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U.S. public vehicle records

Ford FORD problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

267 owner complaints analyzed

23 distinct recall campaigns

66,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1964 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 129 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 267 complaints (7.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior3312.4%
Steering behavior228.2%
Transmission and shifting176.4%
Electrical and battery issues166.0%
Engine operation134.9%
Fuel system concerns72.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
19
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
18
Tires
16
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
15
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
12
Unknown Or Other
11
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
11
Tires:Tread/Belt
10
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System19
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine18
Tires16
Power Train:Automatic Transmission15
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch12
Unknown Or Other11
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control11
Tires:Tread/Belt10

Electrical System: 19; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 18; Tires: 16; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 15; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 12; Unknown Or Other: 11; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 11; Tires:Tread/Belt: 10

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
11
25,000 to 49,999
26
50,000 to 74,999
40
75,000 to 99,999
28
100,000 to 149,999
17
150,000 and above
7
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00011
25,000 to 49,99926
50,000 to 74,99940
75,000 to 99,99928
100,000 to 149,99917
150,000 and above7

Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 26; 50,000 to 74,999: 40; 75,000 to 99,999: 28; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 7

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (40). 138 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
8
1996
11
2000
15
2001
23
2002
9
2003
18
2004
17
2005
84
2006
10
2007
55
2008
10
2009
2
2010
5
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19958
199611
200015
200123
20029
200318
200417
200584
200610
200755
200810
20092
20105

1995: 8; 1996: 11; 2000: 15; 2001: 23; 2002: 9; 2003: 18; 2004: 17; 2005: 84; 2006: 10; 2007: 55; 2008: 10; 2009: 2; 2010: 5

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 17 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 485231 · 1995-06-14 (June 14, 1995)

BRAKES FAILED ON 1977 FORD PINTO, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURY. *AW

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485231 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 505608 · 1996-06-25 (June 25, 1996)

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (NEW JERSEY POLICE REPORT)*SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505608 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10000010 · 2002-12-13 (December 13, 2002)

DEAR SIR DATE 12/13/02 IAM WRITING TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN AND DISSATISFACTION WITH MY 1989 FORD F-150 1ST I HAD THE ( ING SWITCH) REPLACE BECAUSE OF SMOKE AND OVER HEATING IN THE STEERING COLUMN , I HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE REPAIRING DEALER 2ND I HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED AGAIN FOR A SIMILAR (ING SWITCH ) STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM I ONLY USED THIS TRUCK FOR ABOUT 4,000 MILES BETWEEN REPAIRS AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE REPAIR BILLS . THIS T…

Owner-reported narrative. 99,651 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000010 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 503167 · 1996-05-31 (May 31, 1996)

VEHICLE DRIFTS FROM SIDE TO SIDE DUE TO STEERING MISALIGNMENT. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503167 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10050354 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL TO DECELERATE THE VEHICLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050354 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 9002011 · 2001-03-21 (March 21, 2001)

FUEL PUMP FAILED, LOST COMPLETE POWER WHILE DRIVING 50 TO 60 MPH. ENGINE DIES WHEN OUTSIDE TEMP IS HOT AND A/C IN USE, REPLACE FUEL PUMP AND SENDER. RIGHT REAR WHEEL SEAL LEAKS, DUE TO RIGHT REAR INNER OIL SEAL FAULTY, REMOVE WHEEL, REPLACED RIGHT REAR INNER GREASE SEAL, CLEANED BRAKE AND WHEELS, CHECK REAR END GREASE AND FILLED TO PROPER LEVEL. TRANSMISSION DISENGES FROM ENGINE AND CHARGED UP, ALMOST LOST CONTROL.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 9002011 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 503744 · 1996-04-23 (April 23, 1996)

WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASH TO IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED/BURNT. (FIRST VEHICLE ON 601426) *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503744 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 601532 · 1996-07-11 (July 11, 1996)

ELECTRICAL SHORT. *DH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 601532 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 563143 · 2001-09-18 (September 18, 2001)

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH THAT IS POSSIBLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 563143 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10211101 · 2007-12-07 (December 7, 2007)

MY 1996 MERCURY VILLAGER DEVELOPED A FAILURE IN THE AIR FLOW SENSOR (PART $330) THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE STALLS, INCLUDING STOPS ON THE HIGHWAY, THAT NEARLY RESULTED IN CRASHES. THE REQUIRED REPAIRS EXCEEDED $500. I KNOW FORD HAS A SIMILAR RECALL OUT NOW FOR THE 1997-2003 (/) MODELS). *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 129,231 miles reported. Look up ODI 10211101 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 9001409 · 2000-07-25 (July 25, 2000)

ESCORT FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY RESULTED IN HIGH PRESSURE MASSIVE GASOLINE LEAKS, FUEL PUMPS ARE UNDER THE BACK SEATS. WHEN THE FUEL PUMP LEAK THE PRESSURE IS LIKE A GARDEN HOSE SPEWING GASOLINE

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 9001409 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1993
0
1994
0
1995
0
1996
0
1997
0
1998
0
1999
0
2000
0
2001
0
2002
0
2003
0
2008
1
2009
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19930
19940
19950
19960
19970
19980
19990
20000
20010
20020
20030
20081
20091

1993: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2008: 1; 2009: 1

Year-by-year records

Ford FORD model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
196410Not available
196501+1
1966010
196716+5
196802-4
196906+4
197003-3
1971030
1972130
197301-2
197402+1
1975020
1976020
197723+1
197802-1
197911-1
1980110
198410Not available
1985200
1986100
1987200
1988400
1989200
1990400
1991300
1992100
1993400
1994600
19951000
19961200
1997900
19981000
19992400
20005100
20013100
20024300
20034000
200801Not available
2009010