Seat Belts. Review the 152 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 129 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

75 crash reports19 fire reports53 injury reports

What owners actually said

576 reports

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2002

Suspension

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT. A PIECE OF COIL SPRING HAD PUNCTURED TIRE. CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM TIRE.*AK *YD

NHTSA ODI #8007389

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2002

Suspension

CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND, UPON INSPECTION HE SAW THAT COIL SPRINGS HAD BROKEN. *AK. CONSUMER STATES THE REAR COIL SPRING BROKE ON DEC-7-2000, AND THE FRONT COIL SPRING ON MARCH 25, 2002 WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO A BRAND NEW TIRE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8007012

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2002

Steering

WHILE PARKING CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO ROTATE STEERING WHEEL 360 DEGREES. NLM *YH

NHTSA ODI #8006517

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2002

Fuel System, GasolineSeat Belts

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE RESTRAINT SAFETY BELTS WOULD LOCK ON AN IMPACT OF 5 MPH AND THAT A HARD PULL ON THE BELTS SHOULD ACUATE LOCKING MECHANISM, HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT OCCUR, BOTH BELTS FAIL TO LOCK DURING A HARD PULL.

NHTSA ODI #785911

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2002

Electrical SystemFire

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD TO CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8004933

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2002

Fuel System, GasolinePower Train

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30-40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING AFTER REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8003840

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2002

SteeringCrash

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A MINOR COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8002938

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2002

Air BagsSeat Belts

AUTOMATIC SEATBELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS STUCK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. SHE CANNOT USE SEATBELT BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER BROKE THE SEAT BELT AND REPLACED DRIVERS SEAT BELT MOTOR AND TRACK FOR FREE, NOW IT'S BROKE AGAIN. *YD

NHTSA ODI #8002401

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2002

Fuel System, Gasoline

Read full complaint

FUEL TANK INLET TUBE FULLY ROTTED BEHIND GAS CAP, CAUSING ANY REFUELING EFFORT TO COMPLETELY SPILL ON GROUND (HOLE IS SIZE OF LEMON). CAN NOT REFUEL CAR ANY MORE UNTIL THE INLET TUBE IS REPLACED. THIS IS A SURE FIRE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE FROM FORD TO REPAIR THIS? I HAVE NEVER HAD A TROUBLE OF THIS NATURE IN 34 YEARS OF OWNING CARS. I SUSPECT DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURE OR DESIGN OF THE TUBE TO ALLOW RUST CORRISION TO THE POINT A LARGE SIZE GAPING HOLE RESULTS. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ODI #756980

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2002

Air Bags

CONSUMER STATES THAT AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERITTENTLY. *TT

NHTSA ODI #563986

Official recalls

97V144000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Sep 3, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO OR WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANTS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN NEVADA, FLORIDA, HAWAII, TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, LOUISIANA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, MISSISSIPPI, OKLAHOMA, ALABAMA AND ARKANSAS. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.

97V145000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Sep 3, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ARIZONA. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.

Consequence & remedy

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

94V218000 · Air Bags:frontal

Nov 10, 1994

THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE CAN HAVE AN INADEQUATELY WELDED INFLATOR CANISTER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THE WELD SEAM CAN SEPARATE, CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO FAIL TO DEPLOY PROPERLY AND HOT GASES TO BE EXPELLED FROM THE BACK OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY FROM THE HOT GASES AND THE AIR BAG FAILURE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW AIR BAG MODULE.

94V197000 · Air Bags:frontal

Oct 11, 1994

TWO BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM MODULE TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE MISSING. IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT, THE MODULE CAN COME OUT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS WOULD NOT RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER AND WOULD RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL AND TORQUE TO SPECIFICATION THE MOUNTING BOLTS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG.

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

RQ97010 · Fuel Tank Assembly

Opened Sep 11, 1997 · Closed May 22, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

There is no summary currently available