1994 Ford Taurus

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.

Risk. IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS.

Risk. LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION CAN AFFECT A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE ROADWAY AND REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT INCORPORATES A CRICUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND WIRING, IF NEEDED.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WATER CAN ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT COULD FREEZE WITHIN A LOW AREA OF THE CABLE ROUTING WHEN EXPOSED TO A LONG TERM COLD SOAK AT TEMPERATURES AT LEAST SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.

Risk. DRIVER CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED USING THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.

Defect. THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.

Defect. THE ARC WELDS ON THE SWAY BAR BRACKET, WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE STRUT RESERVE TUBE, DID NOT FUSE PROPERLY.

Risk. OVER TIME, A PORTION OF THE BRACKET CAN TEAR AWAY FROM THE STRUT, FALLING INTO AND PUNCTURING THE TIRE OR CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy. MONROE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STRUT FREE OF CHARGE.

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS GO OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN COME BACK ON IT HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN STOPS HAPPENING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING AND THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS HOT TO THE TOUCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ONLINE AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V009000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,000.

AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES ON/OFF FREQUENTLY. DEFECTIVE SENSOR IS SUSPECTED. PART IS UNAVAILABLE. A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. NOT SURE IF THERE WAS A RECALL PRIOR TO PURCHASE OR CHANGE OUT OF PARTS. *TR

THE CAR WHEN LEAVING A STOP ACTS LIKE ITS IN NEUTRAL THEN CATCHES AND LEAPS FORWARD. FORD USED A CHEAP FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON. *TR

AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE AND APPROACHES A STOP, IT "DE-CLUTCHES" AND EITHER FAILS TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, WHEN PUSHING GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE OR IT THEN SHIFTS HARD DURING TAKE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE IS 85,000. MANUFACTURE HAS SUPPOSEDLY SENT OUT TSB FOR REVISED FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON #9837. FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THROUGH TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN'S 91-5-7, 92-1-4,92-26A-6, 93-9-11 AND 94-24-7 WHICH EVEN TELLS THE DEALERS TO USE A STEEL PISTON AND NOT TO USE THE ALUMINUM PISTON AND IF THEY HAVE ANY IN STOCK TO RETURN THEM TO THE PARTS DEPOT FOR CREDIT. *TR

I JUST GOT OFF THE TELEPHONE WITH FORD CORP., ~ I HAVE INHERITED A 1994 TAURUS FROM MY GRANDMOTHER, WHO TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF IT AND IT ONLY HAS 88,000 ORIGINAL MILES ~ THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW & THE EXHAUST STARTED POURING OUT THICK SMOKE, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A SAFE LOCATION IMMEDIATELY, BUT I LOOK UNDER THE CAR AND THERE WERE ALL DIFFERENT COLOR FLUIDS COMING OUT. BACK IN 1999 THERE WAS A LETTER SENT TO MR. WILLIAM CLAY FORD RELATING TO THIS ISSUE ~ A VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN SO WELL KEPT AND NOT EVEN HAVE PASSED 100K MILES... THIS MALFUNCTION OF FORD, SHOULD BE FIXED AND HONORED AT ALL COSTS AND NOW I AM LOOKING AT A BILL OF $2300.00 TO GET THIS FIXED ~ WHEN IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING THIS ISSUE WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. I AM ASKING FOR HELP OF PROGRAM 98M01 ~ THIS EXTENSION IS MANDATORY FOR I AM A SINGLE MOTHER / DRIVER OF A FORD VEHICLE ~ IT'S THE AMERICAN WAY...... RIGHT???? MR. WILLIAM CLAY FORD ~ GET ME BACK INTO A SAFE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND BOTH THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION COLLAPSED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 93V106000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS) AND CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY FILED A COMPLAINT ON THE CONTACT'S BEHALF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR FIVE DAYS WITHOUT USE. ABOUT 9:00AM I MOVED THE CAR AND PARKED IT IN THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM OF ANY KIND. ABOUT 45 MIN. LATER I WAS ALERTED TO THE SOUND OF A CAR HORN AND FOUND THE FORDS HORN WAS HONKING. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR TO ATTEMPT TO PULL THE LEVER TO OPEN THE HOOD THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE CAR AND A SMALL FLAME ON THE LEFT LOWER CORNER OF THE CASH. I WENT TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PHONED 911, WAS GONE MAYBE 30 SECONDS AND WHEN I RETURNED THE DASH WAS FULLY AFLAME. I THEN DRAGGED MY HOSE OUT AND BY THE TIME @45 SECONDS LATER I GOT THE WATER ON, THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WAS FULLY ENGULFED. AFTER ABOUT 7 MIN. OF ME PUTTING WATER ON THE FIRE AND IT ABOUT 90% OUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP AND FINISHED PUTTING IT OUT. THE ONLY PROBLEMS THE CAR HAD BEFORE WAS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS HAD QUIT WORKING FROM THE DOOR IN JULY BUT STILL WORKED FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO THE FUSE THAT FED THE RADIO AMONG OTHER THINGS HAD BLOWN BUT WHEN REPLACED WITH THE SAME 15AMP FUSE ALL HAD BEEN OK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL POP NOISE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE CRADLE BOLT WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND ORDERED THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V323000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS) AND ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 9/20/11 *CN UPDATED 10/11/11

