1996 Ford Taurus complaints

THERE IS A TERRIBLE SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT. THE FORD MECHANIC SAID THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH TAURUS'S. HE SAID FORD CHANGED THE DESIGN IN THE MODEL. OUR THREE YEAR-WARRANTY EXPIRED IN NOVEMBER. THERE WAS A SMALL PROBLEM BEFORE BUT NOW IT IS QUITE NOTICEABLE. THE MECHANIC SAID THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE $700. WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMER PAY IF THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM MADE BY FORD? OUR CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED-- ALWAYS A 3,000 MILE OIL CHANGE. I HAVE CHECKED ON INTERNET UNDER FORD TAURUS COMPLAINTS AND THERE ARE MANY DISSATISFIED TAURUS CUSTOMERS BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY RACK AND PINION. *AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL. DEALER STATED THAT CABLE WAS BROKEN. *AK

TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT CORRECTLY. WHEN PULLING OFF FROM STOP SIGN VEHICLE APPEARS TO CHANGE GEARS, BUT THEN GOES INTO NEUTRAL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, BUT DEALER HAS NO REMEDY FOR PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMISSON TROUBLE: BUZZING COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. VECHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERS 7 TIMES FOR REPEATED SAME PROBLEM. SOLENOID IN THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALERS IS GOING BACK TO FORD. DEALER FEELS I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. HOW CAN THIS BE WITH A CAR UNDER 21,000 MILES??I HAVE ALSO HAD REPEATED PROBLEM WITH DISCOLORED FLUIDS DUE TO A COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM WHICH A RECALL WAS ISSURED AND A COOLING KIT WAS INSTALLED. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE TO MOTOR PLEASE ADVISE. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER ON THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE IN FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR A RIGHT TURN. DEALER STATES THAT NOISE IS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN CONSUMER PULLED OVER AN UNDER THE HOOD FIRE STARTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

FORD WAS NOTIFIED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS MINE AND NOT THEIRS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

WHEN TURNING ON DEFROSTER ,ALL FRONT WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELD WILL FOG UP LASTING ABOUT 2- 3 MINTUES CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THIS IS A NORMAL DUE TO PLASTIC COMPONENTS IN VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE CHANGING GEARS FROM PARK TO DRIVE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT INDICATION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. OWNER PAID FOR REPAIRS TO TRANSMISSION AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *AK *ML

ABS BRAKE PUMP MECHANISM OBTAINS WATER WHICH FREEZES, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, SETTING PARKING BRAKE AND TURNING OFF ENGINE THE DRIVER LEFT VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE BACKWARDS, ONTO A BUSY STREET AND EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT ROLLED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AND OVERHEATED THE CAR, THE ENGINE STOPPED, I HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED I NEED A NEW ENGINE AT A COST OF $4,800. *AK

COOLANT KEPT TURNING BROWN- REPEATEDLY FLUSHED SYSTEM. IT RAN HOT ON 12-06-1999 AND TEMPERATURE GUAGE DID NOT SHOW IT WAS RUNNIG HOT.IT BLEW A HEAD GASKET.I HAD TO OVERHAUL MOTOR OUT OF OWN POCKET FOR $1214.00. I STILL HAVE RECEIPTS. *AK

HAD THREE CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. WENT TO PUT THE SHOULDER STRAP BELT ON IN THE MIDDLE. PULLED IT OUT, CAME ALL THE WAY OUT, AND WOULD NOT RETRACT BACK IN. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

1996 FORD TAURUS WITH BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT APPROXIMATELY 69,500 MILES. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ANTI-FREEZE WAS SPRAYING ONTO THE ENGINE WHEN VEHICLE OVERHEATED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE A FROZEN PLUG WHICH NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH NOTICED VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER & THEN DIED OUT. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT. CHECKED UNDERHOOD & NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. INFORMED BY MECHANIC ANTI-FREEZE GOING INSIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HEAD GASKETS FAILURE CAUSED ENGINE TO BLOW UP. *AK

RUST IN COOLANT, WATER PUMP CORRODED, HAD TO BACK FLUSH ALL RELATED HOSES, PERFORMED AT OWNER EXPENSE. PROBLEM RESTARTED AFTER 2 MONTHS. FORD CONTACTED AND NO RELATED RECALL NOTICES INDICATED, ALTHOUGH NUMEROUS NHTSA CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ARE AVAILABLE. *AK

ESTIMATED COSTS OF 3000 DOLLARS TO REPAIR ENGINE AND COOLING PROBLEMS 60 DAYS TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM STILL DOES NOT RUN CORRECTLY NO WARRANTIES EVEN WITH A PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY DEALER HAS BEEN CLOSED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR FRAUD. NO SATISFACTION FROM FORD MOTOR CO. *AK

REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT EXTEND. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY BECAME HOT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABS LIGHT WILL APPEAR UNEXPECTEDLY ON DASHBOARD, AND CONSUMER WILL NEED TO TURN OFF ENGINE. THEN, LIGHT WILL DISAPPEAR. *AK

EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD (FRONT DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. HAVE TO BE OPENED FROM REAR)

THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT A DOOR IS OPEN. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED. YH

