Consumer Safety Complaints

Incident date: Jun 1, 2001

TACHOMETER, TEMPERATURE AND FUEL GAUGE HAVE QUIT. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN CYLINDER HEAD AND TEMPERATURE SENSOR. MECHANIC AT FORD DEALER STATED THAT MANUFACTURER HAS NOT PRODUCED SENSOR FOR ECONOLINE TRUCK, RESULTING IN FALSE WARNING TO CHECK ENGINE ON VEHICLE. *AK

Incident date: Jan 18, 2002

CAR TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED CAR RUNNING HOT, DROVE IT 3 MILES TO SAFETY, ENGINE CEASED, WARPED HEADS. NO PRIOR NOTICE OF OVERHEATING, NEVER OVERHEATED BEFORE THIS INCIDENT; ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. WARRANTY COMPANY INSPECTED, SAID WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT FAILED, BOTH WERE MANUFACTURER PARTS, WHICH CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND SEVERE DAMAGE. I WAS NOT REIMBURSED BY WARRANTY FOR ENGINE, ... Read more

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 15, 2002

RECEIVED INFORMATION ON SPECIAL PROGRAM #SSP-33 FROM MAZDA REGARDING FUEL FUMES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC REFUSED TO DO ANY REPAIRS ON VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER ADDS WHILE DRIVING UP HILL, VEHICLE WILL ONLY ACCELERATE UP TO 10 MPH, ONCE REACHED LIGHTS FLICKER ENGINE, BRAKES AND STEERING LOCKED UP, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL, VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND STEAMING CAUSING THE ENGINE AND TRA... Read more

1 injured

Incident date: Feb 6, 2002

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A REMOTE HIGHWAY WITH THE CAR ON CRUISE CONTROL GOING 60MPH. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE ALARM SOUNDED, SO I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. I OPENED THE HOOD AND HOT COOLANT WAS SPRAYING OUT ALL OVER THE ENGINE. SINCE THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS STILL OVER HALF FULL, I DROVE DOWNHILL GOING ONLY 25MPH, TO A POPULATED AREA APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES AWAY WHERE I COULD RECEIVE ASSISTANCE. I CALL... Read more

Incident date: Feb 19, 2002

VEHICLE IS LEAKING TOXIC HYDROGEN SULFIDE AND INSIDIOUS POISON GASES THROUGH VENTILATION. THIS CAUSES HEADACHE IRRITATION WHILE IN VEHICLE. DEALER HAS NO WAY TO DETECT THE LEVEL. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. 27-NOV-2001 [XXX].*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Incident date: Jan 1, 2002

BOTH SETS OF OIL COOLER LINES BEGAN LEAKING. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON GM VEHICLES WITH THE SAME TYPE OF OIL FILTER ASSEMBLY.

Incident date: Jan 1, 2002

TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS REGISTERING HOT. VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Incident date: Aug 8, 2001

CONSUMER STATED THE GAUGE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY.*JB

Incident date: Feb 11, 2002

GAS GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER AND TEMPERATURE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK. AT THE SAME TIME ALL OF THE PANEL LIGHTS WILL COME ON - GAS LIGHT, ENGINE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, ETC. THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN EVERYTHING WILL WORK PROPERLY. THIS OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY, AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES. WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR THE ODOMETER READING HIEROGLYPHICS BUT NOTHING WAS RESOLVED.

Incident date: Oct 29, 2001

EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS REPLACED DUE TO IT GETTING HOT MELTING THE CARPET AND PAINT INSIDE TRUNK, FUMES FILLED INTERIOR OF VEHICLE AT THIS TIME EXHAUST SYSTEM IS RUNNING JUST AS HOT AGAIN, DEALER STATED FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INSTRUCTED HIM NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS BAD GAS MILEAGE, STARTER MOTOR SEIZED AN... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND SMELLED SMOKE. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE ENGINE COOLING FAN FAILED, DEALER REPLACED ENGINE FAN AND WIRES AND NOW WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHAKES, SKIPS AND STALLS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED. *JB

Fire

Incident date: Feb 8, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A WINDING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DRIVER WOULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE KEPT GOING TOWARDS HOT. DRIVER DROVE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT ENGINE HEAD WAS CRACKED, CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO MIX WITH OIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Incident date: Jan 15, 1997

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A CONSTANT COOLANT LEAK, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE RADIATOR BECAUSE A RADIATOR HOSE CLAMP BROKE, THE THERMOSTAT, AND WATER PUMP, BECAUSE OF THE COOLANT LEAK THE HEATER IS BLOWING COLD AIR. *SLC

Incident date: Jan 22, 2002

WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATEED ON THE DASHBOARD, THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *AK. CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER AND HARNESS WAS CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON, THE HOOD SENSOR FOR THE ALARM WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS A FAULTY THERMOSTAT THAT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR, THE GLOVE BOX WAS REPLACED AND THE SEAT CAME OUT OF PLACE WHEN STOPPING. *YD

Incident date: Jan 30, 2002

THE GAUGE FOR THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE WAS RISING ALL THE WAY TO THE RED SECTION OF THE GAUGE LABELED HOT. FORD LOOKED AT THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT IT HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET THUS RESULTING IN A MAJOR EXPENSE. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO BE CHECKED AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL DATED MAY 2000-NOVEMBER 2000. THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. FORD, KNOWING THAT THESE HEAD GASKETS ARE FAILING PREMATURELY, REFUSED TO GIV... Read more

Incident date: Aug 19, 1997

SEVERAL ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS, LOWER RADIATOR HOSE LEAKING AT THE WATER PUMP, ENGINE OIL COOLER LINES REPLACED, ENGINE PULLEY BROKE DAMAGING THE SERPENTINE BELT, TENIONER ASSEMBLY AND BELT REPLACED, TIMING WAS RESET. *TT

Incident date: Dec 1, 2001

VEHICLE STILL OVERHEATS AFTER REPLACING ENGINE. AS SOON AS TEMPERATURE GAUGE MOVED IN THE RED, PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO COOL OFF. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Incident date: Dec 30, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED A SMOKE SMELL COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK PRIOR TO RECALL 00V367, ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING AND BURNING EXCESS OIL FROM OVERHEATED PISTON RINGS, AFTER RECALL REPAIRS, THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ANTIFREEZE LEAK THAT WAS GOING INTO MOTOR OIL, ENGINE COOLING... Read more

Fire

Incident date: Nov 2, 2001

WARRANTY 36,000 MILES/3YEARS. DROPPING VAN OFF FOR ROUTINE BRAKE JOB, VAN DIED IN GARAGE PARKING LOT, TEMP GUAGE HAD NO INDICATION ANYTHING WRONG,TAILPIPE SMOKING, , HAD POLICE STOP BY TO SEE, GARAGE LOOKED AT ENGINE FLY WHEEL FELL OFF AND HEAD GASKET MELTED. CAR ONLY HAS 54,000 MILES ON IT. CONTACTED CHRYSLER NOTHING THEY WOULD DO. THE GARAGE I HAVE IT AT IS NOT MORE THAN 5 MINUTES FROM A DODGE D... Read more

Incident date: Dec 25, 2001

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. *AK WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CONSUMER EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND PARKED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, ALSO THE FREEZE PLUG MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE # 5 PISTON TO MELT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS OVERHEATING BUT... 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: May 15, 2001

TACHOMETER/ FUEL GAUGE/ TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAVE QUIT WORKING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE EMERGED FROM EXHAUST. ALSO, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE IMMEDIATELY WENT FROM COLD TO HOT, CAUSING HEAD GASKET TO BLOW OUT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SMOKE EMERGED FROM VEHICLE, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE IMMEDIATELY WENT FROM COLD TO HOT, CAUSING HEAD GASKET TO BLOW. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Incident date: Jan 4, 2002

UNABLE TO OPERATE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. *AK THE WINDOWS ONLY GO DOWN FROM THE DRIVER'S DOOR CONTROL BECAUSE THE WINDOW LOCK WAS SHORTED OUT. THE MIRROR SWITCH WAS BURNT OUT. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS CRACKING. THE OIL COOLING LINES WERE LEAKING BADLY. *YH

Incident date: Feb 2, 2001

VEHICLE CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT. TEMPERATURE GAUAGE INDICATES THAT VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING ,AND THEN SMOKE CAME FROM EXHAUST PIPE. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY CAUSE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Incident date: Aug 15, 2001

TEMPERATURE ON VEHICLE GETS EXTREMELY HOT, BUT HEATER BLOWS OUT COLD AIR, CONSUMER CHANGED THERMOSTAT, BUT DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM, CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER STATED VEHICLE WAS OVER 100000 MILES, AND CAN NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNDER RECALL. *AK *SLC

