Last December, Ford finally settled, after years of arguments, a class action lawsuit filed by Ford sedan owners who had problems with their intake manifolds. The settlement required the Dearborn, Michigan based automaker to pay each sedan owner who had to replace their car’s intake manifolds at least $735 for those without a receipt; those who have a paid receipt, meanwhile, will get a full refund.

Ford will reimburse owners of certain Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models who had to replace their intake manifold within seven years of ownership. The class action lawsuit covered more than 1.8 million vehicle models including the various model years of the Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis, Lincoln Town Car, Mercury Cougar, Ford Thunderbird, Ford Mustang and Ford Explorer.

The intake manifold is a pipe that brings a mixture of air and fuel into the engine’s cylinders. Apparently, the intake manifolds of these models were prone to premature cracking which led to harmful coolant leaks and expensive engine damages. Ford vehicle owners who have had this kind of problem are asked to take their vehicles to a dealer by March 16, 2006 and obtain reimbursement whether or not they have a receipt. If you are one of those consumers affected by these defects, visit your nearest Ford, Lincoln and Mercury dealers now or call 1-888-826-3047 for more information.