Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 153 of 1,450 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Tires. Review the 570 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 148 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 120 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
195 crash reports37 fire reports179 injury reports
What owners actually said
1,450 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control
I FILED THIS FORM MONTHS AGO, IF I WAS STILL DRIVING THIS CAR, RATHER THAN JUST PARKING IT, I COULD BE DEAD BY NOW. YOU HAVE PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. DATELINE DID A WHOLE SHOW ON THIS, WHATS THE HOLD UP. WHY ARENT YOU MAKING SURE FORD IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE. PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE JUST OUT OF LUCK. …
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I FILED THIS FORM MONTHS AGO, IF I WAS STILL DRIVING THIS CAR, RATHER THAN JUST PARKING IT, I COULD BE DEAD BY NOW. YOU HAVE PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. DATELINE DID A WHOLE SHOW ON THIS, WHATS THE HOLD UP. WHY ARENT YOU MAKING SURE FORD IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE. PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE JUST OUT OF LUCK. I CANT EVEN SELL THIS CAR, AND THE DEALER DOESNT WANT IT BACK. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS. IT CANT WAIT FOR A WHOLE BUNCH OF BEURACRACY CRAP. PLEASE HELP. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705393
Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 1999
TiresCrashInjury
PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TIRE OUTSIDE STEEL BELT SEPARATED FROM THE TIRES AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #834621
Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 1999
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
THE CONSUMER WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND THERE WA S A PROBLEM WITH THE OVERDRIVE. ALSO, WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO REPAIR SHOP 20 TIMES FOR REPAIRS, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #836430
Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 1999
Power Train
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705123
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE DEVELOPED ENGINE KNOCKING NOISE WHICH RESULTS FROM POOR PERFORMANCE. *YC
NHTSA ODI #544667
Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 1999
Visibility
FRONT DIFFERENTIAL VENT TUBE SPRAYS OUT LUBRICANT BEACAUSE THE VENT MECHAMISM IS DEFFECTIVE. YH
NHTSA ODI #782036
Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
ENGINE FAILED. YH
NHTSA ODI #782035
Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 1999
Power Train
PHIL CALDWELL FROM THE AUTO SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FORD PUT OUT A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL (LEAK) PROBLEM. TO PREVENT FUTURE LEAKS, THE COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FORD HAD IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM, BUT FAILED TO RECALL. IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. AS A CONSUMER, I HAD TO PAY THE REPAIRS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #704718
Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 1999
Air BagsSteeringCrash
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO HITTING A DEER. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WENT INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS TOP. BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED AND HAD NOTHING POSTIVE TO SAY. SEEKING NHTSA FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #835505
Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 1999
Unknown Or Other
ACCORDING TO NHTSA MY CAR HAS HAD RECALLS BUT DELEAR SAYS THEIR AREN'T ANY I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR SOME HELP,THANK YOU
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LIFTGATE ASSIST GAS CYLINDER BRACKET ON THE RIGHT HAND BODYSIDE OUTER PANEL WAS INCORRECTLY WELDED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE GAS CYLINDER BRACKET MAY NOT PROPERLY SUPPORT THE LIFTGATE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENT WITH TWO POP RIVETS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5.0L ENGINES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, IDAHO, IOWA, MAINE, MICHIGAN (UPPER PENINSULA ONLY), MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THESE VEHICLES, WHEN OPERATED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TEMPERATURES BELOW -20 DEGREES FARENHEIT, DO NOT RETURN TO IDLE DUE TO ICE IN THE THROTTLE BODY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN BE CONTROLLED BY EITHER APPLYING THE SERVICE BRAKES OR SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTS OR SOME INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE CAN RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PCV SYSTEM WITH WATER HEATED VACUUM SOURCE.
THE CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAS INCORRECT REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE DESIGNATIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INCORRECT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR TIRES. .
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.
WHEN IN THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, THE DRIVER DOOR LATCHES MAY OPEN WHEN SUBJECTED TO TRANSVERSE LOADS LESS THAN THAT SPECIFIED IN FMVSS NO. 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WHEN CLOSED ONLY TO THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, MAY NOT SUSTAIN A 1,000 POUND TRANSVERSE LOAD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH.
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
3
PE00039 · Front Suspension Stabilizer Bar Link
Opened Sep 20, 2000 · Closed Nov 30, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE99068 · Accelerator Pedal
Opened Nov 1, 1999 · Closed Mar 9, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
PE97010 · Electrical Fire In Center Console
Opened Mar 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 4, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
THIS INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT CONSOLE FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MOST OFTEN OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE LAMP OUTAGE MODULE (LOM), WHICH IS PART OF THE MESSAGE CENTER, WERE TOWING A TRAILER AND WHICH HAD BEEN MODIFIED BY ADDING AN AFTERMARKET TRAILER WIRING HARNESS INTO THE VEHICLE'S TAILLIGHT CIRCUITS.THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES NEVER AND MORE THAN OTHER TRAILER LIGHT BULB TO ONE CIRCUIT HOWEVER TRAILERS FREQUENTLY CONTAIN SEVERAL BULBS.THE RESULTING EXCESS CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE LOM COULD CAUSE IT TO OVERHEAT RESULTING IN A FIRE.PROPER AFTERMARKET INSTALLATION OF TRAILER WIRING REQUIRES THE USE OF A BYPASS MODULE, WHICH OBTAINS POWER FOR THE TRAILER LIGHTS DIRECTLY FROM THE BATTERY RATHER THAN FROM THE VEHICLE'S TAIL LIGHT AND STOP LAMP CIRCUITS, OR THE USE OF THE MANUFACTURER'S WIRING HARNESS.IN A LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 2, 1997, FORD NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT INTENDS TO TAKE ACTION TO PRECLUDE FURTHER INCIDENTS INCLUDING ISSUING A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS, NOTIFYING TRAILER RENTAL ASSOCIATIONS AND AGENCIES WHERE KNOWN, AND ADVISING OWNERS BY LETTER OF THE PROPER METHOD FOR CONNECTION OF TRAILER TOW WIRING ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE WAS NO DEFECT TREND IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IDENTIFIED AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION, AND FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT WARRANTED TO CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION.
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