Consumer Safety Complaints

Incident date: Dec 28, 1998

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ENGINE PROBLEMS, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY, DEALER REPLACED O2 SENSOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THE ILLUMINATING LIGHT, VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT, BOTH ENGINE COVERS CRACKED, THERMOSTAT AND GASKET WERE REPLACED, BEARING WAS DEFECTIVE, COOLING FAN FAILED, HOSE CLAMP TO THERMOSTAT WAS REINSTALLED, SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP WAS REPLACED. ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 2, 2001

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 00S-440 ON ENGINE COOLING FAN ELECTRONIC FUSE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AFTER REPAIR THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT WORSE THAN BEFORE. *YH

Incident date: Jul 11, 1999

VEHICLE WAS MAKING RATTLING NOISES AT START UP, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TENSIONER WAS FRACTURED, DEALER REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, BELT TENSIONER PULLEY, IDLER PULLEY, SERPENTINE BELT, AND THERMOSTAT, DEALER HAD SLICED THE WIRE INSULATION TO THE MANIFOLD SENSOR WHILE REPLACING THESE FAULTY COMPONENTS, DEALER HAD ALSO FORGOTTEN TO PUT THE RADIATOR CAP BACK ON AND CAUSED A PUDDLE OF COOLANT ON THE GROUN... Read more

Incident date: Mar 20, 2001

VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO THE TOP, ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE NOISES, DEALER FOUND THAT RADIATOR WAS FULL OF BAD COOLANT AND VERY MUDDY, THE MUD WAS CLOGGING THE RADIATOR WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF COOLANT FLOW AND OVERHEATED CONDITION, THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED, FLUSHED ENGINE BLOCK AND HEATER CORE OF MUDDY COOLANT, AND THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR CAP WAS REPLACED.*JB

Incident date: Aug 1, 2000

THE HEATER CONTROL IS USELESS, YOU MOVE IT JUST INTO THE RED AND THE HEATER COMES ON FULL BLAST.

Incident date: Mar 30, 2001

RECALL COMPONENT FAILED, 00V367, CAUSING HEAD GASKET TO BLOW, NOW ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. *JB

Incident date: Aug 8, 2001

CONSUMER STATED THE GAUGE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY.*JB

Incident date: Jan 24, 2000

TIMING COVER GASKET, CRANKSHAFT, MOTOR MOUNTS AND RADIATOR ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ALL THESE REPAIRS WERE MADE AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, AN UNDER HOOD FIRE OCCURRED ON 02-JAN-2002, THE NEXT DAY CONSUMER BECAME AWARE OF RECALL 97V019 REGARDING POSSIBILITY OF COOLING FAN BEARING SEIZING CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE. *YH

Incident date: Feb 5, 2001

DRIVER CAN SMELL COOLANT, FOUND AND TIGHTENED LOOSE COOLANT HOSE; MOUNTING BRACKET BROKE, FAN STAT SOLENOID REPLACED. *TT

Incident date: Nov 14, 1997

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATION AND COOLING PROBLEM. *YD

Incident date: May 18, 2001

THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE INDICATOR ON THE OVERHEAD PANEL GIVES INCORRECT READINGS, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS COMPONENT SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. NLM

Incident date: Dec 26, 1998

WATER VALVE FAILED RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK, THE DEALER REPLACED VALVE AND REFILLED SYSTEM, OIL COOLER LINE LEAKING, DEALER RESEALED HOUSING AND REPLACED COOLANT BRIDGE OIL LEVEL SENSOR SHORTED . NLM

Incident date: Mar 22, 2001

VEHICLE DEVELOPED A NOISE AND DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, HOWEVER NOISE DID NOT GO AWAY, DEALER STATED NOISE WAS DUE TO PULLEY THAT HAD RUSTED AND CORRODED, RECALL 00V367, REGARDING THE FAN MOTOR, CAUSED THE PULLEY TO RUST AND CORRODE, THEREFORE CAUSING THE NOISE, VEHICLE HAD OVERHEATED AND DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND MANY OTHER COMPONENTS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE RECALL COM... Read more

THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING WHICH WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE TIMING COVER GASKET WHICH WAS ALSO REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES HE WOULD OCCASIONALLY HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE, VEHICLE WAS TAKING INTO A MECHANIC AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO BLOW AND TO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE.*YH CONSUMER HAS BEEN INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND PROBABLY THE ENGINE. *TT

DRIVE BELT AND SERPENTINE BELT FAILED, VALVE BODY COVER AND GASKET WERE REPLACED. *YH

CONSUMER STATES OIL COOLER WENT OUT.*YD. ALSO THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY FELL OFF, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEER TIRES AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED.*JB

Incident date: Apr 9, 1997

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TT ALSO, FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY NEEDED ADJUSTMENT/ HOOD WAS CRACKED/ THERE WAS A MISSING BOLT IN CROSSMEMBER/ THERE WAS A LEAK UNDER THE DASH/THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED/AIR WHISTLE NOISE IN ENGINE/PULLEY ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT/COOL FILTER REPLACED/ BRAKE BELT REPLACED/ LEFT FRONT BRAKE WAS STICKING/NEW BRAKE SHOES WERE NEEDED/ ALTERNATOR AND STARTER SOLENOID REPLACED/ SPE... Read more

CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF THE TEPERATURE GAUGE BEING OVER TOO FAR. *JG

Incident date: Aug 6, 1997

*AK CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT THE WAY IT SHOULD, THERE IS A DELAY WHEN GOING INTO GEAR AND IT MAKES A NOISE, REAR SEAL, PAN GASKET, AND COOLER LINES LEAKING, HUMMING IN ENGINE AT 59-62 MPH, THE WIPER BLADES FAILED, WHILE USING REMOTE THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM DOOR AREA, THE RIGHT FRONT ROTOR IS WORN, THE DEQLER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, AND HEADLIGHTS NEED TO ... Read more

Incident date: Oct 6, 2000

DRIVER CAN SMELL COOLANT, DEALER FOUND AND TIGHTENED LOOSE COOLANT HOSE; MOUNTING BRACKET BROKE, FAN STAT SOLENOID REPLACED, WATER PUMP LEAKED. *TT

THE TRUCK HAD DIFFICULTY SCALING UNDER 12,000 ON STEER AXLE. ALSO FRONT SHOCKS FAILED. CONSUMER STATED THE TRUCK NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT AT 65,000 MILES. *YH. THE DRIVE LINE VIBRATED, THE BRAKES SQUEAKED, THE CAB SHIFTED ON THE MOUNT, THE MARKER FUSE LIGHT BLEW OUT, THE RIGHT FUEL TANK SHIFTED, THERE WAS A COOLANT, FUEL AND OIL LEAK. *JB

CONSUMER STATED THE TRUCK LEAK COOLANT AND OIL. *YH

Incident date: Mar 20, 2002

AT LOW AND HIGH SPEED IF A BUMP IS HIT VEHICLE CUTS OFF. NO WARNING SIGN FLASHS INDICATING VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM..*AK VEHICLE RUNS HOT QUICKLY. VEHICLE STARTS HARD OR TURNS OVER TWICE BEFORE ACTUAL STARTING. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO TRADE VEHICLE. *JG

Incident date: Mar 23, 2000

BATTERY EXPLODED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. ON 23 MARCH, 2002 WHILE STARTING VEHICLE BATTERY EXPLODED AGAIN.*AK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. FAULTY COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. BELT NOISE AT STARTUP. OIL LEAK CONTINUOUSLY. ROUGH IDLE. BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ON. BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. HIGH PITCH NOISE FROM STEERING. POWER STEERING RACK LEAKING. POWER STEERING GEAR... Read more

Incident date: Feb 1, 2002

VEHICLE IS LEAKING WATER FROM HEAD GASKET. COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASH. TOOK TO DEALER. ALSO THERE WAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V367000. *AK DEALER FOUND SMALL HOLE IN CYLINDER HEAD. ENGINE WILL NOT START AND IS OVERHEATING. VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AT STOP. VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. ALTERNATOR, IGNITION SWITCH, HEAD GASKET, COOLANT, FAN BELT, PLUGS AND WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. FOUND FRON... Read more

Incident date: May 1, 2002

WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM MANIFOLD PIPE, AND VEHICLE'S TEMPERATURE GAUGE REGISTERED HOT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Incident date: Mar 5, 2002

