1997 Ford Taurus

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk. IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.

Remedy. OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AX4S AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES. THE LOW/INTERMEDIATE SERVO COVER CAN SEPARATE FROM THE TRANSAXLE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. IF THIS OCCURS, TRANSMISSION FLUID WILL LEAK CONTACTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.

Risk. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TEMPERATURE MAY BE HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THESE SERVO COVERS.

Defect. THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK.

Risk. UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.

OIL LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN LOW. 2. ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS ON. 3 WHEN I WAS DRIVING THIS WINTER, THE BRAKES, THEY LOCKED UP ON ME AND I ALMOST HAD A COLLISION WITH TWO OTHER CARS BUT I HIT A CURB AND WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR MOVING AGAIN. 4.CAR IS LOUD WHILE DRIVING. 5 CAN'T GET GOOD GAS MILAGE.6.CAR HAS DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK.

AUTO TRANS. SHIFT QUAD QUICKLY BECAME SLOPPY AND IN FACT SOMETIMES WOULD NOT START IN PARK POS. AND YOU HAD TO HUNT FOR NEUTRAL WHERE IT WOULD ALWAYS START. THEN ON THE THIRD DAY, WHILE PARKED OVERNIGHT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, IT DID START IN PARK, BUT WHILE ON A VERY HIGH IDLE I GOT OUT OF THE CAR FOR A SECOND AND WHILE STANDING BESIDE THE CAR IT SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE KNOCKING ME TO THE GROUND AS IT RAPIDLY SPED REARWARD TILL IT HIT AND CAME TO REST AGAINST A CONCRETE WALL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED A FEW MILES FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON. I SLOWED DOWN TO LOOK AROUND THE CAR BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. I DROVE THE CAR HOME AND JUST AS I WAS DRIVING INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. VERY LUCKILY, I DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE METAL REAR BRAKE LINES RUNNING UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED AND ONE OF THE LINES HAD BURST (THE ONE AFFECTING THE DIAGONAL BRAKE CIRCUIT FOR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE). THIS CAME WITHOUT WARNING, AND I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN STRANDED (OR KILLED) ON A BUSY HIGHWAY OUT OF CONTROL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE JUSTIFYING A RECALL. AMAZINGLY, THE OTHER UNDERSIDE COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE ARE IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE THAN THE BRAKE LINES. WHY FORD WOULD FAIL TO PROPERLY COAT OR PROTECT A CRITICAL COMPONENT LIKE THE REAR BRAKE LINES SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT CORRODE IS AN INEXCUSABLE SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE READ OF THIS REAR BRAKE LINE ISSUE ELSEWHERE BEING EXTREMELY COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE, SO THIS IS NOT A "ONE OFF" EVENT. SOONER OR LATER, SOMEONE WILL GET INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR BE KILLED!

ON 4/3/2015 MY MOTHER IN LAW PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AFTER A 10 MILE TRIP TO TOWN. UPON PULLING IN THE DRIVEWAY THE CAR STARTED ON FIRE IMMEDIATELY, AT FIRST SHE THOUGHT THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING (WHITE SMOKE) THEN REALIZED THE CAR WAS ACTUALLY ON FIRE (BLACK SMOKE). SHE HAD TO BE HELPED BY AN IDAHO POWER EMPLOYEE WHO WAS DRIVING BY. A TOTAL OF TWO 15LB FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND GARDEN HOSE WERE USED TO KEEP THE FIRE AT BAY UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THE CAR WAS DESTROYED FROM THE DASH PANEL FORWARD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED AT THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX LOCATED BY THE MASTER CYLINDER ON THE FIREWALL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE CAUSE AS AN "ELECTRICAL FIRE", UP UNTIL THE FIRE THE CAR HAD NO KNOWN ELECTRICAL OR MAJOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAD NO MODIFICATIONS AND WAS COMPLETELY STOCK. NO INSURANCE CLAIM WAS FILED AS I ONLY CARRIED LIABILITY COVERAGE ON THE CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS JUMPSTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

MUDDY WATER IN OVERFLOW TANK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE A FRAME SHEARED OFF AND LANDED ON TOP OF THE STEERING BOX, CAUSING STEERING LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE A FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 135,000.

