wiring underneath. I am waiting for a call from ford motor company.
Smoke emenated from steering column when engaging turn signal. Potential fire hazard as quoted by ford service advisor.
Took vehicle to a ford dealer for recall of engine cooling fan motor. They checked and said there was no problem, however a fuse was blown and they did replace the fuse. This tells me there must have been a problem for the fuse to need replacing. Approx. 3 weeks later, without any signs, was driving to work and the "check engine soon" light came on. Immediately afterwards the car stopped. The engine overheated and totally melted the engine components. The car had just been serviced. I feel that there obviously was a problem with the cooling fan and the result was exactly as the recall warned for the engine cooling fan. I have called ford with no results. I now have to replace the motor. Please advise. What is my recourse?
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Vehicle stalled, white smoke was coming out of hood, and there was a coolant smell, dealer replaced battery, however the problem was the water pump and thermostat and because they were not replaced vehicle overheated causing the head gasket to blow causing coolant to go into the cylinder.
Computer at mechanic show major electrical system defects-it appears that many people are experiencing this as a major problem with this car and ford contour. Ford/mercury will not do anything-also the transmission goes out quit often-had a new one at 50,000 miles-has had many recalls already and nothing has been fixed on this car-windows dont go down (due to electrical short)
Engine failed while driving on the highway, vehicle was then pushed to the side of the road where consumer then noticed smoke and a horribile smell coming from under the hood, vehicle was then towed into dealership, consumer was then advised that only a battery was needed and said nothing else was wrong, after three days of dealership having the vehicle and not trying to find the cause of the the smell and smoke consumer picked vehicle up, on the way home the head gasket blew and it was towed to a repair shop, after the head gasket was repaired, the engine still sounded bad, so consumer took vehicle to another shop and it was determined that the cylinder was bad, consumer then took vehicle back to the repair shop that repaired the head gasket and was also advised that cylinder was bad, on the way home the engine and battery light came on, vehicle was towed into dealership that replaced the battery,dealership told customer that the people who had replaced the head gasket must have done something wrong, dealership states they only did what they were told to do and that was to replace the battery.
The electrical work on the car is in terrible condition. I purchased the car without noticing a failure in the reverse lighting. The reverse lights failed to work therefore since purchasing the car in greenville my daughter commuted from greensboro to greenville 3 times to have the problem corrected. Next the system failed again and with the same reverse lighting problem. I returned to car to the dealer and the system was corrected, however the panel lights failed and I have had the same problem up until this point.
The morning of 12/12/00 I drove 25 miles to a meeting, met for 2 hours, returned to the car. It started fine, warmed up, and defrosted the windows. When I put it in reverse to back out, everything stopped. There was no ignition clicking when I tried to start it again, just nothing. Interior lights and door "bells" (for key in the ignition) worked, but everything else was just dead. Had the car towed to nearest dealership (dean bros in lincoln, ne), not where I bought the car. They said that battery acid had eaten away the connections of the wire harness. If the placement of the battery in relation to the wire harness is a defect in manufacture or design, I'd like some reimbursement of the repair bill.
Ea 01 001/blower switch/risistor or wiring harness: blower experience a wiring harness melt down; manufacturer was not notified at this time. Feel free to provide any further details on this matter. *ak consumer states blower motor inoperable, motor and fuse were replaced, nad then motor went out again, consumer found problem to be a plug that was going into the fuse box, that was melted.
Wiring harness was burning up. Dealer notified, and informed that it was not covered under a recall. *ak consumer states that the wiring harness in the head liner is totally burned up, also under the dashboard there are melted wires causing the power mirrors, radio, clock, and interior lights to be inoperable, dealer stated that both wiring harnesses have to be replaced.
Since ownership of the vehicle it has been experiencing problems continually, within the first three months the vehicle was towed on two occasions because it would not start, possibly due to electrical system problems.
Transmission failure 2 years after car was purchased, engine replaced 2 years after purchase. Hub bearing assembly broke 1 year after purchase of car. Car drives extremely hot - to near over heating point. Trunk leaks when it rains. Driver side window malfunctioning. Instrument panel malfunctioned (was fixed before recall). Check engine light stays on constantly even after tune up/ major work done.
