Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 6 of 28 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
28 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE BLEWOUT WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. AS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING/TURNING VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. DASHBOARD DID NOT SHOW ANY WARNING LIGHTS, AND VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED. MECHANIC HAS ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A "COMMON PROBLEM". DEALER HAS ADVISED THAT ENGINE JUST SHUTDOWN, AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'…
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ENGINE BLEWOUT WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. AS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING/TURNING VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. DASHBOARD DID NOT SHOW ANY WARNING LIGHTS, AND VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED. MECHANIC HAS ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A "COMMON PROBLEM". DEALER HAS ADVISED THAT ENGINE JUST SHUTDOWN, AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #886700
Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
ALUMINUM HEAD FAILURE, SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF HEAD AT 60 MPH--MILD EXPLOSION, ENGINE SHUTDOWN AT SPEED--COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL REAR END ACCIDENT IF IT HAD HAPPENED DURING NORMAL DAY HOURS, BUT IT WAS AT 3 AM---FAILURE STILL NOT FIXED AFTER 2 FULL WEEKS, DEALER IS FAMILY FORD, CARLISLE PA.---THEY STATE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN FAIL…
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ALUMINUM HEAD FAILURE, SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF HEAD AT 60 MPH--MILD EXPLOSION, ENGINE SHUTDOWN AT SPEED--COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL REAR END ACCIDENT IF IT HAD HAPPENED DURING NORMAL DAY HOURS, BUT IT WAS AT 3 AM---FAILURE STILL NOT FIXED AFTER 2 FULL WEEKS, DEALER IS FAMILY FORD, CARLISLE PA.---THEY STATE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN FAILURE, AND THEY HAVE DONE SEVERAL.
NHTSA ODI #742616
Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
VAN IS ON 2ND ENGINE&TORQUE CONVERTER.HAS VIBRATION @ ALL SPEEDS.PULLS HARD LEFT. ANY SORT OF ROUGH ROAD & YOU THINK YOU WILL LOSE CONTROL. VIBRATES SO BAD FRONT DOORS ARE EATING IN TO BODY. HAS TERRIBLE SMELL VENTILATION & HEATING SYSTEM. WHAT A HUNK OF JUNK !!!
NHTSA ODI #739476
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING OR INDICATION (EVEN THE BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE). I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH STOPPED VEHICLES SLOWLY BUT COULD NOT GET ANY BRAKE RESPONSE, CAUSING A CRASH AND THEN PUSHING UNTIL THREE OTHER VEHICLES WOULD BE HIT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #738700
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2000
Tires
DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT. TIRE DEALER SAID TIRE FAILURE WAS DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VD1L 1XD TIRESIZE: LT225-75R1)
NHTSA ODI #732908
Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2000
Suspension
EXTREME FRONT END SHUDDER AT 50+MPH BRAKING, OCCASIONALLY BELLOW 50MPH. FIRST NEAR CRASH WAS AVOIDED BY DOWNSHIFT AND PARKING BRAKE APPLICATION. FRONT END WOBBLE AND SQUEEL AND FELT LIKE BRAKE FADE BUT WAS ONLY COMING TO STOP FROM 35MPH IN RESIDENTIAL/RETAIL ZONE. STOPPED HALF WAY INTO INTERSECTION AND WAS ALMOST BROADSIDED BY A…
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EXTREME FRONT END SHUDDER AT 50+MPH BRAKING, OCCASIONALLY BELLOW 50MPH. FIRST NEAR CRASH WAS AVOIDED BY DOWNSHIFT AND PARKING BRAKE APPLICATION. FRONT END WOBBLE AND SQUEEL AND FELT LIKE BRAKE FADE BUT WAS ONLY COMING TO STOP FROM 35MPH IN RESIDENTIAL/RETAIL ZONE. STOPPED HALF WAY INTO INTERSECTION AND WAS ALMOST BROADSIDED BY A MOTORCYCLYST. REPLACED WITH NEW PAIR OF ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS AS ORIGINAL ROTORS WERE EXTREMLY WARPED AND HAD MINOR CRACK ON RIGHT FRONT. PADS WERE WORN TO METAL IN PLACES. I HAVE PUT ON YET ANOTHER SET OF ROTORS WITH SAME EXTREME WARPAGE AND MORE CRACKS THAN LAST SET. I'M NOW ON MY FOURTH SET OF BRAKE SHOES. AND THE SHUDDERING HAS BEEN INTENSIFYING. TOOK IT TO DEALER ONCE AFTER FIRST FAILURE AND THEY SAID EVERTHING WAS FINE WITH THE SYSTEM WITH EXCEPTION OF MINOR CRACK ON RIGHT FRONT ROTOR WICH WAS LATER REPLACED. I'M ABOUT TO GO BACK AGAIN TO HAVE THE SHUDDER CHECKED OUT AS IT IS REALLY BAD NOW. *AK
NHTSA ODI #723742
Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1999
Seat BeltsInjury
NIECE WAS BELTED SLEEPING. RATCHET MECHANISM ENGAGED. BELT BECAME TWISTED AND WHEN HER TRIED TO FREE HERSELF, BELT RETRACTED TRAPPING HER IN BELT. BUCKLE WOULD NOT RELEASE. SHE WAS IN PAIN. WE HAD TO CUT BELT TO FREE HER.
NHTSA ODI #713336
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control
ACCELERATOR CABLE.
NHTSA ODI #609690
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS SYSTEM FAILED AND REPLACED. YH
NHTSA ODI #609944
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
STRONG ODOR OF FUEL FUMES ARE COMING IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. DEALER STATED TO MAKE SURE THAT WINDOWS ARE ROLLED DOWN, AND A/C IS SHUT OFF. VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO EXPLODE. DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NO SOLUTION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #841505
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1998 Ford Club Wagon Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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