Mercury Marauder 2003 — Reported problems

I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. WHEN YOU TRY TO USE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. IT SEEMS MY ISSUE WOULD FIT UNDER THE LCM RECALL FOR 2003-2005 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHEN YOU ENTER THE VIN IT SHOWS NO RECALLS. I'M HOPING THIS IS AN OVERSIGHT SINCE THE MARAUDER IS A VERSION OF GRAND MARQUIS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V861000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (LEVITTOWN FORD LLC, 3195 HEMPSTEAD TURNPIKE, LEVITTOWN, NY 11756) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

15S39 THIS VEHICLE RECALL HAS BEEN ON MY CAT FOR ALMOST A YEAR. ACCORDING TO THIS WEBSITE SAFERCAR.GOV THE REMEDY IS AVAILABLE BUT WHEN YOU TAKE IT TO FORD IT IS NOT. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS RECALL WITH NO REMEDY FOR A YEAR! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT HAS DESTROYED THE VALUE OF THE CAR. ITS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT SINCE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. FORD IS EITHER LYING ABOUT THE RECALL REMEDY OR IT WAS MISREPORTED

DRIVING ALONG 2 LANE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 7PM 1/6/2016 HEAD LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING WILL NOT COME BACK ON HAD TO DRIVE WITHOUT HEAD LIGHTS OR TAILLIGHTS I WAS INFORMED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER HEAD LIGHTS ETCAND FORD IS AWARE OF THIS HAZARDOUS PROBLEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT REPLACED UNKNOWN WIRING UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SEAT, BUT THE LIGHT STILL REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

THE STEERING BECAME JERKY AND HAD TO OVERCORRECT TO KEEP IN TRAFFIC LANE. MAKING TURNS THERE WAS A LOUD CRACKING SOUND. THE DEALER SAID RUST HAD SEIZED THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT AND IT WAS REPLACED. *TR

HEAD LIGHT FLICKER ON AND OFF , LOW BEAMS ARE DIM , HIG BEAMS NOT BRIGHT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS THE LIGHT SWITCH WOULD NOT REMAIN IN THE ON POSITION CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY LCM (LIGHT CONTROL MODULE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH IN MY 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER AND WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AT ~45 - 50 MPH. DURING THE IMPACT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK FAILED AND FELL BACKWARDS. LUCKILY MY DAUGHTER (5 YRS OLD) WAS NOT IN THE BOOSTER SEAT THAT IS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. IF SHE HAD BEEN WITH ME, SHE MOST CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS INJURIES. WHEN THE SEAT FELL BACK, MY INSTINCT WAS TO TRY TO STAY UPRIGHT. THIS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT NECK STRAIN. WHEN I THEN CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, I SLID UNDER THE SEAT BELT AND MY KNEE MADE HARD CONTACT WITH THE DASH. *JS

I WAS ENTERING ONTO A PARKWAY AT 05:30 HOURS, DAY-BREAK, WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. I TURNED THE ON/OFF SWITCH, FLICKED THE HI-BEAMS, NO LIGHTS. I PULLED THE DRIVING LAMPS SWITCH, THEY CAME ON. I DROVE FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME ON. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT SINCE THIS EVENT. I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AND WE EXPERIMENTED WITH THE HEAD LIGHTS. CAR RUNNING, DRIVERS WINDOW DOWN...TURNED HEAD LIGHTS ON, PARKING LIGHTS CAME ON BUT HEAD LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON. TURNED ON LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND HEAD LIGHTS CAME ON. JIGGLED MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH AND HEAD LIGHTS FLICKERED AS DID LEFT TURN LAMP. ORDERED NEW MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH WILL HAVE IT INSTALLED 13 MAY, 2013. CONCERN: I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND NO ONE ELSE MENTIONED THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH, THEY ALL REFERRED TO THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE. I NOW FEAR MY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR AGAIN AFTER REPLACING THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM OCCURRING ON SIMILAR VEHICLES. *TR

HOOD SUPPORT STRUTS FAILED. CAR HOOD FELL ON MY HEAD. *TR

ON THE ABOVE DATE WHILE LEAVING A PLACE OF BUSINESS AT APPROXIMATELY 10:15 PM I HAD NO HEAD LIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHT AUTOLAMP POSITION NOR THE HEADLIGHT MANUAL POSITION WOULD TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON. I SPENT ABOUT 00:20 MINUTES TRYING TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON. I HAD TO DRIVE ABOUT 3 MILES ALONG A VERY DARK SECONDARY ROAD IN SOUTH CAROLINA WITH ONLY THE FOG LIGHTS WORKING BEFORE THE HEAD LIGHTS EVENTUALLY CAME ON. THE NEXT EVENING MORE TIME WAS SPENT TRYING TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON, BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE NOT WORKED SINCE. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE HEADLIGHT AUTOLAMP POSITION TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING THE HEADLIGHT MANUAL POSITION TO WORK BUT NEITHER OF THE HEADLIGHT POSITIONS IS WORKING ON THE CAR. I HAVE A CAR THAT I CAN ONLY DRIVE DURING THE DAY LIGHT HOURS. MY RESEARCH HAS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE 'LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE' THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING. *TR

HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, SIDE MARKERS, FOG LAMPS ALL DIED UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TWICE ON FRIDAY NIGHT. FAULTY 'LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE' (PART NUMBER 3W7Z-13C788-AA ON MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE) TO BLAME. PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA CLOSED (PE08066), BUT PROBLEMS REMAIN - *ALL* 2001-2004 PANTHER PLATFORM VEHICLES WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM EVENTUALLY IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY DUE TO THE RELAY BEING SIZED TO SMALL AND EVENTUALLY BURNING OUT. MASSIVE SAFETY ISSUE WITH LOSING YOUR LIGHTING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON DARK BACKROADS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE LIGHT CONTROL MODULE WHICH THE CONTACT STATED HE REPAIRED HIMSELF BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY. THE DEALER WAS CALLED WHO STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $500 FOR A NEW REPLACEMENT PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COMPLETELY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE UNLESS THEY WERE ON FULL SPEED. THE WIPERS WOULD ALSO COME ON AUTOMATICALLY AND SPRAY THE FLUID WHEN THEY WERE NOT MANUALLY OPERATED. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF WHEN THEY WERE IN THE OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND WAS CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

SINCE BUYING THE CAR IN 2004 WITH 10K MILES ON IT, I'VE PUT 120K ON IT. IT'S EATEN THRU 5 SETS OF TIRES. I'VE HAD THEM ALIGNED EVERY TIME I CHANGED TIRES.. HAD TWO AXLE ROD'S BREAK. RADIO FAILED. AC WILL CONSTANTLY TURN ON RANDOMLY. *TR

REAR AXLES ARE NOT HARDENED PROPERLY,CAUSING LOSS OF LUBRICATION AT WHEEL SEALS. *TR

HEADLIGHTS TURN THEMSELVES OFF AND ON EVERY FEW MINUTES OR SO AT NIGHT OR ANYTIME... *TR

NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V328000 IS LISTED FOR THE 2003 FORD CROWN VIC'S AND LINCOLN'S BUT NOT THE MERCURY'S??? I HAVE AN 03 MERCURY MARAUDER THAT HAS THE SAME REAREND AS THE OTHERS LIST IN THIS RECALL BUT MY CAR IS NOT LISTED. I JUST HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM THAT IS LISTED IN THE CAMPAIGN AND HAD TO SPEND $1100 TO HAVE MY AXLES, BEARINGS, CARRIER AND WHAT EVER ELSE IS INCLUDED IN THE REBUILD. IS THERE A REASON THAT FORD DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS THE SAME CAR WHICH THEY ARE!!!!!!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS FAILED WHEN STUDDED SNOW TIRES WERE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO SIGNIFY THAT IT IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,800.

REAR TIRES FOR 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER I HAVE 65,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND NEED TO REPLACE MY REAR TIRES FOR THE CAR FOR THE SECOND TIME I CANNOT FIND THE TIRES ANYWHERE, NOT EVEN BFG THEY ARE ALWAYS ON BACKORDER. THE LAST TIME IT TOOK 5 MONTHS SEARCHING FOR THESE TIRES ONE HERE AND ONE THERE. NO OTHER PRODUCTION VEHICLE USES THESE TIRES. IT IS FRUSTRATING WORRYING ABOUT TIRE FAILURE ON A FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU KNOW IF IT DOES FAIL YOU CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR UNLESS YOU GET UNMATCHED TIRES. HELP!!!!! *TR

THE TIRES FOR MY SIX YEAR OLD CAR ARE ON BACK ORDER FOR MOST OF THE YEAR, EVERY YEAR!!! THE LAST TIME THEY CAME OFF BACK ORDER IT ONLY LASTED FOR FOUR DAYS!!! THIS IS THE ONLY BRAND THAT COMES IN MY STOCK REAR SIZE SO YOU CAN SEE MY FRUSTRATION. MY CAR IS ALMOST NOT DRIVABLE AND NOT SAFE BECAUSE OF THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICES. *TR

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. THE VEHICLE OEM REAR TIRES MANUFACTURED BY BF GOODRICH ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. BFG IS THE ONLY COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURES THIS SIZE TIRE(245/15/18) THIS TIRE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECOMMENDS FOR THIS CAR AND THE USE OF ANOTHER SIZE COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO A HANDLING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THESE TIRES HAVE BEEN ON BACK-ORDER FOR A YEAR AND WITH OVER 11,000 MARAUDERS ON THE ROAD, THERE COULD POSSIBLY BE A SAFETY ISSUE . *TR

BF GOODRICH IS NOT MAKING THE SPECIFIC TIRE SIZE FOR OUR AUTOS, 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER SIZE OF 245/55/18 AND THERE IS NO OTHER TIRE MAKER THAT HAS THIS SIZE. *TR

BOTH REAR AXLES AND BEARINGS WERE DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORD HAS ISSUED A BULLETIN ON THIS: ARTICLE NO. 03-5-5 AXLE-REARAXLE SHAFT AND/OR AXLE BEARING PREMATURE WEAR-VEHICLES PRODUCED BEFORE 1/1/2003. MY '03 MERCURY MARAUDER WAS BUILT IN AUG. '02. BOTH AXLES, BEARINGS AND SEALS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $647.55. *TR

RADIO - FM STOPPED WORKING; AM CONTINUES WITHOUT PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS 4 & 1/2 YEARS OLD WITH 58,200 MILES. *TR

REAR AXLE AND DIFFERENTIAL FAILED ON 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. DEALER INSPECTION WITHIN 7-10 DAYS OF FAILURE, NO NOTIFICATION OF RECALL ON 2003 CROWN VICTORIA NHTSA: 04V328000 FOR MARAUDER WHICH MAY USE THE SAME REAR END COMPONENTS. VEHICLE DISABLED AT A NEIGHBORHOOD GAS STATION AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IMPENDING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. *TR

WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN AT INTERSECTION, CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND I ALMOST RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER, BUILT IN 06/2002, HAS MFR. KNOWN DEFECT IN STEERING SYSTEM DUE TO STICKING VAPS VALVE ON STEERING RACK. THIS UNIT WAS NEVER RECALLED, REPAIRED AND OWNERS NOT NOTIFIED OF POSSIBLE SAFETY DEFECT WITH STEERING SYSTEM. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM DUE TO MANY FAILURES OF THIS CAR LINE BUILT BEFORE 12/2002. VEH. HAS 50K MILES. ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET HURT OR KILLED FIRST? *JB

2003 MERCURY MARAUDER. ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAIL AS YOU DRIVE DOWN THE STREET. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN 5 DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND NO ONE CAN FIX THE PROBLEM. *NM

ON MY 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER, THE FUEL AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, I HAVE HIT BOTH OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME CAUSING ME TO "BUMP" THE CAR INTO SOMETHING. *NM

SPARK PLUG BLEW FROM HEAD AT 55,000 MILES. STARTED CAR BEFORE WORK. HEARD LOUD TICKING. CAR MISSED AND STUMBLED. FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED CYLINDER HEAD. COST $3275.56 *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V328000 CONCERNING THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND AXLE SHAFT. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS MANUFACTURED UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME. THE CONTACT STATED THE PARTS WERE IDENTICAL IN BOTH VEHICLES.*AK UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

CAR SMOKES ON STARTUP, NO HELP FROM DEALER. WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATE WHILE WIPER SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION, AND SOMETIMES THE WINDSHIELD WASHER SPRAYS CONTINUOUSLY AND IT CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. *NM

SIMILAR TO ODI 10142807........FORD MOTOR ISSUED A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V328000 & NHTSA PE 04010) FOR 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA & LINCOLN TOWN CAR ABOUT REAR BEARING SEALS AND AXLES. FORD L/M WILL NOT REPAIR MY 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER BASED ON THIS. IT IS THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY THE REAR END. MARAUDER IS A LIMITED ADDITION WITH THE POLICE PACKAGE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. COST ME OVER $600 TO WHICH I FEEL FORD L/M SHOULD COVER UNDER RECALL 04V328000. *JB

FORD MOTOR ISSUED A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V328000 & NHTSA PE 04010) FOR 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA & LINCOLN TOWN CAR ABOUT REAR BEARING SEALS AND AXLES. FORD L/M WILL NOT REPAIR MY 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER BASED ON THIS. IT IS THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY THE REAR END. MARAUDER IS A LIMITED ADDITION WITH THE POLICE PACKAGE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. *JB

MY 2003 MERCURY MARAUDER SUFFERED PREMATURE WEAR ON THE INNER EDGES OF THE FRONT WHEELS. IT WAS FOUND TO BE WITHIN SPECIFICATION FOR THE CAMBER ALIGNMENT WHILE THIS WEAR IS INDICATIVE OF A CAMBER ISSUE. I REPLACED THE FRONT TIRES AND HAD AN ALIGNMENT. 12,000 MILES LATER THE NEW SET OF TIRES IS EXHIBITING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE FRONT INNER EDGES. DOING FURTHER RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE LOOSE TOLERANCE OF MERCURY'S ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATION. MANY OTHER MARAUDER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE POSES A SIGNIFICANT BLOWOUT PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

NO INJURIES - ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS MY CAR HAS LOST TRACTION, RESULTING IN THE CAR BECOMING UNCONTROLLABLE. *AK

WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 40-60 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR FLOOR BOARDS OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE GAS PEDAL. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK