1996 Ford Taurus complaints

EXPERIENCED GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO RIGHT. DIAGNOSED AS A SHORT RACK AND POWER STEERING RETURN PROBLEM. SERVICE TECH STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM "DOESN'T OCCUR UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS," AND COULDN'T PROVIDE A REASON FOR PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER, AND I SHOULD BE REFUNDED MY COSTS FOR THE REPAIR. THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF RECALL ACTION BECAUSE THE PROBLEM, FROM WHAT I AM READING FROM OTHERS, IS TOO SYSTEMIC TO BE A COINCIDENCE. *AK

AT 61,000 MILES A MALFUNCTION HAS OCURRED WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE, WHEN COMING TO A STOP, TO GO INTO NEUTRAL EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE. ALSO, AFTER STEPPING ON THE ACCELRATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE WILL JUMP, AND PROCEED IN DRIVE. DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OWNER DID NOT CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, OWNER LATER DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE SOME RECALLS FOR DIFFERENT VIN#S. *AK.ET.

TRANSMISSION IS MALFUNCTIONING WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DOORS WON'T OPEN. HAVE TO GET IN REAR AND OPEN FROM INSIDE. *AK

DURING A VERY HEAVY RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SHUT DOWN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION. SPONTANEOUSLY THE WIPERS WILL START UP AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

IDLE AIR CONTROL OR AUXILIARYAIR CONTROL IS USED TO CONTROL RPMS OR TO ADJUST FOR A VARITY OF LOAD INTRODUCED FOR AIR CONDITIONS ,ELECTRICAL CHARGING AND NUMEROUS OTHER AUTO GOODIES.THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL FAILED AND KEPT THE ENGINE RUNNING WHEN NY WIFE WENT TO STOP THE CAR KEPT PUSHING AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP. I REACHED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL .THIS ACTION PERMITTED HER TO STOP THE CAR ,BUT WITH HIGH RPMS ON THE TACHOMETER. GOD ONLY KNOWNS IF I HAD NOT BEEN THERE SHE MAY HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH WET PUDDLE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITH NO PRIOR INDICATION. *AK

CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR RECALL ON COOLING SYSTEM ON NOVEMBER 11, 1998. FAILURE IN COOLING SYSTEM ON DECEMBER 27, 1998. HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN VIN NUMBER IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. ALSO POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.

TRANSMISSION FAILED FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON. FORD WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE PRODUCT.

ALL FOUR TIRES WERE WEARING OUT EXCESSIVELY. DEALER HAS NOT REPLACED ANY OF THE TIRES. HAD THEM BALANCED & ROTATED. WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT THE TIRE MANUFACTURER FOR REPLACEMENT. NOTHING DEALERSHIP CAN DO. *AK

FORD IS NOT PROVIDING ANY INFORMATION ON COOLANT RUST DENYING RUST AT ALL. HAVE REPLACED RESEVOIR FOR ANTIFREEZE DUE TO A PREVIOUS RECALL... HEATER COIL HAS GONE OUT DUE TO CORROSION THAT FORD IS DENYING EVEN EXSISTS.

AFTER TRANSMISSION FAILURE (5) WEEKS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR JACKSON FORD IMMEDIATELY CLAIMED FORD HAD NO LIABILTY REGARDING THIS ISSUE. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET WE DISCOVERED THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM CONCERNING THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION AND ARE STARTING TO INVESTIGATE OUR OPTIONS. PLEASE RESPOND IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NO STEERING AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT SUBREGATE FORD UNLESS THERE HAS BEEN PRIOR CRASHES. THE COMPANY I HAVE IT AT NOW DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR. I HAD NO STEERING. PLEASE CALL ME FOR MORE DETAILS.

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 50,600 MILES DUE TO A FAULTY FORWARD PISTON IN THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION WITH REBUILT TRANSMISSION AT VEHICLE OWNER'S EXPENSE. TRANSMISSION HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN HARD OR HAD NOT PULLED AN EXCESS LOAD. WOULD LIKE INVESTIGATION TO SEE IF MORE VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND TO SEE IF A RECALL IS NECESSARY. SUSPENSION: POPPING SOUND IN FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING. ROUGH RIDING. DEALER SAID NEEDS SUBFRAME BUSHINGS AND STRUTS (47331 MILES).

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. WHENEVER IT IS AT A STOP GEAR SHIFTER HAS TO BE MOVED BACK AND FORTH BEFORE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. ALSO, AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR STAYS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR, AND WATER PUMP ALL REPLACED IN FIRST 66K. THIS CAR HAS BEEN VERY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN. I AM FORCED TO PURCHASE MY NEXT CAR FROM JAPAN OR EUROPE. SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.

NONE

VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IF IT OCCURRED AGAIN TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. *AK

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSED TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL, DAMAGE TO WINDSHIELD SCATTERING GLASS THROUGH OUT VEHICLE AND CONSUMERS.

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT, THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND SOMETHING IS RUBBING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE WHERE THE NOISE IS COMING FROM. *AK

THIS IS THE SECOND 1996 FORD TAURUS THAT I HAVE OWNED. I TRADED THE FIRST ONE FOR MY CURRENT VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS ABOUT TO GET ITS THIRD TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN MY PRESENT TAURUS AT 26800 MILES(APPROX.) AND HAVE DEVELOPED A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK IN THIS TRANSMISSION. I AM APPROACHING MY WITS END WITH THIS SITUATION AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE. I AM RECEIVING NO HELP FROM MY DEALER. THANKS.

