Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 153 of 1,450 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Tires. Review the 570 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 148 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 120 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
195 crash reports37 fire reports179 injury reports
What owners actually said
1,450 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2000
Visibility
FORDS SERVICE BULLETIN 99-8-8 ADMITS TO DEFECTIVE AIR PLENUM. CONSUMER COST TO REPLACE IS $700-$1000. HAS BECOME A DEALER STOCK ITEM. WHEN THE AIR DOOR BRAKES THERE IS NO AIR FLOW HOT/COLD/DEF CONTROL. CAN'T SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING WITH FOGGED WINDOWS. FORD REVISED THE PLENUM OUT OF NYLON (#F87Z-18471-DA) CLAIMING IT WOULD NOT B…
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FORDS SERVICE BULLETIN 99-8-8 ADMITS TO DEFECTIVE AIR PLENUM. CONSUMER COST TO REPLACE IS $700-$1000. HAS BECOME A DEALER STOCK ITEM. WHEN THE AIR DOOR BRAKES THERE IS NO AIR FLOW HOT/COLD/DEF CONTROL. CAN'T SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING WITH FOGGED WINDOWS. FORD REVISED THE PLENUM OUT OF NYLON (#F87Z-18471-DA) CLAIMING IT WOULD NOT BREAK LIKE THE PLASTIC WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY $1000 FOR A FACTORY DEFECT. CRASHES WILL OCCUR WITHOUT DEFROSTERS. THEY ADMIT IT IN THE MENTIONED SERVICE BULLETIN BUT REFUSE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS.
NHTSA ODI #733824
Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2000
TiresCrashInjury
TIRE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID THEN SPIN THEN ROLL 4 TIMES. DRIVER SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY REQUIRING HOSPITAL CARE. FRONT PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. BACK SEAT PASSENGER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND SUFFERED A FRACTURED L2 VERTEBRAE. (DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)
NHTSA ODI #733806
Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2000
Tires
I AM SENDING YOU A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION I MAILED FIRESTONE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. PLEASE CALL ME AS I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT SUFFERED THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL BLOWOUT AND I ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE FREEWAY BARRIER. (TIRESIZE: ?)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: ? )
NHTSA ODI #733757
Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2000
Tires
TRAVELLING ON THE FL TURNPIKE ON A VERY HOT DAY AT APPX 70 MPH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE CASING BLEW OFF THE TIRE. THE INSIDE TIRE STAYED INVLATED. I DROVE OFF THE EXPRESSWAY TO THE NEAREST FIRESTONE . THEY DID NOT TELLME THIS WAS A PRODUCT DEFECT AND THEY SHOULD FIX THE DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE. THE TAIL LIGHT WAS SMASHED, THE COWLING A…
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TRAVELLING ON THE FL TURNPIKE ON A VERY HOT DAY AT APPX 70 MPH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE CASING BLEW OFF THE TIRE. THE INSIDE TIRE STAYED INVLATED. I DROVE OFF THE EXPRESSWAY TO THE NEAREST FIRESTONE . THEY DID NOT TELLME THIS WAS A PRODUCT DEFECT AND THEY SHOULD FIX THE DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE. THE TAIL LIGHT WAS SMASHED, THE COWLING AROUND THE WHEEL WELL WAS DAMAGED. I PAID TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES. I ALSO HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT ON THE HIGHWAY BUT NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE ON THAT OCCASION.THESE TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE. (TIRESIZE: 25570R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 25570R16 )
NHTSA ODI #733702
Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2000
Tires
I HAVE HAD THREE FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURES SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR - ONE DEFINITELY DUE TO A SEPARATED TREAD - I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE TIRES ON MY EXPLORER. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
NHTSA ODI #733593
Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2000
Suspension
THE SWAY BAR LINKAGE WAS ENTIRELY MISSING. AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CAR STARTED SWAYING BACK AND FORTH PROGRESSIVELY HARDER, UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE APPRLIED. I INSTALLED THE NEW PARTS TO REPLACE THOSE MISSING AND THE CAR NOW DRIVE PREFECTLY NORMALLY. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WOULD ROLL OVER IF ALLOWED TO CONTINUE THE SIDE-TO-SIDE…
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THE SWAY BAR LINKAGE WAS ENTIRELY MISSING. AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CAR STARTED SWAYING BACK AND FORTH PROGRESSIVELY HARDER, UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE APPRLIED. I INSTALLED THE NEW PARTS TO REPLACE THOSE MISSING AND THE CAR NOW DRIVE PREFECTLY NORMALLY. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WOULD ROLL OVER IF ALLOWED TO CONTINUE THE SIDE-TO-SIDE OSCILLATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #733592
Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2000
