Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 132 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 130 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 128 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

50 crash reports20 fire reports36 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

99 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2002

Air Bags

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I HAD A ACTIVE RECALL 99V24300 CONCERNING AIR BAG FAILURE ON MY FORD IN EARLY 2000 AND TOOK MY AUTOMOBILE TO THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TO GET THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPONENT AND SENSOR REPLACED IN MARCH 2000. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO BE SERVICED THE ORIGINAL PARTS WERE STILL IN WORKING ORDER. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE I RECIEVED THE RECALL AND I WANTED TO AVOID FUTURE PROBLEMS. MY VEHICLE I USED TO TRANSPORT CLIENTS AS PART OF COMMUNITY BASED CRISIS TEAM THAT WORKED WITH TEENS WITH SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES SO I WANTED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM DUE TO SAFETY AND POTENTIAL LIABILITY ISSUES. THE REPLACEMENT PART WORKED FOR THE FIRST 15 MONTHS AND THEN FAILED AND I TOOK IT TO SEVERAL DEALERS IN MY HOME TOWN TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A 500.00 DOLLAR PLUS REPAIR. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE ORIGINAL PART HAD BEEN REPLACED BACK IN MARCH 2000 AND NOW THE REPLACEMENT HAD FAILED. WHEN I FIRST TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER IN DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED WAS THE SAME PARTS OF THE RECALL IN EARLY 2000. IT IS MY BELIEVE THAT FORD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE THE ORGINAL PART WAS IN WORKING ORDER WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE ORGINAL WARRANTY. OBVIOUSLY THEIR OUR STILL SOME PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR SYSTEM. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND FAILURE WHICH FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY. IF THESE ISSUES ARE NOT ADDRESSED IN A TIMELY MANNER I WILL PURSUE POSSIBLE LEGAL OPTIONS WITH FORD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #763910

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2002

Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE WARNING LIGHT WAS STILL BLINKING ON AND OFF. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8012774

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2002

Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT IS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY DEALERSHIP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8012343

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2002

Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. MINUTES LATER, LIGHT WENT OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, MECHANIC CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER ADDS WITH FULL TANK OF GAS, FUEL LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. *TT

NHTSA ODI #8011497

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2002

Air BagsCrashInjury

WHEN MAKING A TURN AT ABOUT 5-10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HEAD ON, CAUSING VEHICLE TO START SPINNING ON THE STREET. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER IMPACT, WHILE SPINNING, FIVE PEOPLE WERE INJURED. *JG

NHTSA ODI #8007252

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2002

Air BagsEngine And Engine Cooling

RECALL 99V243000/AIR BAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY:DEALER:M&M FORD, MUSCATINE, IA; PHONE 563-263-5324 REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL BECAUSE VEHICLE HAD TOO MUCH MILEAGE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS A RECALL ON WARNING LIGHT BUT THE DEALER DID NOT FIX THE RECALL DUE TO HI…

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NHTSA ODI #8005713

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2002

Air Bags

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FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF RECALL SUMMARY 99V243000 AND 99S23 ARE THEY THE SAME RECALL? THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING ON AND OFF FOR SOMETIME NOW. WHEN IT FIRST STARTED WE TOOK IT TO M & M FORD AND THE SERVICE PERSON SAID IT WAS THE SENSOR AND IT WOULD COST AROUND $95.00 TO FIX. WE TOLD HIM THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SENORS BUT HE SAID WE HAD TOO MANY MILES ON THE VEHICLE. WE DID NOT HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED UNTIL NOW WHICH IS WHY I'M WRITING YOU. WHEN THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR IT STATES IN THE REPAIR ORDER THAT SINCE WE HAD IT LAST CHECK IT SHORTED OUT THE CRASH SENSOR MOINTOR. THIS WAS NEW NEWS TO US SO WE DIDN'T HAVE IT ORDERED. WE CHECKED YOUR WEB SITE THAT NIGHT AND FOUND RECALL 99V243000. IN YOUR RECALL SUMMARY IT STATES VEHICLES WHICH HAVE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WILL HAVE A NEW AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR INSTALLED. NOW THE FORD COMPANY SAYS WE HAD THE RECALL DONE IN OCTOBER OF 1999 UNDER RECALL 99S23. UNDER THAT RECALL IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT THE MONITOR PROBLEM. WHEN THIS ALLEGED REPAIR WAS DONE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE WARNING LIGHT TO THE AIR BAG. THIS REPAIR THEY SAY WAS DONE IN DAVENPORT IA. WHEN WE HAD THE CAR BRAKE DOWN BECAUSE OF THE BAD WATER PUMP. I FEEL THIS IS A NEW PROBLEM WITH THE FORD CONTOUR AND THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HONOR YOUR RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #759377

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2002

Air Bags

DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8005456

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2002

Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER. IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #8005454

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2002

Air BagsCrashInjury

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DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE TRYING TO AVOID HITTING AN ANIMAL IN THE STREET, THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED ONTO ITS ROOF AND RAN INTO A DITCH AND AFTER IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AS A RESULT OF THE FAULTY AIR BAG THE DRIVER WAS KILLED AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS HEAD, PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT THE CONSUMERS RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 000-000 FOR THE AIR BAG AND WENT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, THE DELAER WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM REPAIRS DUE TO LACK OF PARTS AND THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED TO RETURN IN A FEW DAYS, CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO STILL HAD NO PARTS AVAILABLE AND APPROXIMATLEY THREE DAYS LATER THE ACCIDENT OCCURED. *AK *MR *NLM

NHTSA ODI #757484

Official recalls

01V255000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

Aug 8, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY ASSEMBLY PLANT AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS MAY FRACTURE AS A RESULT OF CORROSION IN HIGH CORROSION ENVIRONMENTS. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SPRING CATCHER BRACKETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 23, 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 1-866-436-7332.

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.

00V350000 · Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly

Oct 30, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BI-FUEL VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE INSTALLATION OF THE BI-FUEL SYSTEM. IF THE GROMMET IS DAMAGED, FUEL COULD LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE GROMMET IS DAMAGED, FUEL COULD LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET.

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.

99V243000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Sep 8, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG SENSOR WIRING PIGTAIL INSULATION CAN BECOME BRITTLE AND CRACK OVER TIME DUE TO ACCUMULATION OF WATER IN THE PIGTAIL PROTECTIVE CONVOLUTE IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES RELATED TO THE ROUTING OF THE WIRING PIGTAIL NEAR THE RADIATOR. THIS CAN RESULT IN ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS CRACKING OF THE INSULATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN SOME CASES, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAN ILLUMINATE AND THE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM DISABLED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AIR BAG SENSORS WITH REVISED WIRING INSULATION. IN ADDITION, VEHICLES WHICH HAVE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WILL HAVE A NEW AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR INSTALLED.

99V194000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Jul 20, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A BURR ON OR NEAR THE END OF THE CABLE SLEEVE INTERIOR. THIS BURR COULD FRAY THE CORE WIRE RESULTING IN THE ACCELERATOR NOT RETURNING TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE THROTTLE STICKING, BINDING, OR CAUSING HIGH ENGINE RPM.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED ACCELERATOR CABLE THAT HAS A FLARED CONDUIT SLEEVE END AND MOLDED ON END FITTING.

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.

98V028000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Feb 10, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.

Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

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