Seat Belts. Review the 152 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 129 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

75 crash reports19 fire reports53 injury reports

What owners actually said

576 reports

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 1997

Fuel System, Gasoline

CONSUMER FILLED GAS TANK, DROVE APPROX. ONE MILE, TURNED VEHICLE OFF WHEN HE SMELLED FUMES. CONSUMER GOT DOWN ON GROUND LOOKED UNDERNEATH VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS GASOLINE GATHERING NEAR THE CENTER OF VEHICLE WITH A STEADY FLOW OF GAS DROPPING TO THE GROUND. *AK

NHTSA ODI #814222

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 1997

Visibility

WHEN REAR DOOR ON DRIVER'S SIDE OPENS THE WINDOW SHATTERS.

NHTSA ODI #519198

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 1997

Seat Belts

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE DRIVER'S AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT WILL MOVE ALONG TRACK W/DRIVERS DOOR OPEN. CAUSE OF ERRATICAL MOVEMENT NOT IDENTIFIED. OWNER HAS BEEN STRUCK BY BUCKLE SEVERAL TIMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #813852

Mileage unknown · May 28, 1997

Electrical SystemFire

ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH: DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 40MPH, WHEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE. DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HOUSE, JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND RAN FOR A FIRE HOSE. BY THEN THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT AND SAID THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS ELEC…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #812559

Mileage unknown · May 27, 1997

Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

PREMATURE WEAR OF THE BRAKE PAD/SHOE ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ODI #513028

Mileage unknown · May 1, 1997

Air Bags

WHILE PARKED THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG COVER OPENED UP, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #810517

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 1997

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING RIGHT REAR BRAKE TO LOCK.

NHTSA ODI #516167

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 1997

Seat Belts

CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO GATEWAY FORD ON HWY 192 IN KASSIMMEE FL. 4 TIMES, 1ST TIME NOV. 96 THROUGH FEB. 97 THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE INTERMITTENT HORN GOES OUT COMPLETELY. HE HAS WRITTEN AND CALLED CUSTOMER'S SERV.1-800-392-3673 N. *AK

NHTSA ODI #809827

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 1997

Visibility

WHEN ENTERING AND WARMING UP THE VEHICLE , WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #806716

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 1997

Air BagsSeat BeltsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 25-30 MPH REAR END COLLISION IN WHICH THE ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT AND THE DRIVER'S/ PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #809140

Official recalls

97V144000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Sep 3, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO OR WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANTS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN NEVADA, FLORIDA, HAWAII, TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, LOUISIANA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, MISSISSIPPI, OKLAHOMA, ALABAMA AND ARKANSAS. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.

97V145000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Sep 3, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ARIZONA. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.

Consequence & remedy

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

94V218000 · Air Bags:frontal

Nov 10, 1994

THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE CAN HAVE AN INADEQUATELY WELDED INFLATOR CANISTER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THE WELD SEAM CAN SEPARATE, CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO FAIL TO DEPLOY PROPERLY AND HOT GASES TO BE EXPELLED FROM THE BACK OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY FROM THE HOT GASES AND THE AIR BAG FAILURE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW AIR BAG MODULE.

94V197000 · Air Bags:frontal

Oct 11, 1994

TWO BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM MODULE TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE MISSING. IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT, THE MODULE CAN COME OUT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS WOULD NOT RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER AND WOULD RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL AND TORQUE TO SPECIFICATION THE MOUNTING BOLTS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG.

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

RQ97010 · Fuel Tank Assembly

Opened Sep 11, 1997 · Closed May 22, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

There is no summary currently available