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.
Broke down on highway with water and smoke everywhere. Had it towed to a garage and had to have the head gasket replaced. Ford refunded us the money and it worked for awhile but began overheating again and had to add water everyday. Husband passed away in 2006 and until 2008 except for starting it, I did not drive it. Had the cooling system fixed again at my cost and I am back approx 6 mts with the same problem overheating again and check engine light on. Car sounds awful and I cannot afford to fix it again.
The temperature gauge would sporadically come on and go into the "red". I would shut off the engine to allow it to cool and check the water in the radiator. I only had to add approximately 1/2 gallon of water on one occasion. I took my Mustang to david maus Toyota, believing his company to be reputable and since the Mustang was out of warranty. They replaced the water pump and the timing chain seal and charged me $700. Three weeks later, the same problem occurred after driving only a short distance. I took the Mustang back to david maus and was told it needed a new engine. I then took it to a mechanic who told me he would rebuild the engine, for which I paid him $1800. He did not fix the engine and the problem remained. I sued david maus for inept repairs but was unable to prove my case "sufficiently", possibly because the second mechanic assisted david maus in court instead of testifying for me after I threatened to sue him, also. He has since gone out of business. I have had another inspection by mullinax Ford in apopka, fl, who also stated the Mustang needed a new engine after david maus' mechanics "repaired" it. I had my regular mechanic, mir's auto works, do a thorough inspection and they determined that the cooling fan was not working and that it appears the head gaskets are blown and that a new engine will be necessary. Since October, 2005, the vehicle has been parked, with no license or insurance. I believe had I gotten the recall information, as I did with the parking brake recall, I could very easily have avoided all the frustration and expense I have experienced with my vehicle. I have not received any other recall information, either, regarding the headlights, yellow exterior lights, or hood separation.
A year ago, temperature gauge in car started to show that car engine was getting hot.had car looked at, and no problem could be found. Was cautious still, and kept my eye on gauge to make sure car never overheated. On way to work one day, the temperature gauge showd engine was overheating.pulled over to find coolant leaking. Had a friend look at it and found the coolant reservoir to be cracked, and coolant on a hose, so had those 2 items replaced. Car ran okay for awhile til I noticed a bit of white smoke coming out of exhaust pipe.(later told I was burning coolant-hence the white smoke). Had mechanic replace thermostat, radiator cap.etc. And again-had no problems for awhile until car one night car would not start. Had friend try it and car started for him. Proceeded home only to see a lot of white smoke coming out the back and again, car started to overheat. Pulled over, and found-again, coolant leaking. Had it towed to my mechanics home. He looked at car and deduced that I would need a valve job if he didnt find the head to be cracked. Had valve job done, new head gasket installed along with a new oxygen sensor-coolant burning out of tail pipe fried the sensor. Didnt have car for 3 wks, and had to pay $1700. For these repairs. & its not due to leaks of hoses. So am told that I may be burning the coolant which may cause some serious damage to the engine.(no external obvious leaks detected) found that there was a recall that affected my year, make & model of car, but this warranty has since expired.(was a 7yr/100,000 mi waranty) it expired in 2002 even though the problem occured 26,000 under the extended warranty Ford gave.supposedly, a letter was to be sent to those with my engine type(3.8L V-6) in may of '02. I never received such letter. A local dealer has informed me that there is nothing they can(or will) do to help atthis point due to the warranty expiration. Also, to poor salt in the proverbial wound, I work for Ford Motor Co., the manufacturer of the car...
Driver seat motor quit never attempted to fix or contact Ford. Complied with the safety recall in June of 03, for a faulty engine cooling fan (bearings seize) circuit breaker installed, no problem at time. Bearings seize in August of 03. For 1 month put off by dealer. Result, continuous heat caused head gasket to blow and ruin heads with coolant in the oil. Situation is out of direct guidelines of warranty and Ford and dealership deny fault or even help of any kind. Still under way.....
- Bullhead, AZ, USA
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Repeated blown head gasket. Wrong engine installed, 4th time - resulting in transmition trouble. Current engine lasted 16 months. Head gasket gone, again. Ford dealer, and Ford Motor Company refuse to offer any assistance with repairs. Cost of repairs now more than current market value of vehicle.
Head gasket on 1995 Ford Mustang coupe has only 34000 never drive the car realized the problem after warranty expired. Metal on seat bracket snapped where seat was bolted to floor. When turning seat lifted up off floor. Ford said was not a safety issue. 36947 miles as of 13 june2003 $2519.31 plus tax for head gasket, not fixed. Had extended warranty but I called a couple months after it had expired. Ford says I don't qualify for any goodwill assistance because of age and mileage beyond guidelines?? almost 37000 miles on a 8 year old car. The seat bracket I got replaced for $175 and my uncle fixed for free. It broke right after the 3 years was up.
My head gaskets in my 95 Mustang 3.8 liter blew on 4-20-00, BBB investigated, and Ford Motor Co. Agreed to do repairs free. Lanham Ford in lanham md. Repalaced head gaskets. Returned my car without oil, and severly damaged the engine. They replaced engine also. My car had 73214 miles then. Now it has app. 100,600 miles, 28,00 miles later and sheehy Ford in marlow heights md. States my head gaskets need to be replaced. Same problem as before, except, they are charging me for repairs. Ford is aware of the ongoing problems and complaints with these head gaskets. I believe that when they initially repaired my car they put in more head gasket defects. Am I responsible for paying every 28,000 miles for head gaskets that are defected Ford keeps putting in my vehicle. NHTSA have an enormous amounts of head gaskets cpomplaints by Ford. Please look into for. Thank you
Engine was running rough and smoke was coming from exhaust after engine was turned off due to head gasket failure. Cooling fan motor failed. Consumer received notices from manufacturer regarding additional warranty coverage under service program number 00M10, covered potential engine head gasket failures..
Vehicle began smoking very badly, the fan stopped working, vehicle began running hot and engine started to fail, dealer stated the problem was with the head cover gaskets, this part was replaced, however the problem still continues, problem possibly caused due to recall 01I011.
Consumer was traveling about 25mph on a side street and smelled smoke. She was able to pull over to the side. There was smoke coming from underneath the hood of vehicle. Consumer states the engine cooling fan failed, dealer replaced engine fan and wires and now when driving the vehicle shakes, skips and stalls, the check engine light has illuminated.
The gauge for the coolant temperature was rising all the way to the red section of the gauge labeled hot. Ford looked at the car and determined that it had a blown head gasket thus resulting in a major expense. I took my car in to be checked at the time of the recall dated May 2000-November 2000. They said it was fine. Ford, knowing that these head gaskets are failing prematurely, refused to give any consideration on the cost of the repair. I find this to be very unprofessional for the company and, unfortunately, very costly for the other hundreds of people who have had to deal with this very same thing!!
Temperature on vehicle gets extremely hot, but heater blows out cold air, consumer changed thermostat, but did not solve problem, contacted dealer and dealer stated vehicle was over 100000 miles, and can not do anything about it under recall.
Vehicle continues to overheat. Temperature gauage indicates that vehicle is overheating, and then smoke came from exhaust pipe. Dealer cannot identify cause.
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!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Springfield, VA, USA