Seat Belts. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports18 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

158 reports

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2001

Exterior Lighting

THERE IS WATER THAT LEAKS INTTO HEADLIGHTS WHICH CAUSES LIGHT BULBS TO BURN OUT. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #897669

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2001

Electrical SystemEquipmentSeat Belts

Read full complaint

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES IN SIX MONTHS. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED. SOMETHING IS STILL DRAINING ALL OF THE POWER AWAY. THE FRONT-SEAT THREE-POINT SEAT BELTS GO SLACK WHILE DRIVING AND DO NOT RETRACT AFTER USE. FORD SAYS IT IS NOT A PROBLEM. THE FRONT AND REAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. WHEN THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN THE BACK END GOES WAY DOWN THEN BACK UP. THE FRONT OFTEN HAS ONE SIDE TO GO ALL THE WAY DOWN WHILE THE OTHER SIDE GOES ALL THE WAY UP. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REPLACED. STILL, IT CANNOT KEEP THE CAR ANYWHERE NEAR CONFORTABLE. THE WINDSHIELD GETS AN OILY FILM ON THE INSIDE THAT WON'T GO AWAY. FINALLY, THE SPEED CONTROL SOMETIMES STARTS ACCELERATING FOR NO REASON AND/OR WILL NOT DEACTIVATE WHEN "OFF" IS PRESSED. EHH, I GUESS THAT'S ABOUT IT FOR NOW. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THESE COMMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #749107

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2001

Structure

RECALL98-V-323-000/ SUBFRAME CORROSION. CONSUMER HAS HAD PROBLEM FIXED, BUT REMEDY DID NOT DO ITS JOB. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT REMEDY WAS ONLY GOOD FOR 12 MONTHS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #888828

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2001

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHEN APPYLING THE BRAKES VEHICLE WILL NOT DOWN SHIFT, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #885441

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2000

Seat Belts

CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE RECALL REPAIR (97I-003) DUE TO DEALERSHIP PROBLEM. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #554191

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2000

Suspension

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY GIVEN TIME FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WILL DROP COMPLETELY DOWN TO THE GROUND DUE TO AIR SHARKS WHICH NEED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #868709

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2000

Suspension

CONSTANT TROUBLE WITH THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM LEAKING OR NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #728713

Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2000

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

POWER BOOSTER ASSEMBLY HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE AND IS A TROUBLESOME SYSTEM PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRES ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE WICH IS STRANGE FOR A 11 YEAR OLD VEHICLE CONSIDERING THE HIGH PROBLEM RATE OF THIS BRAKE SYSTEM. THE BRAKE BOOSTER OPERATES INTERMITENTLY. SINCE I AM A MECHANIC WORKING FOR FORD I SEE THIS PROBLEM OFTEN.*…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #727443

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2000

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DISC BRAKES HAVE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE DISC BRAKE DRUM, CAUSING A DANGEROUS BRAKING SITUATION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #864049

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD VEHICLE OVERHEATED. PULLED OVER ,AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. *AK

NHTSA ODI #858400

Official recalls

98V323000 · Structure:frame And Members

Dec 16, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.

97V174000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

Oct 7, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEATING POSITION SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY NOT LATCH OR UNLATCH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE SEAT BELT USAGE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.

91V134000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor

Aug 6, 1991

FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SEVERELY CORRODED ROTORS MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE NEARTHE INNER EDGES OF THE BRAKE DISCS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS,HIGHER THAN NORMAL PEDAL EFFORTS, LOUD GRINDING NOISES, AND MODERATE PULLS WHENTHE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS MAY INCREASE MINIMUMSTOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.

89V048000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor

Mar 27, 1989

THE LEFT SIDE, REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY BE IMPROPERLY SECURED AND COULD PULL FREE OF ITS MOUNTING LOCATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OCCUPANT, THOUGH STILL RESTRAINED BY THE LAP PORTION OFTHE BELT, WOULD NOT HAVE UPPER BODY PROTECTION.

Remedy: REINSTALL THE RETRACTOR ATTACHMENT BOLT.

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

EA95033 · Faulty Seat Belt Buckles

Opened Oct 31, 1995 · Closed Oct 22, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

COMPLAINTS ALLEGE AN INABILITY TO LATCH SEAT BELT BUCKLES, AND INADVERTENT UNLATCHING OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE.

DP95004 · Alleged Defective Tie Rods

Opened Aug 8, 1995 · Closed Aug 30, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other

ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS