1994 Ford Taurus complaints

ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER BEGAN ERRATIC OPERATION; REPLACED AT 43, 916 MILES ON 02/01/1997. REPLACEMENT SPEEDOMETER DEVELOPED SAME ERRATIC OPERATION AND WAS REPLACED AT 85,421 MILES ON 08/10/98. THE THIRD SPEEDOMETER DEVELOPED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AT 127,250 MILES IN EARLY NOV OF 1999. WITH ALL THE SPEEDOMETERS, THE PROBLEM ALWAYS IS THAT THE NEEDLE BOUNCES WILDLY BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 50 MPH AND THE UPPER LIMIT OF THE SPEEDOMETER RANGE AND MAKES A WHIRRING NOISE. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL PRE-1996 TAURUS. REPLACING THEM OBVIOUSLY DOES NO GOOD; FROM MY EXPERIENCE THEY DON'T SEEM TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AFTER 40,000 MILES. I CONTACTED FORD MOTORS AT THEIR 800 CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE NUMBER ON 11/22/1999 AND WAS TOLD BY "RAJ" THAT THEY WERE SORRY I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS, BUT THEY COULD DO NOTHING TO ASSIST ME. HOWEVER, IF ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAINED, THEY WOULD CONSIDER A RECALL. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TRAVEL UNDER OR AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT WITH ANY CERTAINTY WHEN THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT PROVIDE YOU WITH RELIABLE EQUIPMENT TO DETERMINE WHAT YOUR RATE OF SPEED IS. THIS IS NOT A OWNER MAINTENANCE RELATED PROBLEM. REPLACING THE UNITS WITH A SIMILARLY FAILURE PRONE SPEEDOMETER FROM THE FORD PARTS BIN DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

HEAD GASKETS FAILURE AND TIMING CASE

TRANSMISSION IS JUMPING OUT OF GEAR, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL SOON NEED TO BE REPLACED. *SLC

FORD MOTOR COMPANY, WAS CONTACTED AND HAS CHOSE DO GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND. NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO HELP ME OUT OF MY DILEMMA AT THIS TIME. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

ALL PROBLEMS WITH OUR 1994 TAURUS HAVE EXISTED SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE, FORD HAS DENIED SEVERAL OF THE RECALLS AND SERVICE BULLETINS LISTED AT NHTSA. THE CAR CONTINUES TO CONSTANTLY OVERHEAT AND RUN HOT, WE STILL CAN SMELL GAS THROUGH VENTS, DOOR HANDLE PROBLEMS, GAS CONSUMPTION PROBLEM, AND SEVERAL OTHERS STILL EXIST WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM FORD (EVEN WHEN CONFRONTED WITH EXACT NUMBERS AND DATES OF RECALLS AND BULLETINS), ALL PROBLEMS STILL EXIST WITHOUT HELP FROM FORD. FORDS CUSTOMER CONCERN, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND QUALITY IN GENERAL IS SEVERELY LACKING. WE ARE TIRED OF RUNAROUNDS, TIRED OF DENIALS RELATED TO THESE PROBLEMS, TIRED OF FORD DENYING THAT WE HAVE MADE PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS, TIRED OF FORD REFUSING TO PROVIDE PAPER WORK THE FEW TIMES THEY HAD THE VEHICHLE. TIRED OF THIS SCARY LEMON WE OWN, TIRED OF FORD IN GENERAL.

THE STALLING OF MY FORD HAD ENDANGERED MY FAMILY ON A JUNE VACATION TRIP TO SAN DIEGO. THE ENGINE STALLED ENTIRELY WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS SUCCESSFUL IN DRIVING THE CAR ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, WHERE WE WERE TO BECOME THE VICTIMS OF THE SUMMER HEAT. REPEATED EFFORTS TO GET THE CAR GOING WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. WE WERE TOWED TO GILA BEND, AZ WHERE A MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AT THAT TIME. AT THAT TIME I WAS NOT EVEN AWARE OF A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. UNTIL THIS DEFECT IS ADDRESSED, THIS VEHICLE IS A DANGER TO MY FAMILY AND THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME.

