Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 289 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 269 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 81 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

51 crash reports23 fire reports30 injury reports

What owners actually said

923 reports

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1999

Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE OIL PAN IS RUSTING UNDER THE PAINT . DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851699

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 1999

Power Train

NO SUMMARY.

NHTSA ODI #713774

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 1999

Engine And Engine Cooling

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #713671

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 1999

Engine And Engine Cooling

Read full complaint

MY WIFE HAD BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE FORD DEALER (STAR FORD) THE PREVIOUS OCTOBER BECAUSE THE CAR HAD STALLED AND DIED IN AN INTERSECTION. NOTHING WAS FOUND TO BE WRONG. SHE HAD IT IN AGAIN FOR STANDARD SERVICING AND COMPLAINED ABOUT IT RUNNING ROUGH BUT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND WRONG. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND RUN ROUGH. SHE MANAGED TO DRIVE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. WE CONTACTED FORD SINCE MY WIFE HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THEM STATING THAT DUE TO REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKETS THEY WERE EXTENDING THE WARANTY UNTIL THE END OF 1997 OR 60,000 MILES. WE MISSED IT BY A MONTH AND A HALF, OR 5,000 MILES, AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO HELP US OUT. WE HAD THE CAR REPAIRED BUT THIS PAST WEEK, ON OCT. 14 THE NEW HEAD GASKET BLEW. BASED ON THIS EXPERIENCE AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER LETTERS THAT I HAVE READ ON VARIOUS INTERNET WEB SITES, IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE WITH THIS PARTICULAR MOTOR. ALTHOUGH IN MY CASE, WE HAD NO DANGER INVOLVED WITH THE BREAKDOWN, WE WERE LUCKY TO BE DRIVING IN TOWN WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF HELP. FORD HAS APPARENTLY NOT DONE ANYTHING TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM FOR THE OLDER MODELS LIKE MINE OR EVEN NEWER MODELS. I CALLED THEIR SERVICE TECHNICIAN NUMBER STATING MY CONCERN THAT SHOULD I REPAIR THE CAR AGAIN AT CONSIDERABLE COST, IT WOULD PROBABLY NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I INDICATED THAT MY ONLY RECOURSE WAS TO TRADE THE CAR IN AND LET THE PENDING PROBLEM END UP BEING SOME OTHER UNSUSPECTING PERSONS BURDEN. I AM RELUCTANT TO DO THIS BUT ALL FORD COULD SAY WAS THAT IT WAS UP TO ME, THEY COULDN"T DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA ODI #713661

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 1999

Power Train

CAR WAS BEING OPERATED ON IS HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED,CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE ALL FORWARD MOTION AND COASTED TO A STOP DURING RUSH HOUR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #713636

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 1999

Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILED WHILE DRIVING, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER CALLED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED PER RECALL DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR HAD OVER 50,000 MILES. NLM

NHTSA ODI #549143

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 1999

Power Train

WHEN DRIVING AT 40 MPH TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, AND VEHICLE WOULD'NT GO ANYWHERE, AND SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851237

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 1999

Power Train

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS. WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE WILL JERK AND DOWNSHIFT LATE. WHEN ON AN INCLINE AND IN DRIVE POSITION, THE CAR WILL ROLL BACKWARDS. DEALER HAS VEHICLE NOW. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851160

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1999

Steering

THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO CONTROL DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850885

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 1999

Engine And Engine Cooling

Read full complaint

THE HEAD GASKETS WERE DEFECTIVE. REPAIRED AND DEFECTIVE A SECOND TIME. THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED. FORD MOTOR FINALLY ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY IN THE FORM OF FIXING IT AT NO COST. HOWEVER, 2.5 MONTHS LATER THE WATER PUMP, RADIATOR AND MOTOR MOUNTS ALL FAILED. FORD REFUSED TO ASSIST IN PAYING FOR THE PUMP AND RADIATOR. THEN REFUSED TO FIX THE MOTOR MOUNTS. I WENT TO THREE GARAGES WHO INDICATED TO ME THAT WHEN MAJOR ENGINE WORK IS DONE ($4,300 WORTH - ENGINE BLOCKS REPLACED) THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED THE OTHER ITEMS ALSO AS THEY WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER. WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR APPROX. $800 AND MOTOR MOUNTS APPROX $300.

NHTSA ODI #713300

Official recalls

98V323000 · Structure:frame And Members

Dec 16, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.

98V009000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Jan 21, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION CAN AFFECT A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE ROADWAY AND REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT INCORPORATES A CRICUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND WIRING, IF NEEDED.

97V025000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Feb 26, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WATER CAN ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT COULD FREEZE WITHIN A LOW AREA OF THE CABLE ROUTING WHEN EXPOSED TO A LONG TERM COLD SOAK AT TEMPERATURES AT LEAST SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DRIVER CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED USING THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.

97V019000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan

Feb 25, 1997

THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.

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

RQ99017 · Front Suspension Spring

Opened Aug 9, 1999 · Closed Feb 16, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available

EA96024 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires

Opened Sep 30, 1996 · Closed Apr 15, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

There is no summary currently available

EA96019 · Headlight Failure

Opened Jul 31, 1996 · Closed Jan 26, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

EXCESSIVE HEAT IN AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED CIRCUIT BREAKER WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAUSED THAT CIRCUIT BREAKER TO OPEN FOR TIME PERIODS OF VARYING LENGTH TO COOL OFF.OPENING OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER IN THIS MANNER INTERRUPTS ELECTRIC CURRENT FLOW TO THE HEADLIGHTS, SHUTTING THEM OFF.HEADLIGHT OUTAGES HAVE RANGER FROM BRIEF FLICKERS (LESS THAN ONE SECOND) TO GREATER THAN 20 SECONDS.OVER TIME, THE OUTAGES GROW IN LENGTH AND DURATION BECAUSE OF HEAT-INDUCED DETERIORATION OF THE SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRING.RECALL 98V-009 WILL APPLY TO APPROXIMATELY 506,000 TAURUS, SABLE, MARK VIII, AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM 1-DEC.-92 THROUGH 30-SEP-93 AT THE ATLANTA, CHICAGO,AND WIXOM ASSEMBLY PLANTS.87% OF MY 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE AND 97% OF MY 1993-1995 MARK VIII WARRANTY REPAIRS (HEADLIGHT SWITCH REPLACEMENT) INVOLVED VEHICLES BUILT DURING THE DEC. 92 - OCT. 93 BUILD RANGE.

PE96033 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires

Opened May 2, 1996 · Closed Sep 30, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.