NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
423 reportsMileage unknown · Sep 29, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE OVERHEATING SINCE 36797 MILES DEALER EXAMINED, SAME PROBLEM 36813 MILES DEALER EXAMINED AGAIN 41803 AGAIN COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING. SAID THAT HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND THAT FORD WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET BOLTS AND NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL BOLTS ON HEAD GASKET OR NEW HEAD GASKET WOULD FAIL. FORD MOTOR…
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ENGINE OVERHEATING SINCE 36797 MILES DEALER EXAMINED, SAME PROBLEM 36813 MILES DEALER EXAMINED AGAIN 41803 AGAIN COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING. SAID THAT HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND THAT FORD WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET BOLTS AND NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL BOLTS ON HEAD GASKET OR NEW HEAD GASKET WOULD FAIL. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS NO HELP AND UPSET WITH DEALER ALSO. RECENT RECALLS OF 1994 VEHICLES WITH SAME ENGINE WITH SAME PROBLEMS ARE ALSO FRUSTRATING. WHY DO THEY NOT LOOK AT NUMBER OF FAILURES OF THIS ENGINE AND INCLUDE THEM IN THE RECALL IF THEY EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #732800
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2000
Seat Belts
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT TO ORIGINAL POSITION AFTER BEING USED. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC ENTIRE SEAT BELT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER REFERRED OWNER TO HOTLINE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #871641
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
HAD HEAD GASKET, CRANKSHAFT, AND ROD BEARINGS REPLACED AT 67,000 AND 68,000 MILES, AND AT 83,000 BOTH ARE SHOT AGAIN.
NHTSA ODI #732658
Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentExterior Lighting
HEAD GASKETS FAILED,HEAD LIGHTS FAILED,A/C FAILED,THROTTLE CABLE FAILED,THERMOSTAT FAILED,CLUTCH FAN FAILED,TAPE PLAYER NEVER WORKED
NHTSA ODI #732094
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
FORD HAS ADMITTED THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET IN THEIR 3.8L ENGINE, BUT ARE ONLY REPLACING THOSE IN CARS 1994 OR NEWER. CALLS TO FORD STATED THEY WON'T COVER THIS EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME ENGINE, HAS LESS THEN 100,000 MILES, BECAUSE IT IS IN A 1993 VEHICLE. THEIR EXCUSE WAS THEY HAVN'T RECEIVED ENOUGH COMPLAINTS F…
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FORD HAS ADMITTED THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET IN THEIR 3.8L ENGINE, BUT ARE ONLY REPLACING THOSE IN CARS 1994 OR NEWER. CALLS TO FORD STATED THEY WON'T COVER THIS EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME ENGINE, HAS LESS THEN 100,000 MILES, BECAUSE IT IS IN A 1993 VEHICLE. THEIR EXCUSE WAS THEY HAVN'T RECEIVED ENOUGH COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF 1993 VEHICLES. REQUEST TO TALK TO SOMEONE IN MANAGEMENT IN CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS DENIED BY A SUPERVISOR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM, AS STEAM BLOCKED MY VISION WHEN THE HEAD GASKET BLEW.
NHTSA ODI #731762
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
STEAM COMING FROM TAILPIPE. MY MECHANIC KNEW THE PROMLEM IMMEDIATELY, SAYS IT'S COMMON ON FORD 3.8L. GASKET MADE OF SHODDY MATERIAL. FUNNY,I LIKE T-BIRDS, MY SECOND ONE.
NHTSA ODI #730687
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #730374
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS BLEW OUT WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS WERE ON. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE UNDER A RECALL; HOWEVER THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #869321
Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKETS FAILED PREMATURELY, SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM EVEN PRIVIOUS TO 1994 3.8L'S
NHTSA ODI #729677
Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOST OF POWER AND WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF TAIL PIPE; VEHICLE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENCE REPAIRS SHOP AND INFORMED OF A HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER MFR'S EXTENDS WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA ODI #868823
Official recalls
3Oct 12, 1999
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.
Sep 22, 1997
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.
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
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
3EA99005 · Headlight Switch
Opened Jan 20, 1999 · Closed Dec 14, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WITH AN INTERNAL, BIMETAL CIRCUIT BREAKER THAT CAN OPEN DUE TO OVERHEATING DURING HEADLING OPERATION.
RQ98015 · Headlight Circuit Breaker
Opened Sep 29, 1998 · Closed Jan 22, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
HEADLIGHT SWITCH WITH AN ITERNAL, BIMETAL CIRCUIT BREALER THAT MAY OPEN DUE TO OVERHEATING DURING HEADLIGHT OPERATION
RQ97011 · Fuel Line Jumper
Opened Sep 25, 1997 · Closed Nov 16, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE ALLEGED FUEL LINE FAILURES OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL GEOGRAPHIC REGION AND IF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED NATIONALLY
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