Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1994 record →
ENGINE HAD SMELLED HOT ON PRIOR OCCASIONS WHEN CLIMBING HILLS BUT DID NOT REGISTER HOT. MECHANIC DID NOT THINK IT WAS A PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES (IE HIGHWAY SPEEDS) AND MECHANIC REPLACED MOTOR MOUNTS. NOW TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT HIGHER THAN 1ST GEAR.
WHILE TRAVELING ENGINE STALLED. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD. PROBLEM CAUSED BY VAPOR LOCK, WHICH HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ADVISED DEALERS THAT THE USE OF "SUMMER BLEND" FUEL WOULD HELP THE PROBLEM. FORD HAS NOT YET PROVIDED A MORE PERMANENT FIX. *AK *ML
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
KNOCKING NOISE HEARD AT 1500 RPM. DEALER SAID THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS BENT/CRACKED AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OWNER HAD TO DRIVE UNSAFE VEHICLE AROUND FOR ANOTHER WEEK WHILE DEALER WAITED FOR APPROVAL FROM FORD. *AK *ML
TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. *MJS
WHEN CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN GEAR IT DIDN'T MOVE. THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, REQUIRING OVERHAUL OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. REPAIRS MADE AT OWNER'S COST. FORD AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. *AK *ML
AFTER CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THIS, AND HAVING RECEIVED SOME COMPENSATION FOR THE REPAIRS I FEEL THE COMPENSATION IS INADAQUETE. IT DID NOT COVER MY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. I HAD $3,416 IN REPAIR BILLS (REPLACED THE ENGINE) AND WAS REIMBURSED $2,900. THE DIFFERENCE WAS STATED AS BEING PARTS REPLACED WHICH FORD WOULD NOT COVER. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY A REPUTABLE SHOP AND NOT THROUGH FORD. I FEEL IF I HAD DONE THIS THROUGH FORD (WHICH QUOTED ME $3,900 FOR THE REPAIRS) THEY WOULD HAVE COVERED THE REPAIR COSTS. *AK
TRANSMISSION STAYED IN 1ST GEAR. LEFT MESSAGE AT MANUFACTURER. THEY RETURNED PHONE CALL STATING THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS & THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
WHEN MAKING A TURN WITH THE VEHICLE, IT WILL GO INTO IDLE, THEN REENGAGE. *AK
WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. WHEN LIGHT CHANGES CAR DOES NOT MOVE. THEN AFTER WAITING A PERIOD OF TIME 10 TO 60 SECONDS, THE CAR JERKS ONTO GEAR AND THEN THE DRIVER CAN PROCEED. THE SAME SITUATION OCCURS WHEN BACKING UP. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMS UP. *AKY
WHILE TRAVELING UPHILL AFTER MAKING A STOP, AND UPON DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL. THEN TRANSMISSION KICKED IN, AND VEHICLE STARTED TRAVELING. TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED, OWNER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS COMMON FROM 93-97. *AK *ML
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN HEAD-ON COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
HEAD GASKET BLEW LEAVING ME STRANDED ON HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND LOCKED UP ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING THE CAR TO SLOW RAPIDLY AS IF BRAKING LEAVING ME TO CROSS SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER WHERE I WAS STRANDED. *AK
CONSUMER STOPPED FOR A STOP LIGHT AND VEHICLE DIED, TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID IT WAS TRANSMISSION. *AK *ML
DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE CONSUMER $403.00 FOR A TIMING KIT. A FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY ON ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS RECEIVED BY CONSUMER. WOULD LIKE FOR NHTSA TO HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
THIS IS THE SECOND RECALL FORD HAD ON THIS PART. DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON MY CAR FORD IS REFUSING TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I BELEIVE THAT SINCE THIS IS A DEFECT DUE TO FORD THEY SHOULD PAY TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME ON DASHBOARD. THEN THE ENGINE WILL STALL, AND ANTI-FREEZE WILL LEAK FROM HEAD GASKET. *AK
SWAY BAR BRACKET WAS LOOSE AND MAKES NOISE. YH
THE CITY ACATUALL DISPOSED OF THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF CONTINUING OVERHEATRING OF THE ENGINE. IT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED AS HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, BUT AFTER RESEARCH AND RECENT PUBLICITY, I AM CONFIDENT THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOSS OF THIS POOR VEHICLE. *AK
