4dr Sdn Ls 4.6l Cd Power Windows Power Door Locks Tilt Wheel Cruise Control on 2040-cars

Auto blog

NHTSA investigating 500k Ford and Mercury cars for lighting failures

The Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis might be long gone as new models in showrooms, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration might check them out yet again for a potential problem. At the urging of North Carolina Consumers Council, the agency may open another investigation into the front lighting control module on vehicles from the 2003-2005 model years, and NHTSA estimates the issue could affect 517,945 vehicles. If the module stops working, it can cause a complete failure of all forward lighting, including the headlights. NHTSA previously investigated the issue in 2008 and 2009 but found no need for a recall, according to Bloomberg. Ford also extended the warranty on the part to 15 years or 250,000 miles. To prompt this new request, the North Carolina Consumers Council received a letter from a woman experiencing the module's failure. Upon further investigation, the council found 604 complaints of this problem on NHTSA's website, including seven crashes. Furthermore, the group has alleged that dealers told customers that the parts to perform the replacement weren't available, despite the extended warranty. According to the government agency, "A defect petition has been opened to evaluate the issue and make a grant or deny decision." Ford spokesperson Kelli Felker tells Autoblog via email, "We will cooperate with NHTSA, as we always do." You can read the council's complete letter to the Feds in PDF format, here. INVESTIGATION Subject : Loss of headlamp/exterior lighting Date Investigation Opened: APR 01, 2015 Date Investigation Closed: Open NHTSA Action Number: DP15002 Component(s): EXTERIOR LIGHTING All Products Associated with this Investigation Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) FORD CROWN VICTORIA 2003-2005 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS 2003-2005 Details Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company SUMMARY: The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received a petition from the North Carolina Consumers Council, Inc. requesting a defect investigation of an alleged defect condition resulting in headlight and/or exterior lighting failure on 2003-2005 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles. The petition letter is attached for review. The petitioner alleges a defect in the lighting control module that powers the headlights which can result in the loss of vehicle headlights and/or all exterior lighting while driving. ODI has previously investigated this issue under PE08-066 which was closed without a defect finding.

Ford recalls Five Hundred, Mercury Montego sedans over fuel tank woes

Ford has announced through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it is recalling nearly 3,000 examples of its Five Hundred and Mercury Montego (pictured) sedans from the 2007 model year.
The action, which affects 2,945 vehicles, is due to potentially defective welds between the filler neck and the fuel tank, a condition that could result in a fuel leak or the smell of gasoline reaching the occupants. In the worst-case scenario, a leak could cause a fire. Cars with the affected fuel tank problem could see an illuminated dashboard warning light as a result of the evaporative emissions leak being detected.
Ford will inspect and replace the fuel tank at no cost to owners (those who have already had the procedure done at-cost can apply for reimbursement), and the Dearborn automaker will begin notifying Five Hundred and Montego owners beginning August 15. Check out the official NHTSA press release after the jump for further details.

Watch as an out-of-control car demolishes gas pump

A Baltimore area man was fighting for his life Tuesday after crashing his car into a gas station. According to WBAL, the unidentified 64-year-old lost control of his vehicle for unknown reasons around 4:55 a.m. May 1 in Parkville, Md. The 2007 Mercury Milan careened downhill, ramped over a curb, and smashed full-speed into a gas station pump. The car then flipped and came to rest against one of the station's canopy support pillars. Don Karbowniczek, owner of a service station across the street, told WBAL he was shocked there wasn't more damage. It's also surprising that the car even made it to the pumps, as it had to thread past a coin-op vacuum machine, the station's sign, a utility pole, and a traffic light pole. "It came right through, took some of our bushes out, just trimmed them for us, and how it got through and flip the way it did, I don't know. From what I see on the marks, it had to go airborne and just come down on the pump," Karbowniczek said. Thankfully there was no fire or explosion. Gas pumps have shear valves - safety devices that immediately cut the flow of gasoline when a pump is damaged. The driver was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, and was in critical condition. Police theorized the driver may have become stricken with a health issue when he lost control. Related Video: News Source: WBAL Auto News Mercury maryland gas station