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: 53 of 602 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 339 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
48 crash reports29 fire reports25 injury reports
What owners actually said
602 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON; THEN, VEHICLE START OVERHEATING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY FOUND OUT THAT ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER COULD NOT FIX IT, INSTEAD WANTED TO REPLACE IT. *AK THE TIMING CHAIN COVER HAD A LEAK. THE VEHICLE'S ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING AND OVERHEATING …
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WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON; THEN, VEHICLE START OVERHEATING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY FOUND OUT THAT ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER COULD NOT FIX IT, INSTEAD WANTED TO REPLACE IT. *AK THE TIMING CHAIN COVER HAD A LEAK. THE VEHICLE'S ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING AND OVERHEATING AFTER REPAIR BECAUSE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS NOT REPLACED. *YH
NHTSA ODI #8003660
Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING 65MPH VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND SMOKING. CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT HEAD GASKET PROGRAM, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS TOO LATE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8003486
Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET A RECALL REPAIRS DONEON ENGINE COOLING FAN. BUT SOON AFTER TAKING VEHICLE OUT OF DEALER IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8003471
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND THEN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE. WHEN CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT THERE WAS A BIG PUDDLE OF ANTI FREEZE ON THE FLOOR. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANY WORK ON VEHICLE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8003402
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2002
Power TrainVisibility
CONSUMER STATED THREE WEEKS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED THE HEATER CORE WENT OUT.*JB
NHTSA ODI #564228
Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE GAUGE FOR THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE WAS RISING ALL THE WAY TO THE RED SECTION OF THE GAUGE LABELED HOT. FORD LOOKED AT THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT IT HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET THUS RESULTING IN A MAJOR EXPENSE. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO BE CHECKED AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL DATED MAY 2000-NOVEMBER 2000. THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. FORD, K…
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THE GAUGE FOR THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE WAS RISING ALL THE WAY TO THE RED SECTION OF THE GAUGE LABELED HOT. FORD LOOKED AT THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT IT HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET THUS RESULTING IN A MAJOR EXPENSE. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO BE CHECKED AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL DATED MAY 2000-NOVEMBER 2000. THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. FORD, KNOWING THAT THESE HEAD GASKETS ARE FAILING PREMATURELY, REFUSED TO GIVE ANY CONSIDERATION ON THE COST OF THE REPAIR. I FIND THIS TO BE VERY UNPROFESSIONAL FOR THE COMPANY AND, UNFORTUNATELY, VERY COSTLY FOR THE OTHER HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS VERY SAME THING!!*AK
NHTSA ODI #757617
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE, AND THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF OIL ON THE GROUND.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE COOLING FAN STOPPED WORKING.*SLC
NHTSA ODI #8003210
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON 15-JAN-2002 FOR RECALL CAMPAIGN 01V390000/ENGINE COOLING FAN BEARING. AFTER VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR RECALL AND DRIVEN 35 MPH, ENGINE OVERHEATED AND VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED ENGINE COOLING FAN HAS FAILED AND REPAIRS WERE BEING MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *TT
NHTSA ODI #8003183
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
WHILE DRIVING HAD FOUND OUT THAT VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY SAID THAT FIRE HAD STARTED AT COOLING FAN, JUST LIKE MENTIONED IN RECALL 01 I 011 000. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8003134
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2002
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY MPH TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP AND LOSE POWER. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
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.
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 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
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.
1995 Ford Mustang Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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