1997 Ford Taurus complaints

UPON STARTING VEHICLE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 12 MPH, CAUSING CONSUMER TO CRASH INTO GARAGE DOORS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

REAR WHEEL CYLINDER IS LEAKING , CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID, WHICH COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FAILURE AND A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

POWER STEERING IS LOST AND BATTERY-WARNING LIGHT COMES ON FOR ABOUT 5 TO 10 SECONDS WHENEVER I DRIVE THROUGH A PUDDLE MORE THAN ABOUT AN INCH DEEP. FORD SEEMS TO BE AWARE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT (THEY SAID THE PART REPLACEMENT WAS MANDATORY AND COVERED BY WARRANTY), BUT THE DEALERSHIP STILL WANTS ME TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR --AT THE HEIGHT OF SOUTH FLORIDA'S RAINY SEASON-- FOR ANOTHER WEEK WHILE A PART IS ON ORDER FOR THE REPAIR. THEY DON'T SEEM TO APPRECIATE HOW DANGEROUS IT IS TO DRIVE WITH INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING (IF THEY DID, THEY WOULD USE A FASTER METHOD TO SHIP THE REPLACEMENT PART).

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS UPON ACCELERATION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. NLM

WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE IT MAKES A POPPING SOUND. *ET

TRANS FAILED TO ENGAGE AT STOP-THEN SLAMMED INTO GEAR. VEHICLE THEN STOPPED WHEN GOING 40-SLAMMED INTO GEAR AGAIN.

WAS DRIVING 55MPH WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW. THE TIRE CAME APART. THE TREAD OF THE TIRE CAME OFF. THE STEEL BELT IN MIDDLE OF TIRE WAS SLICED. *AK

BRAKES LOCKING UP. NLM

COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND THE ENGINE RACING AND PULLING.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVER WAS MANUVERING A CURVE RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE JUMPING A DITCH,ROLL OVER AND STOP AGAINST A POWER POLE UPSIDE DOWN. NLM

WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, IT WOULD HAVE HIGH IDLE & ACCELERATION. WOULD HAVE TO KEEP FOOT ON BRAKES TO MAINTAIN STOP. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR HIGH ACCELERATION & IDLING, BUT PROBLEM IS NEVER FOUND. *AK

WHILE STOPPING VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD, AND MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, AND CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO REMAIN IN OPEN POSITION, RESULTING IN A CRASH. BEEN TO DEALER, BUT THEY COULDN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK.ET.

ON THE BALL JOINT PART, THE MECHANIC TOLD US THAT OUR STERRING WHEEL COULD HAVE LOCKED UP AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO STEER IN TRAFFIC.

THE IGNITION TENSION PULLY FROZE UP AND CAUSED THE BELT TO COME OFF AND THE MOTOR TO OVERHEAT. THE MOTOR OVERHEATED THIS ONE TIME THAT I KNOW OF AND CAUSE ALL THE ALLUMINUM IN THE MOTER TO WARP, BASICLY RUINNING THE MOTOR. THE CAR WAS SHUT DOWN WITH IN 3 MIN I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED FROM THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER THE PARTS DAMAGED DUE TO OVERHEATING, EVENTHOUGH A COVERED PART CAUSED MOTOR TO OVER HEAT. THANK YOU. *AK

WHEN APPYLING BRAKES ON WET OR DRY PAVEMENT THE FRONT AND REAR WHEELS LOCK UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID OR SLIDE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A GRACO BOOSTER SEAT FOR MY SON. AFTER STRUGGLING TO INSTALL IT FOR ALMOST AN HOUR, I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY 85% OF CAR SEATS ARE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY..IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND THE MANUFACTURER'S DIRECTIONS, AND PEOPLE GIVE UP! THEY THINK, "NOTHING WILL HAPPEN, I'M A GOOD DRIVER". THIS IS A TERRIBLE ATTITUDE FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR CHILDREN. ALSO, THEY DON'T MENTION IN THE DIRECTIONS THAT TWO PEOPLE ARE NEEDED TO PROPERLY INSTALL THE BOOSTER SEAT. I ONLY FOUND THIS OUT BY CALLING THE MANUFACTURER FOR HELP. LUCKILY, WITH THE HELP OF A PATIENT CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, I GOT THE SEAT INSTALLED CORRECTLY.

