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: 14 of 423 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 171 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 119 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports7 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
423 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control
THROTTLE STUCK IN WIDE OPEN OR NEAR WIDE OPEN POSITION - DETAILS FOLLOW. I HAD EXPERIENCE DOWNSHIFT PROBLEMS BEFORE AND WHEN I NOTICED MY MOST RECENT DOWNSHIFT EVENT, IT WAS AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS. ON MERGING, THE CAR FAILED TO DROP OUT OF PASSING GEAR. I PULLED OVER AND INVESTIGATED TO FIND THE "THROTTLE VALVE CABLE" WAS LOOSE…
Read full complaint
THROTTLE STUCK IN WIDE OPEN OR NEAR WIDE OPEN POSITION - DETAILS FOLLOW. I HAD EXPERIENCE DOWNSHIFT PROBLEMS BEFORE AND WHEN I NOTICED MY MOST RECENT DOWNSHIFT EVENT, IT WAS AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS. ON MERGING, THE CAR FAILED TO DROP OUT OF PASSING GEAR. I PULLED OVER AND INVESTIGATED TO FIND THE "THROTTLE VALVE CABLE" WAS LOOSE FROM THE THROTTLE BRACKET. I TRIED TO FIND REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE WORN GROMMET WHICH HAD ALLOWED IT TO DEPART THE BRACKET AND FOUND IT TO BE A "DEALER-ONLY" PART. DEALER WAS CLOSED. TV CABLE WAS RE-INSERTED AND CAR RECOVERED TO HOME. ON MONDAY, WHILE ENROUTE TO THE DEALER TO GET THE PART, THE THROTTLE STUCK BECAUSE THE TV CABLE BECAME WEDGED UNDER THE THROTTLE BRACKET. I APPLIED BRAKES BUT WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE CAR ADEQUATELY BEFORE STOPPED TRAFFIC AHEAD. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND STOPPED IN TIME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA ODI #734473
Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2000
Electrical System
VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING WHILE MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS, NOW THE CAR IS STALLING WHILE GOING UPHILL AND WHILE MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT HAND TURNS, DUE TO IGNITION SYSTEM TFI MODULE FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #556057
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT CAUSING TURN SIGNALS TO BE INOPERABLE, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER TO BE INOPERABLE, TEMPERATURE CONTOL UNIT TO BE INOPERABLE, AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS UNABLE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. COOLANT GAUGE STAYS AT COLD, DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #872970
Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY
NHTSA ODI #734200
Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET AND NOISE IN BOTTOM OF ENGINE, RUNNING ROUGH WITH CHECK GUAGE LIGHT COMING ON AND OVERHEATING,THIS HAPPENED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY IMMEDIALTELY GOT OFF AND TOOK IT OVER TO RICE AND HOLMAN THE NEXT DAY.
NHTSA ODI #734187
Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
VEHICLE STALLS/OVERHEATS, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR AT CONSUMERS COST BECAUSE RECALL THAT WAS FOUND FOR THE PROBLEM WAS TOWARDS A LATER MODEL.*AK THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN. HEAVY WHITE SMOKE COMES FROM EXHAUST PIPE AND VEHICLE OVERHEATS. *YH
NHTSA ODI #872600
Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
THIS IS THE SECOND FORD VEHICLE WITH 3.8L THAT WE HAVE OWNED. BOTH VEHICLES SUFFERED FROM THE SAME PROBLEM OF PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE FIRST VEHICLE WAS A 1993 MERCURY SABLE WITH THE 3.8L ENGINE. EVERY MECHANIC I HAVE TALKED TO KNOWS THAT THESE HEAD GASKETS FAIL AT OR ABOUT 60,000 MILES. IS FORD GOING TO DO ANY THING A…
Read full complaint
THIS IS THE SECOND FORD VEHICLE WITH 3.8L THAT WE HAVE OWNED. BOTH VEHICLES SUFFERED FROM THE SAME PROBLEM OF PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE FIRST VEHICLE WAS A 1993 MERCURY SABLE WITH THE 3.8L ENGINE. EVERY MECHANIC I HAVE TALKED TO KNOWS THAT THESE HEAD GASKETS FAIL AT OR ABOUT 60,000 MILES. IS FORD GOING TO DO ANY THING ABOUT IT? IT HAS COSTED US 2000.00 NOW BETWEEN THE TWO VEHICLES.
NHTSA ODI #733949
Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
BLOWN HEADGASKET,DAMAGED ENGINE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE. WHY DOESN'T FORD PLAY FAIR?
NHTSA ODI #733699
Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2000
Electrical System
VEHICLE STALLS DURING AND AFTER LEFT HANDED TURNS, ALSO STALLS GOING UPHILL AND WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS, DUE TO THE TFI MODULE FAILURE. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #555325
Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
IT SEEMS LIKE FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THERE 3.8L ENGINS AND NEEDS TO DO SOMTHING ABOUT THIS IF THEY WANT TO KEEP HAPPY CUSTOMERS. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS, IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS MAY GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN, AND INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, IF NEEDED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WEST VIRGINIA. MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES CAUSES THE NYLON FUEL LINE JUMPER TO CHAFE AGAINST THE FLOOR PAN. THIS WEAR CAN CAUSE A PIN HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTS IN DAMPNESS AND FUEL ODOR, AND IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLASTIC CONVOLUTE COVERING AROUND THE FUEL LINES. IF THE LINES SHOW A LEAK, THE LINES WILL BE REPLACED FIRST.
Illustration