IVE HAD THE IGNITION MODULE CHANGED 4X... THE CAR CONTINUES TO STALL IN THE WORSE CIRCUMSTANCES.....I HAVE ESCAPED REAR END COLLISIONS SO FAR.....THE ENGINE CUTS OUT WITH NO WARNING.....EVEN AT SPEEDS 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY...IVE HAD 18 WHEELERS COME RIGHT UP ON ME WHEN THE CAR WOULD STALL...THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE....SINCE THE REPORT LAST WEEK I REALIZE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND WHY SO MANY IGNITION MODULES HAVE CHANGED......THE MODULAR IT SELF HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE WRONG PLACE IN THE CAR.........I HOPE THESE CARS WILL BE RECALLED AND FIXED......

HEAD GASKET BLEW IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR. THE CAR WAS FIXED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND FORD DID PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR THE SAME GASKET BLEW AGAIN, FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR THE CAR BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT FORD PARTS WEREN'T USED IN THE CAR. ALSO IN 1997 THE PISTON IN THE TRANSMISSION TORE UP THE CAR HAD 52,000 MILES ON IT. IT COST ME $950 TO HAVE IT FIXED, FORD REFUSED TO PAY FOR THAT.

CAR WAS SIDESWIPED WHEN NEW AND DECLARED TOTALED, HAD SIDE PANELS REPLACED AS NEW AND CAR RETITLED. HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS RETITLED THAT THE HEAD GASKET RECALL IS VOID. PLEASE ADVISE.

NO SUMMARY

FORD INITIALLY REJECTED COVERAGE FOR HEAD GASKET, I RECV'D RECALL LETTER. THIS IS 3RD TRANSMISSION ON 6YR OLD VEHICLE. TRANS WOULD JERK FORWARD BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HOOD DEFECTIVE DOUBLE LATCH BECAME UNHOOKED, CAUSING HOOD TO FLY OPEN, ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH, AND RESULTING IN $5,000 DAMAGE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK AS THE RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WINDSHIELD WAS TOTALLY SHATTERED. *YH

MAJOR HESITATION AND JOLTING DOWNSHIFT MAKES CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. NOT WORTH INVESTING THE ESTIMATED $1800 AFTER ALREADY PUTTING IN HEAD GASKET AND NEW A/C UNIT. WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD !!!

ALTHOUGH CAR HAS NEVER ACTUALLY OVERHEATED, IT RUNS VERY HOT. IT LOSES ALOT OF WATER (OVERFLOW WILL BE EMPTY EVERY 3 DAYS OR LESS) BUT THERE IS NO LEAK. TOOK IT IN FOR A TUNEUP AND WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN. CALLED AROUND AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON ENGINE. CALLED DEALER. THEY KEPT IT FOR 3 DAYS AND TOLD US IT WAS NOT THE ENGINE, BUT THE WATER PUMP. THEY REFUSED TO FIX OR REPLACE ENGINE EVEN THOUGH UNDER RECALL. CALLED FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WAS TOLD "WE STAND BEHIND OUR CERTIFIED TECHS" AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING. ENGINE IS UNDER RECALL FOR ANOTHER 1,000 MILES, BUT FORD IS REFUSING TO FIX DUE TO RUSTY'S SAYING IT IS NOT THE HEAD GASKETS. HAD IT LOOKED AT AT A THIRD PLACE AND THEY SAY THE WATER PUMP IS FINE. THEY COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM, BUT CAR IS STILL LOSING FLUID AND YOU CAN WATCH THE TEMP GUAGE RISE VERY QUICKLY AS YOU ARE DRIVING. DOES A RECALL MEAN THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, OR IS IT ONLY IF I HAVE PROBLEMS? I WAS TOLD BY RUSTY'S THAT IF SOMEONE ELSE SAYS THE HEAD GASKETS ARE BLOWN, THEY WILL HAVE TO PROVE IT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT TEARING THE ENGINE APART. HELP!!!

PE00020, ORIGINAL FORD TAURUS 1994,TIRE SIZE P20565/R15. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, DRIVER'S REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE REAR END, BUT TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. CHANGED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE TIRE. KEPT DRIVING, AND ABOUT 50 MILES DOWN, REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, CAUSING TREAD TO HIT THE FUEL RESTART SWITCH WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE STALL AND UNABLE TO RESTART. PREVIOUSLY AT 11,000 MILE, THE TWO REAR TIRES HAD STEEL BELTS SHOWING. DEALER REPLACED TIRES. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER FEEL THAT THE TWO TIRES THAT WERE REPLACED AT 11,000 MILES ARE UNSAFE. *YH

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH WET ROAD RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION REPEATEDLY SLIPS. *AK

DEALER IS SAYING THAT RECALL WAS FIXED (3 TIMES) SO NO "RECALL" EXISTS BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ONGOING AND VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I GAVE THIS CAR TO MY DAUGHTER IN JANUARY, 2000 AND SHE HAS EXPERIENCED A TOTAL ELECTRICAL OUTAGE TWICE AND HAS BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE ON BOTH OCASSIONS. THERE ARE 4 OTHER RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN FIXED AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM FIXED IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT ANY HASSLE FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK FOR OVER 15-20 MPH IN THE OFF POSITION WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AROUND DASH, AND BLACK SMOKE FILLED THE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, NO DRIVE NO REVERSE CONDITION. FAILURE OF ALUMINUM CLUTCH PISTON AND OTHER COMPONENTS. *AK

VECHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF A RESIDENTIAL AREA. WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO TURN VEHICLE ON IT SHOOK AND IDLED HIGHLY. SHE TURNED VEHICLE OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT THE ENGINE HYDROLOCKED. WATER AND ANTI-FREEZE GOT INTO THE CYLINDERS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, REBUILT INSTALLED, NOW REBUILT IS FAILING AT 20,000 MILES, SLOW TO UP-SHIFT, DOWN-SHIFTS HARD, HERKY-JERKY BELOW 40 MPH. *AK

AXOD TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AT STOP. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AIR CONDITIONINGJUST QUIT WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT FLUID WAS LOW. DEALER FILLED VEHICLE UP AND STARTED WORKING AGAIN. THEN IT QUIT. CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE O-RINGS THAT FAILED. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED OVERHEATING SYMPTOMS. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND FOUND OUT THAT THE TIMING CASE GASKET WAS LEAKING AND IT MIGHT DAMAGE THE ENGINE, WHICH ALREADY HAD DEVLOPED KNOCKING NOISES. I CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ASKED THEM FOR WARRANTY COVERAGE, SINCE IT WAS OUT OF MY REACH TO REPAIR/INSTALL A NEW ENGINE. FORD COMPANY WHICH THEN WAS SENDING LETTERS FOR FREE CHANGE OF HEAD GASKETS WHICH COULD PRODUCE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MINE. BUT MY REQUEST WENT IN A VAIN. NOW THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED OPERATION SINCE THE WATER HAS MIXED WITH THE ENGINE OIL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND HENCE I APPEAL THAT NHTSA SHOULD RESPOND TO THIS IN A BETTER MANNER. THANKING YOU.*AK

ACTUAL HEAD GASKET FAILURE OCCURED OVER 2 YEARS PRIOR TO REPORTED DATE WAS ABLE TO GET BY, BUT THE OIL LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON WHEN THE ENGINE GETS TO NORMAL TEMPERATURE AND THE CAR IS IDLING. FORD PUT OUT CARS WITH DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO LIMIT THE WARRANTY. IF IT FAILS, THEY SHOULD PAY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE PARTS- I UNDERSTAND THAT ABOUT 750,000 OF THESE FAILURES HAVE OCCURED- FORD SHOULD PAY FOR SELLING DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS.

IN 1995, WINDOWS ON FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT DOORS STUCK WHEN ROLLING DOWN. FIXED INCORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME, UNDER WARRANTY, SO FIXED AGAIN, UNDER WARRANTY. NO CHARGE THAT I RECALL BUT CAN VERIFY IF REQUIRED. LAST YEAR, LEFT FRONT WINDOW STUCK AGAIN. STRUGGLE TO ROLL IT DOWN CAUSED SWERVING. ATTENDANT NOTICED IT DURING TEST DRIVE AFTER TUNE-UP BUT MADE NO RECOMMENDATIONS. RIGHT FRONT WINDOW OKAY BUT NOT USED BECAUSE NO PASSENGERS. IN ADDITION, THOUGH CAR SELDOM DRIVEN, WATER PUMP ALREADY REQUIRED REPLACING IN 1998. CHARGED $50 DEDUCTIBLE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. FRONT WINDOW FIXED THE THIRD TIME NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. CHARGE WAS $365.72 TO REPLACE RUN AND REGULATOR. I ARGUED WITH THE MANAGER BECAUSE ALREADY FIXED TWICE BY THEM BUT NO RECORD OF FIRST 2 FIXES. THESE PROBLEMS ARE DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE I BOUGHT ANOTHER NEW FORD WAGON AFTER DRIVING A COUNTRY SQUIRE FOR 21 YEARS. IT ONLY HAD 80,000 MILES OR SO ON IT WHEN I DONATED IT TO A CHARITY BUT GUESS THEY "JUST DON'T MAKE 'EM LIKE THEY USED TO"! WILL APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE OR ASSISTANCE YOU PROVIDE. HOPE I DIDN'T GET A "LEMON". COULD BE LUCKY THAT I DON'T DRIVE MUCH BECAUSE POSSIBLY MORE PROBLEMS. WE NEED TO TRUST THE SAFETY AND STABILITY OF OUR AUTOMOBILES.*AK

