Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 25 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 reports15 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

158 reports

7,000 miles · Feb 23, 2005

Air BagsInjury

NOT WORKING. NO SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10112015

110,000 miles · Nov 5, 2004

Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING IMPACTED. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IT SHATTERED THE DRIVER'S GLASSES, REDUCING HIS VISIBILITY. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, WENT UP AND EMBANKMENT 20 FEET, AND LANDED 70 FEET DOWN THE ROAD. DRIVER SUSTAINED SERI…

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NHTSA ODI #10099488

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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I PURCHASED A 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL IN DECEMBER 2002, AND NOTICED THAT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE REVS VERY HIGH AND THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE THE OVERDRIVE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR DRIVE TO RVERSE, THERE IS A DELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGING THE APPROPRIATE GEAR. BEFORE I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO A DEALER TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED, I CHECKED THE FLUID TO ENSURE THAT THE LEVEL WAS CORRECT, AND TO CHECK THE COLOR OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. BOTH WERE FOUND TO BE IN GOOD ORDER. THEN I CHECKED WWW.ALLDATA.COM AND FOUND THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THROUGH A CHECK OF THE FOLLOWING SERVICE BULLETINS: ATRATB331; ATRATB267; 94247; ATRATB029; AND 89225. BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE BULLETINS MENTIONED ABOVE, FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS AND FAILED TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS. AS A CONSUMER, I WOULD LIKE FORD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST TO MYSELF. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE COOLING FAN. ON 12 DECEMBER 2002 WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND SMELLED WIRES BURNING. I PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT OF A SHOPPING CENTER RIGHT WHEN THE COMPUTER SIGNALED THAT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS HIGHER THAN NORMAL. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND OPEN THE HOOD TO LOOK FOR THE BURNED WIRED. THE ELECTRIC ENGINE FAN HAD SEIZED UP AND STARTED TO MELT THE WIRES. THE FUSE HAD FAILED TO BLOW, AND I HAD TO UNPLUG THE FAN FROM THE WIRING HARNESS TO KEEP THE WIRES FROM BURNING MORE.

NHTSA ODI #10069823

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2002

Structure

THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 98/V/323/000 FOR SUBFRAME CORROSION. HOWEVER, SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN ARKANSAS IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8018385

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2001

Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

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ON THE INTERNET IT STATED FORD HAD CALLBACKS FOR ALL3.8 ENGINES FOR HEADGASKET PROBLEMS BUT ONLY RECALLED A FEW VIN NUMBERS. HOW COULD THEY GET AWAY WITH THAT? YOU AND I AND EVERY MECCHANIC KNOWS THE PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8 ENGINE BY FORD WHY CANT SOME THING BE DONE. I WASNT TOLD OF ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. LUCKY I WAS DRIVING NOT MY DAUGHTER. SHE WOULD HAVE DIVEN TILL IT BURNED THE MOTOR UP. AND THE AIR SHOCKS AT $ 4,000 FOR THE 4 OF THEM THATS ANOTHER FARCE. CANT YOU MAKE THEM AT LEAST INSTALL AT COST ? MY ENGINE OVERHEATED AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE PA. TURNPIKE LUCKY I PULLED OVER AND GOT TOWED WITH A $350 BILL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #752346

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2001

Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING OFF AND ON. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT ACCORDING TO INFORMATION ON THE WEB THE 1990 MODELS HAD RECALLED FOR BAD MODULES. *YH

NHTSA ODI #884566

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2001

Structure

RECALL 98 V 323 000/SUBFRAME CORROSION: WHILE BEING SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE NOTICED SUBFRAME FAILURE; DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK THE VEHICLE'S BODY AND UNDER CARRIAGE WERE FREE OF RUST, BUT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD RUST. *YH

NHTSA ODI #882425

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2001

Suspension

REAR AIR SPRINGS HAVE BLOWEN OUT, CAUSING REAR END TO BOUNCE AND HAS DROPPED LOW TO GROUND. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #881750

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2001

Structure

TIRED PRESSURE IS A MESS. THE VEHICLE GOES UP AND DOWN WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #741609

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2001

Exterior Lighting

HEADIGHTS HAVE AN INSERTED BULB, AND LENS COVER DETERIORATE IN COLOR/DIRT, AND OTHER DEBRIS WOULD GET INSIDE. ALSO, CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH LIGHTING. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, AND NOT READILY NOTICEABLE. *AK MOISTURE COLLECTS INSIDE OF THE LENS COVER, FURTHER LIMITING THE HED LIGHT ILLUMINATION. *YH

NHTSA ODI #881180

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.

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