1997 Ford Taurus complaints

SAFETY HAZARD CAUSED BY FAILURE OF INTERIOR LIGHTS TO TURN OFF, AND AUTOMATIC UNLOCKING OF ONLY THE DRIVER DOOR, IMMEDIATELY AFTER USING POWER LOCK BUTTON TO LOCK ALL DOORS.

COMPLETE TRANS FAILURE

HEATER CORE FAILED AFTER 4 TIMES AND 2ND ENGINE FAILED. COOLING PROBLEMS NEVER FOUND.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHENEVER WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE IN USE THEY WOULD WORK ERRACTICALLY. SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. THIS CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. THE SWITCH CAN TURN WIPERS ON & THEN WIPERS WOULD STOP. ALSO, TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY, AND POWER STEERING FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. TAKING VEHICLE DEALER TO CHECK OUT PROBLEMS. *AK

CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR,I ORDERED A NEW ONE AWHILE BACK AND 4 COMP WERE OUT OF THEM. I THOUGHT IT WAS ODD,SO I ASSUMED THAT MAYBE THERE WOULD BE A DEFECT WITH THEM. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON I95 DURING A RAINSTORM, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHEN I ACTIVATED MY LEFT DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL. VISIBILITY SUDDENLY BECAME ZERO AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED A SERIOUS CRASH. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO RESTORE PARTIAL USE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BY SWITCHING ON MY HIGH-BEAM HEADLIGHTS. I TRIED THIS PROCEDURE BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS AS WELL AS THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS ARE ALL CONTROLLED BY THE SAME HANDLE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT INSIDE THE STALK THAT HOUSES THE WIRING FOR THESE CONTROLS. I HAVE RARELY USED THIS CAR IN THE RAIN ( THERE HAS BEEN A VIRTUAL DROUGHT IN MY AREA) AND THIS IS THE FIRST REAL WORKOUT OF THE WIPERS.*AK

THE ACCIDENT WAS AT A VERY LOW SPEED (~15 MPH) AND MORE DAMAGE AND INJURY WAS CAUSED BY THE AIR BAGS THAN BY THE CRASH. ONLY THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE CAR WAS DAMAGED BY THE CRASH, YET THE AIR BAG SHATTERD THE WINDSHILD AND BLEW OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED HEARING LOSS, FACIAL BURNS AND GLASS CUTS FROM THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

DASHBOARD SHOWS DOORS ARE OPEN, AND INTERIOR LIGHT WILL STAY ON. DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET VEHICLE THEN REMAINED STANDING AT AN INTERSECTION AT A RED LIGHT WITH TWO VEHICLES AHEAD. ANOTHER VEHICLE, TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND ON CONNECTICUT AVE MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO VAN NESS, WAS TRAVELING TOO FAST, LOST CONTROL AND SIDE SWIPED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, PUSHING IT ONTO THE SIDEWALK. A CHAIN REACTION STARTED IN WHICH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER THE PASSENGER HIT THE WINDSHIELD, AND THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK IN PLACE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

THE PULLEY THAT DRIVES THE BELT FROZE AND FELL OFF CAUSING THE POWER STEERING, THE ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP AND BATTERY FAILURES. YH

I WAS SOLD A 5 STAR LEMON. THE CARFAX WESITE HAS 6 LEMON HISTORY REPORTS. ALSO MY CAR HAS A RECALL ON AX4S AUTO-TRANS. I HAVE THE REPORTS. PLEASE CHECK ALL REPORTS, I FEEL ME AND MY FAMILY IS IN GRAVE DANGER, PLEASE I DON'T WANT TO DIE. PLEASE DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MY LIFE IS IN YOUR HANDS. THANK YOU

THE FRONT FREEZE PLUG BETWEEN CYLINDER 4 AND 5 BLEW OR FELL OUT CAUSED BY COMPRESSION FROM THE HEAD GASKET, NEW ENGINE REQUIRED, FORD UNRESPONSIVE. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES: ONCE AT 31,000 MILES OF WEAR; SECOND TIME AT 53,000 MILES OF WEAR, AND AT PRESENT WITH 58,000 MILES OF WEAR. ALL REPAIRS WERE DONE BY DEALER, AND ONCE AT CONSUMER EXPENSE WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK *ML

