While driving, the vehicle made a squealing noise. The dealer determined that timing belt pulley was the cause of the problem. The rear brakes had to be replaced, including the drums due to an oil leak.

- Selbyville, DE, USA

I own both a 1998 and 1999 Mercury Mystique with the 2.5L V6 engine. When traveling through standing water or even in a heavy rainstorm the power steering will fail, the generator failure light will light, and the serpentine belt will whine. This can last from 30 sec to a few minutes, and requires one to stop driving as the car is no longer steerable. I have taken my 1998 to the dealer twice for this and they have replaced the belt and tensioner twice. This has not changed the problem, and the dealer called the manufacturer for help and they had no further information or suggestions. I feel that this is a design flaw for this specific engine which could result in a serious accident if evasive maneuvers were required while driving thru standing water. I note two other similar complaints on your website. Ford should design a fix for this important safety issue.

- Middletown, RI, USA

When driving over water or a puddle water will get into drivebelt and cause loss of power. Vehicle has no splash guard.

- Chunchula, AL, USA