Electrical System. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports10 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

218 reports

Mileage unknown · May 20, 1999

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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UPON INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE FLUX HOSE, THERE WAS A LOT OF FRICTION ABRASION DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF HOSE. THE ABRASION WAS SO EXCESSIVE THAT IT THINNED THE HOSE TO THE INNER LINER, AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PRESSURE CAUSED IT TO BURST, AND LOSE ALL BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKING CAPABILITIES. THE PART AND PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE DEALER CHARGED $328 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AT NO CHARGE, SINCE IT WAS CLEAR THAT IT WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION AT FACTORY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #706706

Mileage unknown · May 19, 1999

Latches/locks/linkages

REAR DOOR INTERMITTENTLY OPENS AT WILL. VEHICLE IN/OUT OF SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND NO CORRECTION HAVE BEEN MADE.SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #838139

Mileage unknown · May 6, 1999

Seat BeltsCrashInjury

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WHILE SLOWING TO TURN, VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND, OTHER VEHICLE WAS MOVING FROM 35-40 MPH. AT IMPACT, DRIVER SEATBELT CAME UNLATCHED, CAUSING DRIVER TO SLIDE FORWARD, HITTING KNEE ON DASHBOARD HARD ENOUGH TO DISLODGE RADIO. AFTER MAIN REPAIRS, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARTIN FORD SALES, UNION GROVE, WI. THEIR INSPECTION FOUND A SMALL PIECE OF PLASTIC OR CELLOPHANE, NO MORE THAN AN 1/8" THICK AND 1/2" LONG. AFTER BEING UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH PANIC STOPS, THEY SAID THE DEBRIS 'MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE CONCERN'. THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE SEATBELT OR LOOK INTO IT FURTHER. WE DO NOT FEEL THAT THE SMALL PIECE OF CELLOPHANE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM, NOR DO WE FEEL THAT PANIC STOPS DUPLICATE A REAR-END COLLISON.

NHTSA ODI #706298

Mileage unknown · May 3, 1999

Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

CAR WILL CRANK OVER, BUT WILL NOT START. IT HAS OCCURRED 5 TIMES. FOUR TIMES IT REQUIRED TO BE TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEPT AT FORD FOR REPAIRS. ONLY ONCE DID THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING APPROX 40 MILES AN HOUR. THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, HOWEVER WHEN THE CAR GETS TOWED INTO THE D…

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NHTSA ODI #706208

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 1999

Seats

SEAT MOVES/ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. SHIFTS LEFT AND RIGHT DURING VEHICLE TURNS AND STOPS. DISCONCERTING DURING DRIVING; WEAKENS PRECISION OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CONCERNED ABOUT FUTURE CONTINUED DEGRADATION OF SEAT TRACK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #704962

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 1999

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

WHILE DRIVNG IN SNOWY/WET CONDITIONS ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP/VIBRATES/SHAKE. THEN VEHICLE SLID IN THE DIRECTION IT WAS GOING, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKING ABILITY AT ALL. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED THE REAR LEFT CALIPER. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT SAID IT WAS THE W…

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NHTSA ODI #835650

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 1999

Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineSteering

VEHICLE IN NUMBER OF TIMES FOR POWER ASSIST GOING OUT WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN OR WATER. 2/99 ACCELERATION LOST WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC, NO POWER. HAD VEHICLE IN PREVIOUS WEEK BEFORE WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED.

NHTSA ODI #703938

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 1999

Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ALL LIGHTS GO OUT EXCEPT FOR FRONT HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHTS. CONSUMER HAD THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED BEFORE, AND THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834423

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 1999

Visibility

WHEN TURNING BLOWER ON ANY TEMPERATURE IT DOES NOT WORK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834361

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999

Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPER SPRAY MALFUNCTIONING, POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW, SPRAYS TOP AND BACK OF VEHICLE. *YC

NHTSA ODI #607423

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.

97V203000 · Fuel System, Other:storage

Nov 17, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BI-FUEL VEHICLES MODIFIED TO RUN ON EITHER GASOLINE OR COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG). THE NATURAL GAS FUEL TANKS HAVE A SOLENOID SHUT-OFF VALVE THAT STOPS FUEL FLOW FROM THE FUEL TANK IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN MODERATE TO SEVERE COLLISIONS. IF THE VEHICLE IS IN A COLLISION AND THE NATURAL GAS FUEL LINE IS DAMAGED, THE SYSTEM COULD LEAK NATURAL GAS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: FORD HAS REQUESTED OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES TO HAVE THE CNG FUEL SYSTEM DISABLED UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN AND TO ONLY USE GASOLINE FUEL UNTIL A PERMANENT CORRECTIVE ACTION IS DEVELOPED. OWNERS ARE BEING ALERTED TO THIS SOLENOID VALVE CONCERN AT THIS TIME. THE TIMING OF CORRECTIVE ACTIONS IS BEING DELAYED TO ALLOW BOTH CONDITIONS TO BE REMEDIED AT ONE TIME. IN THE MEANTIME, THERE IS NOT RISK AS LONG AS THE NATURAL GAS SYSTEM HAS BEEN DISABLED AND THE VHEICLE IS ONLY OPERATED ON GASOLINE.

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