NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
160 reportsClear category filter50,358 miles · Oct 14, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON 1994 FORD MUSTANG 3.8L WITH 50,360 MILES. ALTHOUGH FORD STATED THAT THEY MAILED A LETTER REGARDING OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS FAILURE, I NEVER RECEIVED IT NOR WAS I NOTIFIED BY THE DEALER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR RECALL WORK. FORD NOW STATES THAT THE PROGRAM EXPIRED ON MY VEHICLE AND I HAVE NO RECOURSE OT…
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HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON 1994 FORD MUSTANG 3.8L WITH 50,360 MILES. ALTHOUGH FORD STATED THAT THEY MAILED A LETTER REGARDING OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS FAILURE, I NEVER RECEIVED IT NOR WAS I NOTIFIED BY THE DEALER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR RECALL WORK. FORD NOW STATES THAT THE PROGRAM EXPIRED ON MY VEHICLE AND I HAVE NO RECOURSE OTHER THAN TO HAVE IT FIXED ON MY OWN. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10041775
49,753 miles · Jun 22, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE PROBLEM - TIMING COVER GASKET DEVELOPED A LEAK AND WAS REPLACED AT 49753 MILES. HEAD GASKET FAILED LATER AT 58422 MILES ON 12/15/02 WHILE DRIVING. (I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE OCCURRED ON 12/30/02, BUT THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE DATE ON THE REPAIR BILL, NOT THE DATE THE FAILURE OCCURRED). *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10023552
77,000 miles · May 10, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10018490
59,225 miles · May 5, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE OVER HEATED, NEVER INDICATED OVER HEATING WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER AND WORPED HEADS. HAD COOLANT PROBLEM FROM THE FIRST TIME OF PURCHASE OF CAR. A FRIEND OF MINE GAVE ME A LETTER FROM FORD ADDRESSED TO HIM ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE 1994 3.8L HAD A HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS THAT ALSO LIST 4 TYPES OF SYSTOMS WHICH MY 5.0 MUSTAN…
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ENGINE OVER HEATED, NEVER INDICATED OVER HEATING WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER AND WORPED HEADS. HAD COOLANT PROBLEM FROM THE FIRST TIME OF PURCHASE OF CAR. A FRIEND OF MINE GAVE ME A LETTER FROM FORD ADDRESSED TO HIM ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE 1994 3.8L HAD A HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS THAT ALSO LIST 4 TYPES OF SYSTOMS WHICH MY 5.0 MUSTANG HAD FROM THE FIRST TIME PURCHASED. WHEN CALLING THE FORD MOTOR CO. THEY SAID THIS NOTICE WAS NOT FOR THE 5.0L. I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS IT IS TO COINCIDENTAL THAT THE 5.0L LITERS ARE HAVING THE SAME SYSTOMS.
NHTSA ODI #10017071
78,490 miles · Apr 22, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND THICK WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. FORD ISSUED SERVICE PROGRAM WARRANTY 00M10 ON 1994 AND 1995 FORD MUSTANG/THUNDERBIRD AND THUNDERBIRD SUPER COUPE EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINE THAT HAD DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. THESE VEHICLES WOULD BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARG…
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DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND THICK WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. FORD ISSUED SERVICE PROGRAM WARRANTY 00M10 ON 1994 AND 1995 FORD MUSTANG/THUNDERBIRD AND THUNDERBIRD SUPER COUPE EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINE THAT HAD DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. THESE VEHICLES WOULD BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE UNDER THIS WARRANTY. *AK *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10015754
Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE HEAD GASKET FAILED, WHILE DRIVING.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10011373
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
GASKET BLEW ON THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SMOKE. PH
NHTSA ODI #10005896
58,422 miles · Jan 25, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET FAILURE
NHTSA ODI #10003385
86,000 miles · Jan 20, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
RECENTLY MY CAR STARTED OVERHEATING WITHOUT WARNING. I REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. IT WAS GOOD FOR TWO WEEKS THEN ON A FIVE MINUTE DRIVE DOWN THE STREET IT OVERHEATED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN AND IT WOULD COST ME $1,600.00 I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL…
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RECENTLY MY CAR STARTED OVERHEATING WITHOUT WARNING. I REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. IT WAS GOOD FOR TWO WEEKS THEN ON A FIVE MINUTE DRIVE DOWN THE STREET IT OVERHEATED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN AND IT WOULD COST ME $1,600.00 I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED IN MAY OF 2001. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN NOV. 2001 ONLY HAS 85,000 MILES ON IT. FROM WHERE I SIT THIS IS AN EXTENDED PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND FORD SHOULD TAKE ACTION TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM UP TO 100,000 MILES. IT SEEMS THAT 50,000 - 80,000 MILES IS WHEN THE PROBLEM BEGINS WITH THIS CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10003030
73,996 miles · Dec 31, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
1994 3.8 LITER HEAD GASKETS LEAKING .FORD TELLS ME RECALL IS ONLY GOOD FOR 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS ONLY 74,000 MILES ON IT.THE CAR WAS FIRST DELIVERED IN NOV. 1993. A LETTER WAS SENT TO THE ORGINAL OWNER( I'AM NOT ORGINAL OWNER) ON 4-27-2000. 6 YEARS AND 4 MONTHS AFTER DELIVERY. FORD NOW SAYS 7 YEARS HAS GONE BY A…
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1994 3.8 LITER HEAD GASKETS LEAKING .FORD TELLS ME RECALL IS ONLY GOOD FOR 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS ONLY 74,000 MILES ON IT.THE CAR WAS FIRST DELIVERED IN NOV. 1993. A LETTER WAS SENT TO THE ORGINAL OWNER( I'AM NOT ORGINAL OWNER) ON 4-27-2000. 6 YEARS AND 4 MONTHS AFTER DELIVERY. FORD NOW SAYS 7 YEARS HAS GONE BY AND IT DOES NOT MATTER THAT THERE IS ONLY 74,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. FORD WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE REPAIRS. I BELEIVE THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THE 100,000 MILE RECALL, KNOWING THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE.
NHTSA ODI #10000651
Official recalls
4Oct 3, 2001
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.
Oct 30, 2000
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.
Oct 20, 1997
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.
Mar 27, 1995
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
4EA98013 · 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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