Power Train. Review the 214 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 145 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

64 crash reports12 fire reports41 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

145 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

SAND FROM CASTING PROCESS IS INSIDE COOLING SYSTEM. FORD HAS ISSUED A TSB ON THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #890742

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

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I NOTICES THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING A COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM. I TOO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH BROWN RUSTED COOLENT THAT CAUSED THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT IT WILL COST APROXIMATLY $5000.00 TO REPAIR. THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE ENGIN, RADIATOR, HEATER CORE, WATER PUMP, ETC. THE SERVICE MANGER AT THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY POOR COOLING SYSTEM DESIGN THAT CAUSES A RUST BUILD UP AND THE EVENTUAL BLOWN HEAD GASKET. SINCE THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW WITH MANY ACCOUNTS LISTED ON THE NHTSA, I WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION AND THE POSSIBLE RECALL BY THE MANUFACTURER (FORD).

NHTSA ODI #746681

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

COOLANT DISCOLORATED( RUSTY AND BROWN) GOODYEAR MECHANIC EXPLAINED IT WAS WHAT IS CALLED "BROWN DEATH" CAUSED BY ENGINES NOT BEING PROPERLY PROCESSED AT FOUNDRY(POSSIBLY LEFT SAND AND METAL SHAVINGS INSIDE ENGINES. ENGINES OVERHEATS, COOLANT RUNS OUT FREEZE PLUGS BLOW OUT THERMOSTAT LOCKS UP WATER PUMP FAILS TEMPERATURE GAUGE DO…

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NHTSA ODI #745554

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2001

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

ENGINE IS KNOCKING AS CONSUMER ACCELERATES WITH SPEED. *AK TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 37OOO MILES. FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED AT 15000 MILES. ROTORS FAILED AT 24000 MILES. *YH

NHTSA ODI #884626

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN SUDDENLY ENGINE BLEWOUT. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. WOULD HAVE WATER COMING OUT OF FREEZING PLUG. TOOK TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC REPLACED ENGINE.BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES, AND PROBLEM WAS GETTING WORSE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #883187

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

THERE IS A FUEL SMELL IN PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT DUE TO OIL LEAKING FROM OIL PAN.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE SMELL IS SO BAD IT MAKES HER SICK TO HER STOMACH. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #882094

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, LEAVING IT INOPERABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #881873

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

MIDAS REPAIR SHOP FOUND HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN. VEHICLE STARTED HEATING UP/ CHOKING, AND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT TAILPIPE. MANUFACTURER'S REPONSE WAS THAT THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF PROBLEM, AND NO RECALL WAS ISSUED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #879581

Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

WATER PUMP FAILED. DURING INSPECTION AND REPAIR A RUST COLORED FLUID WAS NOTICED TO BE CONTAMINATING COOLANT SYSTEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #876664

Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

NOTICED BROWN COOLANT DURING MAINTENANCE. HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR. NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER, WAS TOLD OUT OF WARRANTY, NO RECALLS, NOT A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. TOOK TO NON-DEALER SHOP. FOUND LEAKING HEAD GASKET. REPLACED HEAD GASKETS, THERMOSTAT, COOLANT OVERFLOW CONTAINER, AND ANTI-FREEZE. RESURFACED…

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NHTSA ODI #737964

Official recalls

98V028000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Feb 10, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.

Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

97V097000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Jun 9, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AX4S AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES. THE LOW/INTERMEDIATE SERVO COVER CAN SEPARATE FROM THE TRANSAXLE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. IF THIS OCCURS, TRANSMISSION FLUID WILL LEAK CONTACTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TEMPERATURE MAY BE HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THESE SERVO COVERS.

96V166000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Sep 5, 1996

THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.