Problem is unrecognizable to dealer and is a safety hazard on the road. They think it is an electrical problem. Basically they are saying it can't be fixed.
Battery rubs against underhood wiring causing short. 2 foot lenght of wire needed to fix is not a replacable part. Entire distribution box needs to be replace at a cost of .
Engine wiring harness caught fire.
Whenever vehicle was started, interior and instrument panel lights came on & remained on . Turn signal would constantly be ringing when signal switch was not in use. Took vehicle to dealership & informed mechanic of the problems. Mechanic indicated "has not heard of the problem before," and did not do anything.
Headlights stayed on, and vehicle caught on fire. Consumer indicated vehicle was non repairable.
The other problems, the trunk having water damage due to a severe leak, my electrical system is no good. I have a loose rod underneath car apart of the steering/ I drove around without the car being properly inspected and registered/ no admission sticker/engine makes this weird sound a rattling noise/ driving on the highway between 45-50 sometimes at no given moment the car will take off up the highway/ when you put car in gear it jerks so hard you think the car has broken down. The fuel tank does not pass inspection. The speakers and radio has also never played properly. I tryed and have been trying for the last 2 years and 3 months plus. When I found out all the things were going on I was very furious because these people knew that I was disabled, with a terrible injury, this was why I was trading in my car because it had over 100,000 miles and I needed something extra dependable. I voiced this to them, because I had trouble getting around. I have tryed many times to resolve this and nothing has been done from the dealership to rectify this. They told me alot of lies to stall me during the window to return the car. I was told that only the salesman that sold me the car could do the paperwork on the return, then I was told this same salesman had gone to work elsewhere. I was told then that the manager was on vacation and only he could do this. I left message for the owner to call me. I was put on hold for long periods of time. Left on hold, hung up on. The service manager was so rude to me about fixing the recalls he brought me to tears all three times that I called. He was very mean to me and told me he did not care what ford had sent out about recalls he was not going to put my car up unless I paid for it. And, that if he put it up and fixed it I would not get my vehicle until he was paid for it. At that point I made up my mind not to go there and be humiliated again. The dates 07/14/1999 are actually 07/14/1997, (mistake) there's more no room!
The brake lights fail to illuminate when the brakes are applied. Had been to mechanic & the fuse & light bulb were changed. The problem still exists. Mechanic feels its an electrical short in the wires.
While going 35mph air conditioner blew out. Smelled like a fire. Had thought it was blower motor & brought one from dealer. Under the dash on right hand side, the plastic harness wire coverning had burnt. The electric wires on the blower motor had melted.
Vehicle experienced electrical failures prior to recall notice (99v‑103), which were related to recall component and caused burning of wiring. Mjs
When driving at any speed without prior warning, vehicle stalled and cut off. Also,dealer replaced the alternator due to the electrical wires burning out the alternator .
While traveling battery indicator light came on and vehicle stalled. Consumer stated that vehicle only stalled on wet road. Please provide further information.
We have had a problem with this car since we bought it. First it was the driveshaft while we were traveling then it was the paint starting to crack, then it was the power steering going out when it was raining. Dealership had no idea what was wrong. Just found out when my husband took A/C switch out that it was burned. Called dealership when it first happenned even though we still had an extended warranty and wanted money out of us. We couldn't afford it. Please see if any of these are defects to where a dealer in west palm beach can correct the problem at no cost. Our warranty has expired at 60,000 miles. Car still vibrates and we have no A/C and it is hot here in florida. We would also like to get the paint taken care of us they knew about it from the beginning when we bought the car. Along with the power steering going out. They said nothing was wrong. This was jim hayes ford in harrisburg, il. We now live in florida so if you can help us solve these problems it would be greatly appreciated. Thanking you in advance. Jeanette prather please e-mail anything you have to [email protected].
No summary
No summary( dot number: tire size: p205r15 )
Fire occured while vehicle was parked. Would like someone to investigate. Ford says they would not investigate and would not compensate for replacement of vehicle. Insurance will only cover market value which does not replace my car. Please advise as far as legal recourse. Dealership says they cannot do anything either. In the mean time I cannot purchase a similar vehicle for the blue book value.
Gas cap failed, causing it to open with trunk release.
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