JUNE 1997 I WAS TOLD BY A 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS ..ONE FROM PENSKE AUTO IN MILFORD MA, THE OTHER FROM BERADI AUTOMOTIVE IN MILFORD ...AFTER BRINGING IN A CAR FOR A PROBLEM WHERE MY CAR WOULD RUN HOT AT IDLE...THAT MY HEAD GASKET WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. PENSKE WENT SO FAR TO BELIEVE IT ALREADY HAPPENED AND MY BLOCK WAS CRACKED. THEY RECOMMENDED TAKING THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER FOR CHECK UP. ON 6/16/97, WITH ODOMETER SHOWING 53123 MILES, I TOOK THE CAR TO VALLEY FORD IN MILFORD. I TOLD THEM PENSKE THOUGHT THE BLOCK WAS CRACKED. THEY INVESTIGATED AND SAID THIS WASN'T THE CASE. TO MY COMPLAINT THAT THE ENGINE RAN HOT AT IDLE, WITH A FLICKERING OIL LITE ONLY AT IDLE THEY CLAIMED THE GETTING HOTTER AT IDLE WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT MAKE AND THE LITE FLICKERING WAS DUE TO A "SENSITVE LITE". THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN HOT AT IDLE, SOMETIMES SMELLING. I TOOK THE CAR TO BERADI AUTOMOTIVE AND THEY REITERATED SOME DAY MY HEAD GASKET WOULD FAIL AND THEY HAVE "REPLACED A BUN. *AK
DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET-CREATED RELATED PROBLEMS W/ENGINE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED OF PROBLEM AND REPAIR, UNWILLING TO RECTIFY PROBLEM BECAUSE STATED DEFECT OCCURRED AFTER 100,000 MILE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. MILEAGE AT INCIDENT EXCEEDED WARRANTY BY 2706 MILES. MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT PROBLEM EXISTED BEFORE INCIDENT EVEN THOUGH HEAD GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE BEGINNING. SHOULD BE REIMBURSED AND THIS ISSUE MADE A TOTAL RECALL FOR THESE YEAR VEHICLES ARE KNOWN TO HAVE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH SPEEDOMETER OPERATING ERRATICALLY. REPLACEMENT HAVE BEEN MADE ON TWO OCCASIONS WITHIN 30,000 MILES. BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED PRESENTLY AT 68,000 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED,AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK
THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IMPORTED TO FINLAND PRIVATELY, BUT NOT ME. THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WERE CHANGED IN LOCAL CAR REPAIR SHOP ON 12/1999. NOW I FOUND OUT FROM INTERNET THAT THIS FAILURE IS WELL KNOWN IN USA AND FORD COMPANY HAS AN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS FAILURE. WARRANTY LAST FOR 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. MY QUESTION: I AM ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND OF THE REPAIR BILLS ? I CONSIDER THIS AS AN INTERNATIONAL WARRANTY MATTER, CAUSE I AM NOT LIVING IN USA. LOCAL FORD COMPANY HERE IN FINLAND REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANY HELP, THEY CAN NOT DO NOTHING. " PROMPT REPLY WOULD BE APPRECIATED. " *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING WHENEVER THE HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH IS USED OR THE RIGHT SIDE TURN SIGNAL IS APPLIED. DEALER NOTIFED. *AK
CONSUMER HAD ENGINE REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO DUE TO HEAD GASKETS OVER HEATING. CONSUMER LEARNED OF A RECENT RECALL, AND IS NOW HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. DEALER WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED AT THE PLANT WHERE THE RECALL PARTS ARE MANUFACTURED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OVER AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY PUT IN A NEW ENGINE. ALSO, UPON GOING DOWN THE STREET IT FELT LIKE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN GEAR AND WAS COASTING. TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, AND HE REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURES (2ND NOW) INCLUDE INTERMITTENT NEUTRAL CONDITIONS AT 65 MPH. STEERING PROBLEM IS SOMETHING THAT MY DEALER HAS YET TO ,BUT IS REPRODUCIBLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
RECALL 98I002000/FRONT COIL SPRING: WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER HIT A DIP IN THE ROAD, FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, PUNCTURING THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE, AND CAUSING POOR STEERING CONTROL. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *ML
CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACKED PISTON INSDE TRANSMISSION. DEALERSHIP HAD TO OVERHAUL ENTIRE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE MECHANIC SAW MORE DAMAGE THEN IT WAS ANTICIPATED. *AK
