1996 Ford Taurus complaints

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION COULD GET REAL HARD TO SHIFT GEAR WHEN SWITCHING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TRANSMISSION AND POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

DUE TO A DEFECTIVE STEERING RACK AND PINION STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER SERVICE RECALL # 98B27 IN DEC OF 98 FOR THE COOLING UNIT. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND DIED BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING ANTI FREEZE. DEALER AND MANUFCTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

SAYS IN MY REPORT THAT FINS WERE MISSING ON SHAFT OF WATER PUMP.

DRIVING AT 55 MPH, NOTICED WHEN DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED. DEPRESSED GAS PEDAL FURTHER, NON-RESPONSIVE. LOOKED AT TEMP GAUGE, NOTICED OVERHEATED. PULLED OVER. BLED RADIATOR OVERFILL. ADDED WATER AND ANTIFREEZE. ENGINE KNOCKED VIOLENTLY WHEN RESTARTED. CALLED FOR TOW. NOTIFIED ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 30MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY,RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NO SUMMARY

STEERING FAILURE RESULTED IN GRUNT NOISE DURING STEERING RETURN FROM RIGHT TURN. NLM

CAR MAKE LOUD SQUEALING NOISE WHEN MAKEING SHARP TURNS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. WHEN CAR WAS BROUGHT IN UNDER WARRANTY THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.

WHEN SITTING IN VEHICLE OR DRIVING THERE IS A COOLANT SMELL AND VAPORS ARE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE ENGINE. *AK

I AM CURIOUS IF OTHER FORD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS HAVE FAILED AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE.

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 38,000 MILES. FORD WAS NOTIFIED AND DIDN'T CARE BECAUSE IT WAS BEYOND THEIR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FULL OF CRACKS, AND HAD TO HAVE STARTED BEFORE 36,000 MI. THIS WAS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION I PUT INTO A FORD CAR AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED . I TRIED TO GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH A FORD SERVICE CENTER, BUT THEY WERE TOO BUSY. I TOOK IT TO INDEPENDENT STATION . THEY HAD 4 OTHER TAURUS' THERE FOR TRANSMISSIONS, ALL FAIRLY NEW CARS

MY COMPRESSOR FOR MY AC IS NOT WORKING ANY MORE. I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL OF CAR, AND IF THERE IS ANY WAY TO HAVE FORD COVER FOR THE REPAIR. MY CAR IS ONLY A 1996 WITH REASONABLE MILEAGE AND THE AC SHOULD NOT BREAK DOWN ALREADY. CAN YOU HELP ME? OR GUIDE ME TO SOMEONE WHO COULD?

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FREEZE PLUGS BURST, CAUSING ENGINE TO DIE. ALSO, BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK

THE POWER STEERING FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT. FLUID IS COMING FROM TUBBING THAT'S RUBBING AGAINST THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF VEHICLE. THIS HAD CAUSED A PIN HOLE IN TUBE. ALSO, STEERING WAS MAKING GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNED. HAVE NOT BEEN TO DEALER YET.

TRANSMSSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH. NO SIGN GIVEN DURING MALFUNCTION. INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 62,990 MILES. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *AK *ML

BRAKE WARNING LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PANEL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

ROTORS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH NO CHANGE TO THE SHAKING. VERY VIOLENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT INTO THE GARAGE (NOT THE FORD DEALERSHIP), THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER AND IT SHOWED A $12.00 PRT AND IT WAS ON THE OUTER PART OF THE TRANSMISSION. A WEEK LATER THE PART HAD STILL NOT COME IN, IT WAS ON BACK ORDER THROUGH FORD AND IT TOOK 10 DAYS TO GET HERE, WHEN THE GARAGE WENT TO DO THE WORK, IT SHOWED THAT IT WAS QUITE FAR INTO THE TRANSMISSION, BECAUSE I DID NOT BUY THE EXTENTED WARRANTEE, IT IS NOT COVERED. BUT THIS CAR HAS ONLY 59.000 MILES.

I RETURNED THIS CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL BEGAN CLICKING WHENEVER I TRIED USING THEM. THE REPAIR DEPT. TOLD ME THAT WAS NORMAL FOR THE TAURUS AND THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. NOW, I AM LIMITED TO ONLY SEVERAL SETTINGS WHERE THE WIPERS WILL ACTUALLY FUNCTION. THAT HAS NEVER BEEN A "NORMAL" FEATURE ON ANY OF MY OTHER VEHICLES. I FEEL FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS FAILURE BEFORE I DON'T HAVE ANY WIPER CAPABILITIES AND SOMEONE IS EITHER INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING WHILE IN OPERATING MODE, OR SPEED WOULD CHANGE FROM HIGH TO LOW INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND NOTHING WOULD BE DONE UNLESS CONSUMER PICKS UP THE EXPENSES. *AK

AT 38,352 MILES TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY MALFUNCTIONED ALSO THE TRANSMISSION CASING PREMATURELY CRACKED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

RAIN ON 10/04/99 TURNED WIPERS ON TO 4 TO 6 SECONDS WIPE---STARTED TO RAIN HARDER MOVED WIPERS TO LOW SETTING--STARTING WIPING EVERY 10 TO 12 SECS---HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD WIPERS STARTED TO WORK LIKE THEY SHOULD--HIT ANOTHER BUMP--WIPERS WENT BACK TO SLOW SPEED---THEN STOPPED...HAD TO USE HIGH SPEED TO GET THE WIPERS TO WORK

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION BREAKING WINDSHIELD RESULTING IN CONSUMER BEING CUT. MJS

WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED TRANSMISSION JERKED HARD. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTFIED.*AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE ISN'T SHIFTING PROPERLY AND STALLS. ALSO, AND TIRE SHAKE. *AK

ANYTIME I EVEN GO THROUGH A PUDDLE I LOOSE POWER STEERING AND BATTERY LIGHT GOES OUT. THE CAR HAS NOT STALLED YET BUT THE DATE I PUT ON THIS REPORT THE POWER STEERING WENT AS I WAS TURNING INTO AN ENTRANCE TO WALMART AND I COULDNT CATCH IT IN TIME TO STOP IT FROM HITTING THE CURB. I DID SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE TY ROD AND DRIVER WHEEL WELL. FORD SAID THAT WAS NORMAL. I WAS NOT WARNED OF THIS WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND CANT FIND A REPORT ABOUT THAT ANYWHERE. IT IS DEFINITLY LIFE THREATENIG LIVING IN BUFFALO IN THE WINTER WHAT WILL HAPPEN? I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AND I JUST BOUGHT IT.

ENGINE OIL PAN RUSTED THROUGH FROM THE BOTTOM WHICH CAUSED OIL LEAK. THIS MAY CAUSE A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DEFROST FAILED AND HAD VERY POOR VISIBILITY WHEN WINDOWS FOGGED ALMOST CAUSING WRECK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT AND NOT A FACTORY DEALER. A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS PURCHASED FROM LAPLACE FORD. FROM WHAT I GATHER LOOKING AT SERVICE BULLETINES ON MY CAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN MAY OF 1995. IT WAS A PROGRAM CAR FROM THE DEALER WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE FACTORY WARRANTY.

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 10 MPH BRAKES WILL LOCK UP IN RAINY CONDITIONS, CAUING THE VEHICLE TO CUT OFF.THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND RADIO TO REMAIN ON AFTER SHUTTING OFF VEHICLE. MJS

MY CAR TAKES 2-3 ATTEMPTS TO START.AS A CHRONIC PROBLEM.CAR DIAGNOSIS BY DEALER.

I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL SLOWLY BUT FAIRLY CONSTANTLY, I THEN PROCEEDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT HE SUGGEST THAT I TALK TO FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE HE SAID THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE WITH THIS AMOUNT OF MILES ON IT. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION AND HE SAID THE SAME THING. ATTEMPTS TO SPEAK TO FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM HAVE ONLY RESULTED IN YOUR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND WE WILL NOT COVER THIS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECTIVE PART AND I ALSO SAW THROUGH YOUR WEBSITE THAT THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE OTHER COMPLAINT THAT SEEMED TO FIT THIS DESCRIPTION. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO OFFER.

OUR TAURUS HAS HAD OVERHEATING PROBLEMS SINCE WE BOUGHT IT, FORD DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL THERE WAS OVER 66,000 MILES ON THE CAR.TODAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY THE ENGINE THREW A ROD OR PISTON.

NONE, ONLY ENGINE FAILURE

WITH OUT WARNING THE ENGINE QUIT ON THE HIGHWAY, THE DRIVER COMPARTMENT FILLED WITH STEAM. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT ABSOLUTELY COULDN'T SEE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING A FAILURE OF THE HEATER CORE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY RUINING THE CYLINDER HEAD.

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE HESITATING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. INFORMED CONSUMER TO REPORT CONDITION TO DEALER. *AK

CALLED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE REPAIRS, WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR COOLANT SYSTEM PROBLEMS. WAS TOLD TO JUST BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD FIX IT.BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER ON 09/21/99 AND WAS THEN INFORMED THEY WOULD NOT DO THE REPAIR FOR FREE BECAUSE THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED ON 08/31/99. CALLED FORD AND WAS INFORMED THIS WAS NOT A RECALL BUT AN OWNER NOTIFICATION. I RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION,BUT EXPERIENCED MECHANICAL PROBLEMS DIRECTLY RELATED TO DEFECT IN MANUFACTURE. IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE? SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE AT NO COST TO ME? I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM AND AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. IF THIS WAS AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM AND NOT A RECALL WHY WAS I NOT NOTIFIED?

TREAD SEPERATION( DOT NUMBER: ACUR 442 TIRE SIZE: 205/65R15 )

VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO FAILURE OF THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO STRIKE PAVEMENT BELOW DUE TO COLLAPSED FRONT END (NO OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED). MJS

THE MAJOR PROBLEM WAS ENGINE OVERHEATING, BROWN COOLANT,LOSS OF HEATER. FORD REPEATED FLUSHED OUT THE HEATER CORE,REPLACED THE COOLLANT, FLUSHED OUT ENGINE, RADIATOR. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR OF THIS THEY FINALLY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH ANOTHER ENGINE, A REBUILT ONE OF COURSE. THEY CONTINUED TO HAVE TO FLUSH OUT THE BROWN COOLANT. NOW THE HEATER DOES NOT WORK AGAIN. THEY SAY THAT SINCE MY WARRANTY IS UP I MUST PAY FOR THE HEATER CORE EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW IT WAS GOING BAD AND THAT THEY HAD TWO RECALLS ON BROWN COOLANT PROBLEMS. THEY SAY THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH ENGINES IF THEY PERFORMED THE RECALL. THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE HEATER CORE ACCORDING TO THE RECALL NOTICE 98-B23 AND 98B23-S1 BUT DID NOT. THEY REPLACED THE STEERING RACK THREE TIMES TO GET RID OF THE NOISE WHEN TURNING. THEN THEY REPLACED THE SPINDLES WHICH THE ENDS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SEALED AT THE FACTORY BUT WERE NOT. THEY GROUND DOWN THE ROTORS SEVERAL TIMES TO KEEP THE CAR FROM VIBRATING AND REPLACED THEM ONCE. THEY REPLACED THE DOOR LOCK WHICH WOULDN'T ALLOW YOU TO OPEN THE CAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THEN REPLACED THE HOOD LATCH SO YOU COULD GET UNDER THE HOOD. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE AC KNOB TWICE SINCE THE PLASTIC INSIDE KEEPS BREAKING. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A PIECE OF JUNK SINCE I GOT IT AND CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY WITH THE COOLENT AND THE HEATER SYSTEM.

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. REPLACED ENTIRE ASSEMBLY. COMMONLY REPORTED ON THIS MODEL VIA INTERNET AND PERSONAL CONTACTS THAT OWNED TAURUS'. SUGGEST MANUFACTURER BE HELD LIABLE.

WHEN EVER THE VEHICLE RUNS THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FAIL AND ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS / CUTS OFF. THE VEHICLE CAN BE INSTANTLY STARTED BACK UP BY TURNING THE IGNITION AGAIN. DEALER CAN'T FIND SOLUTION. *ML

WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS APPLIED THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE OR SURGE FORWARD. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

STEERING RACK NOISY & POPS WHEN MAKING HARD RIGHT TURNS. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. *YC

DRIVER HIT ANOTHE RVEHICLE HEAD-ON WITH A 25 MPH INPACT ,DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES. *AK

I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE PROBLEM I ENCOUNTERED WITH MY VEHICLE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL YEAR AS THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A TSB. THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE MANIFEST ITSELF BY STALLING WHEN DECELERATION IS OCCURRING. THE STALLING OCCURS RAMDOMLY WITH THE ENGINE OPERATING AT NORMAL TO SLIGHTLY ELEVATED TEMPERATURE. ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT ONE THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AND THIS IS USUALLY THE FIRST INDICATION THAT A STALL HAS OCCURRED. I BELIEVE THIS STALLING REPRESENT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE, ONE THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF.

TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS