Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN
01I011000FORD MOTOR COMPANYfrom 04/13/1994 to 08/11/1995I69526012/28/2001MFRFORD MOTOR COMPANY12/21/200101/07/2002
Defect SummaryThis is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. however, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. vehicle description: 1995 taurus/sable passenger vehicles equipped with 3.0l and 3.8l engines and 1995 ford mustang vehicles with 3.8l and 5.0l engines. it is possible for the engine cooling fan bearing to seize.
Consequence SummaryShould this occur, excessive heat could be generated which could melt the fan motor electrical connector. components inside the cooling fan motor could ignite potentially resulting in an underhood fire.
Corrective SummaryDealers will replace the engine cooling fan motor assembly at no charge to consumers. ford is extending the limited warranty on the engine cooling fan motor to a total of 8 years or 100,000 miles from the warranty start date, whichever occurs first. this coverage is automatically transferred to subsequent owners at no charge. if the vehicle already has more than 100,000 miles, this coverage will last until june 30, 2002. if the consumer has paid to have this service done before december 2001, ford is offering a refund. owners can contact ford at 1-866-436-7332, concerning this program.
NotesFord has decided to conduct a service campaign to replace the engine cooling fan motor assembly. owners can contact ford at1-866-436-7332, concerning this program.
97V019000FORD MOTOR COMPANYfrom 07/22/1991 to 11/18/1994V (Vehicle)7520003/31/1997ODIFORD MOTOR COMPANY02/25/199702/26/1997
Defect SummaryThese vehicles are originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alaska, iowa, minnesota, nebraska, north dakota, and south dakota. the vehicles involved are 1992-1994 tempo/topaz vehicles with 3.0l engines; 1994 tempo/topaz with 2.3l engines; 1992-1995 taurus/sable with 3.8l engines; 1994-1995 taurus/sable with 3.0l engines and 1992-1994 lincoln continental vehicles with 3.8l engines. during high winds, heavy, blowing and drifting snow, and low temperatures, the engine cooling fan can become blocked or frozen with snow. the fan motor may not rotate and could overheat.
Consequence SummaryThis condition can cause smoke or flames from the fan and/or shroud, the fan electrical wiring, or the fan motor resulting in a vehicle fire.
Corrective SummaryDealers will install an electrical jumper harness containing an automatic resetting circuit breaker to protect the fan motor low speed circuitry from overheating.
NotesOwner notification:owner notification is expected to begin april 15, 1997.notes:owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393.
01V390000FORD MOTOR COMPANYfrom 04/13/1994 to 08/11/1995V (Vehicle)69526012/28/2002MFRFORD MOTOR COMPANY12/21/200101/02/2002
Defect SummaryVehicle description: taurus/sable vehicles equipped with 3.0l and 3.8l engines and mustang vehicles with 3.8l and 5.0l engines. it is possible for the engine cooling fan bearing to seize.
Consequence SummaryShould this occur, excessive heat could be generated which could melt the fan motor electrical connector. components inside the cooling fan motor could ignite potentially resulting in an underhood fire.
Corrective SummaryDealers will inspect the engine cooling fan assembly and install a circuit breaker. if the cooling fan is inoperative, the fan and motor assembly will be replaced. owner notification began december 28, 2001. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
NotesAlso contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM
984903/02/1998601270Concerns with coolant may leak from the head gaskets and / or the vehicle may overheat. *yc07/16/1998
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN
01M0912/01/2001630549Safety recall program 01s30 regarding additional coverage for engine cooling fan circuit breaker installation. *tt04/18/2002
97S6602/01/199751571Recall 97s66 - advance announcement - the engine cooling fan could stall due to accumulation of ice, snow and slush when the car is operated under certain conditions of high wind, heavy blowing snow and low temperatures - if the fan motor i06/27/1997
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
952401/01/199539120New radiator manufacturing process/modification. *tw03/17/1995
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
0222111/11/200210008304Engine-gear driven synchronizers-incorrect installation-camshaft position synchronizer (cmp) installation tool correct application. *mj07/27/2004
87019710/22/200210000592Incorrectly installed gear driven camshaft position (cmp) sensor synchronizer assemblies causing surge, lost of power, malfunction indicator lamp on and diagnostic trouble codes p1336, p1309 and p0340. *tt03/25/2003
0112406/25/2001622665On some vehicles, engine oil may continue to leak from the engine oil pan gasket area after an engine oil pan gasket repair has been performed. *tt10/22/2001
00M0910/01/2000618535Information regarding premature failure of head gaskets. *jb04/16/2001
00M0906/01/2000613867Subject regarding customers with prior after warranty adjustment (awa) head gasket repair. *tt09/20/2000
00M0903/01/200098M01612897Some vehicles may experience premature head gasket(s) failure, which may result in engine coolant leakage, which if not detected, can cause engine overheating. *mjs06/13/2000
1318009/01/19996090538Information regarding camshaft position (cmp) sensor alignment tool chart. *mjs03/21/2000
699709/01/19996090310Some service manuals may list the incorrect camshaft position sensor alignment tool for vehicles with various engine sizes. *tt03/14/2000
981132902/01/1998607497Information regarding the the availability of the revised headgasket for coolant loss conditions on some engines. *tt09/24/1999
98M0105/01/1998605465Premature failure of engine head gaskets may occur. this condition may result in engine coolant leakage, which, if not detected or if ignored, will cause engine overheating, or in extreme cases, could cause engine failure if overheat con06/21/1999
987404/13/1998601343A new silicone gasket and sealant. *yc07/24/1998
9761003/17/199751990Blower motor- chirping or squeaking from blower motor at low speeds. *jd07/17/1997
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
0124612/10/2001630515Engine oil system priming procedures, service tips for reports of premature engine failure. *tt04/18/2002
021401/21/2002630001Some engine assemblies with aluminum cylinder heads repaired in-vehile have been found to leak coolant and/or oil from the cylinder head gasket area. *tt04/11/2002
00M1001/01/2001625888Information regarding engine replacements warranty extension program. *yh12/10/2001
00M0901/01/2001625878Information regarding engine replacements warranty extension program. *yh12/10/2001
00M0901/01/2000613563Important recall information regarding vehicles that experience premature failure of the head gasket. *tt07/21/2000
9918309/06/19996090051Service tip information on revised oil pan gasket replacement procedure. *tt03/06/2000
9981605/03/1999606420Ford motor company now recommends sae 5w-30 viscosity grade for servicing any ford gasoline-powered vehicle regardless of model year. *tt08/19/1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
98201010/12/1998603695Experiencing a buzzing or rattling noise from the exhaust system. *yc03/02/1999
986403/30/1998601312Information on a buzzing or rattle noise from the exhaust system. *tt07/21/1998
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL
98231011/23/1998603724Mass air flow (maf)- sensor contamination- service tip. *ak03/03/1999

Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PE96033FORD MOTOR COMPANY05/02/199609/30/1996ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES97V019000
 Bad weather may cause the engine cooling fan to freeze the fan shroud.
EA96024FORD MOTOR COMPANY09/30/199604/15/1997ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES97V019000
 Accumulation of ice, snow, or slush could cause the engine cooling fan to freeze to the fan shroud.automatic or manual actuation of the cooling fan motor when the fan is frozen to the shroud may cause the fan motor and wiring to overheat and cause a fire in the engine compartment.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
07/01/200650000
 Tl* the contact owns a 1995 mercury sable. the contact stated the vehicle would sporadically stall when driving in warm to hot temperatures. the contact stated the engine would have to be shut off and cooled off before being able to restart the vehicle. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for further inspection of the failure. the failure persisted. the failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 84,000.
03/05/20101310001
 I bought a 1995 mercury sable. the person i bought it from said it had all new brakes, springs, filters, sensors, radiator, etc. when i took it to my mechanic last week (friday), he said there is a number of illegal things on it and it needs 1500$ worth of work to make it safe. he said it was a lemon and i should contact the person that sold it to me, so i did, i brought him to the mechanic so he could hear everything illegal and unsafe and broken about it. he stated in front of the mechanics that he would be refunding my money on monday (today). when i called today they told me to bad i'm not getting my money back. we bought it as is and oh well. i have a detailed list of problems with this car from my mechanic. *tr
01/01/19011
 Consumer requesting reimbursement for repairs on a 1995 mercury sable. consumer repaired the vehicle for recall problems before a recall was received and would like reimbursement for the cost. *kb the head gaskets, timing cover gaskets and oil pan were replaced due to the vehicle overheating. *jb
07/31/200674560103/01/1996
 Dt*: the contact stated that the vehicle slows down and will not accelerate until the vehicle stalls to a stop. the vehicle runs fine after it is restarted. the dealership and two independent repair shops could not duplicate the problem. there was nothing illuminated on the dash prior to each incident. updated 10/4/2006 -the consumer noticed that teh abs light has illuminated twice, once while the vehicle was running and once while it was not. *nm
04/15/2005856821
 The vehicle started to smoke. the consumer pulled over to the side of the road, to find the fire had completely gone out. **jb
08/11/20041
 Consumer took vehicle to the dealer for routine maintenance, and mechanic determined that the motor mounts need to be replaced due to corrosion. *ak
11/22/2002705/23/1997
 1995 mercury sable has experienced several problems. *mr the engine would idle, run rough, stall, and restart immediately, the a/c had blown warm air, the remote fuel door latch had broken, the engine made a loud squealing sound while being driven, and there was a coolant leak. the headgasket , timing cover, oil pan, broken fuel door spring, and starter circuit wiring assembly have all been replaced. recall #97v019000 *scc
01/06/200372230105/07/1995
 My complaint relates to ford and its handling of the problems associated with the 3.8 engine. when notified of the recall because of the gasket problem i took my 1995 sable to a ford dealer for correction. the car is not used too much, and consequently the time extension(to 7 years) ran out, but with only 28,000 miles on the new gaskets (72,000 miles total on the vehicle), they failed last month. ford has no interest in providing any relief. mileage to them is irrelevant, only the time. pretty lousy approach to fixing an engineering design flaw. purchases of ford products are a thing of the past. just had to enter a formal complaint and get it off my chest. if you can use me as any kind of a witness against them give a call. *ak
1
 Engine motor mounts were defective. *ak *jb
01/24/20001
 Timing cover gasket, crankshaft, motor mounts and radiator assembly failed. the consumer stated that all these repairs were made after the warranty had expired, an under hood fire occurred on 02-jan-2002, the next day consumer became aware of recall 97v019 regarding possibility of cooling fan bearing seizing causing vehicle fire. *yh
05/15/20010
 Vehicle started to smoke/temperature gauge went to high. called dealer, and they towed vehicle. a mechanic states that engine cooling fan was not blowing. dealer replaced engine, and charged consumer for engine cooling fan for which there was a recall. consumer's vehicle was not included in recall due to vin. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM
08/21/200860000
 Tl*the contact owns a 1995 mercury sable. while driving at any speed, the radiator fan shuts off and does not come back on. as a result, the temperature in the vehicle increases. the dealer was notified and gave the contact the runaround. the contact referenced three nhtsa campaign id numbers 01i011000, 01v390000, and 97v019000 (engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan). the contact was informed that the safety improvement campaign expired. she stated that she never received a recall notice. the failure mileage was 60,000.
01/02/20041
 Consumer stated that vehicle was leaking coolant into engine which caused it to smoke . consumer had this vehicle checked out and he was told that it was leaking coolant. he called the manufacturer and was told that there was no recall. *ak
 Consumer received a recall notice for cooling system, but was told by three dealers that since business had slowed /down , it will be about 6-8 weeks before they will schedule him for his recall repair. they told him that they were saving appointments for their paying customers.*ak
12/07/2000107/01/2000
 Anti freeze leaked out after safety recall # 98s36 was done on 12/5/00. *ak
01/08/2000111/01/1997
 Cylinder head gasket leaks due to faulty machining of cylinder head. results in overheating, engine failure or fire. i had the water pump and radiator replaced before a goodyear tire center in cincinnati knew exactly what caused the overheating condition. they stated that they have been repairing 3.8l ford taurus and sable overheat conditions for 1994/95 models. they fix at least one a week and have been doing this for awhile. they state that the cylinder heads are not properly machined which causes the head gasket failure. my total bill was $1,178.41. for more information contact goodyear tire center, 6289 glenway ave., cincinnati, oh 45211, (513) 661-1510. i feel this should have been a direct recall due to the number of faulty machined cylinder heads. thank-you for your help in resolving this issue. *ak
01/31/2000108/01/1997
 I would like to know if there have been any recalls within the last 2 yrs on the cooling system of the 1995 mercury sable. we were told that a recall had been issued for a head gasket problem however, we never received and bulletins. we have the head gasket, water pump, plate above water pump go out at the same time. this vehicle has only 73,000 miles .we need some help. *ak
04/10/1998106/01/1996
 Nhtsa campaign #97v019000 may apply although the radiator fan motor in our car failed in warm weather here in tucson, az!!! the fan froze up and stopped working. this resulted in enormous smoke coming out from the engine under the hood of the car. we immediately turned off the car and had it towed to our local repair shop where they replaced the radiator fan motor. i would like to be contacted by someone to discuss this incident and how i might have some success in billing ford/lincoln/mercury for the costs of repair.
09/25/1998111/01/1995
 Engine failure due to faulty hose manafold, causing entire engine to need replacing....
06/10/1997212/20/1994
 Head gasket and water pump failed two times.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN
12/01/20041
 Recall campaign; 97v019000 consumer received recall notice in reference to circuit breaker. after the recall repairs, the consumer discovered the signals were not working. *bf the consumer had taken the vehicle to the dealer for recall repairs. after picking up the vehicle, the consumer discovered that the directional signals were not working and the engine stalled out at low speeds and at stop lights, cutting out the power brakes and the power steering. *sc the dealer claimed the problems were unrelated with the recall. *jb
08/01/2004695453
 Several unexpected experiences with cooling system failure. *bf recall numbers; 97v019000, 01v390000, & 01i011000. *sc
01/07/20041020001
 While driving 60 mph the fan motor caught on fire. the consumer managed to pull over and had the vehicle towed. the dealership has been notified but did not resolve the problem. *nm *mr
07/11/2002
 While having the air conditioning serviced the engine over heated due to the fan not responding to temperature raising. a service campaign was issued by the manufacture but the failure occured (2) weeks after the deadline. the manufacture is not assisting with this campaign. nhtsa campaign number 01i011 engine cooling system. please describe details ts
01/12/2001104/01/1999
 Consumer states engine cooling fan failed prior to receiving safety recall 01s30 relating to the engine cooling fan. consumer is requesting reimbursement for repairs paid out of pocket. consumer no longer has vehicle in her posession due to an accident. *tt
09/02/2002107/17/1995
 Consumer states that while driving the fan on the vehicle stopped and the engine overheated. the consumer could not drive the vehicle. contacted dealer and the dealer is not willing to do anything. the consumer stated that the dealer replaced the engine cooling fan. but was advised that the fan will not operate due to a blown or shorted constant control relay module. *scc
10/10/20001
 Lionel barnet, p.a. who is writing on behalf of mr. bader states that the owner recevied notice of safety recall 01s30/o1m09 relating to cooling fan motor failure. prior to receipt of recall notice, mr. bader, a qualified automotive mechanic, found it necessary to repair his vehicle due to overheating and discovered that the fan motor had seized. mr. bader is requesting reimbursement of the reasonable charges he incurred in repairing his vehicle without further delay. *tt
10/20/2001
 Parts for recall 01v390000 concerning engine cooling fan bearing were not available for months. while waiting for parts, vehicle caught on fire.*ak
06/14/2002110/01/2098
 This was repaired at berge ford in mesa, az. this is the second complaint related to this engine cooling fan failure. i have had to take the car back for additional work that i believe was caused by the cooling fan failure. the harmonic balancer warped from the engine heat and welded itself to the crank shaft. both had to be replaced at an additional cost of $1460.00 i feel that berge ford or ford motor company should reimburse me for the repairs due to the negligence of their service people.*ak
04/15/20011
 Vehicle caught on fire. there was a recall letter sent to consumer, (01i011000) the fire was due to the conditions stated in the recall letter. consumer is looking for assistance to cover the costs of repair to vehicle. *jg
06/14/2002110/01/2098
 Recall o1i011000 dealer replaced only the resistor in april. when i questioned them about this replacing the cooling fan i was told if the cooling fan was going to fail, it would have failed at that time. on 06/14/2002 the engine coling fan failed. i had the car towed to berge ford in mesa, az. 480-497-7600. the dealer inspected the vehicle. the radiator exploded from the heat. sergio told me that the engine cooling fan failure is was the root of all the damage. the dealer refused to cover the cost of the repairs. they did cover the cost of the engine cooling fan. they also refused to provide a rental car per direction of the recall letter. that was an additional $157.15 cost to me. i would like to know what action i can take to recover my costs? one last thing, as i was filling out this form i noticed berge ford had recorded the vehicle mileage incorrectly for my vehicle. john rediken is my normal service consultant.*ak
06/14/2002110/01/1998
 Recall o1i011000 repairs were done, dealer replaced cooling fan resistor. while driving engine cooling fan failed. dealer has inspected vehicle. on 14-jun-02 at berge ford mesa, az 480-497-7600.*ak *yh
05/02/2002104/28/1997
 Head gasket has cracked and engine overheated while consumer was driving. contacted dealer who was not willing to do anything.*ak consumer adds malfunction of fan motor recall was the cause of the head gasket. *tt
01/24/20001
 Timing cover gasket, crankshaft, motor mounts and radiator assembly failed. the consumer stated that all these repairs were made after the warranty had expired, an under hood fire occurred on 02-jan-2002, the next day consumer became aware of recall 97v019 regarding possibility of cooling fan bearing seizing causing vehicle fire. *yh
 Received recall notice 01 i 011 000. contacted dealership, and was informed no parts were available. checked later, and given same information. this has been a month and a half since receiving notice.*ak
12/15/2001
 Consumer contacted dealer on several occasions in reference to nhtsa recall 01v390000/manufacturer's recall 01s30. dealer has stated that parts were not available, parts were on backorder. please provide any further details.*ak
01/23/2002
 Nhtsa recall 01v390000/ manufacturer's recall 01s30. took vehicle in to be repaired. dealer replaced circuit breaker, but dealer refused to replace defective cooling fan motor. *ak
05/15/20010
 Vehicle started to smoke/temperature gauge went to high. called dealer, and they towed vehicle. a mechanic states that engine cooling fan was not blowing. dealer replaced engine, and charged consumer for engine cooling fan for which there was a recall. consumer's vehicle was not included in recall due to vin. *ak
04/03/2000106/09/1998
 The cooling fan caused a fire. *slc
12/23/19981
 Electric motor fan failed. yh
12/09/1999611/01/1997
 Blown head gasket, failed motor mounts, failed timing chain cover gasket, transmission gasket failure, radiator leak and cooling fan failure. *ak
 Received recall notice 97v019000 in the mail. contacted dealer. took vehicle for repairs on date given. picked vehicle up. the vehicle had caught fire after repairs were done on 02 sep 99. the remedy for the engine cooling fan had failed. *ak
09/01/199901/01/1997
 Blown head gasket, failed motor mounts, failed timing chain cover gasket, transmission gasket failure, radiator leak, coolong fan failure
07/26/19981
 The engine cooling fan caught on fire. insurance adjustor said bearings in fan motor locked up, causing a build up of heat & smoke. this caused the relay switch to short out, causing engine cooling fan to burn. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - HOSE
05/14/1999101/01/1996
 Radiator and all coolant hoses replaced. nlm
09/09/19961
 Radiator hose failed.
12/04/1996107/16/1996
 Water hose broke.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
11/13/2001106/01/2001
 4 months after buying the car, the engine started to heat up, and leak. i took it to the nearest mechanic for repair. i had purchassed extended warranty, but the dealer reimbursed only $19.84 out of $544.00. ford didn't respond to my previous queries concerning another vehicle. so i'm contacting you, hoping for a help. had to replace radiator and belt serpentine. please help me in getting my money back. lou.*ak
 By pass kite for heater coil needed to be replaced to due to rust in radiator. dealer has serviced and repaired. please provide further information. *ak
02/22/2001101/01/2000
 When we purchased the car, it had 120,673 miles. about 3 months after we bought it, we started experiencing problems with the car overheating. the temp indicator would rise to hot, stay there for about a minute or more and then go back to normal. we put in a new thermostat, but occasionally the car would overheat. by the time we pulled over to stop the car, the temp gauge would return to normal. this has continued, intermittently, until last thursday. while driving home from work, the temp gauge rose to hot, the engine started to mis-fire and i saw blue smoke coming out the back. i managed to get the car home, but it never started again. when we checked the oil, it was up a quart. (my guess is anti-freeze in the crankcase.) looks like a blown head gasket. i have since heard rumors that it may be a common problem for that engine.
01/08/2000111/01/1997
 Cylinder head gasket leaks due to faulty machining of cylinder head. results in overheating, engine failure or fire. i had the water pump and radiator replaced before a goodyear tire center in cincinnati knew exactly what caused the overheating condition. they stated that they have been repairing 3.8l ford taurus and sable overheat conditions for 1994/95 models. they fix at least one a week and have been doing this for awhile. they state that the cylinder heads are not properly machined which causes the head gasket failure. my total bill was $1,178.41. for more information contact goodyear tire center, 6289 glenway ave., cincinnati, oh 45211, (513) 661-1510. i feel this should have been a direct recall due to the number of faulty machined cylinder heads. thank-you for your help in resolving this issue. *ak
01/27/199907/01/1996
 Speedometer failed to operate after repairs were done in aug 1997 with 20,000 mile of wear. dealer notified, and informed consumer repairs would be at consumer's expense. also vehicle stalled and died while driving on the highway. in addition, dealer replaced transmission/ thermostat/multi-function switch/ map sensor/speed control sensor, and rear sub-frame mounts. *ak
12/09/1999611/01/1997
 Blown head gasket, failed motor mounts, failed timing chain cover gasket, transmission gasket failure, radiator leak and cooling fan failure. *ak
05/14/1999101/01/1996
 Radiator and all coolant hoses replaced. nlm
03/01/1999106/01/1996
 I'm concerned about electrical shorts and radiator failures in just four years, ford no help even with an esp
08/29/1997108/05/1995
 Defective thermostat caused excessive pressure build-up, resulting in radiator failure.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
05/01/200652000104/27/2005
 Comments: i have a 1995 mercury sable with 52,000 miles on it. some years ago, ford issued a letter saying it would make repairs if the head gasket prematurely blew on this car at under 60,000 miles or within 5 years. about two weeks ago, with no warning, my sable blew its head gasket in my garage, after i had turned off the car and gotten out of it. it was just a miracle that i was still in the garage with my husband when it happened. normally, i would have gone in the house and shut the door. at any rate, i turned around and smoke was billowing from the rear of the car. my husband jumped in the car (i wouldn't have done that) and backed it into our court. i ran for the phone and called 911. my point is, that except for the fluke of my being in the garage at the time, my house could have gone up in smoke! when i called the local ford dealer, they referred me to ford customer service. josh at customer service told me that the customer satisfaction program on this car had expired and that there are no available coverages. he further stated that i had no recourse to anyone else in the company because ford had empowered the customer service program to answer all questions of this type. i think that if my house had burned down, ford certainly would have had some liability. the cost to repair the vehicle is $2,000, nearly as much as it's worth. is there anything you can do to help me with this problem? *nm
10/24/200512300211/01/2001
 Motor replaced on my car , a 95 mercury sable, replaced at 85,000 miles and just blew again i now have 123,00 on the car and just want to express my gratitude for you changing my mind on future purchases of ford products. i work for a teer 2 supplier of color conc. to gm and have always purchased ford in spite of the savings i receive through work. can you help me or not with my expenses for repair of another motor? *nm
01/05/20041
 Consumer took vehicle to the dealer for routine maintenance, and mechanic noticed that the motor mounts needed to be replaced due to corrosion. *ak
01/02/20041
 Driver took the vehicle to the dealer for routine maintenance, and mechanic noticed that the motor mounts needed to be replaced due to corrosion. *ak
09/17/20035610001/13/1999
 Car stalls in warm weather. on one of many stalled occasions i was stopped at a red light and when it turned green the car lunged as if it were moving but stalled and a man in a truck behind me slammed on his brakes but a woman behind him slammed into his truck. they had an accident because my car stalled and stopped short. also, right rear window wont go down sometimes. the a/c stinks and the heater smells like super hot dried burnt carpeting. there's a gas smells so heavy at times in the back seat i'm scared for my children to be back there. the dash lights get so hot i'm afraid it's going to melt something or start a fire. the car is had to start on certain days. other days it starts right up. sometimes the car starts and runs great. other days it starts but you can feel something isn't right and the car will feel like it's on the verge of stalling but then you can hear it start back up again. almost like the ignition is turning on and off. i have a list of all the repairs done to my car just after i purchased it and there is some major bills in this pile! reading that other people are having the same exact problems with their sables is proof that ford put out an unsafe car! i haven't got the money to buy another car. i can hardly afford to fix the one i have but it's all i got. shame on ford! i won't be buying another ford in the future unless they resolve this mess! *jb
01/28/20031
 The vehicle stalled without warning. *jb
01/28/20021
 The engine stalled without warning. *jb
12/16/200265000012/15/1998
 I have a 1995 mercury sable that has a bad head gasket. i was told by my mechanic that there was a recall by ford, but after calling and leaving messages, i am unable to confirm this. please advise. thank you! i am also listing numerous problems that have occurred with the suspension and brakes in the last year.
12/19/200270900103/05/2000
 Blown head gasket on all ford 3800's. ts
11/12/199936200311/26/1997
 When driving consumer noticed white smoke coming out of tail pipe. mechanic stated that the head gaskets were blown. ts consumer never received recall notification regarding head gaskets, therefore dealer was not willing to do anything. head gaskets had to be replaced three times at owners expense. *tt
1
 Vehicle overheated and leaked coolant due to a defective head gasket. consumer stated that manufacturer had issued a technical service bulletin on the defective head gasket, and issued a warranty. head gasket failed after the warranty had expired. manufacturer refuses to replace head gasket. *yh *jb service bulletin #98-4-9. head gasket failed when it was seven years and seven months. *scc
08/15/2002
 I own a 1995 mercury sable station wagon. at 69,000 miles the head gasket failed. ford motor company acknowledged the defective part in technical service bulletin 98-4-9. ford issues a 5 yr/60,000 warranty in 1998 and a 7 yr/100,000 mile warranty in 2000. the head gaskets on my vehicle did not fail until the vehicle was 7 years and seven months --which was over the warranty period. this part should have been recalled for safety reasons. it is unfair to make the public pay for a defective part. nlm
02/11/2000
 Head gasket goes out prematurely, causing engine to overheat. had part replaced , problem reoccurred. *ak
12/15/2001104/01/1997
 Consumer states the head gasket is leaking coolant into engine.*jb.*jb
10/28/20011
 While driving at 65 mph head gasket blewout, engine heads cracked, and there was also damage to the intake. vehicle became inoperable. consumer is asking for a refund of repair cost. *ak *yd
03/01/200201/01/1996
 Our 1995 mercury sable had 54,500 miles on it and the head gaskets failed. had vehicle towed to dealer and they explained that the head gaskets failed and that we may possibly need a new engine. we had previously rec'd several recall notices from mercury regarding 1994 and 1995 sable and defective head gaskets. when we rec'd notices we took vehicle to dealer and they explained that they could not replace the head gasket unless it was defective at the present time. well, needless to say it was three months over the seven year or 100,000 warranty for the defective head gaskets and ours failed. i question why mercury did not replace all head gaskets if they were aware that they were defective. spoke with our mercury dealer and he said that there is nothing he can do. i've been doing some research on the problem and i noticed that there are a lot more complaints about this issue. what can we as consumers do to have mercury replace all defective equipment? we are now out $1200.00 because of a know defective piece of euqipment.*ak