TEMPERATURE INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHED, AFTERWARDS ENGINE STALLED. DEALER HAS REPLACED THERMOSTAT.*AKTHE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE WHILE IN MOTION AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED HE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. CONSUMERS INSURANCE COMPANY DID A TEST WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED OUT THAT A FAULTY THERMOSTAT WAS THE CAUSE. *JG

Incident date: Apr 1, 2002

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK AFTER DEALER PERFORMED RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V367000, CONSUMER COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, ANOTHER MECHANIC FOUND WIRING HARNESS WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. CONSUMER ADDS THAT THE OIL PUMP ALSO FAILED. *TT

CONSUMER STATED THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES, DUE TO THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING, HOWEVER CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS.*JB

THE TRUCK IS HAVING U-BOLT PROBLEMS, ALSO THE TRUCK WANDERS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *YD THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING OTHER PROBLEMS AS FOLLOWED: WIRING HARNESS, DASH, TRANSMISSION FAILURE, MILES PER GALLON HAS GONE DOWN, AND THE ENGINE HAD A BAD BLOW BY AND MISS. *SCC

Incident date: Jun 4, 1997

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING AWAY, ROTORS HAVE WARPED, AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES ALREADY.*AK. CONSUMER STATES ROTORS WEAR CAUSING VIBRATION AND PULSATION WHEN STOPPING, ALSO BELT DRIVE AND TENSIONER BELT WERE REPALCED, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON.*JB

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE 3/99. IN WHICH TIME I HAVE HAD TO BRING IT BACK FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, LEAKING FUEL INJECTORS, BRAKES, NON WORKING CRUISE CONTROL WHICH LED TO THE DEALER REPLACING THE COMPRESSOR. FRONT END LEAKED ANTI FREEZE WHICH LED TO ANOTHER MAJOR JOB. I AM NOT A HAPPY MOTORIST HERE. THE STEERING COLUMN SQUEEKED. THEY GREASED IT. TURNED OUT THERE WA... Read more

Incident date: May 15, 2001

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE PART IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. NLM *YD

THE VEHICLE HAS A V6 ENGINE WHICH THE COOLANT LEAKS, THEY CONTINUOUSLY HAVE TO REPLACE THE PARTS IN THE ENGINE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED ALSO. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS WILL HAVE TO BE DONE EVERY TWO YEARS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

Incident date: Mar 1, 2001

VEHICLE STALLS IN WARM WEATHER, AT ANY SPEED AND ANY TIME.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM AS BEING THE COOLANT SENSOR, ALSO THE FUEL FILTER AND DRIVEBELT WERE REPLACED.*JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT AND LEFT. ALSO WHEN BRAKING IT HAS A PULLING EFFECT. IN ADDITION, HAD PROBLEM WITH TIRES. *AK THE VEHICLE HAS TEMPERATURE CONTROL PROBLEMS. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE CD PLAYER MAKES NOISE AND THE RADIO MALFUNCTIONED. THE A/C SHORTED OUT. THE RIGHT REAR POWER WINDOW MADE NOISE WHEN ROLLING UP AND DOWN. CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *YH

Incident date: Apr 2, 2002

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, FRONT AXLE BROKE. DEALER STATED THAT AXLE HAD RUSTED THROUGH, AND LOOKED AS IF IT WAS TWISTED. *AK TRANSMISSION LEAKED UNDER DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT. TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES, REPLACED. PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT OPEN. DEALER FOUND BAD DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR, ALSO THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK, THE WATER PUMP/ TIMING COVER GASKET REPLACED. DRIVER'S SIDE SWAY STABILIZER LINK B... Read more

Incident date: Nov 6, 2001

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK CRUISE CONTROL AND DOOR LOCKS ARE INOPERATIVE. EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED. FRONT END IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND PULLS TO THE LEFT. HEAD LIGHTS WILL NOT SHUT OFF. THERMOSTAT, RADIATOR, RADIATOR CAP, AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED. THE STRUTS THAT HOLD THE BACK WINDOW AND DOOR DID ... Read more

