My vehicles became totally disabled on a very busy highway with heavy after hours rush hour traffic. The manifold which is made of plastic broke were the coolant temperature sensor was built in, I also noticed that a few sparkplugs were flooded with coolant. I found out that there was a lawsuit on these vehicles but no one knew about it and only fleet vehicles were covered and not civilian vehicles. I wonder if there is any chance for me to seek a dealership and get reimbursed for these damages.

- Nashville , TN, USA

Intake manifold crack and anti-freeze spilling out and a lot of steam smoke while I was driving, car in shop now a it will cost me $600 to fix.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

Make: Mercury model: Cougar year: 1997 type: Passenger car service bulletin number: 05N04 NHTSA item number: 10018959 summary description: Extended coverage program 05N04 - extended coverage for composite intake manifold. This program is being provided as a settlement to a class action lawsuit. The terms of the settlement extend the coverage of the all-composite intake manifold to 7 years from the original warranty start date of the vehicle, with no limit on the number of miles that the vehicle has been driven. On March 2, 2004, I sent a letter to Ford Motor Company describing how the intake manifold on my 1997 Mercury Cougar had ruptured on Feb. 28, 2004. After waiting a month and receiving no reply, I called their customer complaint line and described the problem. They told me that my vehicle did not qualify for a recall reimbursement, but gave no reason why. Since my daughter also owns a 1997 Mercury Cougar, I told her to have a mechanic check her intake manifold. The mechanic replaced her intake manifold at no charge since it had been recalled as per the above quoted statement. I called Ford back with this information and they gave me the same reply. I wrote them a letter and they did not reply. I visited my local Mercury dealer, from whom I had recently purchased a new vehicle and again was told that my vehicle does not qualify for the recall. I understand that this case went to court and the ruling was that Ford had to pay every owner of vehicles with this defect a sum of $750. I have not been paid anything and Ford refuses to give me any answer other than what they have already given. I still have the defective intake manifold in my possession and the repair bill for $1455.28.

- Houston, TX, USA

The consumer received a recall well over seven years ago, at the time of the recall the consumer was not experiencing any problem with the intake manifold mentioned in the letter. While driving the vehicle, the radiator leaked antifreeze onto the street. The vehicle was towed and according to the recall letter the manifold is cracked.......

- Lubbock, TX, USA

This type of car has a horrible tendancy to blow head-gaskets, which is exactly what happened. I do not understand how there has not been a recall yet.

- South Boston, MA, USA

While driving, the consumer smelled anti freeze fumes inside the vehicle. Antifreeze fumes were affecting the consumer's breathing. A cracked intake manifold, plug wires and a bad exhaust hose had to be replaced. The maf sensor was cleaned and the was antifreeze replaced.

- Lorain, OH, USA

While driving at 35mph the vehicle intake plastic manifold over heated with no warning and the consumer was forced to pull over.

- Titusville, FL, USA

We have numerous complaints with this vehicle. One of which is the brakes. Another is the cooling system. There is a recall on the manifold but our local Ford dealer wlll not replace even though we have asked them to do so. In addition the engine had a problem which no one could figure out.

- Allen, TX, USA