1996 Ford Taurus complaints

MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW HAD PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM. SEE ODI ID #766182. SHE HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY NHTSA. THE FORD DEALER TOLD HER "THAT'S WHAT PARKING BRAKES ARE FOR." MOST 1996 TAURUS MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS. COULD YOU CHECK THE VIN SHE SUPPLIED TO SEE IF IT WAS RECALLED? IF IT WAS NOT RECALLED, PERHAPS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. A "ROLLING PARK" IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. DT

BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS ARE INOPERATIVE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. NEITHER BELT WOULD RETRACT BACK INTO SPOOL MECHANISM. BOTH REAR BELTS HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF FOLDING AND TWISTING. WHICH MADE USE OF THE BELTS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AT TIMES. BELTS HAVE EXPERIENCED NORMAL USE ONLY. FORD WILL NOT REPLACE THE BELTS FOR FREE BECAUSE THEY ARE BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD. DT

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING. TS

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS. ALSO STATED THAT WHEN SHE WILL TURN ON HER LIGHTS ONLY THE DAY LIGHTS WILL GO ON. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND TOLD THE CONSUMER TO CONTACT US. TS

WHILE DRIVING 60MPH THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING. ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

THE CAM SHAFT SPROCKET FAILED, RESULTING IN A EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL NOT TURN ON OR OFF AND CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO STEER OR TURN. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

HEARD TAPPING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED THREE TIMES LOST ALL POWER TO VEHICLE UPON INSPECTION FROM FORD DEALER THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE CAM SPROCKET HAD STRIPPED FROM THE CAM SHAFT AS A RESULT THE ENGINE IS TOTALED RESULTING IN A 6000.00 DOLLAR LESS TAX AND LABOR REPAIR BILL. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE TRANSMISSION WILL LOCKED UP AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND THE CONSUMER WILL BE FORCE TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS EMAILS FROM SEVERAL TAURUS SHO OWNERS REGARDING THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CAMSHAFT SPROCKET. *SLC

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD DIED DUE TO INTAKE CAM SWITCH FAILURE. *YH

A FREEZE PLUG BECAME CORRODED, THIS CAUSED THE COOLANT TO SPRAY ON THE DRIVER WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH NO WARNING, ABRUPTLY. NOW HEAD GASKETS COULD BE CORRODED OR CRACKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. NLM

RUSTED OUT FREEZE PLUGS A KNOW PROBLEM ORGINATING WITH FORD. NLM

THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS, PADS AND THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE ALUMINUM SPINDLE AT THE BALL JOINT BROKE AND CAUSED THE AXLE TO COME OFF. *MR *NLM

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. CAM SENSOR, HEATER CORE, NEW HOSE FROM RESERVOIR AND UPPER RADIATOR HOSE, RADIATOR CAP, RADIATOR, WATER TUBE ASSEMBLY, THERMOSTAT, OIL PAN GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER FOUND 1995 MODEL HAS A RECALL RELATING TO THE SAME FAILURES. *TT THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE LINKED TO THE RECALL FORD SENT OUT IN REFERENCE TO THE FAULTY HEAD GASKETS/ENGINE FAILURES AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE MONIES SPENT ON REPAIRS. *SCC

WHEN EVER MY CAR HITS OVER 250 DEGREE'S IT WILL STALL OUT , YOU THEN HAVE TO WAIT TILL THE ENGINE COOLS TO START IT BACK UP , THIS MAINLY OCCUR,S WHEN IT IT VERY WARM OUT SIDE.I FIRST HAD THIS HAPPEN WHEN I WAS TRAVELING DOWN ON INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP WAS ABOUT 95 DEGREE'S ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE. THIS PROBLEM HAD OCCURED SEVERAL TIME BEFOR WHILE DRIVING IN MY HOME TOWN JUST DOING 30- 45 MILES PER HOUR OR SITTING AT A RED LITE .I HAVE READ THAT FORD HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MODULER ON EARLIER MODELS I WENT TO OUR FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDNT JUST FIX IT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT SINCE MY CAR WAS A 1996 NOT A 1995 I FEEL IF FORD NEW THAT THE EARLIER MODELS HAD THIS PROBLEM THEY SHOULD BE WILLING TO FIX IT ON MINE ALSO. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE GASKETS BLEWOUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMBER SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE. HAS HAD TO REPLACE HEATER CORE/ RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT.*AK

CAR ROLLED BACKWARD INTO GARAGE DOOR WHILE PARKED WITH TRANSMISSION IN PARK POSITION ON LEVEL GROUND. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT SIDEWALLS FAILED ONLY 3 WEEKS INTO OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE, GENERAL ALL SEASON RADIAL, P205/65R15, DOT NUMBER NOT GIVEN. *SLC

THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED AND EVENTUALLY FAILED, THERE WAS RUST IN THE VALVES CAUSING ME TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE. I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THE FORD TAURUS IS KNOWN FOR SUCH PROBLEMS AND IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND IF THE MANUFACTURE COVERS THIS.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CAMSHAFT SNAPPED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SPROCKET ON THE CAMSHAFT CAME LOOSE, CAUSING THE CAM TO QUIT TURNING, THIS CAUSED THE VALVES AND PISTONS TO HIT EACH OTHER, THE ENGINE DIED AND VEHICLE LOST POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THERE IS A GASOLINE SMELL COMING THROUGH THE VENT AREA INSIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT NOTICE,IT HAS LOW MILEAGE.POSSIBLE ODOMETER FRAUD BY DEALERSHIP.HOW DO FIND OUT IF ODOMETER MILEAGE WAS HIGHER BEFORE PURCHASE DATE 07/01.THANK YOU T.MCGARY. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THE REAR AXLE INSIDE DUALTIRE DEFLATED DUE TO THE VALVE STEM RUPTURING. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER BEING SERVICED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATES THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE WRONG SIZE VALVE STEM ON THE TIRE FOR THE VEHICLE'S WEIGHT CAPCITY AND TIRE PROESSURE. THE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR HAS BEEN RECALLED (01-V-046-000 MANFANTURER ID#01S05). THE DEALER IS AWARE. PLKASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

NOTICED A KNOCK IN THE ENGINE AND WAS GOING TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT WHEN GOING DOWN INTERSTATE 75 AT 65 MILES AND HOUR THE CAR LOST ACCELERATION IN HEAVY FRIDAY AFTERNOON TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE EXPRESSWAY AND CALL FOR HELP. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER. THEY HAVE NOW HAD MY CAR FOR 48 DAYS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAMSHAFT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THE REPAIRS WOULD BE BETWEEN $2,800-$3,300. I AUTHORIZED THE REPAIRS. AFTER FINALLY GETTING THE PARTS, REPAIRING AND PUTTING THE ENGINE BACK TOGETHER IT STILL DID NOT RUN PROPERLY. THEY HAD TO PULL THE ENGINE APART AGAIN AND NOW SAID THEY WOULD NEED APPROXIMATELY $2,000 MORE TO REPAIR THE VALVES AND HEAD. THEY REPLACED THE VALVES AND WERE ABLE TO MACHINE THE HEAD. THEY PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AND RETURNED MY CAR AFTER 35 DAYS AND $4,400 IN REPAIRS. THE NEXT MORNING ON THE WAY TO WORK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. TOOK BACK TO FORD AFTER 4 MORE DAYS I WAS TOLD THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ENGINE WAS NOW MALFUNCTIONING AND IT WOULD COST ME APPROXIMATELY $2,000-$3,000 MORE IN REPAIRS. AFTER GOING TO THE HEAD OF SERVICE/PARTS THEY AGREED TO COVER THE LAST REPAIRS. I WAS INFORMED THAT WHEN THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETE THAT IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOW ALL THIS IN THE BEGINNING I WOULD NOT HAVE AUTHORIZED THE REPAIRS.*AK

WHEN DRIVING AND JUST STOPPING, ANDWITH NO WARNING SPINDLE ON CAMSHAFT CAME LOOSE FROM ENGINE.*AK

WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ANY FRONT SUBFRAME PROBLEMS, CAR MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHEN BRAKING LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE AND WHEN HITTING DIPS OR POTHOLES FRONT END SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO TO FALL OUT. REPLACED FRONT STRUTS 06/27/02 STILL HAVE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AT 70,000 MILES WHEN THE ORIGINAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO BE MALFUNCTIONING; SECOND, AT 112000 MILES THE 4TH GEAR CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE BUTTON FOR OVERDRIVE ON THE AUTOMATIC GEARSHIFT SELECTOR TO POP OFF, DEALER RECOMMENDED A NEW TRANSMISSION (HOWARD AUSTIN HAS SUBMITED THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF HIS HOUSEKEEPER) . *YD

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE STALLED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. MECHANIC STATED FROZEN PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE FORD PLACE IN MONROEVILLE,AL AND IT IS STILL NOT FIXED AS FAR AS THE TRANSMISSION AND THE POWER STEERING. *AK

THIS FAILURE IS A SAFETY HAZARD. WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING AT RANDOM, THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS QUIT WORKING, AND THE SEAT BELT LIGHT COMES ON! THEY ALL APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO THIS MLP/TR SWITCH. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND 4 OTHER OCCURRENCES THAT WERE REPORTED. WHEN I CALL THE LOCAL FORD SERVICE GARAGE, THE SERVICE MANAGER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT MY PROBLEM WAS AND SOLD ME THE SENSOR SWITCH. HE WAS AWARE THAT THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING WHEN THESE SYMPTOMS OCCUR. I EXPERIENCED THE POWER STEERING FAILING ON A TURN AND HAD MUCH TROUBLE CONTROLLING THE CAR. I'M WORRIED THAT MY DAUGHTER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, THERE WAS A TICKING NOISE, CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE VEHICLE AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS THE ENGINE CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING.*JB

EXCESSIVE BRAKING & TRANSMISSION GEAR USE---BRAKES OVERHEATED CAUSING ROTOR GLAZE

VEHICLE STALLS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, DEALER HAS ADJUSTED PCM BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, THE BRAKES CAUSE VIBRATION WHEN STOPPING.*AK *NLM

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED CONCERNING THE TRANSMISSION OF THE FORD TAURUS, 1995-1997 MODELS?*AK

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ,ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THA T VEHICLE WILL STUMBLE WHILE IN IDLE. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

POWER STEERING TURNS OFF IN RAIN, AND FORD TELLS US THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO.*AK

THE CONSUMER TURNED ON THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER AND COLD AIR ALONG WITH A MIST THAT FILLED THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND COVERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE PAPER NAPKINS TO CLEAR THE WINDOWS. THE HEATER CORE IS AN EXISTING PROBLEM THAT REOCCURS EVERY 3 MONTHS SINCE APRIL 2001. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. NLM COOLANT LEAK. DEALER REPLACED HEATER CORE 5 TIMES. RIGHT REAR WINDOW INOPERATIVE. DEALER REPLACED RIGHT REAR WINDOW MOTOR. SWITCH ON AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL HEAD FALLS OFF. DEALER RPELACED CRACKED CENTER CONTROL KNOB. SUNGLASS COMPARTMENT IN CENTER CONSOLE LID BROKE OFF. CONSOLE COMPARTMENT DOOR, HINGE PINS AND SPRING REPLACED. SQUEAK NOISE UNDER HOOD. REPLACED BELT TENSIONER AND IDLER PULLEY. *TT

CAR IS ALWAYS OVERHEATED AND TRANSMISSON SLIPING AND JUMPING. *AK

STARTET WITH WHIRRING SOUND WHEN CAR REACHED AVERAGE SPEED OF 50 MPH OR HIGHER. SEARCHED AND CHECKED ALL FLUIDS. THEN BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER CAR. TOOK TO GARAGE. TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BUT MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE AGAIN BECAUSE THE NEW ONE WAS ALSO CRACKED IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE. WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE TAURAS. THE MECHANIC HAD REPLACED SEVERAL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HAVE RESEARCHED AND FIND THAT OTHER OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. IF TRANSMISSION HAS A DEFECT IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AT THE MANUFACTURERS EXPENSE. FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

BASED ON INFO READ FROM OTHER FORD TAURUS SHO OWNERS, CAMSHAFT PROBLEM IS OCCURRING IN A HIGH NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES. THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT DID MY CAM REPLACEMENT SHOWED ME THE DEFECTIVE CAM AND THE SPROCKET THAT WAS ATTACHED TO IT, THAT MOVED FREELY. IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A MOVEABLE PART. MOST COMPLAINT APPEAR TO BE FOR THE SAME TYPE OF CAMSHAFT ENGINE FAILURE. PROBLEM IS, I HAVE BEGUN HEARING THE SAME CLICKING NOISE AGAIN. THERE ARE 4 CAMSHAFTS IN THIS ENGINE AND ONLY ONE WAS REPLACED FOR THE $2200.00 FEE. IF ANOTHER ONE GOES, I WILL HAVE A VEHICLE WITH PAYMENTS, THAT WILL BE OF LITTLE VALUE WITHOUT THE SHO ENGINE, IT WAS PURCHASE FOR. YOUR HELP PLEASE.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE JACK COLLAPSED DURING A TIRE CHANGE, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UP ON THE JACK JOINT IN THE JACK, IT SEPARATED CAUSING IT TO FOLD FOWARD, THEREFORE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FALL PINNING THE CONSUMERS WRIST BETWEEN THE FENDER AND THE TOP OF THE TIRE.*JB

WHEN DRIVING HIT A PUDDLE OF WATER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE SPLASHED WATER ON SERPENTINE BELT WHICH STARTED TO SLIP, PULLING VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. LOST POWER STEERING. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK THE ALTERNATOR WAS ALSO AFFECTED BY THE SPLASHING WATER CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. *YH

VEHICLE WILL STALL WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND TURNING. ALSO, STALLS IN WARM WEATHER. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

NORMAL CAMSHAFT FAILURE ACCURRING IN THESE MODEL CARS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 66MPH VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. EVERYTHING LOCKED UP. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DALER INDICATED ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE DISPLAY SHOWS THAT THE DOOR IS AJAR WHEN IT IS NOT, THIS PREVENTS THE DOORS FROM LOCKING AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FROM GOING OFF. *TT

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME A CAMSHAFT SPROCKET HAS FAILED.THE FIRST TIME WAS UNDER WARRANTY SO THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME.NOW MY WARRANTY IS OUT AND THE ESTIMATED BILL IS OVER $3,000.THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER ALL AT ONCE.THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN TRAFFIC.I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME PROBLEM(AT LEAST 20 OTHER INCIDENTS).WILL IT TAKE SOMEONE BEING KILLED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.*AK

MY CAR BROKE DOWN 10/21/2000. I LOST ALL POWER ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD SON. I TOOK MY CAR TO 3 FORD DEALERSHIPS AND NONE OF THE MECHANICS COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. FINALLY I FOUND AN INDEPENDENT MACHINE SHOP WHO WAS COMPETENT ENOUGH TO NOT ONLY DIAGNOSE AND FIX MY CAR PROPERLY, BUT THEY HAD TO PIECE MY ENGINE (INCLUDING THE AXLES) TOGETHER AFTER A FORD DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PUT MY CAR BACK TOGETHER. I HAD NO VEHICLE FOR 7 MONTHS AND HAD TO PAY $3171 FOR THE REPAIRS NOT TO MENTION 4 TOW TRUCKS. SHORTLY AFTER HAVING MY CAR FIXED I NOTICED IT WOULD IDLE HIGH WHEN SITTING AT STOP SIGNS OR LIGHTS. EVENTUALLY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND RECENTLY DISCOVERED IT IS EITHER THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR OR THROTTLE BODY. REGARDING THE CAM SPROCKET FAILURE, I KNOW OF AT LEAST 69 PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TAURUS SHO MODELS. FORD REFUSES TO HELP FIX ITS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND HOPEFULLY NO ONE WILL HAVE TO DIE FROM THIS SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN. THANK YOU. *AK