NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
339 reportsClear category filter148,000 miles · Feb 27, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
I WOULD START MY CAR IN THE MORNING AND NOTICE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE GO UP RAPIDLY. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER WENT PAST NORMAL AND INTO THE RED, DURING THIS TIME, NO HEAT WOULD BLOW. THEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD DROP AND WARM AIR WOULD BLOW. I CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT, TEMPERATURE SENSOR, AND THE RADIATOR( WHICH SOLVED THE P…
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I WOULD START MY CAR IN THE MORNING AND NOTICE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE GO UP RAPIDLY. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER WENT PAST NORMAL AND INTO THE RED, DURING THIS TIME, NO HEAT WOULD BLOW. THEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD DROP AND WARM AIR WOULD BLOW. I CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT, TEMPERATURE SENSOR, AND THE RADIATOR( WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT TWO DAYS). NOTHING LEFT BUT THE HEAD GASKETS AND MAYBE EVEN A CRACKED HEAD. WASN'T THERE A RECALL FOR WINDSTAR'S WITH THE SAME ENGINE? THIS IS MY SECOND ENGINE FROM FORD, THE FIRST ONE GAVE OUT AROUND 36,000 MILES. WHEN WILL AMERICAN CAR COMPANIES BUILT RELIABLE ENGINES? NO WONDER THE FOREIGN CAR COMPANIES DO WELL IN AMERICA! *JB
NHTSA ODI #10008200
100,600 miles · Jan 20, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment
MY HEAD GASKETS IN MY 95 MUSTANG 3.8 LITER BLEW ON 4-20-00, BBB INVESTIGATED, AND FORD MOTOR CO. AGREED TO DO REPAIRS FREE. LANHAM FORD IN LANHAM MD. REPALACED HEAD GASKETS. RETURNED MY CAR WITHOUT OIL, AND SEVERLY DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THEY REPLACED ENGINE ALSO. MY CAR HAD 73214 MILES THEN. NOW IT HAS APP. 100,600 MILES, 28,00 MI…
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MY HEAD GASKETS IN MY 95 MUSTANG 3.8 LITER BLEW ON 4-20-00, BBB INVESTIGATED, AND FORD MOTOR CO. AGREED TO DO REPAIRS FREE. LANHAM FORD IN LANHAM MD. REPALACED HEAD GASKETS. RETURNED MY CAR WITHOUT OIL, AND SEVERLY DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THEY REPLACED ENGINE ALSO. MY CAR HAD 73214 MILES THEN. NOW IT HAS APP. 100,600 MILES, 28,00 MILES LATER AND SHEEHY FORD IN MARLOW HEIGHTS MD. STATES MY HEAD GASKETS NEED TO BE REPLACED. SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE, EXCEPT, THEY ARE CHARGING ME FOR REPAIRS. FORD IS AWARE OF THE ONGOING PROBLEMS AND COMPLAINTS WITH THESE HEAD GASKETS. I BELIEVE THAT WHEN THEY INITIALLY REPAIRED MY CAR THEY PUT IN MORE HEAD GASKET DEFECTS. AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING EVERY 28,000 MILES FOR HEAD GASKETS THAT ARE DEFECTED FORD KEEPS PUTTING IN MY VEHICLE. NHTSA HAVE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF HEAD GASKETS CPOMPLAINTS BY FORD. PLEASE LOOK INTO FOR . THANK YOU
NHTSA ODI #10003027
60,913 miles · Jan 4, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
FAN MOTOR FAILURE CAUSED ENGINE OVERHEAT AND RADIATOR FAILURE. RECALL ON SAME YEAR AND MODEL CAR 95 FORD MUSTANG BUT NOT MY VIN NUMBER ACCORDING TO FORD. I AM REPORTING AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM FOR ADDED RECALL. THE DEALER AND FORD WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.$1239.12 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01I11000. VIN [XXX] THANKS FOR…
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FAN MOTOR FAILURE CAUSED ENGINE OVERHEAT AND RADIATOR FAILURE. RECALL ON SAME YEAR AND MODEL CAR 95 FORD MUSTANG BUT NOT MY VIN NUMBER ACCORDING TO FORD. I AM REPORTING AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM FOR ADDED RECALL. THE DEALER AND FORD WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.$1239.12 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01I11000. VIN [XXX] THANKS FOR LOOKING INTO IT. TS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10000522
Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
THIS COMPONENT WAS ALLEGEDLY COVERED UNDER A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION" PROGRAM WHICH HAS JUST EXPIRED. THIS FAILURE CAUSED MY DAUGHTER TO BE STRANDED ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RETURN HOME FROM COLLEGE. I BELIEVE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS WITH FORD V-6 ENGINES SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ISSU…
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THIS COMPONENT WAS ALLEGEDLY COVERED UNDER A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION" PROGRAM WHICH HAS JUST EXPIRED. THIS FAILURE CAUSED MY DAUGHTER TO BE STRANDED ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RETURN HOME FROM COLLEGE. I BELIEVE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS WITH FORD V-6 ENGINES SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE DUE TO THEIR HIGH OCCURRANCE AND THE DANGERS WHICH THESE FAILURES CAUSE. DT
NHTSA ODI #770678
Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER REPLACE TWICE. TS
NHTSA ODI #8022858
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
NO SUMMARY. DT
NHTSA ODI #768945
Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
NHTSA RECAL# 14673-01-011-000: CONSUMER STATES THE ENGINE REACHES HIGH TEMPERATURE, PROBLEM IS DUE TO FAULTY ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
NHTSA ODI #8020986
Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM BACK OFF VEHICLE ,HAD TOWED THEY SAD THE COOLANT SYSTEM AND HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN.VEHICLE IS PART OFF RECALL,BUT DUE TO THE FACT THAT VEHICLE IS OVER 100,000 NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL.PROBLEM HAPPEN TWICE. MR
NHTSA ODI #8020940
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM TAIL PIPE, HAD VEHICLE TOWED. HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN OUT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8018156
Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM EXHAUST AFTER ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. COOLING FAN MOTOR FAILED. CONSUMER RECEIVED NOTICES FROM MANUFACTURER REGARDING ADDITIONAL WARRANTY COVERAGE UNDER SERVICE PROGRAM NUMBER 00M10, COVERED POTENTIAL ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURES. *YH .*AK
NHTSA ODI #567398
Official recalls
5Dec 21, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L AND 3.8L ENGINES AND MUSTANG VEHICLES WITH 3.8L AND 5.0L ENGINES. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE ENGINE COOLING FAN BEARING TO SEIZE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, EXCESSIVE HEAT COULD BE GENERATED WHICH COULD MELT THE FAN MOTOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. COMPONENTS INSIDE THE COOLING FAN MOTOR COULD IGNITE POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ENGINE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY AND INSTALL A CIRCUIT BREAKER. IF THE COOLING FAN IS INOPERATIVE, THE FAN AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 28, 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 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.
Jul 17, 1995
THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS WITH INCORRECT TAPER BALL STUDS. THE INCORRECT TAPERED BALL STUDS CAN FRACTURE WITHIN 50,000 MILES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FRACTURED BALL STUD CAN RESULT IN A NOTICEABLE SHAKE OR SHIMMY AND COULD CAUSE THE AFFECTED WHEEL TO TUCK INWARD OR OUTWARD, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE OUTER TIE ROD ENDS AND REPLACE THE INCORRECTLY TAPERED BALL STUDS.
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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