ENGINE RUINED BECAUSE OF ANTIFREEZE IN OIL. *AK

I WAS TOLD THAT THE WATER PUMP BUSTED, I NEED A THERMOSTAT, AND THAT MY GEARS (LINKAGE) WANT SHIFT.*AK

WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER BREATHS EXHAUST FUMES. ALSO, DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET CAUSES CYLINDER HEAD TO WARP. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 127,000 MILES MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO HONOR WARRANTY AND REIMBURSE CONSUMER BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OVER 100,000 MILES. NLM

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE MAY 13, 1999 FROM SANGER FORD IN SANGER CALIFORNIA, 93657. ON OCTOBER 29,1999 THE CARS ENGINE BLEW UP DUE TO A PATCHED UP WATER PUMP THAT CAME FROM SANGER FORD LIKE THIS WHEN I PURCHASED IT. THE WATER PUMP WAS FULL OF STOP LEAK, WHICH WOULD EXPLAIN WHY THE CAR SEEMED TO RUN A LITTLE WARM. WHEN THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT ON THE CAR, IT BROKE OFF INSIDE FOR WHATEVER REASON AND WHEN THIS HAPPENED, IT TORE HELL OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE DID NOT BLOW DUE TO IT OVER HEATING, THE ENGINE BLEW DUE TO THE DAMAGE DONE BY THE WATER PUMP. I COULD NOT GET ANY HELP FROM THE DEALER OR THE FINANCE COMPANY. BUT I SURE HAD TO MAIL IN THAT PAYMENT EVERY MONTH. IT TOOK ALL THE MONEY I HAD AND COULD BORROW AND 5 AND 1/2 MONTHS LATER TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 4 CHILDREN AND A CAR IS VERY MUCH NEEDED. I THOUGHT I HAD BOUGHT A CAR I COULD DEPEND ON AND TRUST TO TRANSPORT MY DAUGHTERS IN, BUT WAS WRONG. I ALSO DURING THIS DOWN TIME RECEIVED 2 OR MORE RECALL NOTICES FOR THE VEHICLE THAT HAD BEEN ISSUED PRIOR TO THE SELL OF THE CAR TO MYSELF. SO, THE DEALER SOLD ME A CAR WITHOUT DOING THE PROPER REPAIRS BROUGHT ON BY THE RECALLS. SO, WHAT ELSE DID THEY GET AWAY WITH???? I WILL CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR HELP IN RECOVERING MY LOSES DUE TO THE OF PROFESSIONALISM BY THIS COMPANY. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME ON THIS MATTER I COULD REALLY USE. THANK YOU, BRANDEE BRIDGES 06-17-00. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SAW A LOT OF SMOKE COMING OUT OF TAIL PIPE. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK

EACH SUMMER, PURGE CYLINDER LEAKES GAS VAPORS INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH GET DISCHARGED INTO A/C. WENT TODEALERSHIP 3 TIMES BEFORE WARRANTY RAN OUT ONLY TO BE TOLD NO PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND. WENT TO FORD DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING SUMMER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT VAPORS EXCEPT MOVE PURGE CANNISTER TO REAR OF VEHICLE WHICH WOULD NOT DECREASE VAPOR EMMISSION BY ANY EXTENT. PROBLOM IS NOTICEABLE DURING SUMMER MONTHSWHEN VAPORS FILL THE CABIN. *AK

DEALER FAILED TO REPAIR DUE TO MILEAGE OVER SERVICE LIMITS AS PER 00M09/ VEHICLE WAS OVER LIMITS BEFORE NOTIFICATION OF DEFAULT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

RECALL 98V323. CONSUMER MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. DEALER HAS NOT RETURNED CONSUMER'S CALL. *AK

THE DRIVERS DOOR AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WERE MISALIGNED. NLM

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS AND APPLYING ACCELERATOR PEDAL HARD, IT WOULD NOT RETURN BACK TO IDLE WHEN RELEASED. DRIVER HAD TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO REDUCE SPEED. DEALER CLEANED THROTTLE LINKAGE, AND PROBLEM FIXED. *AK *ML

WHEN COMMING UP TO A STOP SIGN/LIGHT THE CAR WILL SLIP OUT OF DRIVE AND NOT GO BACK IN FOR AWHILE. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT SEVERAL TECHNICAL BULLETINS WERE AVAILABLE FROM FORD STATING THAT THE ALUMNIUM PISTON INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION WERE CRACKING AND SUGGESTED THAT THEY BE REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WITH A STEEL PISTON. THIS REPLACEMENT IS COSTING ME $2,300.00. IF FORD KNOWS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WHY DO THEY CONTINUE TO MANUF. FORD TAURUS' WITH THESE DEFECTIVE PISTIONS. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH ENGINE NOT RUNNING, FRONT RIGHT SIDE DROPPED ABOUT TWO INCHES BECAUSE SPRING BROKE. OWNER CONCERNED BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *ML

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE HEAD GASKET PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION WHICH DAMAGED THE AIR CONDITIONING LINES,WATER PUMP AND OTHER COMPONENTS, WHEN THE GASKET BLEW. CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO OBTAIN REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER FOR RECALL REPAIRS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED. *MJS

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 35 MPH, I NOTICED THE COOLANT TEMPERAURE HAD SHOT UP TO THE RED ZONE. AS SOON AS THIS HAPPENED, IT IMMEDIATELY WENT BACK DOWN TO THE MIDRANGE OF THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND STAYED THERE FOR APPROX. 10 MILES. I CHECKED THE ANTI-FREEZE AT A GAS STATION AND IT SEEMED TO BE FULL. I PARKED THE CAR AND LET IT COOL FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS. I BEGAN MY DRIVE HOME AND THE TEMP. STAYED IN THE MIDRANGE OF THE GAUGE FOR ABOUT 20 MILES AND THEN SHOT UP TO THE RED ZONE. IT HOVERED THERE ABOUT 1 MINUTE AND THEN SHOT BACK DOWN TO THE MID RANGE. I PARKED THE VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE. THE NEXT MORNING, I STARTED IT UP AND DROVE ABOUT 1/4 MILE AND WHITE SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM THE TAILPIPE. THE SMOKE SMELLED LIKE ANTI-FREEZE. I RETURNED HOME AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. PREVIOUSLY, FORD HAD SENT ME A LETTER DETAILING THE DEFECT AND OFFERING A WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 100,000 MILES. HOWEVER, I WAS ALREADY PAST 100,000 MILES WHEN THEY SENT THE LETTER. CAN THEY BE FORCED TO COVER SOME OR ALL OF THE COST OF REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET? THE CAR FAILED ONLY TWO MONTHS AFTER I MADE THE LAST PAYMENT TO FORD CREDIT CORPORATION. CAN YOU HELP ME?*AK

TRANSMISSION PISTON CRACKED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. ALSO, ON AN INCLINE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP INTO REVERSE WHILE IN DRIVE. MOTOR MOUNTS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AS WELL. FORD DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY OF THE PROBLEMS. *AK *ML

TRANSMISSION PISTON CRACKED , CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. ON AN INCLINE VEHICLE GOES INTO REVERSE WHILE IN DRIVE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON HAD CRACKED. VEHICLE WAS ON A HILL AT A STOPLIGHT. LIGHT CHANGED & VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD. IT WENT BACKWARDS BEFORE IT CAUGHT & THEN FORWARD. FORD HAD 2 TSBS ON CLUTCH PLATE, BUT DEALERSHIP FAILED TO REPAIR CLUTCH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE FILLED PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT WHEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE . CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN APPLYING GAS FROM A STOP POSITION, CAR HESITATES, THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATES INTO INTERSECTION. DEALER REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION. *AK *ML

TRANS AXLE FAILURE; FIRST COMMENCED AT 19,000 MILE OF WEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED IT WITH THE SAME MODEL( # F4DZ7000BRM) UNDER WARRANTY WITHIN ONE WEEK OF REPAIR, TRANS AXLE SEAL FAILED. FOUR YEARS LATER WITHIN 68,000 MILES, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR / REPLACE TRANS AXLE BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED. PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE SAME FAULTY PARTS. *AK