Power Train. Review the 214 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 145 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 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.

64 crash reports12 fire reports41 injury reports

What owners actually said

770 reports

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2001

Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN, ACCELERATOR LOCKED UP AND VEHICLE SPED UP. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT GEAR SELECTOR IN NEUTRAL TO KEEP FROM HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK THE ENGINE ALSO REVS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *TT

NHTSA ODI #897054

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2001

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE JUMPED IN FRONT OF HIM. HE WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #896929

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2001

Tires

TREAD SEPARATION CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #9003910

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2001

Fuel System, GasolineUnknown Or Other

WOULD BE DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD COME ON. PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC INDICATED NOTHING WRONG, ONLY FUEL CAP NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #896333

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2001

Power Train

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I HAVE HAD TO PUT TRANSMMISSION IN MY CAR. THE SECOND ONE WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 469 AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE HIT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. MY CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND I WAS ALMOST T-BONED BY ANOTHER CAR. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HELP ME, WHICH IS SCHWART FORD OUT OF DECATURE INDIANA. THEY SAID I WAS OVE THE WARRANTY WHICH WAS ONE YEAR OR 12,000 MILES. I HAD THE FIRST TRANSMISSION PUT IN AT 47,000 AND THE SECOND ONE IS GOING IN AT 81,000.00 I WILL NOT BE HAVING IT DONE BY FORD. I AM TAKING IT ELSE WHERE. FIRST OF ALL SCHWARTA FORD CHARGED ME FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. DURING A CONVERSATION WITH THEM THE OWNED MIKE MORRISON STATED THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT A REBUILT TRANSMISSION IN A CAR. I HAVE A RECEIPT THAT STATES IT WAS FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #752143

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2001

Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN WORKING INTERMITENTLY FOR A FEW WEEKS. IT HAS NOW PROGRESSED TO TOTAL FAILURE. THE WIPER ASSEMBLY WILL NOT WORK ON ANY SETTING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #751988

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2001

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

A/C COMPRESSOR SEIZED CAUSING DRIVEBELT FAILURE AND LOSS OF STEERING, ALTERNATOR, AND POWER BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751813

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2001

Interior LightingVisibility

DOME LIGHT REMAINS ON ONCE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF OR WHEN DOORS ARE CLOSED.ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOWS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #895681

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2001

Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

CHECK ENGINE WENT ON AND ENGINE STOPPED ACCELERATING, RESERVOIR EMPTIED, DEALER SAYS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751528

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

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CAR IS IN SHOP HAVING 2 CRACKED HEADS REPLACED. MECHANIC WAS ADVISED TO KEEP ALL PARTS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE FORD TAURUS 3.8 ENGINE HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE FORD COMPANY TOLD ME THAT THE 3.0 ENGINE WAS BUILT IN ATLANTA GA. AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON IT.THE ALLDATA SERVICE BULLETIN 97-24-16 ISSUED 11-24-94 SAID TO SIMPLY EXTRAPOLATE THE 3.8L ENGINE FOR THE WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THE 3.0. WE ALMOST HAD A BAD ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE ENGINE DIED WITH NO WARNING ON A BUSY FREEWAY. IF IT IS A INGITION MODULAR PROBLEM ALSO I DON'T KNOW AT THIS TIME. I FEEL THIS VEH ENGINE SHOULD HAVE LASTED MORE THAN 91,334 MILES. IF FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE IT SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED BEFORE ANYMORE BREAKDOWNS OCCUR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #751351

Official recalls

98V028000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Feb 10, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.

Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

97V097000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Jun 9, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AX4S AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES. THE LOW/INTERMEDIATE SERVO COVER CAN SEPARATE FROM THE TRANSAXLE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. IF THIS OCCURS, TRANSMISSION FLUID WILL LEAK CONTACTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TEMPERATURE MAY BE HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THESE SERVO COVERS.

96V166000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Sep 5, 1996

THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.