Exterior Lighting. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

18 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT 25-30 MPH HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, AND THERE WAS ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER ENGINE ALSO, VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE .CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8010976

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2002

Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentSeats

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WHEN I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK IT SEEMED FINE. WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR AFTER WORK I IDLED REALLY ROUGH I THOUGHT IT WAS THE MORE EXPENSIVE GAS I PUT INTO IT THE NIGHT BEFORE, SO I PROCEEDED TO THE GAS STATION TO LET THEM KNOW. THE CAR DROVE REALLY ROUGH ALL THE WAY THERE. A RED LIGHT CAME ON ON THE DASH JUST BEFORE I GOT TO THE GAS STATION SAYING CHECK GAUGES. THE GAUGE SHOWED THAT THE CAR OVERHEATED. AFTER HAVING MY CAR WORKED ON ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO FOR A OVERHEATING PROBLEM, IT HAD BEEN RUNNING REALLY COOL, SO DIDN'T THINK I WOULD HAVE A OVERHEATING PROBLEM. I TURNED OFF THE CAR, BUT THOUGHT I WOULD CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE FAN WORKED I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE CAME A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE THAT DISAPATED REALLY FAST AFTER TURNING OFF ENGINE. CHECKED OIL THERE WAS NO WATER IN IT, BUT IT WAS LOW . I ADDED A QUART IN ORDER TO GET IT HOME. IT STILL HAD WHITE SMOKE OR STEAM COMING OUT THE TAIL PIPE. ALSO THE SEATS DO NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. THE AIRCONDITIONER DOES NOT GET COLD. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE THAT I SHOULD BE AWARE OF THAT I NEED TO HAVE FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #762625

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

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THIS ENGINE TYPE HAS HAD A HISTORY OF THIS REPORTED PROBLEM (HEAD GASKET FAILURE). I HAVE CONTACTED SEVERAL MECHANICS, AND THEY HAVE ALL REPORTED THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM EXPERIENCING, ARE DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MO. CO., BUT THEY HAVE PROVIDED NO ANSWERS/ASSISTANCE, EVEN KNOWING OF THIS MAJOR DEFECT WITH THIS ENGINE TYPE. THIS FAILURE IS OBVIOUSLY DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT, AND I WANT IT TO BE ON RECORD WITH EVERY ORGANIZATION THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX AT THEIR COST. FORD NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ENGINE DEFECT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE, AND I EXPECT THAT I WILL BE FILING SUIT WITH THEM UNLESS THEY WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAWS. IF YOU AN SUGGEST ANY FURTHER ACTION I CAN TAKE, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT STEVE.TOSTIGE@FRITZ.COM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #745542

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKETS LEAKAGE WATER INTO CYLINDER, CAUSING PROBLEMS TO ENGINE PROFORMANCE-STALLING, DECREASED EXCELERATION, ETC. *AK

NHTSA ODI #743990

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN, AND POSSIBLY CAUSED DAMAGE TO ENGINE.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #883987

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILED DURING NORMAL USE-VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED. REPORTED DUE TO UNDERSTANDING OF EPIDEMIC OF COMMON OCCURANCES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #736710

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE 3RD TIME THE GASKET'S YES THATS RIGH BOTH OF THEM HAVE BLOWN AND HOW ODD AT 40K/80K/121K/ GEE THATS 40K FOR EACH HEAD GASKET FORD FIXED FIRST ONE THEN SAID SORRY YOUR UP S*CREEK WITH THE 2ND ONE... AND NOW THE 3RD TIME WHAT NEXT????*AK

NHTSA ODI #734595

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKETS BLEW A LEAK DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION AT RAHWAY , NJ VEHICLE INSPECTION STATION

NHTSA ODI #734305

77,777 miles · Oct 14, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKETS BLEW A LEAK DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION AT RAHWAY, NJ INSPECTION STATION. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734305

NHTSA ODI #10007016

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET BLEW ON MY COUGAR. UPSET THAT THIS IS A WIDESPOREAD ISSUE AND THAT FORD FAILS TO WARRANTY THIS CLEAR DEFECT. THE DEFECT RATE FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM IS MIND BOGGLING. THE FACT THAT FORD HAS 'CHRREY PICKED' WHICH YEARS / VEHICLES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY IS ABSURD. THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE 3.8L ENGINE AND THUS …

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NHTSA ODI #725590

Official recalls

99V275000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Oct 12, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS, IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS MAY GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN, AND INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, IF NEEDED.

97V159000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 22, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WEST VIRGINIA. MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES CAUSES THE NYLON FUEL LINE JUMPER TO CHAFE AGAINST THE FLOOR PAN. THIS WEAR CAN CAUSE A PIN HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTS IN DAMPNESS AND FUEL ODOR, AND IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLASTIC CONVOLUTE COVERING AROUND THE FUEL LINES. IF THE LINES SHOW A LEAK, THE LINES WILL BE REPLACED FIRST.

96V071000 · Electrical System:ignition

Apr 25, 1996

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

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

EA99005 · Headlight Switch

Opened Jan 20, 1999 · Closed Dec 14, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WITH AN INTERNAL, BIMETAL CIRCUIT BREAKER THAT CAN OPEN DUE TO OVERHEATING DURING HEADLING OPERATION.

RQ97011 · Fuel Line Jumper

Opened Sep 25, 1997 · Closed Nov 16, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE ALLEGED FUEL LINE FAILURES OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL GEOGRAPHIC REGION AND IF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED NATIONALLY

EA95030 · Rear Fuel Line Interference

Opened Oct 31, 1995 · Closed Sep 30, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

THE REAR FUEL TUBE BUNDLE MAY ABRADE AND FAIL IN THE VICINITY OF THE FUEL TANK.

PE93075 · Thrttl Vlv Linkage Bushing

Opened Aug 30, 1993 · Closed Dec 30, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

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