03/06/2002107/01/1997
 We blew a head gasket and then discovered there have been numerous problems with this on 1995 sables. ford should have done a recall to rectify the problem.*ak
11/13/2001106/01/2001
 4 months after buying the car, the engine started to heat up, and leak. i took it to the nearest mechanic for repair. i had purchassed extended warranty, but the dealer reimbursed only $19.84 out of $544.00. ford didn't respond to my previous queries concerning another vehicle. so i'm contacting you, hoping for a help. had to replace radiator and belt serpentine. please help me in getting my money back. lou.*ak
02/15/2001209/01/1995
 There was a recall in june 1995 92m77 for 1993 taurus. looking at the nhtsa website it appears that the motor mount problems wasn't solved until at least 1998. thus the recall should be extended. thank you. *ak
01/20/2002
 Vehicle overheats, runs rough with a heavy white smoke coming from tail pipe because head gaskets have failed prematurely. dealer has been notified. *ak
01/04/20021
 Was pressing on accelerator at 55mph and engine moved upward. when accelerator was released, engine dropped down which caused steering to become very hard. an independent mechanic indicated motor mounts were broken. *ak
12/22/19992
 After having head gasket replaced for $900.00 one year later a recall came out for head gasket. dealer refused to reimburse consumer. *ak the consumer was requesting the manufacturer to refund him the cost of replacing the head gasket for the second time. *yh
 Head gasket is leaking anti- freeze into engine block mixing with oil, causing engine to burn up and vehicle to die without any prior warning.*ak
05/23/2001111/01/1995
 Head gasket failed while travelling at 70 mph on florida i95.4 passengers ,including an 11 month old infant in a car seat. during head gasket failure , vehicle lost all power and stalled in the highway traffic lane .vehicle had to be pushed off the highway while oncoming traffic was in close proximity to occupants. infant could not safely be removed from seat until area was clear of traffic which was approaching at the speed limit of 70mph..this was an apparant hazzard to life and limb for all of us in and out of the vehicle.vehicle was towed to an approved aaa service station where it was determined that the vehicle's head gasket had blown.
03/01/20001
 Consumer received recall notification (00m09) for premature head gasket failure, when consumer took vehicle in she was advised that head gasket was going out and it was also determined that vehicle was a salvage title, therefore dealership was not able to honor recall notice, consumer advised them it was salvaged due to theft not an accident, dealership advised consumer that recall notice was voided by the state not the manufacturer. *jb
04/11/200101/01/1996
 Small coolant loss; upon examination by dealer found to have a head gasket leak and a timing chain cover leak. head gasket leak on this engine is a known problem and is under warranty from ford motor company. however, timing chain cover leakage is not under extended warranty. but it seems that many vehicles suffering from head gasket leak also show a leak from timing chain cover. if unrepaired this can lead to abrupt seizure of engine causing a safety hazard. is it possible that the two are related and the same extended warranty should apply to both problems.*ak
03/19/20010
 When accelerating there was a loud clunk, engine was,moving. this broke air conditioning line. there was a recall presently for engine mounts, but dealer told consumer recall had already been performed. *ak
02/22/2001101/01/2000
 When we purchased the car, it had 120,673 miles. about 3 months after we bought it, we started experiencing problems with the car overheating. the temp indicator would rise to hot, stay there for about a minute or more and then go back to normal. we put in a new thermostat, but occasionally the car would overheat. by the time we pulled over to stop the car, the temp gauge would return to normal. this has continued, intermittently, until last thursday. while driving home from work, the temp gauge rose to hot, the engine started to mis-fire and i saw blue smoke coming out the back. i managed to get the car home, but it never started again. when we checked the oil, it was up a quart. (my guess is anti-freeze in the crankcase.) looks like a blown head gasket. i have since heard rumors that it may be a common problem for that engine.
12/01/2000204/01/1995
 2nd time that the head gasket has blown on this engine. the original engine failed at 60k only got 50k out of this engine. i have a ford escort w/ 176k and have never had a problem with it. *ak
 Engine blewout after vehicle was repaired under extended warrnty of head gaskets. manufacturer has been notified. *ak
10/25/2000103/01/1998
 Previously reported failure of timing chain front cover gasket in 3/2000. we paid to replace failed gasket at ford dealer, ford refused to give any relief. now 7 months later entire engine had to be replaced - shop indicated failure was caused by leakage from timing chain front cover gasket, causing crankcase bearing failure. it appears this problem is widespread - it was well known to shop. ford should be required to recall affected vehicles and pay for repairs.*ak
03/01/20001
 Timing chain front cover gasket and transmission pan side cover gasket have both failed prematurely. *et
03/01/1999111/24/1996
 Engine dropped on a/c manifold due to both motor mount failures. yh
1
 Rear motor mount required replacement. *mjs
1
 Consumer received recall notification of the head gasket and the dealership tried to charge consumer, the repair completed however additional damages to gaskets, no additional charges. *mjs
04/11/20000
 While driving up a hill vehicle lost power. it felt like carrying a load. dealer informed consumer that it was the engine head gasket. *ak
03/23/2000104/01/1996
 I realize that ford has extended the warranty on the head gasket. i also believe they should extend their warranty to cover the timing cover gasket as well. i called a number of dealers. the overall impression i got was that they are seeing more and more 3.8 liter engines with leaking timing cover gaskets. which comes first? the blown head gasket or the failed timing cover gasket. also the speedometer seems to last 12000-15000 miles. it took the dealer 6 months to get the replacement parts for the last one that went bad. *ak
