Consumer Safety Complaints

Incident date: Jan 25, 1999

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A MASSIVE OIL LEAK BETWEEN THE CYLINDER HEAD AND THE BLOCK AT THE FRONT OF THE MOTOR, THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND BY PASS FAILED. NLM

Incident date: May 21, 1999

VEHICLE STALLS, ON ONE OCCASION VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE AND VEHICLE STALLED ALONG WITH THE FAILURE OF ALL POWER ACCESSORIES, DEALER REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR AND CAM SENSOR, TEMPERATURE GAUGE READ HOT, BELT TENSIONER MADE HUMMING NOISE, AND FLYWHEEL WAS REPLACED. *SLC

SOMETHING HAS BEEN LEAKING ONTO CONSUMER'S GARAGE FLOOR, POSSIBLY SOMETHING FROM THE ENGINE. *SLC

RUST WAS FOUND ON THE INSIDE OF THE OIL TANK WHICH CONTAMINATED THE OIL WHICH RUNS THROUGH THE ENGINE, AND THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING ON LONG TRIPS (OVER 2 HOURS). THE CARBURETOR HESITATES AND POPS. NLM

Incident date: Jun 1, 2001

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND OVERHEATED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING ENGINE TO BURN UP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES HER PROBLEM WAS EXACTLY WHAT RECALL 00V367 WAS FOR. *SLC

Incident date: May 7, 2001

VEHICLE OVERHEATS: 9 DAYS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF MY BRAND NEW CAR, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGINS REGISTERING ABNORMALLY HIGH UNDER NORMAL CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS. I IMMEDIATELY TURN OFF THE A/C, TURN ON THE HEAT TO THE MAXIMUM SETTING, AND ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE NO IMPACT ON THE TEMPERATURE, AND THE RED TEMP INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON. I PROMPTLY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD... Read more

Incident date: Jun 9, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH TEMPERATURE GAUGES WENT UP, AND SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM EXHAUST PIPE THAT SMELLED LIKE FIRE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC, MECHANIC STATED TWO HEAD GASKETS WERE BAD. MECHANIC REPLACED TWO HEAD GASKETS. *AK MECHANIC STATED THAT HEADS WERE WARPED VERY BADLY DUE TO THEM BEING MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM. *SLC

SOMETHING HAS BEEN LEAKING ONTO CONSUMER'S GARAGE FLOOR, POSSIBLY SOMETHING FROM THE ENGINE. *SLC

Incident date: Apr 18, 2001

ON APRIL 18, 2001, MY 1994 FORD EXPLORER, VIN [XXX], LICENSE PLATE[XXX], OHIO, BLEW A HEAD GASKET WHILE PROCEEDING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 71 FROM DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND, OHIO. THE TIME WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 P.M. IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR.*AK( DOT NUMBER: ) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Incident date: Apr 18, 2001

ON APRIL 18, 2001, MY 1994 FORD EXPLORER, VIN [XXX], LICENSE PLATE[XXX], OHIO, BLEW A HEAD GASKET WHILE PROCEEDING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 71 FROM DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND, OHIO. THE TIME WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 P.M. IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR.*AK( DOT NUMBER: ) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

INTERMITTENTLY AIR CONDITIONER WOULD GO DEAD, AND DASHBOARD TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD FLASH ON /OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN INFORMED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Incident date: Jul 19, 2000

THE VEHICLES ENGINE COOLING FAN FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

Incident date: May 24, 2001

TEMPERATURE GAUGE READ HOT, REPLACED UPPER LOWER RADIATOR HOSE, THERMOSTAT, TEMPERATURE SENDING UNIT, NEW WATER PUMP, AND ANTIFREEZE, NEW SERPENTINE BELT, STILL OVERHEATS, STEAM POURING OUT OF EXHAUST, APPARENTLY BAD HEAD GASKETS!!! IS THERE OR WILL THERE BE A RECALL OR RECOURSE I CAN TAKE WITH FORD ? MY CAR HAS RECEIVED TOP OF THE LINE CARE SINCE IT ROLLED OFF THE LOT! *AK

Incident date: May 15, 2001

VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE/TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HIGH. CALLED DEALER, AND THEY TOWED VEHICLE. A MECHANIC STATES THAT ENGINE COOLING FAN WAS NOT BLOWING. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE, AND CHARGED CONSUMER FOR ENGINE COOLING FAN FOR WHICH THERE WAS A RECALL. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Incident date: Dec 1, 1996

WHILE TRAVELING OVER A MOUNTAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 60+ MPH, AND VEHICLE BEING IN OVERDRIVE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED. TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD WHICH REQUIRED CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF OVERDRIVE UNTIL TRANSMISSION COOLED DOWN. *AK *JB

Incident date: May 8, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING AT 30MPH TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT, AND VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIED. REP AT DEALERSHIP HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND THEY REPORTED THAT WIRES HAD MELTED UNDERHOOD WHICH RESULTED IN WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK RECALL 00V367 DEALING WITH OVERHEATING RELATED TO THE PROBLEM CONSUMER HAD WITH VEHICLE, HOWEVER DEALER WILL NOT DO ANY RECALL REPAIRS DUE TO MILEAGE OF VEH... Read more

WHILE FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP, VEHICLE BUCKED OR SURGED FORWARD BEFORE I COULD REACH PARK TO TURN OFF THE CAR. NOTICE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOOD.

Incident date: May 17, 2000

CAR WILL RUN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES BEFORE IT STARTS TO OVERHEAT, TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES UP. ONLY WAY TO STOP OVER HEATING IS TO TURN ON THE HEAT. CONSUMER STATES THIS IS SECOND TIME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. *AK

Incident date: Nov 3, 2000

THE ENGINE COOLING FAN FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-367. NLM

Incident date: Jan 1, 2000

WHEN DRIVING TEMPERATURE LIGHT GOES IN RED AND VEHICLE OVERHEATS. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

Incident date: Dec 24, 1999

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION (00V-367), HOWEVER DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE UNTIL PART ACTUALLY FAILS. *JB

Incident date: Mar 7, 2001

ENGINE TEMPERATURE LEVER VACILLATES BETWEEN THE HOT AND COLD INDICATORS AND ALSO CONERNS OF WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HOT AND COLD AIR BLOWING FROM THE HEATING/COOLING VENTS, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY MECHANIC THAT THERMOSTAT WAS STUCK,THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER DID NOT ALLEVIATE PROBLEM OF THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FROM VACILLATING,WAS ADVISED BY MECHANIC THAT THERMOSTAT WOULD PROB... Read more

Incident date: Jan 17, 1997

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION 98V17800 AFTER ALREADY HAVING RADIATOR CAP AND RADIATOR REPAIRED DUE TO OVERHEATING. *JB

Incident date: May 27, 1999

REMOVE CYLINDER HEAD, INSTALLED NEW WATER PUMP, HEAD GASKET, TIMING CHAIN, GEARS AND GUIDES, INSTALL REMAN CYLINDER HEAD, THERMOSTAT, OXYGEN SENSOR AND ANTI-FREEZE, DUE TO ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS.

Incident date: May 27, 1999

REMOVE CYLINDER HEAD, INSTALLED NEW WATER PUMP, HEAD GASKET, TIMING CHAIN, GEARS AND GUIDES, INSTALL REMAN CYLINDER HEAD, THERMOSTAT, OXYGEN SENSOR AND ANTI-FREEZE, DUE TO ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS. *JB

Incident date: Apr 20, 2000

THE VEHICLES ENGINE COOLING FAN FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-367 RESULTING IN A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, THE CONSUMER REQUEST FULL REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS ONLY GIVEN A PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

Fire

Incident date: Aug 1, 2000

THE ENGINE SLUDGED AT 23,000 MILES.

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL (00S44) AND FOR NO LIGHTS ON RIGHT HALF OF INSTRUMENT PANEL, DEALER DID RECALL REPAIRS AND REPLACED BULB CLUSTER, HOWEVER INDICATOR LIGHTS NO LONGER SHOW UP AT ALL WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING STARTED, THE TECHNICIAN STATED WARNING LIGHTS ONLY COME ON WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM, CONSUMER LIVES WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF STEEP HILLS AND HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN OVERDRIVE ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 21, 1999

THE ENGINE COOLING FAN SEIZED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-367 CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE, IN FEB., 2001 THE ENGINE QUIT WORKING AGAIN. NLM

Incident date: Feb 12, 2001

DEAD BATTERY NEEDEDS JUMPED TWICE -REPLACED ON PRORATED WARRANTY: TEMPERATURE GUAGE WOULD GO TO COLD - SHOP FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *AK

THE ENGINE HAD AND OVERHEATING PROBLEM WHICH LEAD TO EXCESSIVE HEAT DETERIORATING THE ENGINE SEALS, A NEW ENGINE WAS INSTALLED, THE NEW ENGINE DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK, THE CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES HER VEHICLE EXPERIENCED RECALL (00V-367) FAILURE OF THE ENGINE COOLING FAN MOTOR PRIOR TO NOTICE RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE. NLM

Fire

Incident date: Mar 13, 2001

HEAD GASKET, WATER PUMP, OIL PAN GASKET, SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT, AND COOLANT LIGHT ON, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ON, WORK COMPLETED BY DEALER. *JB

Incident date: Jan 9, 2000

THE ENGINE COOLING FAN BROKE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-367 CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

FREEZE PLUGS BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING AT 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE HWY; TEMP GAUGE WITHIN NORMAL RANGE AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL ENGINE DIED. REQUIRED HEAD GASKET JOB AS WELL AS REPAIR OF FREEZE PLUGS. TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING CORNERS ON WET STREETS. WINDSHIELD FOGS OVER COMPLETELY WHEN DEFROST/DEFOG IS TURNED ON BEFORE IT CLEARS. TEMPORARY LOSS OF VISION THROU... Read more

Incident date: Apr 9, 2001

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STARTING COMING ON FALL 2000. HAD DIAGNOSTICS DONE BY THE DEALER AND A SERVICE STATION TWICE AND NOBODY CAN FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT COMES ON EVERYDAY ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER THE CAR HAS STARTED AND STAYS ON THE ENTIRE TIME THE CAR IS RUNNING. STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLANT SUMMER OF 1999. THE TEMP. GAGE GOES TO 3/4 TO ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT. BUT I AM TOLD THAT NOT... Read more

Incident date: Apr 13, 2001

CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH HEATER, AND HEAT GAUGE WOULD GO UP AND DOWN. THOUGHT AUTOMOBILE WAS GOING TO EXPLODE. TOOK AUTOMOBILE TO SHOP, AND THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS HEAD GASKETS. *AK THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE WAS A COMMON PROBLELM WITH 3.8 ENGINE. *YH

Incident date: Apr 1, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON, AND ENGINE GASKET BLEWOUT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *AK

Incident date: Oct 1, 2000

TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND THEY REPLACED WATER PUMP. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER IS NOW HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THERMOSTAT. *AK

Incident date: Mar 19, 2001

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA RECALL 00V367000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00S44/ COOLING FAN FAILURE. DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL RECALLS WAITING TO BE COMPLETED ON VEHICLE. *SLC

Incident date: Apr 1, 2001

ENGINE HAS FAILED, AND BEFORE THIS HAPPENED ENGINE WAS MAKING NOISES. ALSO, TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS READING ON HIGH. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK *JB

Incident date: Apr 2, 2001

WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP, CAR OVER HEATED. CONSUMER LATER NOTICED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED.*AK

Incident date: Dec 15, 2000

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE TEMP GAUGE DOES NOT READ, CHECK GAUGE & ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. MUST WAIT AT LEAST 5 MINS FOR TEMP TO COME UP. REPORTED TO FMC THEY STATE NORMAL MUST WAIT FOR WARM UP BEFORE DRIVING.

Incident date: Mar 7, 2001

BLOWN HEAD GASKETS; 1993 3.8 V6 ENGINE, 97,123 MILES, $1,200.00 FIX - ENGINE TEMPERATURE GUAGE OPERATED ERRATICALLY. DEALER (SOERENS FORD, BROOKFIELD, WI) ATTEMPTED DIAGNOSIS AND RETURNED CAR TO OWNER WITH WHITE SMOKE BILLOWING FROM TAIL PIPE; DEALER INFORMED CUSTOMER THAT HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN *AK

THE ENTIRE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED. NLM

Incident date: Dec 1, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEMS, HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, RADIATOR WAS REPLACED, AND ENGINE MOUNT WAS REPLACED. *SLC

Incident date: Mar 1, 2000

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V367, HOWEVER HAD A COOLING FAN REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

Incident date: May 10, 2000

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY OVERHEATED QUICKLY DAMAGING THE HEAD GASKET AND THERMOSTAT, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES SHE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIR UNDER RECALL 00V-367, DEALER REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

Incident date: Feb 19, 2001

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V367, HOWEVER REPAIRS COULD NOT BE COMPLETED FOR ANOTHER WEEK DUE TO A LACK OF PARTS. *SLC

THE DEALER HAD NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX RECALL (00S44/00M13), WHEN THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THE RECALL LETTER BACK BUT THE TECHNICIAN SAID HE THREW IT AWAY NOW THE CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL NOTICE TO TAKE TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR REPAIR. NLM CONSUMER STATES HE IS STILL CONTINUING TO HAVE TRACKING CONTROL PROBLEMS WHEN IT RAINS OR WHEN VEHICLE IS TAKEN TO THE CAR WASH. *SLC