Camshaft failure
a broken camshaft component, severe enough in one case that the owner opted for a used motor rather than repairing the original
Check engine light: On
The standout problem for this generation: camshaft failure, documented at $2,200 and 72,000 miles — the most expensive and mechanically serious problem documented, and notably not at high mileage. Expect roughly $1,760-$2,420. Camshaft failures commonly cause misfire or timing-related fault codes, so this typically triggers a check-engine light.
$1,760 – $2,42072,000 mi
single documented figure ($2,200) widened ±10-20% into a range; notably not high-mileage for a failure this severe.
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Throttle body failure
the vehicle entering a "limp mode," or in a more serious documented case, lunging unexpectedly
Check engine light: On
Throttle body failure, documented at $655 at 165,000 miles, requiring 2 days of complex diagnostic work to resolve. Typical cost runs $524 – $721. A separate, more serious NHTSA complaint describes a throttle body assembly failure causing the vehicle to "suddenly lunge backward at abnormal speed while reversing at 2 mph despite brake application," resulting in a crash — a safety-relevant version of this same failure mode. The same throttle body failure is reported on the Ford Fusion. Throttle body faults commonly trigger a check-engine light.
$524 – $721165,000 mi
corroborated by a serious NHTSA complaint (ODI 10959795) describing a sudden reverse lunge and crash from the same failure mode — the same failure is reported on the Ford Fusion.
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Exhaust system leaks / corroded bolts
an exhaust leak or noise
Check engine light: Off
Exhaust system issues ranged from a complete exhaust replacement at $900 (118,000 mi) to corroded bolts breaking off at the engine header attachment for $500 (139,000 mi). We're presenting the real $500 - $900 span as-reported rather than averaging across such different repair scopes. This is a mechanical exhaust fault, so it doesn't typically trigger a check-engine light.
$500 – $900118,000–139,000 mi
spans a minor corroded-bolt fix and a full exhaust replacement — two different repair scopes, not averaged together.
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Serpentine belt wear
a worn or cracked serpentine belt
Check engine light: Off
Routine, expected wear: a serpentine belt worn/cracked after roughly 80,000 miles of use, documented at $680 at 155,800 miles. We've widened that into a $540 - $750 range. A routine maintenance item, not a fault that triggers a check-engine light.
$540 – $750155,800 mi
routine, expected wear item — single documented figure ($680) widened ±10-20% into a range.
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Engine oil pan gasket may leak
Oil pan gasket leaks
Check engine light: Off
Oil pan gasket leaks. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 259 owner reports on file.
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Engine buck or misfire at freeway speeds
Engine bucks or misfires at freeway speeds
Check engine light: On
Engine bucks or misfires at freeway speeds. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 213 owner reports on file.
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Idle air bypass valve problem, engine performance issues
Engine performance issues traced to the idle air bypass valve
Check engine light: On
Engine performance issues traced to the idle air bypass valve. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 136 owner reports on file.
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Automatic lights not working
Automatic headlight function stops working
Check engine light: Off
Automatic headlight function stops working. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 47 owner reports on file.
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Blown or cracked head gasket, white smoke from exhaust
White smoke from the exhaust due to a blown or cracked head gasket
Check engine light: On
White smoke from the exhaust due to a blown or cracked head gasket. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 28 owner reports on file.
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Worn motor mounts damage AC hoses
Worn motor mounts lead to AC hose damage
Check engine light: Off
Worn motor mounts lead to AC hose damage. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 11 owner reports on file.
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There is limited data for this vehicle, so treat what follows as directional. The standout problem is camshaft failure, costly ($2,200) and occurring at only 72,000 miles — not particularly high mileage. Separately, a throttle body failure was corroborated by a serious NHTSA complaint describing a sudden reverse lunge and crash. The same failure is reported on the Ford Fusion. NHTSA data also includes a recurring "phantom braking" complaint pattern (brakes activating without warning) with no recall tied to it. It is not listed as a repair below because no cost data is available, but it is worth knowing about.