Tires
FIRESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT. *ET
NHTSA ODI #556126
Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2000
TiresCrash
WAS DRIVING 65MPH WHEN TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. VEHICLE WENT INTO A SKID, ROLLED OVER TWO OR THREE TIMES, AND HIT MEDIAN. TIRES WERE STILL INFLATED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT WITH 43,000 MILES. P235/75R15.*AK
NHTSA ODI #872362
Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2000
Visibility
DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF AIR PLENUM DOOR WHICH WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC, IT CAUSED A LOSS OF ABILITY TO CONTROL DEFROSTER/ HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONING. FORD HAS SENT A TSB (99-8-8) FOR DEFECT. A NEW REDESIGNED PLENUM WAS MADE OUT OF NYLON (F87Z18401DA). *AK
NHTSA ODI #872229
Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2000
Tires
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1996, EXPLORER, P255/70R16 SIZE, DOT#VNCV1PL275. TREAD ON ALL FOUR TIRES HAS STARTED TO CRACK AT THE TOP OF THE TIRE.*AK THE CUSTOMER HAD FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 16 WHICH WAS NOT ON RECALL AND HAD NO PROBLEM THAT OTHERS EXPERIENCED BUT GOT IT REPLACED BE ON SAFE SIDE. *YH
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LIFTGATE ASSIST GAS CYLINDER BRACKET ON THE RIGHT HAND BODYSIDE OUTER PANEL WAS INCORRECTLY WELDED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE GAS CYLINDER BRACKET MAY NOT PROPERLY SUPPORT THE LIFTGATE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENT WITH TWO POP RIVETS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5.0L ENGINES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, IDAHO, IOWA, MAINE, MICHIGAN (UPPER PENINSULA ONLY), MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THESE VEHICLES, WHEN OPERATED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TEMPERATURES BELOW -20 DEGREES FARENHEIT, DO NOT RETURN TO IDLE DUE TO ICE IN THE THROTTLE BODY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN BE CONTROLLED BY EITHER APPLYING THE SERVICE BRAKES OR SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTS OR SOME INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE CAN RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PCV SYSTEM WITH WATER HEATED VACUUM SOURCE.
THE CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAS INCORRECT REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE DESIGNATIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INCORRECT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR TIRES. .
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.
WHEN IN THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, THE DRIVER DOOR LATCHES MAY OPEN WHEN SUBJECTED TO TRANSVERSE LOADS LESS THAN THAT SPECIFIED IN FMVSS NO. 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WHEN CLOSED ONLY TO THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, MAY NOT SUSTAIN A 1,000 POUND TRANSVERSE LOAD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH.
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
3
PE00039 · Front Suspension Stabilizer Bar Link
Opened Sep 20, 2000 · Closed Nov 30, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE99068 · Accelerator Pedal
Opened Nov 1, 1999 · Closed Mar 9, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
PE97010 · Electrical Fire In Center Console
Opened Mar 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 4, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
THIS INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT CONSOLE FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MOST OFTEN OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE LAMP OUTAGE MODULE (LOM), WHICH IS PART OF THE MESSAGE CENTER, WERE TOWING A TRAILER AND WHICH HAD BEEN MODIFIED BY ADDING AN AFTERMARKET TRAILER WIRING HARNESS INTO THE VEHICLE'S TAILLIGHT CIRCUITS.THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES NEVER AND MORE THAN OTHER TRAILER LIGHT BULB TO ONE CIRCUIT HOWEVER TRAILERS FREQUENTLY CONTAIN SEVERAL BULBS.THE RESULTING EXCESS CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE LOM COULD CAUSE IT TO OVERHEAT RESULTING IN A FIRE.PROPER AFTERMARKET INSTALLATION OF TRAILER WIRING REQUIRES THE USE OF A BYPASS MODULE, WHICH OBTAINS POWER FOR THE TRAILER LIGHTS DIRECTLY FROM THE BATTERY RATHER THAN FROM THE VEHICLE'S TAIL LIGHT AND STOP LAMP CIRCUITS, OR THE USE OF THE MANUFACTURER'S WIRING HARNESS.IN A LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 2, 1997, FORD NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT INTENDS TO TAKE ACTION TO PRECLUDE FURTHER INCIDENTS INCLUDING ISSUING A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS, NOTIFYING TRAILER RENTAL ASSOCIATIONS AND AGENCIES WHERE KNOWN, AND ADVISING OWNERS BY LETTER OF THE PROPER METHOD FOR CONNECTION OF TRAILER TOW WIRING ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE WAS NO DEFECT TREND IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IDENTIFIED AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION, AND FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT WARRANTED TO CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION.
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