WAS PROCEDING ACROSS INTERSECTION, STARTING UP SLIGHT GRADE WHEN I LOST FORWARD MOTION OF VEHICLE. I ACCELERATED ENGINE AND THE ENGINE REVOLUNTIONS INCREASED. I PUT TRANSMISSION IN PARK, THEN BACK INTO DRIVE AND SAME THING HAPPENED. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. I THEN PLACE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE AND THE CAR MOVED BACKWARD AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO. NO PROBLEM IN REVERSE. AGAIN, I ATTEMPED TO PLACE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE, THEN 2ND, THEN LOW RANGE AND COULD NOT GET ANY FORWARD. MOVEMENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST (AFTER DICSUSSING ISSUE WITH DEALER). THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST SAID HE GOT INTO THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING AND CAR RAN FINE. HE TOOK FOR TEST DRIVE AND CAR RAN FINE. HE INSPECTED THE TRANSMISSION AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. HE REPLACED FLUID AND CHANGED FILTER. THE CAR RAN OKEY FOR SEVERAL DAYS, THEN ON 3/16/00, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND REPORTED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. ESPECIALLY WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN SHE WOULD PROCEDE FORWARD, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP, THEN JERK THEN ULTIMATELY CONTINUE IN A SOMEWHAT NORMAL FASHION. I CALLED DEALER, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE STATED THE FLUID WAS BURNED AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INDICATED HE WMAY GO $1,000 OF THE ESTIMATED $2,100 REPAIR FOR A REBUILD TRANSMISSION. I REPORTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS TO FORD MOOR CO. CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER. LIKEWISE, THEY INDICATED THAT FORD MAY PAY A PORTION FOR THE REPAIR. THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE INDICATE HE

DRIVING AT 55 MPH I APPLIED THE BRAKES LIGHTLY AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT WOULD NOT SLOW THE CAR AT ALL AND IT WAS HARD TO STEER , THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMED TO TRY TO PULL TO EITHER SIDE, BACK AND FORTH BUT I KEPT IT GOING AS STRAIGHT AS I COULD,THEN THE ABRUPTLY PIVOTED 180 DEGREES ABOUT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND THE CAR SLID SIDEWAYS ACCROSS THE RIGHT LANE AND HIT THE GUARDRAIL WITH THE LEFT FRONT CORNER AND LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. *AK

WE BOUGHT THIS 97 TAURUS WITH 56,816 MILES ON 3/17/99. A WEEK LATER THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER ADVISED US TO GO TO HIS MECHANIC AND HAVE IT CHECKED. THE MECHANIC READ A P1744 CODE, CLEARED THE CODE, ROAD-TESTED THE CAR, AND ADVISED US TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE, AND SEE IF IT WOULD RESET OR NOT. IN THE ONGOING MONTHS ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON THREE MORE TIMES. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS AND THE CAR WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THESE THREE TIMES IT WAS TAKEN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, THE CODE CLEARED AND WE WERE SENT ON OUR WAY. THE LAST TIME, HOWEVER, WE SAID THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS GOT TO BE SOLVED! THE FORD DEALER SAID IT COULD BE MANY THINGS, AND WOULD COST $63.00 TO INVESTIGATE. AFTER INVESTIGATION, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS IN THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY, APPROXIMATELY $750.00 TO OVERHAUL. THE DEALER WAS GIVEN THE OKAY, AND THE END RESULT WAS A $1,245 BILL TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE VALVE BODY AND PUMP SHAFT. THE NEEDLE BEARING HAD FAILED AND THE PUMP SHAFT SCORED THE BORE IN VALVE BODY. THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THIS REPAIR 1/19/00 HAD 61,808 MILES. THIS IS A DEFINITE CASE OF PREMATURE FAILURE, CAUSED PROBABLY BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.*AK

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES ABOVE THE ANCHOR BOLT, AT THE "B" PILLAR POST. THIS INFORMATION IS BEING PROVIDED BY OFFICER R.L. MCEDWARD, (9359), CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL PER C.H.P. POLICY. *AK

THE PROBLEMS WITH MY TAURUS ARE THE RESULT OF THE POORLY DESIGNED COOLING SYSTEM OF THE 1997 MODEL. A COOLING SYSTEM BYPASS KIT WAS INTRODUCED BY FORD. I AM TRYING FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT A RECALL WAS DONE. IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS, STARTING NOV. 1999, THREE FREEZE PLUGS HAVE BLOWN. THE FORD SERVICE MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS DUE TO THE ACID BUILD UP IN THE CORRODED COOLANT IN THE COOLING SYSTEM DUE TO THE POORLY DESIGNED COOLING SYSTEM. SO FAR THE HEAD FREEZE PLUGS, THE BLOCK FREEZE PLUGS, THE WATER PUMP, THE THERMOSTAT, AND THE OVERFLOW TANK HAVE BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE OF CORROSION AT A COST OF $800. AFTER THE LAST REPAIR OF THE BLOCK FREEZE PLUGS AND WATER PUMP, WITHIN 30 MILES OF DRIVING THE HEAD HAS EITHER CRACKED OR WARPED, OR THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN. I HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF $1211 TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR (IF NO HEAD CRACKS). I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS ENIVITABLE THAT THE TRANSMISSION FREEZE PLUG, RADIATOR, AND HEATER CORE WILL FAIL. THE ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE PROPER RUNNING CONDITION WOULD REQUIRE A REBUILD AND REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR AND HEATER CORE AT A COST OF $4500. FORD HAS BEEN APATHETIC ABOUT MY PROBLEMS. IN THIS SITE, I HAVE FOUND COMPLAINTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS DUE TO THE COOLING SYSTEM CORROSION. COMPLAINTS OF BLOWN HEADS AND LEAKING HEATER CORES. I FEEL FORD SHOULD REMEDY MY PROBLEM IN SOME WAY. PLEASE CONTACT ME I YOU CAN HELP ME. *AK

MOTHER WAS DRIVING AND PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY WHILE DAUGHTER WAS SEATING IN THE REAR WITH THE WINDOW OPEN ONLY. AFTER PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY WINDOW BOUNCED AND CAME DOWN QUICKLY, AND SLAMMED SHUT INTO HER FACE. *AK

TRANSMISSION QUIT. IF WE WERE ON INTERSTATE, WOULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR PROBLEM.

WHEN APPLYING THE GAS AND GOING DOWN HILL, TRANSMISSION MAKES A JERK FORWARD AND A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. THE CLUNKING AND JERKING HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. DEALER HAS SEEN THE VEHICLE, BUT DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO CORRECT IT. *AK *ML

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S REAR SEATBELTS DO NOT RETRACT, WHICH WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

1. WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT ALWAYS OPERATE AT THE RATE SELECTED. THEY OPERATE AT A LOWER RATE THAN SELECTED. 2. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LIGHT SWITCH DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT REMAIN LOCKED DURING THIS SWITCH FAILURE WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND/OR THE ENGINE RUNNING.

WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTINTLY COME ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE I TOOK IT BACK TO THEM TWICE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT. NOW THE PROBLEM IS ESCULATING. THE CAR NOW SHUTS OFF THE POWER TO THE RADIO SPEAKERS, POWER WINDOWS, POWER ASSIST AND PROBABLY OTHER COMPONENTS WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS TAKEN OUT OF PARK. ALL COMPONENTS WORK FINE WHEN CAR IS IN PARK SHIFT POSITION. OF COURSE I'M REQUIRED TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED EVEN THOUGH IT COULD PROBABLY BEEN FIXED RIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE DECISION TO STOP GOING BACK TO THE DEALER IS BASED ON THE WORK THEY DID DO (SHABBY) AND THEIR NOT BEING ABLE TO FIX THE MAIN PROBLEM I TOOK THE CAR BACK INTO THEM. IS THE CAR SUPPOSE TO HAD A HIGH WIND NOISE - I WAS TOLD THAT WAS PART OF THE DESIGN AND THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THAT WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. YH

#1 DOOR AJAR SWITCH,LIGHT IN DASH STAYS ON AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON WHILE DRIVING. #2 WINDOW DID NOT WORK AT ALL, REPAIRED BY DEALER, #3 WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP, TOOK TO DEALER, TOLD TO TAKE DOOR APART AND BEAT ON MOTOR, WAS ABLE TO GET WINDOW UP.

DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT LOCK AND DOORS OPEN. WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER EXITING VEHICLE. ALSO, THE INSIDE DOME LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. FAILURES BECAME INCREASINGLY WORSE. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING A RUBBING NOISE OCCURRED DUE TO THE TORSION BAR FAILURE. DEALER IS REWELDING THE TORSION BAR. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING TEMPERATURE GAUGE RAN HIGH ,VEHICLE OVERHEATED. GAUGE WAS REPLACED. WEEK LATER VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTS THE VEHICLE THE TRANSMISSION RACES IN GEARS (AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL) THE SHIFT HARSHLY INTO GEAR.

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER PULLING THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, OWNER SAW THAT THE REAR END SUSPENSION HAD FALLEN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FIRST, AND LATER TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML

RECEIVED MANUFACTURER RECALL NOTICE 98B23/ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR NOTICE BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN COMPUTER, BUT CORRECT VIN # WAS ON NOTICE. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER OR PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHEN YOU FIRST START THE CAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. ONCE VEHICLE IS VERY WARM BRAKE LIGHTS WILL START WORKING AGAIN. CONSUMER FEELS THAT IF MAKING A SUDDEN STOP THE OTHER DRIVER MAY NOT SEE CONSUMER. *AK *ML

POOR SIGHT SIDE VISION FROM THE HEADLIGHTS. IF HAVING TO MAKE A SHARP TRUN DRIVER CANNOT SEE THE ROAD TO THE SIDE. PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO THE MANUFACTURER'S ATTENTION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING DRIVESHAFT BROKE, CAUSING POOR STEERING CONTROL. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON THE DASH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE HEATER CORE IS INOPERABLE, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO FOG UP, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML

IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP WITH THIS CAR, MY BATTERY HAS BLOWN TWICE. I GO TO START THE CAR AND BATTERY JUST BLOWS UP. THE FIRST TIME I SIMPLY HEARD A CRACKLING NOISE. THE SECOND TIME I HEARD A POP LIKE THAT OF A BALLOON POPPING. INDIVIDUALS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG; THEY JUST REPLACE THE BATTERY. THEY DO TELL ME THAT IT MUST DEVELOP AN ELECTRICAL SPIKE, BUT THEY HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHERE IT COMES FROM. I BELIEVE THIS IS DANGEROUS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT EVEN IF THEY CHECK ALL THE WIRING HARNESS, THEY MIGHT NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN MAKING A STOP TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT DOWN TO THE LAST GEAR. VEHICLE HESITATES TO SHIFT DOWN. WHEN TAKING OFF, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES BEFORE THE TRANSMISSON WAS FINALLY REPLACED. *AK.ET.

DEALER POURED A NEW ANTI-FREEZE INTO THE SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED HEATER CORE TO CRACK AND CAUSE FUMES TO ENTER INTO VEHICLE, STEAMING UP THE WINDOWS, AND RESULTING IN VISUAL DIFFICULTY. DEALER WILL REPLACE THE HEATER CORE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WINDSHIELD MY WIPERS WILL NOT WORK ON ANY SELECTOR, BUT HIGH. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWICE. DEALER REBUILT FIRST TIME AND EXACTLY A YEART LATER IT FAILED AGAIN. IT IS 8,000 MILES OVER WARRANTY. THEY OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. A NEW CAR SHOULD NOT DO THIS....TWICE! IT HAS BEEN FACTORY DEFECTS EACH TIME. *AK

FTER A HEAVY RAIN AND IF CAR GOES THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER THE ENGINE WILL STALL. CONSUMER SAYS ENGINE WILL START BACK UP AGAIN. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID CONSUMER NEEDED A REVISED AIR CLEANER. *AK

THE ENGINE OFTEN STALLS DURING A HEAVY RAIN OR AFTER RUNNING THROUGH PUDDLES OF WATER. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT NEDED A "REVISED AIR CLEANER". IF I UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM CORRECTLY WATER IS SUCKED UP THROUGH THE AIR CLEANER CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE REVISED AIR CLEANER IS A DIFFERENT DESIGN WHICH PREVENTS THIS FROM HAPPENING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE SYSTEM GOT STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE, AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NOISE IN FUEL SYSTEM TOOK TO DEALER TWICE NO SOLUTION. SOUND LIKE GURGLE. *AK

THE POOR DESIGN IN FUEL SYSTEM RESULTED IN FUEL PUMP WIRES RUBBING AGAINST THE FUEL FEED LINE AND SHORTING. YH

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT SEEMS CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATES UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO IDLE AND ACCLERATE UNEXPECTEDLY, AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED TWO SENSORS WITH ELECTRONIC TIMING AND IDLER. PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SENSOR POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN UP A CURB AND INTO A BUILDING. THERE IS A TSB BULLETIN ON THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK