I AM AWARE THAT THE ENGINE USED IN MY 3.8L 1994 MUSTANG IS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THE ENGINES OF TAURUS, AND WINDSTAR, WITH THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BEING REAR WHEEL DRIVE VS. FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. HOWEVER, THERE IS A RECALL SURROUNDING THE TAURUS AND WINDSTAR 3.8L V-6 ENGINE REGARDING BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. MY HEAD GASKET JUST BLEW ON M…
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I AM AWARE THAT THE ENGINE USED IN MY 3.8L 1994 MUSTANG IS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THE ENGINES OF TAURUS, AND WINDSTAR, WITH THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BEING REAR WHEEL DRIVE VS. FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. HOWEVER, THERE IS A RECALL SURROUNDING THE TAURUS AND WINDSTAR 3.8L V-6 ENGINE REGARDING BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. MY HEAD GASKET JUST BLEW ON MY 3.8L MUSTANG AND I FEEL THAT THE SAME DEFECT OR RECALL SHOULD APPLY TO ALL TO 3.8L MUSTANGS AS WELL.
NHTSA ODI #700368
Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
APPARENTLY THIS HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WITH FORD'S 3.8 IS PRETTY COMMON, AS THERE ARE MANY OF US WITH THE SAME SITUATION. ANY REASEARCH INTO THIS SITUATION WOULD BE GREAT APPRECIATED.
NHTSA ODI #537608
Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
I ASKED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER ABOUT IT AND GOT NO WHERE WITH MY QUESTIONS. I REPLACED THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM FROM THE END OF THE H-PIPE ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK WITH AN AFTERMARKET SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO EITHER MUFFLER OR THE PIPES ANYWHERE.
NHTSA ODI #537169
Mileage unknown · May 2, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT TWICE.
NHTSA ODI #535060
Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET FAILURE DUE TO THE USE OF ALUMINUM HEADS CONNECTED TO A CAST IRON BLOCK. THE DIFFERENT EXPANSION RATES OF THE TWO METALS CAUSES STRESS ON THE GASKET, RESULTING IN FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #534247
Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
TIMING COVER GASKET FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #532724
Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #530103
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING OWNER WAS MADE AWARE BY A MOTORIST THAT VEHICLE WAS SMOKING. OWNER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND VEHICLE EXPLODED. CAUSE UNDETERMINED BY FIRE MARSHALL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #813747
Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 1995
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE REPLACED AFTER APRIL 5, 2000. THE REPLACEMENT DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE INFLATOR MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT WELDS THAT COULD PREVENT PROPER INFLATION OF THE AIR BAG.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN LESS THAN THE INTENDED LEVEL OF OCCUPANT PROTECTION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. IF A VEHICLE IS PARKED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE NOT FULLY APPLIED AND NOT IN FIRST GEAR, AS DIRECTED IN THE OWNER GUIDE, AND THE SELF ADJUSTMENT PAWL SUBSEQUENTLY SKIPS ONE OR TWO TEETH, THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE ON SOME GRADES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL AND INSTALL A PLATE OR OVER-BRACKET TO THE CONTROL TO LOCK THE SELF ADJUST MECHANISM IN POSITION FOLLOWING ADJUSTMENT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS. TEARING OF THE BOND BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER HOOD PANELS DURING MINOR FRONT END COLLISIONS CAN RESULT IN A GAP AT THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HOOD. AIR FORCED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER PANELS CAN PRODUCE ENOUGH PRESSURE TO FORCE THE OUTER PANEL UPWARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE OUTER HOOD PANEL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HOOD AREA FOR ANY DAMAGE ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HOOD. IF THERE IS ANY EVIDENCE OF BOND SEPARATION, THE HOOD WILL BE REPLACED. IF THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF BOND SEPARATION, ADDITIONAL ADHESIVE WILL BE APPLIED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER HOOD PANELS.
THE WIRE HARNESS ON THESE SEATS IS BANDED TO THE FRONT SEAT CUSHION SUPPORTS. THE END OF ONE OF THE SUPPORTS CAN PUNCTURE THE HARNESS, RESULTING IN A HIGH RESISTANCE ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OVERHEATING CAN RESULT, AND MELTING, SMOKE AND POSSIBLE IGNITION OF THE SURROUNDING MATERIALS CAN OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE TIE STRAP FROM EACH OF THE FRONT SEATS.
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
4
EA98013 · Parking Brake
Opened May 27, 1998 · Closed Oct 31, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE97051 · Parking Brake Failure
Opened Dec 23, 1997 · Closed May 27, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE NUMBER OF CRASHES REPORTED TOT HE MANUFACTURER WARRANTS FURTHER THIS INVESTIGATION
EA97018 · Outer Hood Panel Detachment
Opened Sep 30, 1997 · Closed Oct 22, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE97011 · Outer Hood Panel Detachment
Opened Mar 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 30, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION HAS RECEIVED 6 REPORTS INDICATING THE OUTER HOOD PANEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLES AS THEY WERE BEING DRIVEN.FORD HAS PROVIDE 39 ADDITIONAL REPORTS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH ODI REPORTS.FORD INDICATES THAT THE LIKELY CAUSE IS PRIOR COLLISION DAMAGE.THIS INVESTIGATION IS BEING UPGRADED TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
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