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 · Sep 11, 2002

Power Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #767012

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2002

Power Train

CONSOLE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR FAILED, CAUSING SHIFTER TO BE STUCK IN GEAR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #766905

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2002

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH REAR BRAKE DISC PADS, MAKING IT HARD FOR CONSUMER TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8016502

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2002

Electrical SystemInterior Lighting

TAIL LIGHTS AND INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THIS WAS DUE TO LIGHT SWITCH HARNESS CONNECTORS MELTING, SHORTING OUT THE WIRES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8015232

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2002

Seat Belts

FORD WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILTY BECAUSE VEHICLE IS OUT OF EXTENDED WARANTY AT 75,000. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #764858

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2002

Vehicle Speed Control

TWICE NOW, I HAVE FELT THE ENGINE SURGE AND REV UP, POWERING FORWARD, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. INCIDENTS WERE APPROX. 2 MONTHS APART. IF I HAD NOT HAD MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED HARD, WE WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR OR A CEMENT BARRIER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT WANT TO GET IT ON RECORD…

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NHTSA ODI #763334

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

THERE IS A SPRING CLIP THAT BELONGS WITH TENSIONER BELT THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THERE COMES A KNOCKING NOISE AND SHAKING FROM VEHICLE WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8012269

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2002

Structure

POWER LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN DOORS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY ARE REPLACING THE LATCH. *AK THE DOORS ARE NOT POWER BUT OPERATE MANUALLY. WHEN INSIDE OF VEHICLE THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. IF YOU PUSH THE BUTTON TO UNLOCK THE DOORS THEY STILL DO NOT UNLOCK. DOORS WILL ONLY OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE WITH…

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NHTSA ODI #8011421

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2002

Equipment

THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE WORST CAR WE EVER OWNED. RECENTLY THE A/C COMPRESSOR MADE A GRINDING NOISE. THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD BE $1200 TO FIX. THEY THEN SAID IT WOULD ONLY BE $950 BECAUSE SOME PARTS WERE NOT NEEDED. WE LATER FOUND OUT A/C ISN'T FIXED AND THE DEALER IS DEMANDING AN ADDITIONAL $1200 TO FIX BECAUSE THEY SAID WE REFU…

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NHTSA ODI #762206

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2002

Suspension

REMEDY FOR RECALL IS NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED. THERE ARE TWO BOLTS THAT HOLD THE CYLINDER LIKE CASE AROUND COIL THAT ARE ABOUT 1 OR TWO INCHES AWAY FROM TIRE ITSELF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8008830

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 ↗