Just minor faults.
The exhaust blows after 3 years, then again after 6 years.
After 48,000 miles the car overheated, which was caused by a leaking pipe, which was fixed for under £20, but the temperature gauge still shows the car is overheating.
The car is still running very well today, nearly nine years after I bought it.
The car is good enough for normal driving. I do about 400 miles a week now, after rarely using the car in the first few years, and it's still very reliable, and able to keep up with all the other cars out there.
Your problem with the fuel gauge misreading is probably caused by a faulty fuel sender. They're pretty cheap to buy, but it might be a garage job to fit.
I meant temperature gauge and temperature sender, sorry!
I had the same problem with over heating, this time at 46k.
Needed a new temperature sender, fan sensor and water pump.. all three went at the same time although the pump probably started it.
Thank god it was a ford and the parts cost like £30 and an hours work to fix :p.