Structure. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

28 crash reports9 fire reports22 injury reports

What owners actually said

419 reports

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2003

Structure

CONSUMER STATED THAT DASHBOARD WAS DETACHING FROM THE GRILL, AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10041988

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT SHUT DOWN TWICE. SHE WAS AFRAID THAT SOMEDAY IT WOULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER/MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR FIX IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10040098

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2003

Structure

THE DASHBOARD SEPARATED FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED THE DEFROSTER TO FAIL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10033724

30,000 miles · Sep 12, 2003

Structure

THE DASHBOARD WARPED WHICH CAUSED THE DEFROSTER GRILL TO SEPARATE AND RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY AT THE LOWER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. *AK *TS

NHTSA ODI #10030189

35,000 miles · Sep 12, 2003

Structure

THE DASHBOARD SEPARATED FROM THE WINDSHIELD WHICH CAUSED THE DEFROSTER VENT TO MALFUNCTION AND BLOCKED THE DRIVER'S VISION. AK THE DEFROSTER VENTS POPPED OUT OF THE DASH. THE DASH SLID UP INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED A SIZEABLE GAP BETWEEN THE TWO WHICH RESTRICTED THE DRIVERS VIEW. THE PROBLEM MAY CAUSE THE PASSENGER SID…

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NHTSA ODI #10029447

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2003

Structure

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT DASHBOARD PROBLEMS ON PASSANGER'S SIDE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10038010

62,000 miles · Aug 26, 2003

Structure

THE DASHBOARD IS BLISTERING AND FLAKING. CONSUMER IS BARELY ABLE TO SEE OVER THE DASHBOARD BECAUSE OF THE WARPING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10037695

48,000 miles · Aug 26, 2003

Structure

DASHBOARD HAS WRAPPED AND SEPARATED FROM THE STRUCTURE. THIS IS REDUCING DRIVER'S VISIBILITY BECAUSE THE DASHBOARD HAS LIFTED UPWARDS INFRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD. AN OWNERS NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS SENT OUT PRIOR , BUT THE FAILURE HAD NOT OCCURRED, SO IT WASN'T REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10037662

60,000 miles · Aug 5, 2003

Seat BeltsCrashInjury

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I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELTS IN MY CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR. BOTH SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT DON'T SEEM TO RETRACT AND GET TANGELED AND TWISTED ALL THE TIME. I HAVE MANUALLY ADJUSTED THEM EVERYTIME I DROVE. JUST 5 MONTHS AGO I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT, I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AT A LIGHT AND WAS REAR ENDED CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CAR INFRONT OF ME. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING ME A CONCUSION. MY SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT TO HOLD ME BACK AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD PAY FOR THE SEAT BELTS TO BE FIXED AND THEY DID NOT METION ANYTHING ABOUT THE AIRBAG. I MANAGED TO UNTANGLE THE SEAT BELTS ON MY CAR AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE BUCKLES ARE FACING THE WRONG WAY. THIS I COMPARED TO OTHER CARS AND FORDS AS WELL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10030826

81,898 miles · Aug 1, 2003

Electrical SystemFire

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, A FOG OF MIST LEAKED THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK PER INSPECTION; A SHORT WAS FOUND IN THE MAIN WIRING LOOM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10029346

Official recalls

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.

99V060000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Mar 17, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WHICH UTILIZE A PARK/LOCK SOLENOID. IT IS POSSIBLE TO ROTATE THE IGNITION KEY TO THE LOCK POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT THE SHIFT LEVER AND TRANSMISSION BEING IN PARK. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES. VEHICLES THAT HAVE UNITS WITH IGNITION KEYS REMOVABLE IN GEAR POSITIONS OTHER THAN PARK, WILL HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED.

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

DP06004 · Instrument Panel Cover Warpage

Opened Oct 23, 2006 · Closed Apr 10, 2007

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure; Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:fan/motor

THE AGENCY HAS DENIED A PETITION REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION OF INSTRUMENT PANEL WARPAGE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. THE NOTICE OF DENIAL WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER, VOLUME 72, NUMBER 67, ON MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2007, PAGES 17605 AND 17606.SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH FOR DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Structure

Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:fan/motor

EA01001 · Blower Switch/resistor Or Wiring Harness

Opened Jan 5, 2001 · Closed Jul 31, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

Electrical System

There is no summary currently available