Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 132 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 130 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 128 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

50 crash reports20 fire reports36 injury reports

What owners actually said

846 reports

Mileage unknown · May 25, 1999

Seats

WELDING SNAPPED AT SEAT FRAME CAUSING DRIVERS SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS. NLM

NHTSA ODI #545754

Mileage unknown · May 24, 1999

Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE ACCELERATING TO GET ON INTERSTATE, ACCELERATOR STUCK, AND CAR ACCELERATED TO A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL/TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, AND PRESSING ON BRAKES SLOWED VEHICLE DOWN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #838349

Mileage unknown · May 24, 1999

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Read full complaint

BRAKES MAKE GRINDING SOUND WHEN COMING TO A STOP. DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT PROBLEM ON THREE OCCASIONS WITH ONLY A TEMPORARY SOLUTION. FRONT PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, ROTORS HAVE BEEN RESURFACED, AND AFTER 1500 MILES, THE GRINDING REAPPEARS. DEALER SAYS BRAKE DUST IS THE CAUSE AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED. I ASKED WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE FIRST 18000 MILES THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM NOW ? PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND DEALER CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE THREE CALLS TO THEIR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BEFORE FORD WILL INTERVENE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #706825

Mileage unknown · May 5, 1999

Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR STALLS WHILE IDLING AT RED LIGHT

NHTSA ODI #706251

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 1999

Power Train

RECALL # 98V233000/FORD SHIFT LEVER DAMAGE; OWNER HAS CONTACTED TWO DEALERSHIPS, NEITHER DEALER HAD PARTS TO CORRECT RECALL. DEALERS CONTACTED IN NOVEMBER(1998)/ DECEMBER(1998),AND APRIL(1999). OWNER HAS RECEIVED SECOND RECALL NOTICE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837222

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 1999

Electrical System

WHEN THE HORN IS IN USE IT FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN PRESSED. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, WHICH WERE NOT DONE. HAD CONTACTED THE DEALER, AGAIN, AND WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #836845

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 1999

Seat Belts

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WAS PULLED OUT AND WOULD NOT RETRACT ON ITS OWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #836740

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 1999

Vehicle Speed Control

Read full complaint

UPON PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH, VEHICLE WILL INTERMINTENTLY MAINTAIN RPM OR GAIN RPM UNTIL VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP OR UNTIL IT DECIDES TO FALL BACK DOWN. DRIVING CONDITIONS DO NOT AFFECT THE PROBLEM, BUT VEHICLE DOES NOT MAINTAIN AN RPM OVER 5000. VEHICLE WILL ALSO MAINTAIN CURRENT SPEED WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME CAUSING THE DRIVER TO TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR TO STOP WHILE CAR MAINTAINS AN RPM OVER 3000. CONSULTED SVT SERVICE MANAGER WHO STATED PROBLEM WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF VEHICLE. MANAGER OWNS SAME VEHICLE AND HAS SAME PROBLEM, AND STATES MANY CUSTOMERS HAVE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL. HE HAS FOUND NO FIX FOR VEHICLE DESPITE MANY ATTEMPTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #705342

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 1999

Seats

LOOSE SEAT TRACK, I FEAR THAT IT MAY FAIL DURING CORNERING AND CAUSE A CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #705033

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 1999

Seats

THE DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH AS IF THE ENTIRE UNIT IS LOOSE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT MIGHT BE THE SYSTEM THAT MOUNTS THE SEAT TRACKS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. IF I HAVE A COLLISION AND THE SEAT TRACK BREAKS LOOSE WILL I BE PROTECTED? *AK

NHTSA ODI #705025

Official recalls

01V255000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

Aug 8, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY ASSEMBLY PLANT AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS MAY FRACTURE AS A RESULT OF CORROSION IN HIGH CORROSION ENVIRONMENTS. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SPRING CATCHER BRACKETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 23, 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 1-866-436-7332.

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.

00V350000 · Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly

Oct 30, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BI-FUEL VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE INSTALLATION OF THE BI-FUEL SYSTEM. IF THE GROMMET IS DAMAGED, FUEL COULD LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE GROMMET IS DAMAGED, FUEL COULD LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET.

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.

99V243000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Sep 8, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG SENSOR WIRING PIGTAIL INSULATION CAN BECOME BRITTLE AND CRACK OVER TIME DUE TO ACCUMULATION OF WATER IN THE PIGTAIL PROTECTIVE CONVOLUTE IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES RELATED TO THE ROUTING OF THE WIRING PIGTAIL NEAR THE RADIATOR. THIS CAN RESULT IN ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS CRACKING OF THE INSULATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN SOME CASES, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAN ILLUMINATE AND THE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM DISABLED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AIR BAG SENSORS WITH REVISED WIRING INSULATION. IN ADDITION, VEHICLES WHICH HAVE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WILL HAVE A NEW AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR INSTALLED.

99V194000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Jul 20, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A BURR ON OR NEAR THE END OF THE CABLE SLEEVE INTERIOR. THIS BURR COULD FRAY THE CORE WIRE RESULTING IN THE ACCELERATOR NOT RETURNING TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE THROTTLE STICKING, BINDING, OR CAUSING HIGH ENGINE RPM.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED ACCELERATOR CABLE THAT HAS A FLARED CONDUIT SLEEVE END AND MOLDED ON END FITTING.

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.

98V028000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Feb 10, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.

Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

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