02/20/20000
 Temperature goes up and engine check light comes on. consumer it not able to drive car. consumer feels car may burn up. *ak
01/08/2000111/01/1997
 Faulty cylinder head gasket resulted in overheating and damage to other endine components (water pump, radiator). *mjs
01/08/2000111/01/1997
 Cylinder head gasket leaks due to faulty machining of cylinder head. results in overheating, engine failure or fire. i had the water pump and radiator replaced before a goodyear tire center in cincinnati knew exactly what caused the overheating condition. they stated that they have been repairing 3.8l ford taurus and sable overheat conditions for 1994/95 models. they fix at least one a week and have been doing this for awhile. they state that the cylinder heads are not properly machined which causes the head gasket failure. my total bill was $1,178.41. for more information contact goodyear tire center, 6289 glenway ave., cincinnati, oh 45211, (513) 661-1510. i feel this should have been a direct recall due to the number of faulty machined cylinder heads. thank-you for your help in resolving this issue. *ak
 Engine head gaskets has blown out, resulting in a defective radiator and timing cap. dealer has been notified. *ak
01/31/2000108/01/1997
 I would like to know if there have been any recalls within the last 2 yrs on the cooling system of the 1995 mercury sable. we were told that a recall had been issued for a head gasket problem however, we never received and bulletins. we have the head gasket, water pump, plate above water pump go out at the same time. this vehicle has only 73,000 miles .we need some help. *ak
12/17/1999105/01/1999
 We purchased this vehicle as a used car. at the time of purchase the dealership did not inform us of the potential problem with a head gasket. i learned of this problem after the fact. when the car was diagnosed with this problem by our mechanic, i contacted the dealership and the salesman immediately stated that ford had made a provision for years 94, 95, and 96 regarding the head gasket. he imformed me that there was a defect in the gasket of this make and model car. he suggested i contact the local ford/mercury to see if this provision was still in effect. i did contact the dealership and they refered me to fords customer service. i spoke with two people at ford. both stated that they had sent a letter extending the waranty to 5yrs/60000 for the head gasket defect and since my car was beyond 60000 mi that i was not eligible for financial assistance. although this problem did not cause an accident, i was forced to drive without heat for over 50 miles. to me this is dangerous especially since it was one of the coldest days of the winter. also just the cost alone to fix this problem was sizable and has hurt us financially. not to mention that we still owe $9000 on the car! ford co. was very rude to me regarding this problem and when i asked to speak to the supervisors' supervisor she told me that her boss did not take customer calls. what kind of customer service is that? the letter that ford referred to was sent to the previous owner. *ak
12/18/199906/01/1995
 Engine head gasket problem and manufacturer repair program not reported to new second owner of vehicle and ford will not honor repair of problem
12/09/1999611/01/1997
 Blown head gasket, failed motor mounts, failed timing chain cover gasket, transmission gasket failure, radiator leak and cooling fan failure. *ak
11/14/1997310/01/1995
 Broken engine mounts have been replaced twice and must now be replaced again.
09/01/199901/01/1997
 Blown head gasket, failed motor mounts, failed timing chain cover gasket, transmission gasket failure, radiator leak, coolong fan failure
01/12/199707/01/1996
 There is a leakage within the engine head gasket, causing engine to overheat. also, when setting cruise control and applying brakes, vehicle accelerated. finally, motor motor mounts broke, causing vehicle to shake. *ak
101/01/1996
 Head gasket failed causing vehicle to overheat, consumer not notified by deal about 60,000 mile extended warrenty prior to this failure. nlm
04/02/1999101/01/1996
 Motor mounts broken. nlm
04/14/1999
 Engine head gasket blew out, causing engine leakage . *ak
04/04/199903/01/1995
 While the car was being repaired for other reasons, yates-suntrup ford of kirkwood, missouri, advised me that the motor mounts needed to be replaced, becaused of serious safety concerns, i authorized replacement. ford motor company has denied responsibility. *ak
102/01/1996
 Motor mounts recall on similar models but dealer fefused to repair due to vin.
03/01/1999111/24/1996
 Engine dropped on a/c manifold due to both motor mount failures. yh
04/04/1996
 While driving steering became very difficult due to rear engine mounts malfunctioning which resulted in loss of vehicle control and caused a collision. also, air bags deployed. but driver's air bag did not deflate, trapping the occupant in the vehicle and sustaining injuries. *ak
 A recall letter was received about premature head gasket failure, saying that the vehicle can stop unexpectedly. dealer has been contacted. *ak
06/10/1997212/20/1994
 Head gasket and water pump failed two times.
03/01/1998
 Cracked engine block and blown head gaskets, causing the vehicle to overheat. in addition, motor mounts failed, and ongoing transmission problems of knocking/hesitating and lurching. *ak
04/07/1998
 Was driving approximately 65mph when heard a noise in the engine. then pulled vehicle to the side and turned the ignition off. when restarted engine and put it in the drive gear, heard a clanking noise then the engine dropped to the transmission. consumer had vehicle towed to roswell auto care service station.---770-552-8419, the mechanic said the motor mounts went bad, to repair the cost was $190. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
05/04/200610105/04/2006
 I just bought the car uaed drove off the highway and my car started smoking from the hood, i also getting a knocking sound in the engine department, the car has no safety future in it ,if i was in the highway driving and this car started to stop, i will be in serious accident, ford need to recall the engine and replace it with one high performance one, that last. *nm
12/27/200280000008/16/1997
 Driver was driving car on state road 84. car was stalling. driver pulls over to side of road, opens hood engine compartment engulfed in flames as stated in fire marshall's report. fire marshall states the fire started in the engine compartment. car was totalled.
