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 · Feb 1, 1999

Visibility

RIGHT/REAR ELECTRIC WINDOW SWITCH FAILURE.MGM

NHTSA ODI #606906

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 1999

Suspension

WHEN DRIVING THERE IS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLYED THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES MORE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. STATES THE PROBLEM IS NORMAL. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #833827

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 1999

Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

PROBLEMS OCCURRED SINCE CAR WAS LESS THAN 500 MILES OLD. THE CUTTING OFF OF THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPORTED FROM THAT TIME AND STILL OCCURS AFTER 17,600 MILES. PROBLEM CANNOT BE FOUND. LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN THE ABS AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHEN DRIVING DURING A SNOWY WEATHER. LOSS CONTROL OF CAR AND WENT OFF THE ROAD. OTHER PRO…

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NHTSA ODI #702190

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1998

Visibility

DISCOVERED CRACK IN WINDSHIELD, WITH NO OBVIOUS CAUSE. WENT TO NEAREST FORD DEALER (NOT SELLING DEALER), AND HAD THEM INSPECT IT. THEIR BODY SHOP CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS CRACKED THROUGH BOTH INNER AND OUTER GLASS LAYERS, AND THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY

NHTSA ODI #700136

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 1998

Structure

BODY CONTAINS TINY RUST SPOTS ALL OVER IT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WAXED THREE TIMES SINCE PURCHASED. ONE SPOT HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED DOWN TO THE METAL. LOCATED ON THE TOP PORTION OF THE RIGHT REAR DOOR.VEHICLE HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UNTIL 3YRS/75000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #700049

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1998

Structure

WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH, THE WHEEL BROKE AWAY FROM THE SUB FRAME ON THE DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. ALL SUB FRAME BOLTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828152

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 1998

Engine And Engine Cooling

INTERMITTENT ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN FOR UNKNOWN REASON. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND THIS CONDITION HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #826627

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 1998

Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 45 TO 50 MPH STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, CAUSE UNKNOWN. ALSO, VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE BRAKE NOISE. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #825579

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 1998

Electrical SystemFire

PARKED VEHICLE AND TURNED IGNITION OFF. WHEN THE OWNER CAME BACK OUTSIDE NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER STATED THAT BEFORE THE FIRE BROKE OUT, HE SMELLED GAS FOR 10 DAYS, AND HE HAD MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT SERVICE STATION TO CHECK OUT VEHICLE. BUT THE VEHICLE HA…

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NHTSA ODI #824924

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 1998

Steering

STEERING FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #537111

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 ↗