ON IMPACT REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED INTO1-3CM SIZE VERY SHARP HIGH VELOCITY FRAGMENTS WHICH COVERED ENTIRE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT (FRONT AND BACK) INCLUDING BASE OF REAR-FACING INFANT SEAT (SEAT WAS REMOVED AT A TIME). THIS REPORT IS TO UNDERLINE THE DANGER FOR THE INFANTS IN REAR-FACING INFANT SEATS IN THE EVENT OF REAR-END COLISION SINCE WINDSHIELD IN STATION WAGON WILL FAIL IN NEARLY ALL CRASHES OF THIS TYPE. IT SHOULD BE REDESIGNED TO PREVENT FRAGMENTATION AND/OR REACHING PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.*AK
3.8 LITER ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 78,000 MILES, CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE UP, EXTREME AMOUNT OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF EXHAUST. NO PRIOR WARNING WAS GIVEN. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
ON OR ABOUT 2/26/2000 WHILE DRIVING IN AIKEN, SC I ATTEMPETED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND MY CAR DISENGAGED WHILE IN GEAR AND MY CAR WAS ALMOST HIT BY A SEMI-TRACTOR TRUCK. MY FATHER AND MY HUSBAND HAVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY QUALIFIED MECHANICS, AND THEY TELL US IT IS THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON IN THE TRANSAXLE. THERE HAVE BEEN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLITENS (TSB) PUT OUT BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY SINCE 1991 ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THEY MADE MY CAR WITH A DEFECTIVE PART AND BOTH MYSELF AND ME TWO CHIRLREN COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE ALERT TRUCK DRIVER. FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THROUGH TSB'S 91-5-7,92-1-4,92-26A-6, 93-9-11 AND 94-24-7 WHICH EVEN TELLS THE DEALERS NOT TO USE THE ALUMINUM PISTON AND IF THEY HAVE ANY IN STOCK TO RETURN THEM TO THE PARTS DEPOT FOR CREDIT. MY FATHER MR. BOB PATTERSON HAS CONTACTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT LAWYER WHO HAS REVIEWED THE TSB 94-24-7 AND HE FEELS THAT FORD IS TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. MR. PATTERSON HAS CALLED THE DEALER WHO REFERED HIM TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE 1-800-392-3673(JOY) WHO STATED IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. HE FURTHER CONTACTED MR. RON SUMNER FORD MOTER COMPANY PRIORITY SECTION 313-322-3000 WHO SAID IT WAS UP TO THE DEALER TO INITIATE ANY ACTION TO GET ASSISTANCE AND THEN STATED THAT HE DIDN'T THINK FORD WOULD OFFER ANY. WHEN YOUR OFFICE WAS MENTIONED HE SAID THAT FORD WASN'T SCARED OF YOU. ALSO HE WOULD NOT PUT ME IN CONTACT WITH MR. JAQ
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
HEAD GASKETAND BRAKE FAILURES. *AK
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO RELEASE WHEN BRAKES WERE TAPPED TO SLOW DOWN. ALSO, THERE WERE NO REAR BRAKE LIGHTS, AND VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. WOULD NEED TO APPLY BRAKES TO EDGE VEHICLE TO SHIFT. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. OWNER HAS PARTS. *AK *ML
RECALL 98V323000 FORD/SUBFRAME CORROSION; OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN JULY 1999. OWNER HAS CONTACTED DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER DOES NOT HAVE PARTS TO CORRECT RECALL. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ALUMINUM RING BEING EATEN UP INSIDE TRANSMISSION. RING WAS REPLACED WITH A STEEL RING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON A STREET AT 15 MPH, SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
COST TO REPAIR $1800. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE FLUCTUATES BACK AND FORTH. ALSO, THE NEEDLE DOES NOT MOVE UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS DRIVEN FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THS PROBLEM # 97-12-5 . REPAIRS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND CONSUMER WANTS FORD TO COVER COST OF REPAIRS. *AK *ML
WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE WENT UP AND VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING DUE TO A LEAKING ENGINE HEAD GASKET. ALSO, VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY WATER PUMP AND DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK *ML
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
RADIATOR LEAKED. YH
PRIOR TO RECALL THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED,THE IGNITION JAMS AND WOULD NOT RELEASE THE KEY CAUSING SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (96V-071). YH
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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