WHEN DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALSO STOP WORKING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES SINCE APRIL OF 1997 FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER CHANGED THE POWER STEERING BELT WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. VEHICLEIS AT DEALERSHIP FOR THE FOURTH TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

TWO TO THREE GALLONS OF WATER ACCUMULATED IN THE ENGINE BLOCK APPARENTLY DUE TO A COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE INVOLVING THE COLLAPSE OF THE HEAD GASKET. THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY BLEW OFF MY COMPLAINT, AND THE REPAIR DEALERSHIP (FRIENDLY FORD/NORTH MIAMI BEACH) SAID THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN RAINING. UNFORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE ENGINE FOR RAINY DAYS. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE CAR (DEEL FORD/CORAL GABLES) WHICH AT FIRST SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL OF CERTAIN 1996 FORD TAURUS FOR PRECISELY THIS PROBLEM, BUT WHEN THEY CHECKED MY VIN, THEY CLAIMED IT FELL OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THAT RECALL, AND THEY REFUSED TO FURNISH AN EXPLAINATION. SUBSEQUENTLY, I DISCOVERED THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE HAD ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY DEGRADED THE TRANSMISSION. THE REPAIR BILLS HAVE BEEN ENORMOUS. WE FIND IT INCONCEIVABLE THAT THE ENGINE/COOLING SYSTEM WAS NOT DEFECTIVE SINCE THERE IS NO OTHER EXPLAINATION IN OUR VIEW FOR THE ACCUMULATION OF TWO TO THREE GALLONS OF WATER IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. SINCE THIS IS A MASS PRODUCED VEHICLE, IF THIS HAPPENED TO US IT HAS PROBABLY HAPPEN TO OTHERS.

FRONT DOOR HANDLES ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT DOORS DO NOT WORK IN HIGH HUMIDITY ENVIRONMENT (ON RAINY DAYS). UNABLE TO OPEN EITHER FRONT DOOR.

VEHICLE STALLING CONTINUALLY DUE TO DESIGN DEFECT OF THE GAS TANK, MODIFIED FUEL LINES AND EMISSION CANISTER (ALL COMPONENTS NEED TO BE REPLACED). SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED.

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG FAILED.

COOLING SYSTEM LEAKS ANTI-FREEZE AND OVERHEATS.

REAR BRAKE MAKES GRINDING THAT DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE.*ET

THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT; THE "HOT" NEEDLE ZOOMS TO "H" WITHOUT WARNING AND THE AIR CONDITIONER SPEWS OUT HOT AIR; UPON STOPPING, COOLANT ERUPTS FROMTHE RESERVE TANK AND SPILLS OUT IN VOLUME ONTO THE PAVEMENT AND THE CAR BECOMES UNDRIVEABLE.

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT OR TURNING THE WHEEL TO TURN A CORNER ONE HEARS A SQUEAKY NOISE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED SAID TIE ROD END HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

BRAKE CALIPURS CONTINUE TO STICK AND RUB WHILE DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AT ALL TIMES. RADIATOR/COOLANT SYSTEM RUSTED OUT. FORD RECALLED THIS MODEL BECAUSE OF A HOSE IN COOLANT SYSTEM WAS IMPROPERLY PLACED. MECHANICS CLAIM PROBLEM WITH HOSE HAS CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE SYSTEM.

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH WATER OR RAIN THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. BRAKES MAKE A SQUEEKING NOISE AND THE STEERING LOCKS UP. CONTACTED DEALER WHEN UNDER WARRANTY. PROBLEM WENT AWAY TEMPORARILY, BUT CURRENTLY PROBLEM REAPPEARED.*AK

THE HEADLIGHTS STAY ON WHEN EVERYTHING IS OFF, BRIGHT LIGHT INDICATOR STAYS ON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE PREVIOUS TIME THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED, EMERGENY BRAKE UNAFFECTIVE THIS TIME. IT APPEARS TO BE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS EVEN THOUGH THE BRIGHT LIGHT INDICATOR IS ON.

VEHICLE WILL NOT START AFTER IT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

TRANSMISION FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.

WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, CAUSING BRAKES TO VIBRATE UPON APPLICATION.

HEATER CORE FAILED.

DEFROSTER IS USED,WINDOWS FOG UP, CAUSING POOR VISIBILTY. DEALERS COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

VEHICLE LOST POWER AT 65 MPH.

POWER TRAIN TRANSAXLE HAS A HANGING DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR ROUNDING CORNERS AT LOW SPEEDS. IT'S HARD TO SHIFT INTO SECOND WHEN ACCELERATING.

OXYGEN SENSORS WENT OUT WITHOUT THE "CHECK ENGINE" COMING ON. OWNER BELIEVES FORD HAS DISABLE THE WARNING.

ENGINE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STALLING PROBLEMS. QCAW

THE SEAL BETWEEN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT TO DRAIN COMPLETELY OUT. VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED.

TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING OR APPARENT CAUSE.

ENGINE TOOK IN WATER THROUGH AIR INTAKE AT BOTTOM OF LEFT WHEEL WELL, WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, AND MAKING A TURN THROUGH THREE TO FOUR INCHES OF WATER; ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SEIZED UP.

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 45-50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK