Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 82 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports6 fire reports13 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

82 reports

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61,625 miles · Jan 30, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

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VECHICLE OVERHEATS RESULTING IN THE COVERGASKET FAILING, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTICEABLE RIGHT AWAY AS HAD OIL CHAGE THE WEEK BEFORE AND THE MECHANIC DID NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEMS. THIS HAS CAUSED US TO REPLACE ALL THE GASKETS COSTING US $600.00 THEN WHEN DROVE ONE DAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN MAKING GURGLING NOISE AND THE TEMPERTURE GAUGE WENT HOT AND NOW THE WHOLE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS THE OVERHEATING HAD CAUSED MORE PROBLEMS THAN WE FIRST THOUGHT. WE FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS FORD PRODUCT AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED.

NHTSA ODI #10004976

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES HER AUTO IS RUNNING HOT, AND SHE HAS TAKEN THE AUTO TO 4 MECHANICS AND EACH HAS SAID THAT THIS PART HAS BEEN ON RECALL. SHE ALSO STATES THAT HER AIR CONDITION AND DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK. SHE ALSO SAID SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE 95 AND 96 HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ODI #8023737

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE OVERHEATED, LOST POWER, NO HEAT FROM HEATER, OIL AND COOLANT MIX IN RADIATOR. TOWED TO FORD SERVICE CENTER. DIAGNOSED AS HEAD GASKET FAILURE. ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE ENGINE $4200 INCLUDING LABOR. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE IN MICHIGAN BUT THEY ARE SO FAR UNWILLING TO HELP.

NHTSA ODI #762695

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2002

Engine And Engine CoolingFireInjury

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE, CONSUMER STATES THAT IT SMELLED LIKE WIRE BURNING. CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, AND FIRE CAME FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE INJURIES. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8008969

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE HAS A V6 ENGINE WHICH THE COOLANT LEAKS, THEY CONTINUOUSLY HAVE TO REPLACE THE PARTS IN THE ENGINE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED ALSO. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS WILL HAVE TO BE DONE EVERY TWO YEARS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8007863

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED OTHER ENGINE PROBLEMS. I CAN'T GET ANOTHER MECHANIC IN TOWN TO TOUCH IT. SO I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE FORD DEALER TO GET IT REPAIRED, AT A COST OF $1,400 OR EVEN A NEW ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #756326

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HEAD BROKE, CAUSING A LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #755255

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

CONTACTED DEALERSHIP PRIOR TO FAILURE ABOUT OVERHEATING PROBLEM AND FORD HEAD GASKET HISTORY, BUT THEY DID NOTHING THEN AND WILL NOT COVER IN WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #752167

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING COOLANT AT 58000 MILES, BLOWN HEAD GASKET, THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL FORD MODELS AND COMPANY REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #749916

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2001

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

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I HAVE HAD SEVERAL REOCCURRING PROBLEMS INCLUDING 2 TRANSMISSION FAILURES. THE TRANSMISSION IS AN AOD AUTOMATIC, AND IT STILL DOESN'T SHIFT CORRECTLY. IF PASSING GEAR IS ENGAGED, THEN CAR'S RPMS SHOOT UP AND IT SHIFTS DOWN TO TOO LOW OF A GEAR. I HAVE REPLACED 2 WATER PUMPS THAT WERE LEAKING. I HAVE REPLACED A SWAY BAR THAT BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN A FLAT ROAD. THERE IS A WHINNING SOUND THAT COMES FROM EITHER THE PULLEYS OR THE CRANKSHAFT. IN HOT WEATHER THE CAR WILL ACT LIKE IT IS RUNNING OUT OF GAS WHEN ACCELERATING EVEN WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. THE BRAKES ARE VERY POOR EVEN WITH NEW PADS AND THE ROTORS RESURFACED, THEY FADE ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING MUST BE DONE QUICKLY OR AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THERE ARE ALSO MANY RATTLES THAT COME FROM VARIOUS BADY PANELS AND THE TRUNK WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #749104

Official recalls

01V318000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

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.

00V349000 · Parking Brake:conventional

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.

97V180000 · Structure:body:hood

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.

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

PE99002 · Front Brake Hose

Opened Jan 11, 1999 · Closed Jun 30, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

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.