NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
195 reportsMileage unknown · Jun 7, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
AFTER TALKING WITH A REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE COMPANY HE ADMITTED THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND THE HEAD GASKETS BUT PLAN NO RECALLS AT THIS TIME. THE LOCAL DEALER HAS NOW STARTING OFFERING TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS AT A REDUCED PRICE TO KEEP THERE CUSTOMERS HAPPY , BUT THAT DOES NOT HELP ME I ALREADY HAD M…
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AFTER TALKING WITH A REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE COMPANY HE ADMITTED THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND THE HEAD GASKETS BUT PLAN NO RECALLS AT THIS TIME. THE LOCAL DEALER HAS NOW STARTING OFFERING TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS AT A REDUCED PRICE TO KEEP THERE CUSTOMERS HAPPY , BUT THAT DOES NOT HELP ME I ALREADY HAD MINE FIXED. FORD IS RECALLING THE THUNDERBIRD BUT NOT THE COUGAR THEY ARE BASICALLY THE SAME CAR WHAT IS THER PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #723711
Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
IN APRIL WE HAD TO HAVE THE THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED ON OUR FORD, MERCURY COUGAR. THE CAR ONLY HAD APPROXIMATLEY 50,000 MILES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #723547
Mileage unknown · May 8, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. NOTICED SMOKE OUT OF REAR WINDOW. TOOK TO GAS STATION & WAS INFORMED THAT HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN. ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED & HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #861597
Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 68,900 MILES ON A 93 MERCURY COUGAR, THE REPAIR COST WAS 1,229.04 BY A LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS ENGINE AND THAT THERE IS A LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM AND I ALSO KNOW THAT FORD HAS BEEN REFUNDING PEOPLE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I CAN…
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ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 68,900 MILES ON A 93 MERCURY COUGAR, THE REPAIR COST WAS 1,229.04 BY A LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS ENGINE AND THAT THERE IS A LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM AND I ALSO KNOW THAT FORD HAS BEEN REFUNDING PEOPLE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I CAN BE REFUNDED THE COST OF REPAIRS. THANK YOU VINCENT CATARELLA. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722118
Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 37,140 MILES WAS TOLD CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722098
Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEADGASKET FAILED AT 63000 MILES CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND ACT ERRATIC AND FINALLY SHUT DOWN
NHTSA ODI #9000723
Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET, THERMOSTAT AND SENSOR FAILURES CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. YH
NHTSA ODI #551995
Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING HOME FORM WORK I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO MY MECHANIC AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION A CRACKED HEAD WAS DISCOVERED. ENGINE COOLANT WAS MIXED IN WITH THE OIL, AND OIL WAS INSIDE THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT A…
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WHILE DRIVING HOME FORM WORK I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO MY MECHANIC AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION A CRACKED HEAD WAS DISCOVERED. ENGINE COOLANT WAS MIXED IN WITH THE OIL, AND OIL WAS INSIDE THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT AND I DO TAKE CARE OF IT. THIS SHOULD NOT OF HAPPENED . FORS IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND RECALLED THE 3.8L V-6 FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CARS BUT NOT THE REARE WHEEL DRIVE CARS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER FOR ME. THANK YOU! *AK
NHTSA ODI #721414
Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. CONSUMER FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL. BUT DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA ODI #860116
Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ADMITTED DESIGN DEFICIENCY ON ALL 88-95 FORD, LINCOLN, MERCURY 3.8L ENGINES. FORD HAS RECENTLY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS/100,000 MILES ONLY ON 94 CONTINENTAL, 94 & 95 TAURUS AND SABLE, AND 95 WINDSTAR. THIS VEHICLE AND MANY OTHERS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY EXTENSION EVEN THOUGH THE DEFECT CLEARLY EXISTS IN ALL 88-95…
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ADMITTED DESIGN DEFICIENCY ON ALL 88-95 FORD, LINCOLN, MERCURY 3.8L ENGINES. FORD HAS RECENTLY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS/100,000 MILES ONLY ON 94 CONTINENTAL, 94 & 95 TAURUS AND SABLE, AND 95 WINDSTAR. THIS VEHICLE AND MANY OTHERS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY EXTENSION EVEN THOUGH THE DEFECT CLEARLY EXISTS IN ALL 88-95 MODELS WITH THE 3.8L ENGINE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #721321
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