Electrical System. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports10 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

218 reports

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2003

Steering

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LOST POWER STEERING. THIS HAPPENED ONLY WHILE THE ROAD WAS WET. DEALER STATED IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM. *AK IN THE PAST 6 YEARS POWER STEERING FROZE TWICE DURING A SEVERE RAIN STORM. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10033731

37,000 miles · Jun 19, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

NAR 06/19/2003. *MR THE CONSUMERS WATER PUMP HAD BROKEN AND TO HIS SURPRISE THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE PUMP WAS MADE OF PLASTIC, IN WHICH THEY ARE USUALLY MADE OF METAL. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT FORD SHOULD RECALL ALL CARS MADE WITH PLASTIC PUMPS AND REPLACE THEM WITH METAL ONES. *CB *JB

NHTSA ODI #10024446

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2003

Suspension

TWICE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS SINCE I BROUGHT THE CAR. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10023195

78,000 miles · Jun 9, 2003

Exterior Lighting

TURN SIGNAL MAKES CLICKING NOISE WHEN SIGNAL NOT IN USE. SIGNALS DO WORK. THIS LASTED ON/OFF FOR 7 MONTHS, THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10021296

85,000 miles · May 7, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

Read full complaint

IN OCTOBER 2001 (AT 67000 MILES), COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE WATER PUMP ON MY 1997 2.5-LITER V6 FORD CONTOUR. WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. ON JUNE 2002 (AT 73000 MILES), THE WATER PUMP STARTED LEAKING AGAIN. WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED AGAIN. ON DECEMBER 2002 (AT 80000 MILES), THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN, I.E. THE PUMP WAS LEAKING. WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. ON APRIL 2003 (AT 85000 MILES), THE WATER PUMP AGAIN BEGAN TO LEAK FROM AROUND THE SAME SPOT (PER THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN). WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. WITH THIS LATEST OCCURRENCE THE FORD DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN (@ CENTURY FORD IN ROCKVILLE, MD) CALLED FORD HOTLINE WITH THE HISTORY OF THE PROBLEMS. THE HOT LINE CALLED BACK LATER AND INFORMED THE TECHNICIAN THAT THEY HAD DISCOVERED THAT THE FIBER MATERIAL FROM INSIDE THE RADIATOR HOSE WAS SHREDDING, WITH THE END RESULT BEING THAT THE PARTICLES WOULD FLOW INTO THE WATER PUMP AND RUIN THE SEALS, THUS NECESSITATING CHANGING THE WATER PUMP. NO FORD TECHNICAL BULLETIN EXISTS ON DEFECTIVE RADIATOR HOSE. AT NO TIME DID DEALERSHIP RECOMMEND THAT RADIATOR HOSE BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE OR BECAUSE IT LOOKED WORN OUT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10018359

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2003

Electrical SystemFire

ELECTRICAL FIRE INSIDE CAR ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DOWN A/C DOES NOT WORK, BACK WINDOW SWITCHES DO NOT WORK, KILLED BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR.

NHTSA ODI #10016788

25,000 miles · Apr 17, 2003

Fuel System, GasolineInjury

STARTING EVERY SPRING, LASTING THROUGH THE SUMMER, THERE IS A FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN. EVERY FORD DEALER CLAIMS NOT TO SMELL IT, AND THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. IT USUALLY OCCURS IN OVER DRIVE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10014494

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2003

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL DESCENDED TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR THE SAME REPAIRS THREE TIMES. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10012324

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2003

Exterior Lighting

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SAME DEFEC TAS MENTIONED IN RECALL #99V103000 CONCERNING HEADLIGHTS. THS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM.....*AK

NHTSA ODI #10012321

70,000 miles · Feb 5, 2003

Fuel System, Other

THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSE FOR A MELTED FUEL PUMP. PH

NHTSA ODI #10004408

Official recalls

01V230000 · Electrical System

Jul 9, 2001

ON CERTAIN MY 1996-1998 PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY, CUAUTITLAN ASSEMBLY PLANTS OR ON MY 1999 PASSENGER VEHCLES BUILT AT THE AUTOMOTIVE ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY PLANTS, THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES CAN DAMAGE THE COPPER SURFACE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. THE DAMAGE COULD, OVER TIME, CAUSE INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE CONNECTOR AND, DUE TO SUBSEQUENT TERMINAL RELAXATION, RESULT IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE OPEN CIRCUIT COULD LEAD TO ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT COULD MELT THE CONNECTOR HOUSING MATERIAL CREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR AND A NEW WIRE JUMPER HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

00V075000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components

Mar 9, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). A PRESSURE CONSCIOUS REDUCING VALVE (PCRV) IN THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CORROSION AND RESULT IN MALFUNCTION, WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS THAT USE SALT COMPOUNDS ON THE ROADWAY FOR DE-ICING OR DUST CONTROL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF BOTH PCRV'S MALFUNCTION, VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED DURING BRAKING AS A RESULT OF THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL IMPROVED PCRV'S IN THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS RECALL WAS EXPANDED IN SEPTEMBER 2000 TO INCLUDE 1999 AND 2000 FORD CONTOUR, MERCURY MYSTIQUE AND COUGAR VEHICLES.

99V103000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

May 5, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TERMINALS AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN EXPERIENCE HEAT DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF OVERHEATING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN DISTORTION OF THE TERMINAL CAUSING AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION, PARKING LAMP, AND TAIL LAMP CIRCUITS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLAMP SWITCH WIRING CONNECTOR CONTAINING BRONZE TERMINALS AND AN INSPECTION, AND REPLACEMENT IF NECESSARY, OF THE HEADLAMP SWITCH.

98V233000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Sep 18, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FLOOR SHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL CAN BE DAMAGED IF SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN INTERIOR CLEANING PRODUCTS. THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR CAN DETERIORATE AND NOT CORRECTLY INDICATE THE ACTUAL GEAR POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INCORRECT GEAR SELECTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL.

97V203000 · Fuel System, Other:storage

Nov 17, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BI-FUEL VEHICLES MODIFIED TO RUN ON EITHER GASOLINE OR COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG). THE NATURAL GAS FUEL TANKS HAVE A SOLENOID SHUT-OFF VALVE THAT STOPS FUEL FLOW FROM THE FUEL TANK IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN MODERATE TO SEVERE COLLISIONS. IF THE VEHICLE IS IN A COLLISION AND THE NATURAL GAS FUEL LINE IS DAMAGED, THE SYSTEM COULD LEAK NATURAL GAS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: FORD HAS REQUESTED OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES TO HAVE THE CNG FUEL SYSTEM DISABLED UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN AND TO ONLY USE GASOLINE FUEL UNTIL A PERMANENT CORRECTIVE ACTION IS DEVELOPED. OWNERS ARE BEING ALERTED TO THIS SOLENOID VALVE CONCERN AT THIS TIME. THE TIMING OF CORRECTIVE ACTIONS IS BEING DELAYED TO ALLOW BOTH CONDITIONS TO BE REMEDIED AT ONE TIME. IN THE MEANTIME, THERE IS NOT RISK AS LONG AS THE NATURAL GAS SYSTEM HAS BEEN DISABLED AND THE VHEICLE IS ONLY OPERATED ON GASOLINE.

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