Automatic transmission had to be completely rebuilt. Drive train connecting engine with transmission was poorly constructed. Upon rebuild, transmission worked, but roughly.
Entire engine cooling system was poorly constructed. Pressurized purge tank for coolant leaked often, requiring replacement. Cooling system often ran out of coolant without warning. Coolant warning lights on dash did not work properly. Lower and upper radiator hoses both failed at different times, standing the vehicle un-driveable. Various other cooling system parts failed, at tremendous cost.
Leather seats, although taken well care of, tore easily.
Fog lamps were poorly placed in the front, and were very easily shattered by rocks, and not cheaply replaced.
Anti-lock brake system is a first generation system, and behaves very unlike modern systems, and is very dangerous to use.
Engine fan clutch locked up.
Battery failed often, and was located in the back of the engine bay, making it difficult to service or remove.
Switched failed easily.
Tape player ate tapes from the beginning.
Custom security key was impossible to have copied.
Bodywork became severely rusted.
Starter motor had to be replaced.
Air conditioning never worked properly.
Car did not come with key to glove box lock.
Temperature gauge never worked properly, and did not warn that the engine was overheating (twice).
Paint and clear coat chipped from the beginning.
No air bags.
This car was good in its day (1988-1989), but the car's day is long gone.
Very expensive to keep up.
Most Ford dealerships no longer carry the replacement parts. Most mechanics have no knowledge whatsoever of these vehicles.
I was never able to get the car up the the advertised top speed (140 MPH).
Poor transmission made acceleration very slow.
The car was rather roomy, and had a large trunk compartment.
When running properly, the car was comfortable on the road.
It's hard to tell people about your car when almost nobody has ever heard of it.
This guy owned this car for 12 years and 160,000 miles and apparently didn't like the fact that it wore out. I have seen these cars even marginally maintained have fewer problems and still look good with 250,000 miles. The comment that it rusted easily was a give-away about his maintenance practices, these cars have the best rust protection I have ever seen, and only rust when never washed.
My niece just got her license and I promised her that I would find her a good car to get her around, well I looked and looked and could not find one that would suit her, I then looked down a road I hardly ever go and there she was, just sitting there with two tires flat.
The inside was full of mud and such, but I saw potential in it, I didn't ever know about the Scorpio except it was German or something, well I was in-pressed with this 88, man it was so above its time, sure it needs some work, but not a lot, besides I only had to give 100 for it and I drove it home. niece is concerned about her image, well the gang is going to love her in this car.
Rides like its on rails.
German Engineering and American Quality... It was Never going to work...
I had an 89 Scorpio and the only problem I had was overheating, and when I lost my key could not get it replaced. Other than that, I loved it and I kick my butt everyday for selling it. I wish I had it back too. I read this page and at the beginning I thought this person can't possibly be talking about a Scorpio. GREAT CAR.
The key for the Scorpio was some weird tubular type that very few, if any, locksmiths were able to make copies of.
The key design was a "security" feature that now is just an annoyance to anyone who still owns one of these cars, which most car thieves would have zero interest in.
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