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 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

The contact owns a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis. While pulling into the garage, the vehicle began smoking because the radiator fluid was leaking onto the engine. The dealer stated that the manifold cracked and needed to be replaced. The contact has the cracked manifold. The purchase date was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 65,000.

- Sanibel, FL, USA

The contact owns a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis. In the course of a year, the vehicle leaked anti-freeze sporadically. Just recently, the manifold cracked completely and prevented the vehicle from holding any anti-freeze. The vehicle is currently at the dealer and the repair will cost $600. The dealer stated that no recalls were available. The failure mileage was 80,000 and current mileage was 90,000. Updated 01/29/08 updated

- Falls City, NE, USA

The contact owns a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis. The current mileage was 140,000 miles. The contact stated that there was a crack in the intake manifold. The vehicle, as a result, leaked antifreeze and engine oil. The vehicle was repaired at the cost of the contact. The failure mileage was 130,000 miles.

- Canal Winchester, OH, USA

This incident involves a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis gs and the failure (cracking) of the manifold intake which is in the process of leading to a high repair bill. I'd like to reference the Ford manifold intake settlement. This incident occurred approximately 9 months after the March deadline. We were not notified that there was an on-going settlement or an identified problem with the manifold intake. We request your assistance in providing any recourse in this matter and seeking reimbursement from Ford. Being a senior citizen and on a fixed income, it is extremely hard when getting hit with a huge repair bill especially when it involves a manufacturers defect. It is a shame that individuals like myself can be taken advantage of by big business and the seemingly hush hush attitude of this defect by not making this case well known. It seems individuals like myself have fallen through the cracks and request your assistance and guidance in this matter. I await your reply to my concerns. Thank you.

- Dunnellon, FL, USA

The contact stated the intake manifold failed twice. The first failure was in 2001, and the second failure was in 2005. The vehicle was towed to the dealership on both occasions where the engine was replaced at the contact's expense. The manufacturer has offered no free remedy. The engine had to be replaced in 2001, and in 2005 had to replace the intake manifold and pay to have it installed at Lincoln Mercury in concord, New Hampshire. When the intake manifold failed, antifreeze leaked all over the engine. After it was fixed, the intake manifold failed again. The contact had to pay for repairs, and there was no recall.

- Boscawen, NH, USA

The caller said vehicle had a cracked manifold. While driving at about 45 mph steam started coming out of the hood. He pulled over and had to have the vehicle towed to a garage. He had the garage replace the manifold. Dealer will not help with problem. Manufacturer has not been contacted yet. Updated 12/27/2005 -

- Fairport, NY, USA

Driving down highway at 60 mph., when the plastic intake manifold suddenly ruptured dumping out all the antifreeze. High volume of traffic, we could barely get off highway, steam coming from my car blocking vision. Could have caused a major accident. Car had to be towed to local garage, then towed to my home and local garage for repairs. We had to rent car to get home. Mechanic said our intake manifold ruptured causing head gasket failure and possible engine failure. On 8-23-05, got class action suit papers in mail stating plastic intake manifolds could rupture causing coolant to leak and Ford would reimburse people who had the problem and paid for repairs. When I got the paper I went to mechanic and told him to stop repairs to see where I stood in suit. Suit did not mention gasket repair reimbursement and engine failure reimbursement. I called Ford today and got the usual story that their was no recall on my car, etc. However Ford did recall police cars, taxis and fleet cars with the same engine that I have. Ford knew about the poorly designed plastic intake manifolds for years and did not care about customer safety. We could have died from their neglect. W

- Hanson, MA, USA

The consumer owned a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis. The plastic intake manifold cracked which caused the vehicle to overheat. There was also some smoking. The consumer stopped and added antifreeze. The service engine light came on, and the temperature gauge went all the way to hot. Consumer was out of town and she had to find a local mechanic as there was no dealerships nearby. The vehicle had to be driven, and then stopped to cool and add water. There were no tow trucks in the area. The vehicle was fixed. It was replaced with a metal intake manifold. The consumer also stated that shortly after the vehicle was purchase both front windows needed new motors.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

Contact had to replace the entire- intake manifold on 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis. It blew anti-freeze all over his engine. This happened on 7-20-05, and he just got the car back on 7-26-05. Contact had a local service dealer replace the manifold. He would like to file a complaint because he felt this was a definite defect. The service dealer stated he had to replace a lot of other manifolds. Contact talked to Ford, and they basically told him that if they won the law suit against the manufacturer of the manifold they may get the $1,100 that he had to pay refunded to him.

- Pembroke , MA, USA

Consumer has defective manifolds in both of his 1996 town car and the 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis. The manufacturer refused to reimburse the consumer for the replacement of the plastic intake manifold in either of the vehicle's.

- Port Jefferson, NY, USA

Driving down highway, 60 mph, temperature guage showed an extreme increase in temperature. I smelled anitfreeze inside the car. The voltage meter guage was increasing and decreasing. I then pulled off the highway and turned car off. Steam was coming from under the hood. Popped the hood, antifreeze was everywhere, none left in resevoir. Intake manifold is cracked directly behind the alternator, causing car to leak all antifreeze. Had to have car towed home.

- Circleville, OH, USA

4.6L engine leaked coolant from the intake manifold, and caused the engine to overheat while driving. Consumer has a concern that the intake manifold was made out of plastic. Dealer was notified, and informed the consumer that this part was not covered under a recall.

- Port Saint Lucie, FL, USA

Regular use of car on a 90 degree day. Engine would overheat show on dash. All coolant was lost. Rear intake had to be replaced and injector cleaned, coolant replaced.

- Hobart, IN, USA

Vehicle is experiencing a problem with a cracked manifold which is made of plastic, and the crack is behind the alternator.

- Circle Pines, MN, USA

The air intake manifold; the vehicle started to smoke. The anti-freeze completely drained from the vehicle. Consumer managed to drive the vehicle to the nearest dealer. Found the intake manifold was cracked. Contacted Ford manufacturer.

- Shelby Township, MI, USA

Intake manifold failed spilling coolant and disabling car. This was a plastic part that has been replaced by metal. Dealer says large numbers of these failures. Cost over $1,000 to repair. Possible recall for other model lines using exact same engine ie Crown Victoria.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

The intake manifold failed. Vehicle overheated. Consumer stated that they were some plastic pieces in the engine.

- Hawthorne, FL, USA

A few months ago we found that our was over heating and found that we are leaking water somewhere in the system. We could not find a leak but had to put water into the radiator ever two days. We took the car to the shop to have the pros find the leak. We were told that their was w crack in the intake manifold and that it was a very common defect in Ford & Mercury Grand Marquis. They said that the manifold was made of plastic and they would all crack and brake. Every shop that I went to said the same thing and that they a lot of Grand Marquis waiting to be repaired. A replacement manifold cost $400 plus $250 in labor. We were told that if we continued to drive it, it would blow-up. We are afraid to drive the car and the parts are not available. I saw at least 20 Grand Marquis waiting for manifolds. I was told that Ford design them to brake. That's why their made of plastic. How stupid could they be to make engine parts out of pvc. What can I do? I believe that the cars should be recalled and replace the intake manifolds.

- Hawthorne, FL, USA