Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

71 reports

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2000

Exterior Lighting

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL 99V103000/ANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99S14. RECALL WAS NOTED AS REPAIRED, BUT IT WASN'T WORKING WHEN LEAVING DEALERSHIP. TAIL LIGHTS & PANEL LIGHT WERE MALFUNCTIONING,THEY WERE COMING ON & GOING OFF*AK.

NHTSA ODI #874168

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2000

Electrical SystemFire

I WAS DRYING MY CAR OFF AFTER WASHING IT; THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD JUST BEYOND THE DASH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER THE FIRE WENT OUT, WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE, THE WIPERS CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF UNTIL I REMOVED THE FUSE. ALL PANEL LIGHTS ARE OFF. PREVIOUSLY, ABOU…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #734789

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2000

Exterior Lighting

THE TURN SIGNAL FAILURE TO OPERATE PROPERLY POSES A PROBLEM TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE AND OTHER DRIVERS IN THAT IT DOES NOT SIGNAL AT THE TIME IT IS FLASHING ON THE INDICATOR ON THE DASH OF THE AUTOMOBILE. WE WERE CHARGED BY THE DEALER FOR WORK ON THIS SIGNAL AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN CORRECTED. WE WERE CHARGED $167.92 FOR WORK …

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #732653

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2000

Tires

Read full complaint

I AM AN OWNER OF 97 MERCURY MYSTIQUE GS, VIN 1MELM65L7VK621379. WHEN I DROVE MY CAR FOR SERVICE, THE MECHANICS TOLD ME TWO OF FIREHAWK GTA P205/60R15 REAR TIRES HAVE A LOT OF CRACKLES AND I SHOULD NOT DRIVE MY CAR ON HIGHWAY BEFORE I HAVE THEM CHANGED. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TWO FRONT TIRES ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO, WHEN I CHANGED THEM AT MY OWN EXPENSE. THIS RECALLED ME RECENT FIRESTONE TIRE RECALLS. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS TYPE OF TIRE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLED MODELS. NOW I THINK THIS KIND OF DEFECTIVE IS NOT INDIVIDUAL CASE. MY CAR HAS ONLY 26452 MILES AS OF TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST YOU INVESTIGATE THIS TYPE FIREHAWK TIRES TOO, FIREHAWK GTA P205/60R15, FOR THE SAFETY OF MILLIONS OF FORD VEHICLE DRIVERS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/60R15 )

NHTSA ODI #728731

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2000

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Read full complaint

AFTER THE "ABS" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO AFTER A FEW DAYS OF INVESTIGATION SAID THAT "MM NEEDS ELECTRIC HCU HARNESS AND MODULE" WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1500 TO REPAIR. IT SEEMS THAT A WIRING HARNESS SHOULD LAST MORE THAT 3 YEARS, ESPICALLY ON A BRAKING SYSTEM. FORD OFFERED TO PICK UP 50% OF THE REPAIR, BUT THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE ABS SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR. FORM COMPLETED BY FRANK P FRANDINA (OWNER'S FATHER) - DAY PHONE 716 632 7200

NHTSA ODI #721661

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2000

Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON MAKING A COMPLETE STOP, MASTER CYLINDER WENT OUT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL FLUID, AND CAUSING BRAKE PEDAL TO TRAVEL TO THE FLOORBOARD, RESULTING IN UNWANTED AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #860296

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2000

SteeringSuspension

WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING CAR VIBRATES AND INTERFERES WITH STEERING, CAUSING TIRES TO GO BALD. DEALER SAID TO REPLACE STEERING WHEEL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #857385

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2000

Steering

MAKING RIGHT HAND TURN THRU A PUDDLE AT 5 TO 10 MPH SOMETIMES THE POWER STEERING WILL STOP WORKING AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON UNTIL BELT DRIES OUT THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE DAY ONE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #718352

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 1999

SteeringSuspension

VEHICLES SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND WILL NOT TURN WHEN IT IS RAINING.

NHTSA ODI #535918

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 1999

Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, INDEPENDENT SERVICE STATION DETECTED POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THERMOSTAT. DEALER REPLACED SENSOR, CHARGED $211.00. TWO DAYS LATER LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. DEALER DETECTED THERMOSTAT, HAD TO ORDER PART AND REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER TEMPERATURE 20 DEGREES, CAR TOOK OVER 30 MINUTES TO HEAT UP AND ICE FORMED…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #715795

Official recalls

01V230000 · Electrical System

Jul 9, 2001

ON CERTAIN MY 1996-1998 PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY, CUAUTITLAN ASSEMBLY PLANTS OR ON MY 1999 PASSENGER VEHCLES BUILT AT THE AUTOMOTIVE ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY PLANTS, THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES CAN DAMAGE THE COPPER SURFACE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. THE DAMAGE COULD, OVER TIME, CAUSE INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE CONNECTOR AND, DUE TO SUBSEQUENT TERMINAL RELAXATION, RESULT IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE OPEN CIRCUIT COULD LEAD TO ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT COULD MELT THE CONNECTOR HOUSING MATERIAL CREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR AND A NEW WIRE JUMPER HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

00V075000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components

Mar 9, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). A PRESSURE CONSCIOUS REDUCING VALVE (PCRV) IN THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CORROSION AND RESULT IN MALFUNCTION, WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS THAT USE SALT COMPOUNDS ON THE ROADWAY FOR DE-ICING OR DUST CONTROL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF BOTH PCRV'S MALFUNCTION, VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED DURING BRAKING AS A RESULT OF THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL IMPROVED PCRV'S IN THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS RECALL WAS EXPANDED IN SEPTEMBER 2000 TO INCLUDE 1999 AND 2000 FORD CONTOUR, MERCURY MYSTIQUE AND COUGAR VEHICLES.

99V103000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

May 5, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TERMINALS AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN EXPERIENCE HEAT DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF OVERHEATING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN DISTORTION OF THE TERMINAL CAUSING AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION, PARKING LAMP, AND TAIL LAMP CIRCUITS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLAMP SWITCH WIRING CONNECTOR CONTAINING BRONZE TERMINALS AND AN INSPECTION, AND REPLACEMENT IF NECESSARY, OF THE HEADLAMP SWITCH.

98V233000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Sep 18, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FLOOR SHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL CAN BE DAMAGED IF SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN INTERIOR CLEANING PRODUCTS. THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR CAN DETERIORATE AND NOT CORRECTLY INDICATE THE ACTUAL GEAR POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INCORRECT GEAR SELECTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