1997 Mercury Grand Marquis. Consumer writes in regards to cracked intake manifold in vehicle.

- San Jose, CA, USA

The contact owns a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle suddenly overheated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who replaced the intake manifold. The manufacturer was not notified. The current and failure mileages were approximately 114,000.

- Akron, OH, USA

The contact owns a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the service check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they diagnosed it stating that the intake manifold failed due to the structure. The manifold was replaced at the owners expense. The failure mileage was 47025 and the current mileage was 47050. Updated 11/24/10

- New Smyrna Beach, FL, USA

My 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis just experienced the failure of its intake manifold made of plastic.

- Godfrey, IL, USA

Just left highway rest stop in Kentucky, no signs of coolant leakage or any problems. Within 5-7 miles at 65mph, a beep, beep sound, then temperature gauge rose immediately to high, began to slow vehicle & turned heater on. Steam was scene from under the hood as we approached a construction area. We barely made it to a closed weigh station. Failure was sudden & catastrophic. Had we remained on the highway, an accident would have surely occurred, no shoulder was available. Two hours waiting for a tow truck, which finally took the vehicle to the nearest Ford dealer. Being a Sunday, we had to obtain overnight stay in a hotel. Monday the dealer diagnosed the problem as a cracked intake manifold. Dealer replaced the part, including thermostat & coolant. Dealer kept the old parts. Dealer said no recall was made for this part. I believe this was a manufacturer's defect which has very serious or deadly consequence & should be reimbursed/corrected by recall of all of these plastic manifolds. Please help. Thank you

- Crown Point, IN, USA

During a recent trip the intake manifold developed a crack causing anti-freeze to leak. The manifold was replaced and the coolant passage is now alum. Instead of plastic. Seems to me that there is a problem here and a recall needs to be in place.

- Normal, IL, USA

Re-Ford intake manifolds: The intake manifold on my 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis failed on 12/23/05. Only then did I learn of the class action lawsuit Ford just lost. My car is outside the arbitrary 7 year limit and therefore it cost me $711.12 to have it replaced. I was on the road traveling from georgetown Texas to phoenix for christmas. The part is clearly defective. Ford knew that. It replaced all manifolds, even those that had not failed yet, on some law enforcement vehicles as far back as 2002. I think my vehicle should have been covered. I think Ford should reimburse me for the repair. There must be many others in my situation.

- Georgetown, TX, USA

Consumer complaint regarding Grand Marquis possible coolant seepage at the intake manifold cross-over. ** answer required*** the consumer service bulletin had been issued for the problem, however he never notification. The consumer was told his vehicle identification was not included in bulletin

- Melbourne, FL, USA

My wife, and I were comeing home, after eating lunch, going about 50 mph, when a big cloud of smoke, steam come from the motor compartment, " I almost hit a on comeing car, because the smoke, and steam was so "sudden, and thick". I pulled over as soon as possible, to find anti-freeze all over the motor compartment, and all under neith the car, even on all (4) tires. If we had been on a much busyer hwy, some one could have easily gotten hurt, are killed ! after getting a car hauler to take the car to my home, we found out the manifold was a defected part on the fault of the manufacturer of the manifold ! this is a part that is defected, not warn-out. My car does`nt have but 77,000 miles, " I know the problem has been corrected, " but "who" is going to fix my car? the lowest estimate was $624 ! my wife and I are both disable, and we live month, by month on a very low disabity cheeck, and we can`T afford to be paying what we live on, because a manufacturer`S did`nt preform the test enough, are tried a shourt-cut that could, and will hurt, are mayby kill some one, " if not already.

- Pickens, SC, USA

The consumer experienced a coolant leak from the intake manifold gasket on his/her 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis.

- Loda, IL, USA

1997 Mercury Grand Marquis developed a crack in the crossover duct portion of the intake manifold. The unit was made of plastic. The consumer requested to be reimbursed for the part.

- Cove, AR, USA

1997 Mercury Grand Marquis, coolant leakage at intake manifold cross-over.

- Englewood Cliffs, NJ, USA

Failure of plastic intake manifold, along front edge. Allowing water to exit engine. Replacement metal manifold over $250 plus labor. Stranding my wife 30 miles from home with a vehicle that was overheated, and could not be filled with water.

- Singer, LA, USA

Nar 02/10/2003. The engine began to overheat. The consumer stopped to a local mechanic and the problem was diagnosed as a intake manifold leak. Ford refused to cover the repair under warranty.

- Garden City, MI, USA

The web site with all the complaints is the following.comments.fotki.com/trsi/ I don't feel it's far to consumers to make a defective part which can destroy an engine. Help do something for me and others like me.

- Jackson, MI, USA

To whom it may concern, I have a 97 Grand Marquis with a cracked manifold, but my engine is destroyed. If you have any information or if I can join this class action lawsuit against Ford could you please forward it to me.. I've been pricing rebuilt engines and most run about $3000, I have the DOHC engine which is very pricey. Any help in this endeavor would be gladly appreciated..plastic junk! I have visited several websites that have many custmers of Ford who had problems with the plastic manifold.. I am surprised by only seeing 15 or so complaints about this. Ford has a recall on this part for other vehicles but not mine although it has the same engine as the other vehicles. I don't have $3000 for a new engine and would like some help with this problem..

- Jackson, MI, USA

I own a 97 Mercury Grand Marquis we were losing radiator fluid. Found that our plastic intake manifold was cracked where the alternator hits against it. Ford motors answer is a kit that will run me $621. This should be a recall item, please help.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

The intake manifold is a composite on Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury. It has a defect in manufacture that Ford knows about. Ford allowed all police vehicles, taxi cabs and limos repair coverage of this problam but not pleasure vehicles. The manifold leaks on a parting seam from the mold of it, on the front of the manifold, just below where alternator is mounted. Several mechanics have stated the area is too thin and the stress from the mounted alternator causes it to crack. One repair man said he tapped on it and the piece broke because it was so thin. I would like to know why we can't get the repairs done like the police, taxi and limos without cost. There 14 complaints on these cars in 2003 that are on record, 3 in 2002 and 1 in 2001 all on 1997 cars. The repairman said he has been repairing 2001 and 2002 police cars for the same problem free of charge. I have photos showing the leak. I should be reinbursed for the repairs and if necessary a class action suit against Ford company. This is a defective part and should be recalled. Ford is aware of this problem and have made a drastic move to correct this problem with aluminum.

- Fredonia, WI, USA

As a result of a crack which occurred in the plastic intake manifold of 1997, Mercury, Grand Marquis, vehicle broke down on the freeway. Subsequently had to have manifold/ head gasket, and manifold gaskets replaced at a cost of almost $2,000. Of significant concern, was the danger to when the problem occurred during high traffic on a busy freeway!

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

When driving no more than a block consumer noticed temperature gauge go up. Also, steam was coming from engine compartment, all coolant was lost. Consumer contacted dealer. Dealer noticed intake manifold needed replacing. The consumer states similar year and models had a recall and this vehicle should be included.

- Austin, TX, USA