AUTOMTIC TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR, AND IT IS DIFFICUILT TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. WHENEVER VEHICLE COME TO A STOP IT IS DELAYED BEFORE GETTING INTO GEAR. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

STALL, ROUGH IDLE, IGNITION MISSING. WIRING REPLACED, BUT VEHICLE CONTINUES TO RUN ROUGH. DEALER CHECK FUEL SYSTEM BUT NO PROBLEM FOUND. UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE VIA DIAGNOSTICS. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED AND GROWN WORSE WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASED IN 04/98 AT @17000 MILES.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL WHEN THEY ARE SET ON LOW SPEED OR INTERMITTENT SPEED, CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY SHAKED. DEALER REPAIRED THE ROTORS. *A

BACKING UP & NOTICED POLE, SHIFTED INTO DRIVE & VEHICLE ACCELERATED & HIT STORE FRONT. ACCELERATOR PEDAL COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED AT THE TIME.UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

MANY PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE, VERY DISATISFIED, CAR WAS NOT CHECKED OUT PRIOR TO SALE, CAR WAS MISSING BASIC FLUIDS, CAR HAD LIGHTS OUT WHICH I WAS TICKETED FOR, CAR WAS RUNNING HORRIBLE NEEDED BRAKES, ALSO NEEDED WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A TUNEUP BUT CAR CONTINUED TO RUN HORRIBLE WHICH LOOKS TO HAVE TURNED OUT TO BE ENGINE PROBLEMS WHICH LED TO REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE. *AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPS. DEALER UNABLE TO IDENTIFY PROBLEM. *AK

NO PROTECTIVE COVER FOR TRUNK LIGHT CAUSED LAMP TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH CONTENTS OF THE TRUCK THUS CAUSING A FIRE. NLM

A PUNGENT ODOR IS COMING FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM SIMILAR TO A URINE SMELL. THIS ODOR EXISTS ANYTIME THE VENTILATION SYSTEM IS TURNED ON REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM OR HEATER. IN CONTACTING THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MOLD AND MILDEW BUILD-UP IN THE VENTILATION BOXES OF THE LATE MODEL TAURUS'S. THE DEALER INDICATED THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN PUBLISHED ON THIS ISSUE BUT THEY WON'T PERFROM THE WORK BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH RISK TO SERVICE TECHNICIANS USING THE REQUIRED CLEANING SOLVENT. NO ONLY IS THIS AN IRRITATING PROBLEM, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH RISK TO MYSELF AND MY FAMILY FROM MOLD AND MILDEW SPORES OR ANY OTHER BIOLOGICAL HEALTH HAZARDS CREATED BY THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR INTO INTERSECTIONS VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

SUBFRAME MOUNTS WERE LOOSE AND DAMAGED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS. DEALER REPLACED THE MOUNTS ON MAY 19, 1999. *AK

ENGINE SHUT DOWN AT IDLE - WAITED 1 MINUTE THEN RESTARTED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT PRIOR INDICATION. *AK

WITHIN THE LAST 6 MOS. WHEN CAR HIT APPROX. 60000 MILES WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON IT WILL NOT START. EVERYTHING IS DEAD. HOWEVER, POWER IN VEHICLE WILL COME BACK IF THE INTERIOR FRONT HOOD LEVER IS ACTIVATED. POWER WILL COME BACK AND THE RADIO WILL ALWAYS BE ON AM AND THE CLOCK WILL BE AT 12:00. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS VERY SPORADICALLY. IN OTHER WORDS THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT IT WILL HAPPEN AND/OR MAKE IT HAPPEN.

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE MULTI-SPEED, BUT THEY ONLY RUN ON SLOW. YOU HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF AND ON SEVERAL TMES TO GET THEM TO WORK RIGHT.THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BECAUSE WHEN YOU TOOK THE KEY OUT THE ACCESSORIES CONTINUED TO RUN LIKE THE RADIO WOULD KEEP ON PLAYING WITH NO KEY IN THE CAR .THEY CHANGED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IT HELPED FOR A FEW THOUSAND MILES BUT NOW THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN.ALSO I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING OFF AND ON FOR NO REASON. FORD REPAIR INFORMED ME IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT WHILE THE LIGHT IS ON, THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY.

DUE TO THE MATERIAL IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK TO THE OCCUPANT WHEN LEAVING VEHICLE. ALSO, SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 1994 TAURUS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS. WHEN COME TO STOP, ENGINE OCCASSIONALLY RACES TO OVER 2200 RPMS. WHEN CRUSING AND LET OFF GAS, CAR IDLE DOES NOT NATURALLY GO DOWN. WAS FIXED BY DEALER ONCE, NOW RECURRING. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT UNPREDICTABLE IDLE/ACCELERATION CONDITIONS.

I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. I HIT A CONCRETE POLE WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE PARKING LOT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I BRAKED TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE CAR TOOK OFF LEAVING BLACK MARKS 9 FEET LONG. I DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO HIT THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR WAS ACTING ON ITS OWN. I HIT THE FRONT OF THE STORE. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED MY CAR WAS THE STEEL DOOR FRAME AND THE BRICK BUILDING. MY CAR WAS STILL MOVING AFTER I GOT OUT BECAUSE I HAD NOT PUT IT INTO PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. I HAD JUMPED OUT QUICKLY BECAUSE GLASS WAS COMING THROUGH MY SUNROOF ONTO ME. A WITNESS SAID "OH MY GOD, YOUR CAR IS STILL MOVING." I HAD TO GET BACK INTO THE VEHICLE TO PUT IT INTO PARK AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF. THIS PROVES THAT THE CAR WAS GETTING FUEL SOMEWHERE BESIDES ME. I FEEL AS THOUGH THE FUEL SHUT OFF BUTTON LOCATED IN THE TRUNK SHOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS ACCIDENT. BUT IT DID NOT WORK; IN FACT, I AM THINKING SOMETHING MALFUNCTIONED AND INSTEAD OF SHUTTING FUEL OFF THE CAR WAS GETTING FUEL WIDE OPEN.

JUST STARTED TO PROCEED THROUGH INTERSECTION WHEN CAR SHIFTED FROM LOW GEAR AND ACTED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. DEALER I TOOK IT TO SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF PISTONS BEING MADE OUT OF A COMPOSITE MATERIAL THAT LIKES TO CRACK.

SPOUSE BACKED OUT FROM A PARKING SPACE AND WHEN SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN "DRIVE" THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, AND BEFORE ANY ACTION COULD BE TAKEN SHE COLLIDED WITH A STORE FRONT. THE "CRUISE CONTROL" HAD BEEN USED THE DAY BEFORE AND THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSED THE SUDDEN FORWARD MOVEMENT. THE REASON FOR THIS ASSUMPTION IS THAT I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR ON A PREVIOUS RECENT OCCASION, AND NOTICED THE LIGHT INDICATING CRUISE WAS ON ALTHOUGH I HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR. I THOUGHT PERHAPS I MAY HAVE BUMPED IT BUT NOW I AM SURE IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS WAS REENFORCED WHEN I TALKED TO THREE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH FORD PRODUCTS. *AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING IS MAKING LOUD NOISE WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS. *AK

THE DOME LIGHT AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

FOUR DEALER VISITS HAVE NOT CORRECTED ENGINE PROBLEM, FACTORY REFUSES TO HELP. *AK

INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, FAILING TO GO INTO GEAR DURING TAKE OFF. WHEN THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR THE TRANSMISSION STOPS PULLING THE VEHICLE. FIVE REPAIR ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM, INCLUDING REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUES.

I HAVE HAD THE FORWARD CLUTCH PACK FAIL ON A 14- MONTH OLD NEW AUTO.MOBILE.THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED BY RECOMMENDATION OF THE FORD DEALER. THIS REPAIR WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. REPAIR COST ESTIMATE IS PARTS $1100, LABOR $500. I FIND THIS PREMATURE FAILURE UNACCEPTABLE FOR A 14-MONTH OLD CAR THAT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND VERY WELL TAKEN CAR OFF. THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN EXTERNAL CAUSE FOUND TO JUSTIFY THE FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONTACT ANY OTHER COMPANY REPRESENTITVE OTHER THAT THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER, WITHOUT A SATISFACTORY RESPONSE. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE IS JERKING AND MAKING LOUD NOISES, AND THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTING. CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

FAILS TO SHIFT INTO 2ND OR SOMETIMES 3RD GEAR. ENGINE RACES IN NUETRAL AND CAR DECELERATES. THEN VERY HARSH SHIFT INTO GEAR WITH TIRE NOISE AND BANG IN TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. FUEL VEHICLE CRASH, CUT OFF SYSTEM FAILED. CAR KEPT RUNNING. DEALER CONTACTED, AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK.ET.

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED RESULTING IN NOISE.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE A ROARING NOISE WHICH AFFECTS THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE, AND CANNOT GET INTO GEARS. BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

I BOUGHT THE CAR BECAUSE I FELT IT WAS OF GOOD QUALITY.WHEN A SITUATION AROUSED I WAS TOTALLY GIVEN THE COLD SHOULDER BY THIS DEALERSHIP.NOW I AM STUCK WITH PARTIALLY OPERABLE VEHICLE. I AM A U. S. SOLDIER AND I JUST FEEL LET DOWN BY THE QUALITY OF FORD AND THE HANDLING OF THIS SITUATION BY BRIGGS. NO DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK