This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
There was no prior warning of a blowout head gasket. Vehicle was taken to dealership for a regular maontenance check, and mechanic indicated that head gasket had to be replaced in order for vehicle to run.
Consumer was traveling about 25mph on a side street and right hand side that holds engine mounts and supports fell out in the road. Dealership is aware of problem.
Head gaskets blewout while driving. Also, vehicle started smoking with coolant and oil coming from underneath vehicle. Contacted dealer, and had to replace engine. The motor mount cracked and ruined the A/C. intake was leaking coolant. Radiator was replaced. The engine light comes on intermittantly due to sensor failure. Brakes make noise.
Vehicle failed state inspection due to motor mounts being broken. Consumer stated manufacturer has recall on structure, consumer stated the engine mounts are apart of this stystem.
Consumer found a technical service bulletin on website, and called dealer about bulletin dates of bulletin 3/98, service bulletin#9849, SB601270. Consumer stated bulletin was about head gaskets. Also, consumer had a blown head gasket. Ford executive customer service line stated this was not a recall, it was just an owner's notification program. Dealer can't do anything about technical service bulletin because consumer was over 100000 miles, but under 7 years.
Motor mounts supposedly replaced by dealer 6/23/99 for recall 98S36, same motor mounts now failed again 9/01. Contacted Ford Motor Company and they say the repairs are out of warranty. How many times does the federal government expect motor mounts to fail on a 3.8 L four door passenger sedan"?"
This vehicle has limited use. It's primary purpose is to Transport my wife who is in a wheelchair. Failure of a motor mount at this age and mileage is peculiar. Also, when I took the car to my mechanic to replace the part, he found they were on back order bevause of high demand.
7 on 6-11-2001, while driving on the highway, a small tapping noise was heard about a 140 miles into my trip, which sounded as if it was coming from the dashboard. The tapping noise progressed to a loud clanking coming from the motor. {note: The oil indicator light never came on}. the car was towed to a Ford dealership for an engine diagnosis. Because the oil indicator stick was full and there was adequate coolant, the dealership determined that the engine failure was not the result of a head gasket failure, but possibly due to a "connecting rod bearing" failure. Recommendation: "needs new engine". mileage: 70,903; 7 on 3-26-99 the speedometer head broke. Mileage: 40,551. No longer under warranty. Estimated cost to repair by the Ford dealership: $700; 7 on 6-29-2000, transmission slipping, brought to Ford dealership- estimated diagnosis: "probably internal". mileage: 57,850. Diagnosis cost: $70.68 estimated cost of transmission work by the dealership: $2000
Prior to recall notification, consumer had head gasket replaced due to leakage, the second time it failed it was covered under the recall notification, also while inspecting for leaks consumer was also advised that radiator and timing cover piece was also leaking.
Consumer stated before buying vehicle noticed that air bag light was coming on. After buying vehicle dealer refused to fix it. Consumer states motor mount is broken so shifting, starting, stopping or any other movement in the car would lift the engine in an upward motion, the front marker light needed to be replaced on the driver's side, air bag equipment malfunctioned due to the module sensor was defective, the brakes needed to have the master cylinder replaced, radiator needed to be replaced, serpentine belt was replaced, timing gear gasket, hood latch was broken hood would not stay down while driving down road, also security system needed to be reset.
Vehicle overheated/stalled & cold air was coming out of defroster with heat set at high. A small amount of freon entered vehicle. Independent mechanic found that gasket needed to be replaced. Consumer received a letter extending warranty to get this fixed, but mileage was over 9,000. A second warranty was sent covering 100,000 miles. But, consumer didn't received it.
Coolant getting into engine oil and causes premature engine failure. Dealer / manufacturer was notified. The timing belt cover gasket failure caused coolant to leak into the engine oil. After the gasket was replaced, the engine was found to have been damaged as the result of coolant mixing with oil.
Speedodometer does not register correct speed when vehicle is driven beyond 40 mph. Speedodomter becomes erratic. The consumer had transmission repaired, radiator and motor mounts replaced.
We were not getting any heat in the car. We assumed it was a minor problem and took it to a local garage. We were told that the heat gaskets we bad. We turned it into our warranty company and they approved repairs. We put out of pocket $500. We got the car back 12/22/00 and started having engine failure right away. We brought the car back and were told the small block was bad. Now the warranty company says the original repair should have been covered by a Ford recall that we knew nothing about. Ford says they are not responsible for the repair. What now. We are out $500 and no car.
While driving at 45-50 mph vehicle began to smoke. Owner stopped to check vehicle. After driving for about another mile, vehicle died. Vehicle was towed to dealership. Engine has blown a head gasket.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Wakefield, MA, USA