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.
I have been having problems with my check engine light coming on and staying on since Sept. 2000 when vehicle had under 100,000 miles on it. Took it to dealer while under warranty. Now have a private certified auto tech who does my repairs and code read outs. I have had a tune up at 95,000 miles, and had to have another one at 121,000 miles. Had problems with engine stalling while driving down the interstate and up a hlll. In summer of 2001, I had the iac valve changed which corrected the stalling problem. Have replaced O-2 sensors at least twice. In past 6 months, the enging has been running very rough and I have a strong smell of gasoline. 2nd tune-up and coil replaced about 2 weeks ago. Engine now running very rough and gasoline odor is so strong that you could not light a match in the vehicle. Check engine light on again as well as brake and ABS light. Radiator completely empty for the 2nd time in 2 weeks.
Head gasket failed, leaking coolant into cylinder, fouling spark plugs and oxygen sensors. Problem has been ongoing since vehicle had 95,000 miles. Dealer was notified.
Check engine light came on repeatedly and dealership tried to fix as follows: 8,369 miles - replaced spark plug wires; 14,184 miles replaced "bad" hego bank; 34,442 miles replaces plugs 4 and 5; 34,479 miles replaced hego #2; 37,843 miles replaced spark plug wires (again); 38,111 miles replaced bad shaft in synchonizer sensor; 44,489 miles replaced "defective" vacuum elbow; 44,552 miles cleaned resistors and replaced upper intake O rings; 47,420 miles light came on and went off by itself; 50,000+ miles light came on and went off when battery was replaced; 56,000+ miles noticed coolant "disappearing from auxillary coolant tank - took in and dealership couldn't find anything wrong but put in dye -- took back in a few weeks when coolant disappeared again - diagnosis: Head gasket failure; had head gaskets replaced, but check engine light would not go off and engine was misfiring -- diagnosis: Bent rod.
Consumer states that when removing the key from the ignition the vehicle is able to be started up again with out the key in the ignition. Contacted dealer. Nlm
Premature failure of head gasket causing engine coolant to leak into the #1 cylnder causing a miss fire and the vehicle to run rough. Engine light came on and I brought it to the dealer. The dealer had it for a few days, replced the spark plugs and said it was fine. On the ride back from the dealer the engine light came back on. The dealer then kept it for another two days and found the coolant in the #1 sparkplug well. Brought to an independent repair shop where it was determnined to be a head gasket failure.
Original transmission failed at 37900 mi. - detected when trans fluid leaked onto hot engine part and smoked. Original warranty expired at 36,000 mi. Dealer told me that fmc would sell me an "extended powertrain warranty" for $250. The warranty would cover the previously diagnosed transmission failure and would cover any other major trans/engine problems up to 75,000 miles, provided I am still the owner of the vehicle. I purchased the extended warranty and was glad I did when the replaced trans failed ta 42,952 miles. The dealer replaced that trans, I had to pay a $50 deductible. In Jan. 2001 (58,100 miles) the warranty had to be used again. This time it was for "upper and lower manifold seals". however, this time it would cost me $213 because they also had to replace the spark plugs, which were not covered by the extended warranty. Just last month, 6/22/2001 the vehicles engine light came on again, just as it had in January 2001. The vehicle was running rough, stalling, engine was 'misfiring". the end result this time was replacement of the spark plug wires, coil assembly, A-S sensor, and a spark plug. This vehicle was sold to me as "not needing a tune-up until 100,000 miles". sure sounds to me like I've already had that tune-up and I'm only 1T 65,000 miles!! then theres the A/C problem(s). In June the A/C was only blowing air through my defrost vents on top of the dash. The dealer repaired a "vacuum leak" and now they replaced a high psi switch, cost was $100 each time.
While driving engine check light was illuminating on dashboard. Consumer contacted dealer to have vehicle inspected, and mechanic replaced spark plugs and other parts. Later, mechanic discovered that head gasket malfunctioned, causing the problem. Consumer states head gasket was replaced, subsequently since the repair the check engine light has come on twice.
Please, we are parents whit 3 kids, is very hard for us to pay this extra money for this defect vehicle, to this moment we changed:transmission -twice 02sensor (transmission)-catylitic converter left/raight-coil ignition system, we get this car whit 48.000mi. On 1998.for my all family and the good name of the Ford deller tanks for yuo help.
Due to a defective transmission, while applying the gas pedal, the vehicle hesistated and lunged forward which may have caused a crash. Dealer had replaced transmission with a rebuilt transmission. Engine check light comes on. Also, dealer replaced coil and a spark plugs, but problem is still occurring. Dealer could nt determine the cause of the problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Moundsville, WV, USA