I PURCHASED MY 1997 FORD TAURUS IN FEBRUARY 2010, AND SHORTLY AFTER EXPERIENCED MY ODOMETER STOPPING AND MY POWER STEERING STOPPING AT THE SAME TIME. IT USUALLY HAPPENS IF I DRIVE THE CAR LONGER THAN 30 MINUTES, OR IF I SIT AT A STOP LIGHT TO LONG. IT ALSO SEEMS TO HAPPEN AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH OR HIGHER. I ALSO NOTICED THAT MY TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP, AND I WILL FIND MY CAR MOVING FORWARD AFTER STOPPING. I HAVE GOTTEN USED TO STAYING A GOOD DISTANCE FROM CARS SO I HAVE ROOM TO STOP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR COIL SPRINGS FAILED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 4V332000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: COIL SPRINGS) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE 1999 MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. HE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS BEING UTILIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL IN ORDER TO STOP THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL BUT FOUND NO FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING AN INSPECTION, THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME ON THE BASE WAS RUSTED, DEEMING THE VEHICLE AS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND NON-REPAIRABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,540. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ UPDATED 03/16/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER CLOSING HIS SEAT BELT, IT WOULD RETRACT BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000. I HAVE NOT HAD THE DEFECT REPAIRED. THE BUCKLE RELEASES BY ITSELF APPROX 2% OF THE TIME, EVEN AFTER I PULL ON IT INITIALLY AND IT SEEMS SECURE. I WAS IN A ACCIDENT APPROX 2-3 YEARS AGO, AND THE BELT DIDN'T RELEASE. IT WAS A MINOR ACCIDENT WITH ON INJURIES. [XXX] *LN INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I HEARD RATTLING IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TOWARDS THE WHEELS OF THE CAR. I ASSUMED THAT IT WAS MY BRAKES NEEDING REPLACED. I TOOK IT IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED AT WHICH TIME THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE BRAKES, THEY WERE STILL GOOD AND FOUND THAT MY AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM HAD FAILED (HYDRAULICS THAT ACTUALLY PUSH THE BRAKE PADS DOWN), THANKFULLY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 55MPH LIKE I USUALLY DO WHEN THIS HAPPENED. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM OF THE FORD TAURUS GL STATION WAGON ACCORDING TO ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE SEEN ALSO KEEPING IN MIND MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE OVER 100,000 MILES. SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED DUE TO THIS FAILURE. GOD FORBID THERE MIGHT BE CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT HAPPENS. FORD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM NOW!! IT IS GOING TO COST ME $2100.00 TO HAVE THE PUMP AND HYDRAULIC SYSTEM REPLACED AND THIS IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION. I DEPEND ON THIS VEHICLE AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO BE WITH OUT IT. :( AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED ONE COMPLAINT SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL. LIVES ARE AT STAKE. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND THE RPMS INCREASED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION HEAD GASKET AND FILTER. THE TRANSMISSION HEAD GASKET AND FILTER WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO SLIP AND THE RPMS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,777.

CLUNKING SOUND EMANATING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TOOK IN FOR OIL CHANGE, WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE ( SUB-FRAME ) WAS DANGEROUSLY ROTTED OUT. CRADLE REPLACED WITH ONE WITHOUT ROT. *TR

I OWN A 1997 FORD TAURUS WAGON. EMPHASIS ON WAGON. IT HAS THE SAME FRAME AS THE WINDSTAR VANS AND I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MY ENGINEER HUSBAND, WHO SPENT YEARS IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY, WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO DRIVE THE CAR AS, 'THE CAR IS GOING TO BREAK IN HALF WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.' I HAD IT TOWED TO OUR LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY VERIFIED THE SAME. I CALLED THE FORD RECALL DEPARTMENT IN DETROIT AFTER SEEING THE WINDSTAR RECALL ON THE LOCAL NEWS. FORD TOLD ME TO HAVE IT FIXED AND SAVE THE SLIP IN CASE A FEW YEARS FROM NOW IT WAS PART OF A RECALL I MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE REIMBURSED. THIS REPAIR IS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I AM ON CHEMO WITH A CO-PAY OF $3102.98 AND FIFTEEN DOSES TO GO. I CAN EITHER NOT LIVE AND BUY A CAR OR LIVE AND NOT HAVE A CAR. AFTER EXPLAINING THIS TO THE FORD REP I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT YOU. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS CORROSION PROBLEM AND I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR WHAT IS ALREADY A RECALL ISSUE. THE FORD CASE NUMBER IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

BRAKE LINE BURST. CONTROL BECAME NONEXISTENT. GOT VERY LUCKY BRINGING IT HOME, ALTHOUGH I DID RUN INTO THE BACK OF MY GARAGE (BECAUSE THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OUT OF HIS GARAGE, THE FRONT COIL SPRING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BROKE AND RIPPED THE TIRE APART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OR PRIOR INSTANCES OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 176,000. UPDATED 12/29/10 *BF UPDATED 12/30/10