2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid

MY 2010 MERCURY MILAN HYBRID WAS PURCHASED AS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED IN MARCH 2013 IN FLORIDA. SINCE IT WAS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED AND IT WAS ALSO NOT REQUIRED BY FLORIDA TO HAVE ANY SAFETY INSPECTION, I NEVER PAID ANY ATTENTION TO ANY LIGHTS. IN APRIL 2015, I TOOK MY CAR FOR A SAFETY INSPECTION, WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT FOR A CAR TO BE REGISTERED IN VIRGINIA, SINCE I MOVED BACK TO VIRGINIA. THE CAR DID NOT PASS THE VA SAFETY INSPECTION BECAUSE THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. (I FOUND THERE WERE NUMEROUS POSTS ON THE INTERNET DESCRIBING THIS PROBLEM -- BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON). THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY CAN ONLY BE BOUGHT FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT SINCE I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THE ASSEMBLY WAS NO LONGER COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT WAS $365.54 (AFTER TAX). I LIKE TO LODGE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE FORD COMPANY ABOUT A RECALL ON THIS INFERIOR LIGHT ASSEMBLIES, AND MONETARY SUPPORT FROM FORD ON THIS ISSUE. I FEEL FORD SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND RECALL THE ASSEMBLIES.

MY 2010 MERCURY MILAN HYBRID WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE, 2010. IN FEBRUARY, 2013, THE REAR, PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT. I TRIED TO BUY A REPLACEMENT BULB AT AN AUTO PARTS STORE ONLY TO DISCOVER THERE WAS NO REPLACEMENT PART NUMBER IN THEIR BOOKS FOR MY CAR. ON FEBRUARY 8, 2013, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE ENTIRE REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS A SEALED SYSTEM. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE WORK COULD BE DONE UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME. THEN IN JAN., 2015, A DRIVER WHO HAD BEEN BEHIND ME, KINDLY TOLD ME THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSTS ON THE INTERNET DESCRIBING BOTH PROBLEMS (BULB BURN OUT AND BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON). AGAIN, THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP, THIS TIME AT MY EXPENSE. THE REPLACEMENT COST WAS $547.59. ON JANUARY 29, 2015, I PHONED FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO LODGE A COMPLAINT AND INQUIRE ABOUT A RECALL ON THESE INFERIOR LIGHT ASSEMBLIES, OR MONETARY SUPPORT FROM FORD ON THIS ISSUE. I WAS TOLD ALL COMPLAINTS TO THE MFG. ARE RECORDED AND TRACKED, BUT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. SHE COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME RETROACTIVELY AND SUGGESTED I CALL THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE MANAGER TO SEE IF HE/SHE HAD ANY PROGRAMS IN PLACE TO HELP. (WOULDN'T THOSE PROGRAMS COME FROM THE MFG.??) I ASKED IF THE PART HAD BEEN REDESIGNED AND WAS TOLD THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE MANAGER WOULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION ALSO. I THEN SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE MANAGER WHO TOLD ME THE PART NUMBER FOR THE ASSEMBLY HAS NOT CHANGED, INDICATING THE PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. IT IS TOTALLY UNREASONABLE TO HAVE TO PAY ALMOST $550. TO CHANGE A FAILED TAIL LIGHT BULB, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLIES HAVE THE SAME FLAW AND POTENTIAL TO FAIL AGAIN. I FEEL FORD SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND RECALL THE ASSEMBLIES. *TR

WAS ALERTED THAT MY LEFT REAR PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT ON MY 2010 MERCURY MILAN HYBRID WAS ABNORMALLY BRIGHT AND THAT BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT CHANGE ILLUMINATION LEVEL. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT ENTIRE ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $600. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, PREMIUMCARE ECP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT A WARRANTY ELIGIBLE ITEM AND IS INSTEAD CONSIDERED CONSUMABLE BECAUSE THERE ARE LEDS INVOLVED. THERE ARE NO BULBS BURNED OUT, THEY ARE HIGHLY ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, NOT A CONVENIENCE ISSUE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING FELLOW MOTORIST ADVISED MY LEFT REAR LIGHT NOT OPERATING. VISIT TO DEALER CONFIRMED AND PRICE TO REPAIR $400 PLUS LABOR. THAT SEEMS A BIT HIGH TO REPLACE A LIGHT BULB! FORGET IT I WILL DRIVE UNTIL TICKETED. HOWEVER JUST BEFORE MY 3 YR WARRANTY WAS UP IT HAPPENED BUT ON THE RIGHT REAR EXTERIOR. THAT INCIDENT WAS AT NO CHARGE AT THE DEALERSHIP. WHY BOTH IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WITH SUCH A NEW CAR? *TR