Power Train. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

20 crash reports9 fire reports17 injury reports

What owners actually said

304 reports

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2002

Air BagsCrashInjury

AFTER HITTING A DEER AT 25MPH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND THEN DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG BURSTED. TWO PASSENGERS WERE INJURED.

NHTSA ODI #8006054

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2002

Exterior Lighting

SEALED HEADLIGHT COVERS HAVE BECOME DULL AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT.*AKCONSUMER STATES HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE DEFECTIVE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8005678

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE STALLS EVERY TIME IN RAINY WEATHER, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON 5 OCCASIONS, DEALER REPLACED SERPENTINE BELT AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS DESIGNING A GUARD TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF NEW GUARD. *TT

NHTSA ODI #8005675

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2002

Structure

THE DOOR PANELS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE MY OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR. I KEEP TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAVE MY CAR SERVICED AND THEY KEEP CHARGING ME FOR PUTTING THEM BACK TOGETHER. THE NEVER SEEM TO LAST LONGER THAN 6 MONTHS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #759169

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2002

Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

COOLANT TURNED TO ACID AND CAUSE CORRUSION TO HEATER PLUG AND WATER PUMP.DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8005265

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2002

Structure

A BOLT HOLDING THE RIGHT FRONT SUBFRAME CAME RIPPED AWAY FROM ITS BRACKET. IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND RIPPED A VACCUM LINE FROM THE BRAKE DISTRIBUTION ASSEMBLY LOCATED ON THE FIREWALL. I LOST THE POWER ASSIST FOR THE BRAKES AND FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED AT A SLOW SPEED. IT COST ME APPROXIMATELY $315.00 TO HAVE …

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NHTSA ODI #758007

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2002

Seat Belts

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THE SEAT BELTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT SEAT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE BECAME INOPERABLE AT APPROXIMATELY 50000 MILES. WE DIDN'T NOTICE THAT THEY WERE INOPERABLE, ONLY THAT THE BELTS WOULD CATCH IN THE DOOR WHEN WE SHUT THE DOOR. AFTER A WHILE, AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, WE REALIZED THAT THE REASON THAT THE BELTS WERE GETTING CAUGHT IN THE DOOR WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WALSER LINCOLN-MERCURY AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS. THE SEAT BELTS ON BOTH SIDES WERE REPLACED ON 1/8/02. THE PASSENGER SEAT IS USED FOR LESS THAN HALF OF THE MILES DRIVEN. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF ONE OF THE BELTS FAILED BUT DON'T THINK THAT BOTH BELTS SHOULD FAIL. THAT SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS LIKELY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #756696

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2001

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

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CAR STALLED, THOUGHT IT TO BE ALTENATOR, TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, FOUND THAT THE OIL PUMP GREAR WAS STRIPPED, AND ENGINE FROZE UP, DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICANT. HD TO REPLACE WITH REMANUFACTURED ENGINE, CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED AS REQUIRED FROM THE DAY IT WAS PURCHASED NEW, WITH ALL SERVICE RECORDS RETAINED. COST $4400.00 TO REPLACE. FEEL IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. WAS OUT OF WARRENTY, BUT ENGINE STILL ONLY HAD 31613 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #755572

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2001

Electrical SystemStructure

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THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THEY FIX IT AND IT STILL KEEPS ON BREAKING DOWN. DRIVER DOOR WON'T LOCK, ROOF LIGHT STAYS ON, PANEL LIGHT INDICATING ALL DOORS ARE OPEN STAYS LIT. THEN IT GOES OFF AND THEN ON. ITS A CONTINOUS THING THAT HAPPENS. YESTERDAY. 11-28-01 IT WOULD NOT START. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY AND SOMETIMES IT STARTS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. DO I QUALIFY TO GET A LOANER VEHICLE UNTIL THEY FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY ANSWERS YET. MY VEHICLE IS PAID OFF SINCE OF LAST MONTH. ERLINDA L. PICAZO

NHTSA ODI #755071

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

COOLANT INSIDE VEHICLE HAS DETERIORATED, CAUSING ENGINE TO RUST. PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #896468

Official recalls

98V067000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Mar 25, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER FORD SERVICE BULLETIN 97-17-9 FROM AUGUST 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 1997. THESE VEHICLES WERE INADVERTENLY EQUIPPED WITH AN 18-GALLON FUEL TANK RATHER THAN THE 16-GALLON AS SPECIFIED. THE 18-GALLON TANK HAS A SECOND VALVE LOCATION WHERE A SHIPPING PLUG SHOULD BE INSTALLED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS SHIPPING PLUG IS DISPLACED, FUEL LEAKAGE CAN RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT FUEL TANK.

96V176000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Sep 18, 1996

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARK PAWL SHAFT MAY NOT BE FREE TO ROTATE AS INTENDED. IF THE PARK PAWL SHAFT DOES NOT ROTATE, IT WOULD PREVENT THE PARK PAWL FROM ENGAGING THE PARK GEAR WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN THE PARK POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROTATION AND THOSE SHAFTS WITH RESTRICTED ROTATION WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHORTER SHAFT THAT WILL NOT RESTRICT ROTATION.

96V166000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Sep 5, 1996

THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.

96V086000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

May 14, 1996

THE PARK PAWL SHAFT WAS IMPROPERLY POSITIONED WHEN THE ROLL PIN THAT RETAINS IT WAS INSTALLED DURING TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY. IF THE SHAFT WAS NOT PROPERLY POSITIONED, THE ROLL PIN MAY NOT HAVE LINED UP WITH THE GROOVE IN THE SHAFT AND HAVE BEEN CRUSHED AT ASSEMBLY. ALSO, A BURR COULD HAVE BEEN RAISED ON THE SHAFT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PARK PAWL OCCASIONALLY NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR DOES NOT APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROLL PIN. IF THE ROLL PIN IS DAMAGED, BOTH THE ROLL PIN AND THE PARK PAWL SHAFT WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, OWNERS WILL BE REMINDED TO FULLY APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE, IN ADDITION TO PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK.

96V016000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:brake Fluid Low Warning: Lamp

Jan 25, 1996

THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCH CAN MALFUNCTION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF THE SWITCH MALFUNTIONS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP WILL EITHER REMAIN ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY OR FAIL TO LIGHT AS INTENDED WHEN THE FLUID LEVEL FALLS TO A CERTAIN LEVEL. IN EITHER CASE, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD NOT BE WARNED OF A LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL CONDITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCHES.

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.