Electrical System. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

37 crash reports38 fire reports28 injury reports

Power Train complaints

68 reports

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Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2000

Power Train

I WENT TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR AND THE LINKAGE SNAPPED. WHEN I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER IN HAYS KANSAS THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721565

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2000

Power Train

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THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IN NOV. 1998 BY FAMILY FORD MERCURY IN CARLISLE, PA IN ACCORDANCE WITH MFG. RECALL 97S83. HOWEVER, THE RECALL SPECIFIES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL STEEL DRIVE SHAFT WITH AN ALUMINUM DRIVE SHAFT. DURING THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE IT WAS QUITE APPARENT THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE AN ALUMINUM DRIVE SHAFT INSTALLED. APPARENTLY THE RECALL WAS EITHER NOT PERFORMED OR NOT PERFORMED CORRECTLY CAUSING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FAILURE. I HAVE ASKED FORD TO REISSUE THE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE AND THEY HAVE DECLINED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #719155

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1999

Power Train

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE BEHIND VEHICLE. PULLED TO SIDE & CHECKED UNDERNEATH. NOTICED TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC VIBRATIONS HAD SET UP IN THE TRANSMISSION BUSHINGS & THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED.

NHTSA ODI #851689

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 1999

Power Train

VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, UNDER RECALL 97V204000, CONCERNING DRIVESHAFT FAILURE. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. AFTER 1 YEAR LATER. TAKEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION & NOTICED THE CRACK IN IT. MECHANIC REFUSED TO REPAIR DRIVERSHAFT EVEN WHEN OWNER OFFERED TO PAY.

NHTSA ODI #850314

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 1999

Power Train

THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE DRIVESHAFT SEPARATED FORM THE VEHCLE TWICE, CAUSING THE FRONT END TO DROP, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #844917

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 1999

Power Train

TRANSFER CASE FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #547679

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 1999

Power Train

2 REPAIRS ON TRANSMISSION PRIOR TO RECALL, (6/96 AND 9/96) CONSUMER NOT NOTIFIED OF RECALL AND UNIT FAILED A 3RD TIME (5/99) CONSUMER WAS DENIED RECALL REPAIR DUE TO TIME FRAME. (97V-204000) YH

NHTSA ODI #547551

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 1999

Electrical SystemPower Train

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (99V-029). *YC

NHTSA ODI #547374

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 1999

Electrical SystemPower Train

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THERE WERE NO BRAKE LIGHTS. CONSUMER COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK, AND THE BRAKE FUSE BLEW OUT. DEALER COULDN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842428

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 1999

Power Train

RECALL 97V204000, THE TRANSFER CASE RECALL WAS REPAIRED, AND VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SHAKE AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #841807

Official recalls

99V029000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Feb 9, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH A HIGHER THAN SPECIFIED ELECTRICAL LOAD THROUGH THE ACCESSORY POWER FEED CIRCUIT. THE POTENTIAL FOR CONTACT BETWEEN THE B2 (BATTERY), A2 (ACCESSORY), AND P1 (PROOF) CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR, CREATING A SHORT CIRCUIT, ALLOWING CURRENT TO FLOW THROUGH THE GROUND WIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE OVER HEATING AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A JUMPER HARNESS WITH A RELAY WHICH WILL RE-ROUTE AND ACTIVATE ALL A2 ACCESSORIES THROUGH THE RELAY.

97V204000 · Power Train:transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive)

Nov 13, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER MINIVANS. THESE VEHICLES CAN DEVELOP POWERTRAIN BENDING RESONANCE OR TRANSFER CASE OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING DISPLACEMENT. THE POWERTRAIN BENDING RESONANCE OR THE OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING DISPLACEMENT CAN RESULT IN STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR TRANSFER CASE. FLUID EXPLUSION, DRIVESHAFT SEPARATION OR LOSS OF VEHICLE DRIVE CAN RESULT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND, IF THE EXPELLED FLUID CONTACTS THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW TRANSFER CASE REAR OUTPUT SHAFT BUSHING AND AN ALUMINUM DRIVESHAFT WILL BE INSTALLED.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE02076 · Luggage Compartment Door Drops Abruptly

Opened Oct 10, 2002 · Closed Mar 10, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut

ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS RESULTING IN MINOR TO MODERATE PERSONAL INJURIES THAT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ABRUPT DOOR DROPS OVER THE APPROXIMATELY EIGHT - TWELVE YEAR PERIOD OF PRODUCT USAGE AND EXPOSURE (1991-1995 TO 2003).MOST OF THE INJURY INCIDENTS APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A FRACTURE OF THE GAS FILLED LIFT ASSIST CYLINDER MOUNTING STUD.STUD FRACTURES HAVE OCCURRED RANDOMLY OVER TIME AND DO NOT EXHIBIT ANY APPARENT TREND RELATING TO DATE OF VEHICLE PRODUCTION OR TIME-IN-SERVICE (EXPOSURE).THE ODI CLOSING REPORT SUMMARIZES THE DETAILS OF THIS INVESTIGATION.