NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
356 reportsMileage unknown · Aug 3, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET BLOWN IN APRIL 2000, NOW AUG 2001, I NEED WHOLE NEW ENGINE AT ONLY 85,000. THIS IS NOT RIGHT, AND THE HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE FAILURE ARE RELATED. IF HEAD GASKETS WERE RECALLED, AND IF THEY ARE CONNECTED, WHY ISN'T THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS RELATED FAILURE? OR IS THERE? FORD OF KIRKLAND WHO FIXED M…
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HEAD GASKET BLOWN IN APRIL 2000, NOW AUG 2001, I NEED WHOLE NEW ENGINE AT ONLY 85,000. THIS IS NOT RIGHT, AND THE HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE FAILURE ARE RELATED. IF HEAD GASKETS WERE RECALLED, AND IF THEY ARE CONNECTED, WHY ISN'T THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS RELATED FAILURE? OR IS THERE? FORD OF KIRKLAND WHO FIXED MY HEAD GASKETS ONLY GAURENTEE'S THIER WORK FOR 12MONTHS/12,000MILES.*AK
NHTSA ODI #749786
Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #891230
Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
HEAD GASKET WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. ENGINE QUIT THEN WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. A LITTLE TOO LATE! *AK
NHTSA ODI #747214
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2001
Air Bags
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL FLASH ON DASHBOARD. THEN, LIGHT WILL STAY ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER TIGHTENED GROUND TO MODULE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #890772
Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAD THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 4 WEEKS AND THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO ENTER THE ENGINE. I AM HAVING TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. I CONTACTED FORD AND GOT NO WHERE WITH THEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE 7 YEAR WINDOW ON MY CAR EXIRED A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. I THINK THAT FORD SHOULD HONOR ITS MOTO OF CUS…
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I HAD THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 4 WEEKS AND THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO ENTER THE ENGINE. I AM HAVING TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. I CONTACTED FORD AND GOT NO WHERE WITH THEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE 7 YEAR WINDOW ON MY CAR EXIRED A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. I THINK THAT FORD SHOULD HONOR ITS MOTO OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #746844
Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2001
Electrical SystemPower Train
MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY THEY REBUILT IT, AND AT THAT TIME I HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT THE FUSE PROBLEM THEY SAID IT WAS SOME WIRE NEAR THE SEAT TRACK SOO THEY REPLACED IT. IT WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE WELL THE WARRANTY IS NO LONGER VALID AND THE FUSE CONTINUES TO BLOW …
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MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY THEY REBUILT IT, AND AT THAT TIME I HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT THE FUSE PROBLEM THEY SAID IT WAS SOME WIRE NEAR THE SEAT TRACK SOO THEY REPLACED IT. IT WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE WELL THE WARRANTY IS NO LONGER VALID AND THE FUSE CONTINUES TO BLOW I HAVE TO PUT A NEW FUSE IN EVERY TIME I NEED TO MOVE THE SEAT I ONLY GET ONE SHOT AT IT FOR IT WILL BLOW IN A FEW SECONDS I HAVE'NT TAKEN IT BACK. *AK
NHTSA ODI #746613
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
I KNEW ABOUT HEAD GASKET FAILURES WITH THE FORD 3.8L ENGINES. AS MY CAR IS 7.4 YEARS OLD I WAS TOLD IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS ENGINE IS A LEMON. *AK
NHTSA ODI #746458
Mileage unknown · May 15, 2001
Air Bags
WAS TRAVELING 50MPH AND SUDDENLY/WITHOUT ANY WARNING PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. AFTER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. *AK
NHTSA ODI #888299
Mileage unknown · May 11, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, ENGINE REPLCD,TRANS. REPLCD 4X PROBLEM STILL THERE,REAR DEFROST WIRE CAUGHT ON FIRE,A/C ON&OFF,SEAT GEAR DOES NOT WORK,HORN DOES NOT WORK,AIR FLOW SENSOR REPLACED AFTER 5,000 MILES,
NHTSA ODI #745212
Mileage unknown · May 10, 2001
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP AND CAUSE VIBRATION IN VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #887957
Official recalls
4Oct 3, 2001
EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE REPLACED AFTER APRIL 5, 2000. THE REPLACEMENT DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE INFLATOR MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT WELDS THAT COULD PREVENT PROPER INFLATION OF THE AIR BAG.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN LESS THAN THE INTENDED LEVEL OF OCCUPANT PROTECTION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 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.
Oct 30, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. IF A VEHICLE IS PARKED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE NOT FULLY APPLIED AND NOT IN FIRST GEAR, AS DIRECTED IN THE OWNER GUIDE, AND THE SELF ADJUSTMENT PAWL SUBSEQUENTLY SKIPS ONE OR TWO TEETH, THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE ON SOME GRADES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL AND INSTALL A PLATE OR OVER-BRACKET TO THE CONTROL TO LOCK THE SELF ADJUST MECHANISM IN POSITION FOLLOWING ADJUSTMENT.
Oct 20, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS. TEARING OF THE BOND BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER HOOD PANELS DURING MINOR FRONT END COLLISIONS CAN RESULT IN A GAP AT THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HOOD. AIR FORCED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER PANELS CAN PRODUCE ENOUGH PRESSURE TO FORCE THE OUTER PANEL UPWARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE OUTER HOOD PANEL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HOOD AREA FOR ANY DAMAGE ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HOOD. IF THERE IS ANY EVIDENCE OF BOND SEPARATION, THE HOOD WILL BE REPLACED. IF THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF BOND SEPARATION, ADDITIONAL ADHESIVE WILL BE APPLIED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER HOOD PANELS.
Mar 27, 1995
THE WIRE HARNESS ON THESE SEATS IS BANDED TO THE FRONT SEAT CUSHION SUPPORTS. THE END OF ONE OF THE SUPPORTS CAN PUNCTURE THE HARNESS, RESULTING IN A HIGH RESISTANCE ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OVERHEATING CAN RESULT, AND MELTING, SMOKE AND POSSIBLE IGNITION OF THE SURROUNDING MATERIALS CAN OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE TIE STRAP FROM EACH OF THE FRONT SEATS.
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
4EA98013 · Parking Brake
Opened May 27, 1998 · Closed Oct 31, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE97051 · Parking Brake Failure
Opened Dec 23, 1997 · Closed May 27, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE NUMBER OF CRASHES REPORTED TOT HE MANUFACTURER WARRANTS FURTHER THIS INVESTIGATION
EA97018 · Outer Hood Panel Detachment
Opened Sep 30, 1997 · Closed Oct 22, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE97011 · Outer Hood Panel Detachment
Opened Mar 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 30, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION HAS RECEIVED 6 REPORTS INDICATING THE OUTER HOOD PANEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLES AS THEY WERE BEING DRIVEN.FORD HAS PROVIDE 39 ADDITIONAL REPORTS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH ODI REPORTS.FORD INDICATES THAT THE LIKELY CAUSE IS PRIOR COLLISION DAMAGE.THIS INVESTIGATION IS BEING UPGRADED TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.
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