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.
Speedometer will start to bounce from speed to speed once speed reachs about 50 mph. Contacted dealer, and dealer is willing to change piece, but will not cover it under warranty.
Speedometer needle fluctuates back and forth. Driver is not able to verify correct driving speed. Van has been taken to the dealership. Problem has not been corrected. Dealership is not able to keep this part is stock.
Speedometer has been replaced on three occasions. Also, speedomter reading was not acurate. The needle flickered. Consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer has replaced parts.
We purchased the van with 42,00 miles on it. Since then the following repairs have been preformed since April 1998: Brakes and rotors replaced, rotors were warpped because of heat, we bought extended warranty on van to cover cost of repairs including electrical to find out it covers zip. A senor is considered a computer chip and not under warranty. The transmission had to be replaced, then after the 90 day warranty was up the senor in the transmission had to be replaced, the door senors all had to be replaced, the turn signal/curse control senor had to be replaced, the check engine light comes on about an average of every two months in this car and it costs us at least $180 each time to have it fixed. I just had the van in to check out the check engine light and have the car smoged the first week in June 1999 then two and a half weeks later as I was driving home the check engine light comes on, fumes come in throgh the vents and car starts cutting out. Had to wait til this week to take to shop so I could afford to fix it as the shops don't take payments. Contacted the 1800 # for Ford and they sugested I trade the car in. I still have 2.5 yrs to pay on this piece of Ford. This car has been down totaling 8.6 months sin the last 15 months. I find that the senors are a major defect in this van, maybe someone should check out the problem here. Also had to take van in for a recall on headgasket. I am fortunate to be able to have a back up car or I would have lost my job due to this cars cost and repairs to me, not only do I have to make the payment but also the costly repairs. This time it is costing me over $700 to fix and it has only been out of the shop less then a month.
A local Ford dealer has informed me that this vehicle needs a head gasket replacement. I find it unacceptable that a head gasket failure should be expected at any time, especially in a vehicle that has not seen severe driving conditions. In the two years that I have owned this vehicle, various dealers have been unable to correct some issues that were merely annoying (speedometer wavering and jumping; whistling sound coming from engine compartment; rear wiper arm boot failure; buildup of snow/ice on front wipers during snow). With this recent failure (head gaskets), I am convinced that I have purchased a lemon.
Automatic transmission failed prematurely. Manufacturer and dealer contacted and denied any responsibility. New transmission installed with incorrect speedometer gear. Stopped by state police and issued a citation for speeding at 74mph in a 65mph zone. My speedometer was reading 65mph! I believe a incorrect speedometer gear is responsible for the original transmission failing since it seems the speeds seem the same now as when I had the original transmission. I'm used to the same speed yet the speedometer is low by about 10mph!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bourbonnais, IL, USA