Fire

Incident date: May 9, 2000

THE CONSUMER TURNED ON THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER AND COLD AIR ALONG WITH A MIST THAT FILLED THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND COVERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE PAPER NAPKINS TO CLEAR THE WINDOWS. THE HEATER CORE IS AN EXISTING PROBLEM THAT REOCCURS EVERY 3 MONTHS SINCE APRIL 2001. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. NLM COOLANT LEAK. DEALER REPLACED HEATER CORE 5 TIMES. RIGHT REAR WINDOW INOPER... Read more

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO RESTART. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK IGNITION MODULE FAILED, BRAKE SENSOR FAILED, STEERING WHEEL BROKE AND WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE, HOOD CABLE BROKE, STARTER FAILED, RADIATOR CRACKED, FUSES CONTINUE TO BLOW AND THE GEAR SHIFT BUTTON BROKE. *MJ

Incident date: May 2, 1991

VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS AT 40-50 MPH, NUMEROUS REPAIRS, REPLACING EGR VALVE, CLEANING FUEL INJECTORS, REPLACING IGNITION MODULE, DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CLUTCH IS NOISY. DEALER REPLACED THROW-OUT BEARING. CONSUMER STATES SERPENTINE BELT IS NOISY. DEALER REPLACED BELT. *TT

WHILE DRIVING, STEERING LOCKED. COULD NOT TURN WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. TOOK TO MECHANIC TO CHANGE RACK AND PINION. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK A WORN BELT WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT REMEDY STALLING PROBLEM, NOW RADIATOR LEAKS. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN REPLACING THE AIR FILTER, THE PLASTIC CASE THAT HOLDS THE SCREWS INSTANTLY BREAKS. DEALER STATED VEHICLE HAD A RECENT FRONT END ALIGNMENT, HOWEVER THE TIRES... Read more

DRIVE BELT AND SERPENTINE BELT FAILED, VALVE BODY COVER AND GASKET WERE REPLACED. *YH

Incident date: Apr 20, 2000

WHILE PARKED, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER FOUND TRANSMISSION LINES LOOSE. VEHICLE SHIFTING BY ITSELF DUE TO A STICKY CABLE. OIL LEAK IN ENGINE. DEALER FOUND HEADGASKET FAILURE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ENGINE RUNS ROUGH. CAMSHAFT REPLACED. VEHICLE SHAKES AND TREMBLES WHILE BRAKING. WEATHERSTRIPPING FELL OFF ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. ANTIFREEZE LEAKING. DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP.... Read more

THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING WHICH WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE TIMING COVER GASKET WHICH WAS ALSO REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES HE WOULD OCCASIONALLY HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE, VEHICLE WAS TAKING INTO A MECHANIC AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO BLOW AND TO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE.*YH CONSUMER HAS BEEN INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND PROBABLY THE ENGINE. *TT

WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. COOLANT FAN AND ENGINE OVERHEATED, RESULTING IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.*AK *YD

Fire

Incident date: Oct 15, 1995

ON TWO OCCASIONS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK ENGINE ROARS, CONSUMER WOULD TAP THE ACCELERATOR AND WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR, FEELS AS IF VEHICLE IS PUT IN NEUTRAL. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT SWITCH ASSEMBLY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER REPLACE 2 O2 SENSORS AND MAF SENSOR. VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT. WHEEL ALIGNMENT PE... Read more

Incident date: Feb 22, 2002

BLOWN HEAD GASKET, POSSIBLY CRACKED HEAD. NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATED A PROBLEM. TEMPERATURTE GAUGE NEVER MOVED. PROBLEM STARTED OUT OF THE BLUE. NOW 2 DEALERS CAN'T DECIDE IF ITS A FORD PROBLEM OR NOT AND WHO SHOULD PAY. FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN 2000, WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST FIX IT WITH A RECALL THEN. INSTEAD THEY DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL PEOPLES ENGINES BLOW AND SAY YOU FOOT THE BILL. I WOUL... Read more

Incident date: Jul 27, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ABS LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD GONE THROUGH FIVE RED LIGHTS, INTERSECTIONS, AND STOP SIGNS WITH NO BRAKES AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP. OTHER PROBLEMS WERE: THE TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND(ALL 4), THERE WERE NO BRAKE OR TAIL LIGHTS, THE ENGINE SURGED, THE SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATED, THERE WAS A SMOKE AND OR SMOKY ODOR, ... Read more