NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
73 reportsClear category filter29,900 miles · Dec 26, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM FAMILY ON NOVEMBER 5, 2004, AND THE FAILURE OCCURED LESS THAN TWO MONTHS LATER ON DECEMBER 22, 2004. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY US LESS THAN 1,000 MILES AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS ONLY 29,900 AS THE CAR WAS OWNED BY MY HUSBAND'S GRANDMOTHER. THE CAR IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION AND WAS TOWED TO WITT LINCOLN-…
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THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM FAMILY ON NOVEMBER 5, 2004, AND THE FAILURE OCCURED LESS THAN TWO MONTHS LATER ON DECEMBER 22, 2004. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY US LESS THAN 1,000 MILES AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS ONLY 29,900 AS THE CAR WAS OWNED BY MY HUSBAND'S GRANDMOTHER. THE CAR IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION AND WAS TOWED TO WITT LINCOLN-MERCURY DEALERSHIP ON DECEMBER 23, 2004. WE WERE NOTIFIED THE EVENING OF THE 23RD THAT THE HEAD GASKET APPEARED TO BE BLOWN AND ON CHRISTMAS EVE THAT THE INITIAL REPAIR ESTIMATE WAS $1,485 MINIMUM, WHICH INCLUDES 11 HOURS OF LABOR AT $85. MY 1990 TOYOTA CELICA HAS 260K+ MILES, MY HUSBAND'S 1984 CHEVROLET CAMARO HAS 280K+ MILES. IT IS AMAZING THAT FORD BUILDS CARS THAT REQUIRE MAJOR REPAIRS AFTER LESS THAN 30,000 MILES!!! THEY SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10104509
73,000 miles · Apr 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. SIMULTANEOUSLY, WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATED, AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT HEATING SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. RECALL 97V019000 ON ENGINE COOLING FAN WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10067204
126,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension
ENGINE (3.8L V6) BLEW HEAD GASKET FIRST TIME AT ~60,000 MILES. DEALER REPAIRED. THIRTEEN MONTHS LATER, ~72,000 MILES, HEAD GASKET BLEW AGAIN. DIFFERENT DEALER REPAIRED, (ANOTHER $1,600 WITH NO HELP FROM MANUFACTURER OR PREVIOUS REPAIRING DEALER). NOW WITH ~126,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, HEAD GASKET MAY HAVE BLOWN AGAIN. ALL THRE…
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ENGINE (3.8L V6) BLEW HEAD GASKET FIRST TIME AT ~60,000 MILES. DEALER REPAIRED. THIRTEEN MONTHS LATER, ~72,000 MILES, HEAD GASKET BLEW AGAIN. DIFFERENT DEALER REPAIRED, (ANOTHER $1,600 WITH NO HELP FROM MANUFACTURER OR PREVIOUS REPAIRING DEALER). NOW WITH ~126,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, HEAD GASKET MAY HAVE BLOWN AGAIN. ALL THREE MOTOR MOUNTS AND HARMONIC STABILIZER WERE REPLACED (ALL MOUNTS WERE LEAKING OR CRACKED).
NHTSA ODI #10070249
50,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSuspension
WE HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WHERE WOULD YOU START. THE REAR AIR BAGS EXPLODED SHORTLY AFTER WE BOUGHT IT. WE HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, COOLENT LEAKS, AND BELT PROBLEMS. ONE TRIP TO OKLAHOMA COST A TRANSMISSION, AND THE NEXT TRIP, THE HEAD GASKETS ON THE ENGINE.
NHTSA ODI #10070108
Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility
I DID NOT GET A RECALL FOR THE 1986-1993 FOR THE BRAKE ROTOR HUB CORROSION PROBLEM. I DID RECEIVE AND REPAIRED THE SUBFRAME MOUNT(93V-106.001) THE ROTOR HUB IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM AS I HAVE PAID TO HAVE THIS REPLACED ONCE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FORD AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITY LOOK AT THIS.
NHTSA ODI #10069682
65,000 miles · Apr 21, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TAILPIPE, COOLANT LEAKED DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. MR *PH *JB
NHTSA ODI #10015697
75,000 miles · Apr 19, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering
POWER STEERING FAILURE, MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE, HEAD GASKET LEAK AND THE TRANSMISSION SEALS LEAK. CAR HAS 75000 MILES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10016213
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
THIS CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND HAD ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS THE ONE IN THE 1994 RECALL AND THAT THIS SHOULD APPLY TO OUR CAR AS WELL. WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED AFTER READING MANY REPORTS OF MULTIPLE HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON THE SAME CAR.*AK
NHTSA ODI #765759
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
THERE IS CRYSTALIZED COOLANT NEXT TO HEAD GASKET, INDICATING THAT THERE IS A LEAK. GASKETS HAVE NOT BLOWN. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8003194
Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH VEHICLE WAS OVER HEATING. PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND CHECKED UNDER HOOD. NOTICED COOLANT WAS LOW AND REPLACED IT. PROBLEM REAPPEARED AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO A TECHNICIAN. INFORMED OWNER HEAD GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8002391
Official recalls
4Dec 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.
Jan 21, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION CAN AFFECT A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE ROADWAY AND REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT INCORPORATES A CRICUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND WIRING, IF NEEDED.
Feb 26, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WATER CAN ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT COULD FREEZE WITHIN A LOW AREA OF THE CABLE ROUTING WHEN EXPOSED TO A LONG TERM COLD SOAK AT TEMPERATURES AT LEAST SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED USING THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.
Feb 25, 1997
THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.
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
5EA96024 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened Sep 30, 1996 · Closed Apr 15, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
PE96033 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened May 2, 1996 · Closed Sep 30, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.
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
EA94008 · Broken Tie Rods
Opened Feb 16, 1994 · Closed Feb 27, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE93058 · Broken Tie Rods
Opened Jun 15, 1993 · Closed Feb 16, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
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