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: 35 of 356 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 160 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
22 crash reports19 fire reports16 injury reports
What owners actually said
356 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
I HAVE HEARD ABOUT BLOWN HEAD GASKETS IN FORD WINDSTARS AND SOME INFORMATION ABOUT MUSTANGS, I JUST WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO GET MUSTANGS INVOLVED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ALSO. I RECENTLY TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAD COME ON AND I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO FLUSH OUT …
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I HAVE HEARD ABOUT BLOWN HEAD GASKETS IN FORD WINDSTARS AND SOME INFORMATION ABOUT MUSTANGS, I JUST WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO GET MUSTANGS INVOLVED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ALSO. I RECENTLY TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAD COME ON AND I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO FLUSH OUT MY RADIATOR. AFTER THAT, I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE MY WATER PUMP. AFTER THEY HAD REPLACED THAT I ASKED TO SEE IT AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE IT ANYMORE. I WAS THEN CALLED LATER AND TOLD THAT MY HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN AND THAT WOULD COST ME AN ADDITIONAL $1500 ON TOP OF THE OTHER $800 THAT I WAS BEING CHARGED FOR. I BEGAN TO DO RESEARCH ON THIS AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I AM. MY CAR IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT. I'M COMPLAINING IN HOPES THAT FORD WILL RECOGNIZE THIS AS A PROBLEM AND REIMBURSE ME FOR FIXING THEIR PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #719684
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS IN THEIR VEHICLES WHICH HAVE A 3.9L, V-6 ENGINE. RECENTLY FORD ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE STATING THAT THEY WERE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR SEVERAL CARS THAT HAVE THE 3.8L V-6 ENGINE. THE MUSTANG MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED. IF YOU VISIT THE WEB SITE WWW.THECOMPLAINTSTATION.CO…
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FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS IN THEIR VEHICLES WHICH HAVE A 3.9L, V-6 ENGINE. RECENTLY FORD ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE STATING THAT THEY WERE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR SEVERAL CARS THAT HAVE THE 3.8L V-6 ENGINE. THE MUSTANG MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED. IF YOU VISIT THE WEB SITE WWW.THECOMPLAINTSTATION.COM YOU WILL SEE SEVERAL HUNDRED COMPLAINTS POSTED REGARDING BLOWN HEADGASKETS IN FORD MUSTANGS EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L, V-6 ENGINE. TO DATE, FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY THIS COLOSSAL PROBLEM. I AM SEARCHING FOR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TO BECOME INVOLVED IN AGAINST FORD. SO FAR, I HAVE NOT FOUND ONE IN PROGRESS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!! *AK
NHTSA ODI #719557
Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES WITH A 3.8 LITER ENGINE, AND THE ENGINE HAS AN BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHICH CAUSES ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. MANUFACTURER IS PROVIDING ADDITIONAL WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE WINDSTAR AND THE TAURUS MANUFACTURED IN 1994 AND 1995 . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #857698
Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE METAL SEALING RING, WITHIN THE HEAD GASKET, THAT IS TO FORM A HIGH PRESSURE SEAL BETWEEN THE CYLINDER BLOCK AND HEAD IS NOT CONCENTRIC TO THE CYLINDER. THIS DEFECT OCCURRED WITH BOTH(2) HEAD GASKETS(SAME CYLINDER LOCATION). THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT OCCURED WITH THE '95-'96 3.8L TRANSVERSE ENGINES (FORD ISSUED A TSB FOR …
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THE METAL SEALING RING, WITHIN THE HEAD GASKET, THAT IS TO FORM A HIGH PRESSURE SEAL BETWEEN THE CYLINDER BLOCK AND HEAD IS NOT CONCENTRIC TO THE CYLINDER. THIS DEFECT OCCURRED WITH BOTH(2) HEAD GASKETS(SAME CYLINDER LOCATION). THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT OCCURED WITH THE '95-'96 3.8L TRANSVERSE ENGINES (FORD ISSUED A TSB FOR A '96 WINSTAR I OWN).) *AK
NHTSA ODI #719373
Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
I AM GOING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN MY CAR FOR THE SECOND TIME-DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKETS AND ALUMINUM HEADS AND BLOCK. *AK
NHTSA ODI #718630
Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2000
Parking Brake
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. YH
NHTSA ODI #550883
Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. IT IS DAMAGING THE ENGINE BLOCK . ENGINE NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #856059
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #855901
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE TRAVELING FROM FLORIDA TO WISCONSIN THE CAR OVERHEATED ON THE HIGHWAY IN NORTHERN ALABAMA. I PULLED OFF HIGHWAY AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR REPAIR . THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE RE PLACED. THE MECHANIC CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN CULLMAN AL. THEY REF…
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WHILE TRAVELING FROM FLORIDA TO WISCONSIN THE CAR OVERHEATED ON THE HIGHWAY IN NORTHERN ALABAMA. I PULLED OFF HIGHWAY AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR REPAIR . THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE RE PLACED. THE MECHANIC CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN CULLMAN AL. THEY REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED AT A COST OF $950.00 . I HAVE SEEN IN YOUR WEB PAGE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THERE MUSTANGS OF THE SAME YEAR AND SIMILAR MILEAGE. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND SHOULD BE ADDRESED BY FORD. I FEEL FORD SHOULD TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY AND PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND OTHER INCONVIENCES I ENCURED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #717793
Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2000
Seat Belts
FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT PULL OUT TO LATCH, COMPLETELY JAMMED IN SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. *AK
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.
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.
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.
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
4
EA98013 · 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.
1994 Ford Mustang Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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