NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
423 reportsMileage unknown · Mar 29, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
DESPITE HAVING REGULAR SERVICE AS FORD MANUAL DETAILS, ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED OCT 23,1999 AT 65,975 MILES. I HAD NO WARNING OF ANYTHING WRONG UNTIL THAT SATURDAY MORNING WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO THE GROCERY AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED POURING FROM MY TAILPIPE. I WAS LESS THAN 1 MILE FROM HOME, SO I RETURNED. LIQUID WAS LEAKING OU…
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DESPITE HAVING REGULAR SERVICE AS FORD MANUAL DETAILS, ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED OCT 23,1999 AT 65,975 MILES. I HAD NO WARNING OF ANYTHING WRONG UNTIL THAT SATURDAY MORNING WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO THE GROCERY AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED POURING FROM MY TAILPIPE. I WAS LESS THAN 1 MILE FROM HOME, SO I RETURNED. LIQUID WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE WHERE THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1100.00. I HAVE CONTACTED MY FORD DEALER WHO TOLD ME TO CALL THE FORD CUSTOMER HOTLINE. I HAVE DONE THAT SEVERAL TIMES BUT HAVE NOT BEEN HELPED. I HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF FORD MOTOR DATED MARCH 8, 2000 BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REPLY AS OF MARCH 29. FORD HAS ADMITTED PROBLEMS WITH THIS ENGINE ON THE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES, BUT MY MECHANIC TOLD ME HE HAS HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS ON REAR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES SUCH AS MY CAR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #720740
Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. FORD HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON VARIOUS MODELS. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED TWICE, AND OWNER WAS TOLD THAT HIS CAR WASN'T COVERED BECAUSE IT HAD A DIFFERENT COOLANT SYSTEM, AND BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T A LARGE ENOU…
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ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. FORD HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON VARIOUS MODELS. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED TWICE, AND OWNER WAS TOLD THAT HIS CAR WASN'T COVERED BECAUSE IT HAD A DIFFERENT COOLANT SYSTEM, AND BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T A LARGE ENOUGH AMOUNT OF STATISTICAL OCCURENCES REPORTED OF THE HEAD GASKET FAILING IN THIS MODEL FOR A RECALL. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #859304
Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, IN A YR-1/2 THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #720719
Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2000
Exterior Lighting
RECALL WORK PERFORMED FOR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, PRIOR TO REPAIR THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ANY FAILURES, AFTER REPAIR OF THE RECALL COMPONENT VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHTS DUE TO A FAULTY MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #551572
Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2000
Exterior Lighting
RECALL # 99V275000 FORD/HEADLIGHTS; DEALER WAS REFUSING TO NONOR RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL. DEALER INSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #859085
Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
COULD SMELL ANTIFREEZE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE SHORTLY BEFORE THE HEAED GASKET BLEW AND ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN POORLY AND BLOW WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE. THIS REPAIR WAS VERY COSTLY AND FORD HAS BEGUN TO COMPENSATE OWNERS OF OTHER FORD MODELS WITH THE EXACT SAME ENGINE, BUT NO THE FORD THUNDERBIRD.T. *AK
NHTSA ODI #720495
Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2000
Seat BeltsInjury
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IS DEFECTIVE. YH
NHTSA ODI #551495
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL TRAFFIC THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP, CONSUMER HAD TO STOP 10 TIMES FOR WATER. THE HEAD GASKET BLEW SOON AFTER. OTHER FORD MODELS HAVE HAD THEIR ENGINES RECALLED, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINS THAT THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE IS NOT EFFECTIVE, IT …
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WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL TRAFFIC THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP, CONSUMER HAD TO STOP 10 TIMES FOR WATER. THE HEAD GASKET BLEW SOON AFTER. OTHER FORD MODELS HAVE HAD THEIR ENGINES RECALLED, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINS THAT THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE IS NOT EFFECTIVE, IT DOESN'T GIVE THE OWNER SUFFICIENT INFORMATION REGARDING THE LEVEL OF PRESSURE. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #858852
Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW BY FATHER IN 1993 AND PURCHASED BY ME (SON) IN 1999. ALL SERVICE TO VEHICLE HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY FORD DEALERS OR NATIONAL OIL CHANGE COMPANIES AT MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. THIS HEAD GASKET FAILURE IS VERY PREMATURE FOR THIS VEHICLE AND IS INDICITIVE OF A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS ENGINE TYPE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #720335
Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
PLEASE ENCOURAGE FORD TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM ENGINE OR REIMBURSE COST OF REPAIRS!!! NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #720219
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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