Incident date: Jul 30, 1999

CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD GASKETS ARE GOING BAD AGAIN, VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY AND COOLANT FLUID WAS IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, HAD GASKETS REPLACED TWO YEARS AGO, CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK. CONSUMER STATED AFTER DEALER REPLACED GASKETS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, RADIATOR FAILED, IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR, PCV FAILED, FUEL INJECTOR SEAL, IGNITION MODULE, S... Read more

Incident date: Feb 2, 2001

TEMPERATURE METER WAS ON( H). CONSUMER WENT TO LIFT UP HOOD, AND COOLANT WAS ALL OVER ENGINE. ALSO, VEHICLE PULLED TO RIGHT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Incident date: Dec 25, 1999

THE FORD WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GUAGE FLUCTUATING UP AND DOWN THE SCALE; THE RADIATOR FLUID LEVEL WAS LOW; NEXT BUBBLES WERE NOTED IN THE OVER FLOW RESERVOIR. THE DEALER SAID THE ENGINE GASKETS WERE BAD AND REPLACED TEHM AT A COST $1446.02. NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT A SAFETY RECALL AT THIS TIME. LESS THAN A MONTH LATER WE RECEIVED IN THE MAIL FROM FORD VEHICLE SERVICE AND PRO... Read more

Incident date: Nov 24, 2001

HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT. TEMPERATURE LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF. WARNING LIGHTS FOR ENGINE DID NOT COME ON.CONTACTED DEALER, AND TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP. *AK

Incident date: Nov 22, 2000

CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF ERRATICE OPERATION OF THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. *TT

Incident date: Mar 30, 2001

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

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

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

Incident date: Aug 16, 2001

WATER PUMP, RADIATOR AND HEATER HOSES WERE LEAKING, DEALER MADE REPAIRS, AND IN DOING SO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LINES WERE DAMAGED, CONSUMER INFORMED DEALER THAT THEY HAD DAMAGED THESE LINES, SO DEALER MADE REPAIRS, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATES LINES ARE STILL LEAKING, NOW DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE HIM FOR THE REPAIRS, CONSUMER FEELS SINCE THE DEALER IS THE ONE WHO CAUSED THE DAMAGE, THEY SHOULD REPAIR VE... Read more

Incident date: Oct 23, 2001

I BOUGHT THIS USED CAR FROM A DEALER. MY FIANCEE STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS RISING FAST. SHE STARTED TO HEAR BUBBLING GURGLING SOUNDS FROM THE COOLING SYSTEM. THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER. I PHONED CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THEY COULD COVER THE EXPENSE SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAD PRIOR OWNERS. I ENDED UP GETTING THE CAR REPAIRED AND CHRYSLER ONLY OFFERED A 15% DIS... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 2001

SUV SURGES WHEN BACKING BACK BOAT AND TRAILER.

Incident date: Oct 20, 2001

VEHICLE WILL STALL USAUALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF, AFTER COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE COULD BE TURNED BACK ON, CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK ON 10-20-01, THE VEHICLES ENGINE ABRUPTLY QUIT RUNNING 3 TIMES WHILE CRUISING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ALL ENGINE INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL WITH NO FAILED MESSAGES, AFTER COASTING TO A STOP, THE ENGINE... Read more

Incident date: Aug 1, 2000

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

ENGINE OIL LEAKING IN THREE PLACES, WATER PUMP SYSTEM AND BELTS FAILED . NLM

TEMPERATURE GAUGE PERFORMS POORLY AT NIGHT. NLM

Incident date: Aug 14, 2001

THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND THE DEALER DAMAGED TRANSMISSION FLUID LINES WHILE REPLACING IT. THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING. *YH

Incident date: Aug 14, 2001

THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND THE DEALER DAMAGED TRANSMISSION FLUID LINES WHILE REPLACING IT. THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING. *YH

THE OIL DIPSTICK INDICATED EMPTY ONE WEEK AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN AFTER A WEEKS DRIVING. CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND EXPLAINS THE VEHICLES PERFORMANCE AND THE PROBLEM THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING, THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR ONE WEEK AND REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, REAR MAIN SEAL AND CRANKSHAFT. *YH

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

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL, ENGINE, HEATER, PARKING BRAKES.

Incident date: Sep 2, 2000

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON A SIDE STREET, APPLIED BRAKES AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HE ENDED UP INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT, SUBFRAME FELL IN THE STREET.*AK. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME MODEL OF VEHICLE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED, ALSO THE REAR BRAKES WERE INOPERATIVE, A STARTER, 2 ALTERNATORS, 2 WATER PUMPS, A BAD CRANKCASE ... Read more