NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
105 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · May 19, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 67,000 MILES , ANTI FREEZE WAS GETTING INTO ENGINE. REPORTED TO DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THAT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY AND A TWO TO THREE THOUSAND DOLLAR REPAIR. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE AND HAD THE HEADS REWORKED AND HEAD GASKET REPLACED. IT COST ME $1000.00 OUT OF M…
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HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 67,000 MILES , ANTI FREEZE WAS GETTING INTO ENGINE. REPORTED TO DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THAT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY AND A TWO TO THREE THOUSAND DOLLAR REPAIR. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE AND HAD THE HEADS REWORKED AND HEAD GASKET REPLACED. IT COST ME $1000.00 OUT OF MY POCKET. *AK
NHTSA ODI #745526
Mileage unknown · May 16, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH ENGINE STARTED OVERHEATING. THEN, HAD TO PARK VEHICLE AND REFILL WATER. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND MECHANIC SAID THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWNOUT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #888409
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE IS STALLING, AND AT SOME INTERSECTIONS IT WILL CUT OFF.*AK
NHTSA ODI #886686
Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 3.8 ENGINE.. RECALL ON 94'S AND 95'S BUT NONE ON 93'S. I'VE RECEIVED A COPY OF THE RECALL FORD SENT OUT CONCERNING THE 3.8 LITER ENGINE WITH FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. BOTH OF MINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A SIGNIFICANT COST.*AK
NHTSA ODI #744324
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SIEZE UP AND BE DESTROYED, AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS PROVIDED FOR THE 1994 MODEL WITH THE SAME EXACT ENGINE AND SAME PROBLEM. NLM
NHTSA ODI #560580
Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
LOOK AT ALL THE 3.8L HEAD GASKET COMPLAINTS - WHY NO RECALL OR ACTION FROM YOU? *AK
NHTSA ODI #742291
Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE HEAD GASKET BLEW DAMAGING THE ENTIRE ENGINE, THE MANUFACTURER EXTENED THE WARRANTY FOR 1994-1995 MODEL VEHICLES BUT NOT THE 1994 COUGAR ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME V6 3.8 ENGINE. NLM
NHTSA ODI #560239
Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
TRAVELING 35MPH WHEN TEMPERATURE LIGHT WOULD GO TO HOT. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL OUT. HAVE TAKEN TO MECHANIC, AND WAS INFORMED THAT HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT HEAD GASKETS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #881725
Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET BLOWN DUE TO MANUFACTOR DEFECT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #741325
Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HEAD GASKET REPLACED, 2/7/01 TIMING COVER GASKET REPLACED, VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT SAME PROBLEM, ENGINE SMELLING HOT AND SWEET, COOLANT RESERVE TANK NOT HOLDING ANTIFREEZE, IDLE ROUGH AND HESITATION OCCURRING WHEN ACCLERATING/DECELERATING, VEHICLE ONLY DRIVEN 4,000 MILES SINCE HEAD GASKET REPAIR, SERVICE PROGRAM 99B29 DO…
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ENGINE HEAD GASKET REPLACED, 2/7/01 TIMING COVER GASKET REPLACED, VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT SAME PROBLEM, ENGINE SMELLING HOT AND SWEET, COOLANT RESERVE TANK NOT HOLDING ANTIFREEZE, IDLE ROUGH AND HESITATION OCCURRING WHEN ACCLERATING/DECELERATING, VEHICLE ONLY DRIVEN 4,000 MILES SINCE HEAD GASKET REPAIR, SERVICE PROGRAM 99B29 DOES NOT INCLUDE 1993 COUGARS. CJ
NHTSA ODI #559627
Official recalls
3Oct 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.
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.
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
2EA99005 · 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
Illustration