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 · May 24, 2001

Power Train

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #889096

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

COOLANT DISCOLORATED( RUSTY AND BROWN) GOODYEAR MECHANIC EXPLAINED IT WAS WHAT IS CALLED "BROWN DEATH" CAUSED BY ENGINES NOT BEING PROPERLY PROCESSED AT FOUNDRY(POSSIBLY LEFT SAND AND METAL SHAVINGS INSIDE ENGINES. ENGINES OVERHEATS, COOLANT RUNS OUT FREEZE PLUGS BLOW OUT THERMOSTAT LOCKS UP WATER PUMP FAILS TEMPERATURE GAUGE DO…

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NHTSA ODI #745554

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2001

Power TrainCrash

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CONSUMER HAS HAD 2 INCIDENTS WITH VEHICLE ROLLING BACKWARDS AFTER BEING PUT IN PARK. DURING FIRST INCIDENT CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE IN PARK, VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND GOT OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO RUN BACK TO VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS, AND HIT HER SON'S VEHICLE BEFORE SHE COULD GET TO IT. SECOND INCIDENT WAS ON 11TH OF MAY, AGAIN CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE IN PARK; BUT, THIS TIME WAS STILL INSIDE VEHICLE. ONLY WAY OF STOPPING WAS TO PUSH DOWN OF BRAKES AND PULL UP EMERGENCY BRAKE. POLICE HAD TOWING COMPANY TO COME OUT AND LOOK. THEY STATED EVERYTIME VEHICLE WENT IN REVERSE OR PARK IT LOCKED GEARS UP. TRANSMISSION WAS ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY, AND THEY ALSO FOUND GEAR CABLE WAS CUT. CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASE. DEALER URGED CONSUMER TO PUT PARKING BRAKE ON FOR EACH NORMAL STOP. CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO GET FORD TO COOPERATE WITH PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #888195

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2001

Power Train

FORD REFERRED TO THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 98-3-7 WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON FAILURE I FOUND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR COMPLAINT WITH THE FORD VEHICLES AND THE ORIGINAL COMPONENT WAS MADE FROM ALUMINUM. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS INVESTIGATED AND FORD TO RECALL THIS PART. *AK

NHTSA ODI #745304

Mileage unknown · May 10, 2001

Equipment

AIR CONDITIONER AND COMPRESSOR AND RELATED PARTS FAILED. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS $1539.51. FORD WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH COSTS DUE TO CAR BEING OUT OF WARRANTY (SINCE IT IS A '97 VEHICLE).*AK

NHTSA ODI #745142

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2001

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE SYSTEM FUNCTIONS ERRATICALLY. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE. THERE IS A WIRE LOCATED RIGHT ABOVE BRAKE PEDAL, IF THIS WIRE IS MOVED OR TOUCHED, BRAKE SYSTEM FAILS TO FUNCTION. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #887286

Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2001

Power Train

CAR CONTINUES WITH THE NEUTRAL CONDITION OF TRANSMISSION AFTER REPAIR TRANSMISSION 7 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #744643

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2001

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

RANDOMLY VEHICLE RACES AND SURGES FORWARD IF IT IS IN DRIVE. IF IN REVERSE, IT SURGES BACKWARD. CONSUMER STATED HE HAS HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. *YH

NHTSA ODI #886704

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2001

Vehicle Speed Control

WHENEVER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP OR SLOWING DOWN AND PRESSING ON BRAKES,VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER SAID THEY DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #886487

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2001

Electrical System

WIRE INSULATION INSIDE FUEL TANK WAS WORN THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT WAS MOUNTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #886398

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.