HEATER CORE ONLY LASTS 12-13 MONTHS, DEALER CAN NOT FIND PROB WITH ABS BRAKES.. *AK

DEALER INFORMED OF A DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING PUMP. INFORMED CONSUMER THEY WOULD PAY HALF FOR PART AND LABOR , WHICH WOULD BE AT COST OF $500.00. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND WHY SHOULD SHE PAY ANYTHING. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM. PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING AFTER GETTING THE PROBLEM FIXED PREVIOUSLY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ON-GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND CONSUMER HAS AN APPOINTMENT FOR INSPECTION OF VEHICLE. *AK

I HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO MY CAR CUTTING OFF. I WAS TURNING WHEN THERE WAS WATER ON THE STREET. I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THE RIGHT SIDE WENT THROUGH THE WATER. MY CAR MADE SOME HIGH PITCH NOISE AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ALL LIT UP AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER MY CAR AND RAN OFF THE ROAD IN A DITCH. I DIDN'T GET HURT. MY FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED. I AM VERY SCARED DRIVING THIS CAR WHEN IT RAINS OR WATER IS ON THE STREET. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZZARD. I TOLD JERRY'S FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM A FEW MONTHS AGO. JERRY'S FORD SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I EVEN CONTACTED THE FORD DISPUTE BOARD AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE NUMEROUS TIMES THE CAR HAD CUT OFF, THEY TOLD ME THAT WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN, TAKE IT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SAFETY HAZZARD BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE HAS AN ACCIDENT OR DIES. *AK

I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON 01/14/00 DUE TO MY CAR CUTTING OFF. I WAS TURNING WHEN THERE WAS WATER ON THE STREET. I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THE RIGHT SIDE WENT THROUGH WATER. MY CAR MADE SOME HIGH PITCH NOISE AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ALL LIT UP AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER MY CAR AND RAN OFF OF THE ROAD IN A DITCH. I DIDN'T GET HURT. MY FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED. I AM VERY SCARED DRIVING THIS CAR WHEN IT RAINS OR WHEN THERE'S WATER ON THE STREET. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZZARD. I TOLD JERRY'S FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I EVEN CONTACTED THE FORD DISPUTE BOARD AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE NUMEROUS TIMES THE CAR HAD CUT OFF, THEY TOLD ME THAT WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN, TAKE IT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SAFETY HAZZARD BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE HAS AN ACCIDENT OR DIES. *AK

ABS MODULE NEEDS REPLACEMENT. REPLACEMENT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $587.90. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHY? MUST WE PAY INSTEAD OF MANUFACTURER. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING . MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATED. YH

BRAKES WORK INTERMITTENTLYYWHEN CON APPLIES HIS BRAKES THERE IS A CLINKING NOISE. THE DEALSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH OWNER HIT A DEER, AND DRIVER SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AIRBAGS BUSTED THE WINDSHIELD, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG KNOCKED DRIVER OUT. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN BODYSHOP. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED PREMATURELY CASUING THE VEHICLE TO BURST INTO SMOKE AND STEAM WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. NLM

TRANSMISSION BEGAN MAKING WHIRRING SOUND. REPAIR ESTIMATED AT $1400+ TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION. *AK

REAR SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER DUE TO EXPIRED WARRANTY. *AK *YC

INTERLOCK SYSTEM INSIDE STEERING COLUMN FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARD WHILE IN PARK CAUSING DAMAGE TO 2 VEHICLES. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FREEZE PLUG MALFUNCTIONED, AFTER IT WAS FIXED A SMELLOF COOLENT WAS IN CAR. IT THEN WENT AWAY, DEC 1999 ALL FIVE FREEZE PLUGS MALFUNCTIONED AT 57000. I WAS INFORMED ADVISORY WENT TO ALL OWNERS. DID NOT RECEIVE ADVISORY NOW IT IS TOO LATE TO FIX. *AK

DORR HANDLE ON DRIVERS SIDE WOULD NOT OPEN. I HAD TO OPREN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE . SUDDENLY, FOR NO APPARANT REASON IT WORKED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE AND CORRECTED ITSELF. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAS HISTORY OF TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS. THE DEALER HAS FLUSHED THE COOLING SYSTEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND A RECALL FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS PERFORMED. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND LOSE POWER, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. STEAM THEN BEGAN TO BILLOW FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED THE HEADS WERE CRACKED AND THE ENGINE WAS FULL OF WATER. THE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE BY PHONE ONLY TO BE TOLD THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRENTY AND FORD HAS NO OBLIGATION TO TO PAY FOR ANY OF THE DAMAGES. LETTERS WRITTEN TO FORD HAVE GONE UNANSWERED. *AK

FIRST INCIDENT DRIVING UNDER WET ROADS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE RAN A PUDDLE OF WATER THE CAR STALLS BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, VERY LITTLE OR NO STEERING CAN BE DONE . *AK

REPETATIVE BROWN COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO A SERVICE ROAD, MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AND TIRE ROD BROKE, VEHICLE VEERED OFF TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A CONCRETE POWER LINE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE. CONTACTED THE LOCAL MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

CAR WAS PUT INTO DRIVE FROM PARK WHILE ON A SLIGHT DOWNGRADE AND THE CAR TOOK OFF INTO A HOUSE. THE CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE (NOT THE DEALER MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS SECTION) A WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK