Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
The most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling:engine (45.1% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine complaints here are 4.8× the median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
1 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 5 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 88 · 45.1% | No official action | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline | 18 · 9.2% | No official action | — |
| Exterior Lighting:headlights | 12 · 6.2% | Recalled | Recall 99V275000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor | 11 · 5.6% | No official action | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc | 5 · 2.6% | No official action | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components | 5 · 2.6% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Percentages are the share of the 195 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
NHTSA campaign 99V275000 · 1999 · reported 10/12/1999
DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 97V159000 · 1997 · reported 09/22/1997
THIS FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTS IN DAMPNESS AND FUEL ODOR, AND IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 96V071000 · 1996 · reported 04/25/1996
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
“HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 69,000 MILE ON 3.8L ENGINE. TAKEN VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. ALSO, MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS…”NHTSA complaint 877130 — filed 12/28/2000 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
“3.8L ENGINE; THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW . THE HEAT INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD GO OVER TO HOT. THE THERMOSTAT WAS CHANGED. THE FORD DEALER HAS BEEN…”NHTSA complaint 876502 — filed 12/14/2000 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
“MY ENGINE DEVELOPED A HEAD GASKET LEAK, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. I ASKED THE AUTO MECHANIC, WHY THIS HAPPENED, AND HE TOLD ME…”NHTSA complaint 737101 — filed 11/30/2000 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Engine and engine cooling:engine issues are the most-reported category, cited in 88 of 195 NHTSA complaints (45.1%), followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (18), exterior lighting:headlights (12), service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (11). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
195 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 6 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, and 3 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Yes — 3 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 99V275000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
1 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page is backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
