NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
34 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Apr 22, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspensionWheelsInjury
LUGS: BOLTS HAVE SHEARED OFF 4 TIMES ON FRONT. TIRE LEFT HOLDING BY ONE LUG BOLTS ON 4 OCCASIONS. LUGS: BOLTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH FACTORY SPEC BOLTS AND BY FORD DEALER. THE TIRE IS ABOUT READY TO FALL OFF THE CAR, AND DOING 70 MP WE WERE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE IT COMPLETLY SEPARATE. FRONT END SUSPENSION HAS BEEN …
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LUGS: BOLTS HAVE SHEARED OFF 4 TIMES ON FRONT. TIRE LEFT HOLDING BY ONE LUG BOLTS ON 4 OCCASIONS. LUGS: BOLTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH FACTORY SPEC BOLTS AND BY FORD DEALER. THE TIRE IS ABOUT READY TO FALL OFF THE CAR, AND DOING 70 MP WE WERE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE IT COMPLETLY SEPARATE. FRONT END SUSPENSION HAS BEEN REPAIRED. BRAKES CHECK RIMS REPLACED. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705867
Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AND BURNED WATER AND GAS. DEALER NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM, AND REPAIRWORK DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. ALSO ABS LIGHTCONTINUOUSLY FLASHES ON AND OFF, DEALER NOT AWARE, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #836170
Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train
FRONT AND REAR AIR SHOCKS AND STRUTS FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #542977
Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES LOCKED UP AND WERE SMOKING. VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AND HAD TO BE TOWED. REPAIR SERVICE COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND VEHICLE WORKING FINE.
NHTSA ODI #540332
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE PEDAL SOMETIMES DOES NOT FULLY RETURN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DRAG. PLACING FOOT UNDER THE PEDAL AND LIFTING IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT. THIS IS CAUSED BY FAILING POWER BRAKE BOOSTERS.
NHTSA ODI #540148
Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE DUE TO FAULTY HANDLE ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA ODI #518414
Mileage unknown · May 13, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED. SCC
NHTSA ODI #517183
Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES LOCKING UP CAUSING BRAKE COMPONENTS AND WHEELS TO OVERHEAT.
NHTSA ODI #513524
Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 1996
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
OIL LEAKS.
NHTSA ODI #513180
Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS FAILURE; UPON STARTING UP ABS LIGHT FLASHES, WHEN PLACED INTO DRIVE POSITION, EXPERIENCED. INTERMITTENT ABS LOCK UP, AND REAPPEARENCE OF ABS LIGHT CONTINUOUS, PEDAL PULSATION, ALSO, MUST PLACE FOOT UNDER PEDAL, THEN PUMP UP BRAKES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #806280
Official recalls
3Dec 16, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
Feb 26, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WATER CAN ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT COULD FREEZE WITHIN A LOW AREA OF THE CABLE ROUTING WHEN EXPOSED TO A LONG TERM COLD SOAK AT TEMPERATURES AT LEAST SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED USING THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.
Aug 6, 1991
FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEVERELY CORRODED ROTORS MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE NEARTHE INNER EDGES OF THE BRAKE DISCS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS,HIGHER THAN NORMAL PEDAL EFFORTS, LOUD GRINDING NOISES, AND MODERATE PULLS WHENTHE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS MAY INCREASE MINIMUMSTOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
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
7EA96024 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened Sep 30, 1996 · Closed Apr 15, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
PE96033 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened May 2, 1996 · Closed Sep 30, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.
DP95004 · Alleged Defective Tie Rods
Opened Aug 8, 1995 · Closed Aug 30, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS
EA94008 · Broken Tie Rods
Opened Feb 16, 1994 · Closed Feb 27, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE93070 · Failure Of Wheel Studs
Opened Jul 27, 1993 · Closed Nov 22, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE93058 · Broken Tie Rods
Opened Jun 15, 1993 · Closed Feb 16, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
EA92040 · SUB-FRM/UNIBODY Absor.fail
Opened Nov 30, 1992 · Closed Jun 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Structure
There is no summary currently available
Structure
There is no summary currently available
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