Electrical System. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 38 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 →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports10 fire reports11 injury reports

What owners actually said

211 reports

Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2001

SteeringCrashInjury

STEERING BROKE FROM MOLD WHEN IMPACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #748763

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2001

Electrical System

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THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THESE ONGOING PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THE FIRST WEEK OF HAVING THE VEHICLE. ARBITRATION PAPERS WERE FILED BUT REQUEST WAS DENIED DUE TO DEALERSHIP NOT REGISTERING PROBLEMS AS WELL AS INDICATING A PART CAPABLE OF FIXING THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE PART DID NOT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A NEW DEALERSHIP WHO REGISTERED THE COMPLIANTS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT PROBLEMS STILL REMAIN. DEALERSHIP TOLD OWNERS IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT WOULD BE TO COMPLICATED TO FIND. THE VEHICLE IS A LEASE AND IS USED FOR TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH FOR A COLLEGE STUDENT ON HIGHWAYS WHERE THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #747050

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2001

Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED . THIS IS 3RD TIME DUE TO FAULTY SEAL WHICH CAUSES FUEL LEAKAGE . *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #888182

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2001

Electrical System

WHEN TURNING KEY TO START VEHICLE THERE IS A LOUD NOISE, NOT CLICKING SOUND, VEHICLE WILL NOT START. CONSUMER HAS TO TAKE KEY OUT OF IGNITION AND TRY AGAIN, A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE VEHICLE WILL START. TO DEALER WHO FOUND NOTHING WRONG. COULD BE RECALL ON BATTERY CABLE ROUTING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #886366

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2001

Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicFire

WHILE DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH CONSUMER TURNED ON AIR CONDITIONER, THEN SMELLED SMOKE. TURNED AIR CONDITIONER OFF. WENT TO PULL OVER, AND BRAKES HAD FAILED. WHEN VEHICLE CAME TO STOP, CONSUMER OPENED HOOD AND SAW FLAMES. PUT FIRE OUT, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT STARTER HAD CAUSED FIRE AND REPLACED STARTER…

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NHTSA ODI #886363

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2001

Unknown Or Other

I HAVE SPILLED COFFEE TWICE WHILE TURNING RIGHT...CUPHOLDER DOES NOT HOLD...HOT COFFEE ON LAP WHILE DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #743914

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2001

Unknown Or Other

THE CUP HOLDER IN THE COUGAR'S CENTER CONSOLE SPILLS ON EVERY OCCASION. IT HAS HAPPENED COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF TIMES, AND IS A SAFETY RISK. I CAN'T THINK OF HOW MANY TIMES I'VE NEARLY GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF MY MALFUNCTIONING CUP HOLDER TIPPING OVER AND SPILLING MY DRINK ALL OVER THE CAR, AND ALL OVER MY LAP. IT SEEMS L…

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NHTSA ODI #743912

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2001

Unknown Or Other

I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENTS, AND RAN OVER A CURB BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THIS CUP HOLDER. IT HAS SPILLED 3 DRINKS INTO MY LAP SO FAR. THEY CHANGED THEM HALFWAY THROUGH THE MODEL YEAR. I THINK THEY SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED AND REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #743766

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2001

Unknown Or Other

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THE CUP HOLDER WILL SPILL ANY DRINK ON ANY RIGHT HAND TURN IN EXCESS OF 20 MPH. I HAVE GOTTEN IN MANY "CLOSE CALL" ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS, AND DO NOT WANT TO JEOPARDIZE MY SAFETY ANY FURTHER FOR A SPILLED DRINK OR COFFEE. I AM CONSTANTLY CLEANING MY SEATS AND REPLACING MY PANTS. I KNOW OF MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SINCE MID-2000 FORD HAS BEEN USING A DIFFENRENT STYLE CONSOLE WITH A FUNCTIONAL BUILT-IN CUP HOLDER SO THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT HELP OUT THOSES OWNERS WHO HAVE THE OLDER STYLE CONSOLE WITH THE NON-FUNCTIONAL CUP HOLDER. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #743755

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2001

EquipmentStructure

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THE DOOR LOCKS INSTALLED ALLOW THE DRIVER TO HIT A SWITCH ON DRIVER'S DOOR TO LOCK PASSENGERS, OR TO PUSH IN THE LOCK, WHICH WILL LOCK BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S DOOR. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE I HAVE PUSHED BOTH THE SWITCH AND LOCK, NEITHER OF WHICH WOULD LOCK THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. I REPEAT THIS UP TO 10 TIMES BEFORE THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL LOCK. NOT TOO SAFE!! 2ND COMPLAINT---STEREO WILL BE ON AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SPEAKERS WILL SHUT OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS AND YOU WILL ONLY HEAR PASSENGER'S SIDE. THEN THEY WILL COME BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED EVERY 10-15 MINUTES FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHES BUT HAS NOT HAPPENED IN A WHILE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #743690

Official recalls

04V421000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Aug 30, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, CONTAMINATION OF THE FILTER IN THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM) CAN REDUCE, AND EVENTUALLY BLOCK, THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE ENGINE HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER, SURGING, AND OTHER SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. OVER TIME, THE FILTER MAY BECOME SUFFICIENTLY BLOCKED TO CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: THIS ACTION IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN AND IS NOT BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE SAFETY ACT. ALL OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FDM WITH A NEW DESIGN AT NO CHARGE IF THE OWNER REPORTS THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS ANY OF THE IDENTIFIED SYMPTOMS. THE FREE REPLACEMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, WITH NO MILEAGE LIMIT. THE CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON APRIL 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

01V031000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

Feb 6, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L V6 ENGINES. THE BATTERY CABLE WAS MISROUTED AND ITS ATTACHMENT TO THE ALTERNATOR CABLE WAS UNDER-TORQUED. IF MISROUTED, THE CABLE COULD CONTACT THE POWER STEERING LINE AND THE INSULATION COULD WEAR, RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE SHORT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE, STALLING, OR A NO-START CONDITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BATTERY CABLE TO THE ALTERNATOR FOR DAMAGE AND, IF IT IS DAMAGED, WILL REPLACE THE CABLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE ROUTING OF THE CABLE WILL BE CORRECTED, AS NECESSARY, AND A ROUTING CLIP WILL BE ADDED. ALSO THE TORQUE ON THE ALTERNATOR ATTACHMENT OF THE CABLE WILL BE CHECKED AND, AS REQUIRED, WILL BE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

00V075000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components

Mar 9, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). A PRESSURE CONSCIOUS REDUCING VALVE (PCRV) IN THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CORROSION AND RESULT IN MALFUNCTION, WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS THAT USE SALT COMPOUNDS ON THE ROADWAY FOR DE-ICING OR DUST CONTROL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF BOTH PCRV'S MALFUNCTION, VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED DURING BRAKING AS A RESULT OF THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL IMPROVED PCRV'S IN THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS RECALL WAS EXPANDED IN SEPTEMBER 2000 TO INCLUDE 1999 AND 2000 FORD CONTOUR, MERCURY MYSTIQUE AND COUGAR VEHICLES.

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.