THE FRONT LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT DROPPED. THERE WAS LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE FRONT CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWED THE FRONT CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOWER THAN USUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED A CRACK IN THE FRAME THAT CAUSED THE REAR SUSPENSION TO LOWER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO MADE A CLUNKING SOUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STRUTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH HE HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND SHUT OFF. UPON EXAMINATION HE NOTICED THAT THE SUB FRAME FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000.

THE FUEL PUMP, AND TRANSMISSION FOR THE 1994 FORD TAURUS GL 3.0 V6. BUCKS AND KICKS ALOT. EVEN AFTER FIXED. EVEN IF YOU AREN'T STEPPING ON THE GAS IT GETS A DELAYED REACTION SOMETIMES AND STILL KICKS OR BUCKS A LITTLE BUT WHILE COASTING. A RESULT COULD BE DAMAGING PROPERTY, AND POSSIBLE CRASHES THAT CANNOT BE AVOID IF A SUDDEN STOP WAS NEEDED AND THE CAR DOES BUCK AND KICK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND THE CONTACT OBSERVED WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED WATER LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A TRANMISSION DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

IT'S NOT GEARED TO ANY MANUFACTURE BECAUSE ALL THE VEHICLES I HAVE DRIVEN WORK THE SAME WAY. THIS PERTAINING TO CRUISE CONTROL. THEIR IS ONLY TWO WAYS TO SHUT IT OFF. THE ONE WAY YOU SHUT IT OFF IS TO HIT THE BRAKES LIKE IF YOU HAVE STOP FAST TO AVOID A ACCIDENT. BUT THE PROBLEM IS IF THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE IS BLOWN IT WILL NOT SHUT OFF THE CRUISE AND YOU ARE FIGHTING THE BRAKE WITH THE ENGINE REVVING AT A HIGHER RATE LIKE HIGHWAY SPEED. THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN BRING IT OFF CRUISE IS MANUALLY SHUT IT OFF THROUGH THE ON AND OFF SWITCH. NOW AT AVOIDING A ACCIDENT THE FIRST THING YOU DO HIT THE BRAKE I DON'T I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD SHUT IT OFF MANUALLY AT THE TIME OF A ACCIDENT WHEN THEIR UNDER PRESSURE OF A ACCIDENT AND HAVE TIME TO THE BURN OUT FUSE CAN HAPPEN FROM A SHORT THAT HAPPENS WITHIN THE VEHICLE ELECTRIC OR A SHORT IN A THE TOWING OBJECT. THIS HAPPENED YEARS AGO WITH ME BUT WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE THAT HAS HAPPEN RECENT MADE ME THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPEN TO ME. AND AGAIN THIS IS NOT GEARED TO ANY CERTAIN MANUFACTURE I HAVE HAD FORD TO GM. *TR

BROKEN DRIVERS COIL SPRING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. SINCE APPROXIMATELY THE MIDDLE OF 2003, THE COIL SPRING HAS FAILED. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION EVER SINCE THAT TIME. HE LOCATED RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 6/15/09 *CN THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE STRUT COIL. UPDATED 06/16/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR BECAUSE THE HARNESS BURNED. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY $100 TO REPAIR THE HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE HARNESS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 205,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FORD RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) IN LATE DECEMBER OF 2008. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THE VEHICLE TO BE DESTROYED AND WOULD NOT INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE COMPLETE COVERAGE. THE FIRE AND POLICE REPORT NUMBERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 123,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH STATE INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR ENGINE MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V323000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS); HOWEVER, THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE RECALL IN THEIR SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. UPDATED 10/07/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/10/08. *JB