General Comments:

To fix the trunk release problem, hold the bottom of the springs down while pulling on the springs themselves. This will stretch the springs to give them more strength to push the trunk up. It will effectively cause the same result as if you were pushing up on the trunk as you were pressing the trunk release button twice. By the way... I beat everybody! Just passed 250,000km's or 155,300 miles, on my '99 4 cylinder. I love it and hope it lasts forever!

Faults:

Radio lights went out... dealer fixed under warranty.

Moon roof went out... dealer fixed under warranty.

Both problems happened after about five yrs. no complaints.

General Comments:

Love the car, really quick for a v6...has been very good car, so far. One question though, the alt. seems to be going out. The dash light dim and brighten. Am wondering if it is indeed the alt. or maybe something else. Hate to go through the hassle of replacing the alt. and the problem still be there, any ideas as to what else it might be. maplesrandy@bellsouth.net

Faults:

Good luck getting headlights from ford. I waited 3 months and they still can't tell me when! Your best bet is e-bay.

Faults:

The alternator died 3 times.

The brakes make a sound when in reverse.

The check engine light won't turn off.

General Comments:

I bought this car when it was new to the market.

Although it's been troublesome, I think I've been lucky in comparison with others.

The repeated failure of the alternator was probably the scariest thing to deal with, since it would happen anywhere.

Since it's not worth anything and the check engine light won't turn off, I think I will donate it to charity.

I hope I can donate it before something else breaks.

Faults:

Changed the Transmission after 210,000KMs. Had to replace the alternator at 260,000KMs - but it was the original stock alternator. Sunroof stopped working properly in the 4th year.

General Comments:

Love the styling - still do. Needs more power and better sunroof. All wheel drive ore rear wheel drive would have been better!

Faults:

New alternator at 70,000 miles.

Replaced tires every 3 months (for 2 years).

New exhaust at 112000 (exhaust line).

New air bag module.

New tires.

New O2 sensor replaced.

Replaced a few gaskets.

Alternator = $400.

Tires = expensive.

New exhaust = $300.

Air bag module = $100.

Check engine light = $150.

O2 sensor = $100.

Parts = $1,000.

Labor = $700.

General Comments:

Most of the problems I have had with this car are due to the Diagnostics System. The entire car is one big computer, and we all know how easy computers break.

This car is like a death trap. Don't get me wrong, it has a SOLID body, but it has underlying issues and major safety concerns with the interior of the car. The lights are faulty, I mean there isn't even a problem with the car, they just come on, and your entire dash board is lit up like Christmas. So when I'm with my friends, they ask me "what is wrong with your car man", and I have to feel like a moron, because my car is a piece.

I have replaced many tires with this car, so my suggestion is get them rotated a few thousand miles before you're actually supposed to.

I haven't had any transmission problems, but it needs to be flushed soon.

My worst problem was when I took this car to the dealership and had $1600 worth of work done on it. The car was off the road, so we had a mechanic from the dealer come and put dealer plates on the car and drive it to the shop. Well, the radio was working fine when they picked it up, and the first time I picked the car up, the radio amp was blown. Gee, I wonder how that happened?

So, I drove a few miles down the road from the dealer, and my signal lights stopped working and my check engine light came back on; also, they did not inspect the car like we had asked when we brought the car in and paid $1300 for the work. So, we returned the car to Ford. I was mad of course, so I was yelling in the parking lot of Ford because my radio was busted, and because I was frustrated with the service of the dealer.

So the next time I returned to find out what they could do to get my car to pass inspection, the service consultant told me to "shut my mouth", and that he heard what I was yelling about the last time I came to pick up my car, and that "his" mechanics didn't want to work on my car. He went on to add into this mess that he drives an 86 Mercury, and that he understands what it is like to have to replace things, and then gave us a sob story about how he drives 60 miles to work everyday and all of this stuff. Mind you, I own the car and he is telling me to shut my mouth!

The reason he told me to shut my mouth, is because when I brought the car in, all I asked to be done was the lights to be off, and to do what they needed to do for the car to pass inspection. He was mad because I asked "well if we didn't know why the car was having problems, why did we go and replace things that didn't need to be replaced for the car to pass inspection". His response was I dunno. Then, he told us how he has hundreds of other people coming in with the same problem, and that he is the only one there.

Moral of the story. Don't buy a Ford. I have nothing good to say about this car. It still has the traction control light on, the emergency brake light stuck on and the ABS light stuck on, not to mention it needs weather stripping replaced and a new amp thanks to Ford.