12/25/2002105000108/08/2002
 Head gasket blew on dec. 25 2002
1
 Consumer states that while driving 45 mph the vehicle stalled out and died with out warning. the dealer has been notified. nlm
07/02/2001
 Vehicle would loose power when accelerating. took to dealer, and they stated engine needed replacement. please provide any further information.*ak
01/07/2002
 Vehicle completely shuts off at any speed. please provide any further information.*ak
01/01/19981
 Vehicle stalls out at any speed/any time. vehicle taken to dealer numerous times and mechanic could not find cause. *ak *slc
01/17/2001304/01/1999
 Car stops with no warning, cooling system, engine, runs hot, continuous stopping with no warning you can be driving on the highway car will stop. *ak
08/15/20012
 Vehicle has stalled twice at speeds of around 65 mph.*ak
06/02/1997610/01/1996
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
 While traveling at highway speed in 90 degree temperature and higher vehicle will stall out and die wihtout any indication . please provide further information.*ak
05/15/20010
 Vehicle started to smoke/temperature gauge went to high. called dealer, and they towed vehicle. a mechanic states that engine cooling fan was not blowing. dealer replaced engine, and charged consumer for engine cooling fan for which there was a recall. consumer's vehicle was not included in recall due to vin. *ak
 While driving at 40mph engine stalled, causing a loss of power steering and braking. also, turn signals did not function. engine usually started after sitting about 10 minutes. dealer has seen vehicle 4 times, and has it currently.*ak
03/19/20010
 When accelerating there was a loud clunk, engine was,moving. this broke air conditioning line. there was a recall presently for engine mounts, but dealer told consumer recall had already been performed. *ak
01/12/200103/01/2000
 No summary listed for this vehicle. *ak
11/15/2000103/01/1997
 Transmission hesitates from 1st to 2nd gear, then all of a sudden it will slam into gear. now i hear the transmission whining in park or neutral. it started doing it all of a sudden. i have noticed alot of complaints with these transmissions and the ones in the ford taurus. i have never heard of a transmission going bad at only 74,000 miles, when it is drivin safely and responsibly. i have made sure the oil was always full, and i even changed the oil and the filter in the transmission. it did not help!
06/15/20002
 In hot weather at 60 mph, vehicle stalled, happened twice. took to dealer who indicated they were aware of this problem. *ak *slc
11/17/2000
 Consumer stated that night that vehicle was purchased it was left at dealer to get tires replaced. but, next day when vehicle was suppose to be picked up consumer was informed that vehicle was shipped to south carolina. when vehicle was returned consumer turned vehicle on, and heater malfunctioned. after that car just turned off.*ak
08/01/1998706/01/1995
 Vehicle will stall without prior warning, and engine check light will come on. this happens when engine is hot.once engine cools down vehicle will restart. *ak the vehicle stall seven times while traveling. *yh
07/26/2000306/23/1996
 Vehicle completely shut off while traveling at 70 mph. manufacturer notified. *ak
10/27/1999103/01/1999
 Engine developed a severe noise. oil was changed on regular basis at garage. additional information available for service. transmission failed on the way to work. *ak
07/29/19982011/01/1995
 Since i have purcahsed the car (it was the showcase car) every summer as the weather gets hot the car without any warning will cut off. i took it back to the dealer and on several ocassions (two of which they keep the car for a week) they could not find the problem so, they were unable to help me and the problem continued. i don't know if its related to the air condition or this gasket problem that i just became aware of from another car dealer. all i know is theat that it happens when the outside environment is fairly warm . it happens without warning and lucily i am a city driver and have not had an accident or been killed on the highway. i would like to keep the car if it can be repaired. otherwise i have to get rid of it. all i have been told is that it cant be fixed unless it can be duplicated at the shop and to come back next time it happens, but the problem with that is once the car stops it may start right up again in 10 mins. or one hour.nr
01/14/2000102/01/1997
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
01/27/199907/01/1996
 Speedometer failed to operate after repairs were done in aug 1997 with 20,000 mile of wear. dealer notified, and informed consumer repairs would be at consumer's expense. also vehicle stalled and died while driving on the highway. in addition, dealer replaced transmission/ thermostat/multi-function switch/ map sensor/speed control sensor, and rear sub-frame mounts. *ak
1
 In warm weather the vehicle stalls frequently but restarts after an hour stopping. yh
11/10/1999102/01/1999
 No summary included for above vehicle. *ak
07/01/199903/01/1996
 Honorable mention is the rear view mirror fell off 2 times / engine seals were prelaced at 69000 miles /
 While driving at any rate of speed vehicle will completely shut down without warning, cause unknown. please give any further details. *ak
55
 When the weather gets warm and turn the engine off, it frequently will not restart. yh
08/12/1998307/17/1996
 Vehicle intermittently shuts off while driving. vehicle has been in/out dealer shop, condition could not be duplicated or resolved. *ak
106/30/1995
 While driving vehicle on interstate at 72 mph the engine blew out, causing loss of power without warning. dealers could not find what caused problem. *ak
 Owner states that his vehicle stalls while driving and that he had a new fuel pump installed but problem came back. owner further notes that rpms will fall but then go back up while sitting at stop light. dealers are unable to correct problem. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
106/24/1996
 While driving, front coil springs broke, causing front end of the vehicle to drop. *ak lower rear subframe mount plate nut has been replaced. fluctuating speedometer was replaced. starter and wire harness have been replaced. muffler and tail pipe have been replaced. 2 front coil springs and strut bearing plates have been replaced. *slc
01/31/2001101/01/2001
 I did not own this car a month, before this happened , and then, talking with a local repair shop, i was informed of a recall that might be issued for this by ford. i would like to know if i have any possible recourse to get this problem fixed asap. thank you. no safety defect listed in summary. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL
01/27/199907/01/1996
 Speedometer failed to operate after repairs were done in aug 1997 with 20,000 mile of wear. dealer notified, and informed consumer repairs would be at consumer's expense. also vehicle stalled and died while driving on the highway. in addition, dealer replaced transmission/ thermostat/multi-function switch/ map sensor/speed control sensor, and rear sub-frame mounts. *ak
01/11/1996203/03/1995
 Inertia switch malfunctioned twice.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
11/01/1999
 Would like to know what problems occur with this plate nut. i cannot believe that my catalytic converter went bad with only 39,000 miles on my car! *ak