BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 1989. FIRST EARLY PROBLEMS WITH CIGARETTE LIGHTER/ELECTRICAL/HEATING UP INSIDE DASH.- SERVICED 3-4 TIMES, UNDER WARRANTY. FREON LEAKS IN AIR CONDITIONER - REPAIRED TWICE. FUEL LINE REPLACED. STEERING COLUM JAM OF SOMESORT - NO KEY ACCESS. REPLACED 3 ALTERNATORS. CANNOT SHIFT TRANSMISSION INTO OVERDRIVE. …
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BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 1989. FIRST EARLY PROBLEMS WITH CIGARETTE LIGHTER/ELECTRICAL/HEATING UP INSIDE DASH.- SERVICED 3-4 TIMES, UNDER WARRANTY. FREON LEAKS IN AIR CONDITIONER - REPAIRED TWICE. FUEL LINE REPLACED. STEERING COLUM JAM OF SOMESORT - NO KEY ACCESS. REPLACED 3 ALTERNATORS. CANNOT SHIFT TRANSMISSION INTO OVERDRIVE. REBUILT BY AAMCO. BLEW HEAD GASKET. RADIATOR COOLANT COMMING OUT FROM MUFFLER. GOT RID OF CAR AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA ODI #10070904
Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKETS FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #563080
Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
20 MINUTES AFTER PARKING VEHICLE EXPLODED, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #878204
Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury
GASKET IN MIDDLE SECTION OF ENGINE WAS SO NARROW IT FAILED COMPLETELY. THE CAR OVER HEATED MANY TIMES AND NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND AT TIMES IT OVER HEATED. REPLACED MANY PARTS THERMASTAT, RADIATOR,CATILITIC CONVERTER TESTED. WHEN MID SECTION DISASSEMBLED THE GASKET WAS SHOWN TO ME AND IT WAS UNDOUTEDLY A POOR DESIGN. TOO NAR…
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GASKET IN MIDDLE SECTION OF ENGINE WAS SO NARROW IT FAILED COMPLETELY. THE CAR OVER HEATED MANY TIMES AND NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND AT TIMES IT OVER HEATED. REPLACED MANY PARTS THERMASTAT, RADIATOR,CATILITIC CONVERTER TESTED. WHEN MID SECTION DISASSEMBLED THE GASKET WAS SHOWN TO ME AND IT WAS UNDOUTEDLY A POOR DESIGN. TOO NARROW TO HOLD ON ANY VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #728864
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
IF I CAN GET IT FIXED FREE LET ME KNOW.... I'LL BE HAPPY TO COOPERATE WITH ABOUT ANY ACTIONS TAKEN...
NHTSA ODI #728472
Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
POSSIBLY HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. HEARD 3.8L HAD RECALL ON THEM AND SHOULD CONTACT YOU. *AK
NHTSA ODI #725876
Mileage unknown · May 9, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON FORD 3.8L V-6 ENGINE, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING AND CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST $1,500 TO $2,000. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE COVERING MANY YEARS AND DIFFERENT FORD MODEL CARS. FORD HAS EXTENDED EXISTING WARRANTIES FOR SOME MODELS BUT ONLY BACK TO YEAR 1994. PRO…
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ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON FORD 3.8L V-6 ENGINE, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING AND CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST $1,500 TO $2,000. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE COVERING MANY YEARS AND DIFFERENT FORD MODEL CARS. FORD HAS EXTENDED EXISTING WARRANTIES FOR SOME MODELS BUT ONLY BACK TO YEAR 1994. PROBLEM IS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT HEAD GASKET THICKNESS AND CYLINDER HEAD BOLT TENSION. ALUMINUM HEADS EVENTUALLY WARP, AND ENGINE COOLANT IS DRAWN INTO ONE OR MORE CYLINDERS CAUSING MISFIRING, POTENTIAL BEARING DAMAGE, EXHAUST SYSTEM CONTAMINATION, OVERHEATING, CRACKED CYLINDER HEADS, CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK. CARS AFFECTED INCLUDE WINDSTAR, MERCURY SABLE, MUSTANG, THUNDERBIRD, LINCOLN, TAURUS, FROM 1988 TO 1997. CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY, WASH D.C., HAS WRITTEN TO FORD CEO AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, DEMANDING THAT FORD COVER ALL SUCH FAILURES FOR THE PREVOUSLY STATED PERIOD. FORD HAS REFUSED TO DO SO. IN ADDITION TO ENGINE/EXHAUST DAMAGE, SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED CAN RESULT IN A REAR END COLLISION BY VEHICLES FOLLOWING, ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND/OR LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. FORD REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT, BUT REDESIGNED THE GASKET AND HEAD BOLTS, AND ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SPECIFYING THE USE OF THE NEW PARTS WHENEVER HEAD GASKET REPAIRS ARE MADE BY A FORD DEALER.
NHTSA ODI #722428
Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility
DEFECTIVE RESENT CLIP DOES NOT WORK FALLS FROM UNDERNEATH AND KILLS MOTOR RESENT EATS UP THE GLUE. RESULTING IN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #813372
Mileage unknown · May 28, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling
RPM STAYS AT 1500 TO 2000, USUALLY OCCURS AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN/TURNED OFF/TURNED BACK ON.
NHTSA ODI #517477
Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
AFTER RETURNING HOME, PARKED VEHICLE, VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING THEN WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, FIRE DEPT ARRIVED, PUT FLAMES OUT, SAID LOCATION OF FIRE IN ENGINE AREA, POLICE ARRIVED ON SCENE. *AK
IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLES COULD EXPERIENCE HIGH MILEAGE FATIGUE CRACKS AND EVENTUAL FRACTURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE AT THEAFFECTED WHEEL WITH AN ADVERSE AFFECT ON CONTROL OF THE CAR, WHICH COULDCAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE KNUCKLES THAT HAVE THE AFFECTED LOT CODES.
DUE TO CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CALIPER OF THE INBOARD FRONT WHEEL AND THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR, THERE MAY BE INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL FOLLOWING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE A REDUCTION IN BRAKE PERFORMANCETHAT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL ACORN TYPE FRONT SUSPENSION STRUT NUTS TO ELIMINATE STABILIZER BAR TO BRAKE CALIPER CONTACT.
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