Page 4 of 16 · complaints 151–200 of 770

1997 Ford Taurus complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1997 record →

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper
Filed Jul 29, 200316,775 milesTX

1997 FORD TARUS HAS BRAKE PROBLEMS. BEGAN WITH SHAKING OF STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKES APPLIED AT EXITS OFF OF INTERSTATE. AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS FROM JAN 99 THRU OCT 01 TO GET THE LOCAL FORD DEALER TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY I HAD THEM SEMI- REPAIRED AT A LOCAL JUST BRAKES REPAIR SHOP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT CALIPERS WEREN'T RELEASING. STILL HAVE BRAKE NOISE AS IF CALIPERS ARE NOT FULLY RELEASING. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 16, 200339,343 milesPA

"SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON (2ND TIME) FIRST TIME FORD DEALERSHIP DID FULL TRANSMISSION FLUSH($125) TO SEE IF CORRECTED PROBLEM. TWO MONTHS LATER (ON LONG DRIVE), WARNING CAME ON AGAIN. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND SAID IT WAS A TRANSMISSION CODE THAT NEEDED THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED TO DETERMINE CAUSE ($300). THEY TOLD ME THAT (EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAS WORKING OK) THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE. ALL PARTS AND COMPONENTS WERE EITHER SCORCHED OR FAILED WHEN TESTED AND RECOMMENDED A TOTAL REBUILD ($2862) OR PURCHASE A FORD REBUILT ONE ($2756). I SAID THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR WITH 39,400 MILES ON IT. THEY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING AND I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THEY SOUNDED INTERESTED BUT WOULD NOT BACK UP THEIR PRODUCT DUE TO BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. (SO MUCH FOR THE QUALITY ONE - CUSTOMER CARE MOTO). READING OTHER COMPLAINTS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE FORD TAURUS OVER THE YEARS. WE HAD A 1994 TAURUS THAT HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS TO THE TUNE OF $1,100. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS IS MY LAST FORD PRODUCT AND THEY WONDER WHY PEOPLE BY FOREIGN VEHICLES!. WHEN I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP TO PUT THE CAR BACK TOGETHER THAT I CAN GET A REBUILT TRANSMISSION FROM 2 OTHER TRANSMISSION SOURCES (USED PARTS FOR $1400) OR NEW REBUILT PARTS FOR $2030), THEY THEN SAID "LET ME SEE IF THERE IS ANY LAST THING MY MANAGEMENT WILL DO" OF COURSE WHEN PUT ON THE SPOT TO LOSE BUSINESS AND RESPECTABILITY THEY LOWERED THEIR PRICE TO $2281 FOR A FORD REBUIL

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys
Filed Jul 16, 2003128,500 milesIN

1997 FORD TAURUS - 3.0L V6 OHV TYPE U TENSIONER PULLER SEIZED UP WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY - RESULT: SERPENTINE BELT SHEARED OFF THE TENSION PULLEY ASSEMBLY. PULLEY AND BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO WATER PUMP NOT RUNNING BECAUSE NO BELT WAS OPERATING THE PUMP DUE TO THE TENSIONER PULLEY SEIZING. MECHANICS STATED THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THIS ITEM ON THE 3.0 L V6 ENGINE AND SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE TO OTHER ITEMS WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON 4 TO 5 CARS PER WEEK. (THE BRAKE SHOP - CENTERVILLE, IN). *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 15, 2003VA

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE SPEEDOMETER HAS FAILED, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALE NOTIFIED. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 15, 2003PA

HAVE BEEN LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. HAD THE FITTINGS REPLACED. CORRECTED PROBLEM FOR 1 DAY. MECHANIC STATED THE TRANSMISSION LINES ARE LEAKING AND WILL NEED REPLACED. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY LOCATING THE LINES DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE PART HAS BEEN CORRECTED SEVERAL TIMES AND THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM WITH THE LINES. NOW I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND SHIFTING. THE TRANSMISSION IS BANGING INTO GEAR. BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 2000. WHEN I CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT THE ORIGINAL. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTUREDIN SEPTEMBER 1996 AND THE TRANSMISSION, ACCORDING TO THE NUMBERS ON IT, WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1998. HAD A 1994 TAURUS AND THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY WENT OUT OF IT AND I TRADED IN FOR THIS 1997. I WILL DEFINITELY NOT BUY ANOTHER TAURUS OR FORD PRODUCT.

Power Train › Manual Transmission › Shift Pattern Indicator
Filed Jul 13, 2003100,000 milesTN

1997 FORD TAURUS ONLY 100000 MILES AND IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jul 11, 200358,000 milesNJ

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED GRINDING NOISE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE BRAKE ROTORS COULD NOT BE RESURFACED BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO THIN. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE ELIMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR ON THE REAR BRAKE PADS COULD POSE A HAZARD BECAUSE SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING. *PH *CB *NLM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines
Filed Jun 30, 2003NY

CONSUMER STATES ENGINE LOST ALL POWER DUE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING. VEHICLE IS NOW ON THIRD TRANSMISSION REPAIR. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 17, 2003MO

THE PUMP THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE TRANSMISSION IS ALUMINUM AND IS CAUSING THE PART TO FAIL AND OVERHEAT. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE IT WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL AND WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.*AK

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Jun 6, 200330 milesAZ

WHILE DRIVING APROX 30 MILES AN HOUR WITHOUT ANY COLLISION OR IMPAC BOTH OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED..*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Jun 4, 200336,193 milesVA

1997 FORD TAURUS WAGON. OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD IN TRAFFIC 5 TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE FUSE TO THE FUEL PUMP REPEATEDLY BLEW, BUT NO OTHER PROBLEMS WERE EVIDENT EACH TIME THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE. THE ENGINE WOULD RUN ROUGHLY, STALL, AND SURGE, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, AND GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE. THE MECHANIC SUSPECTED A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A WIRE TO THE FUEL PUMP INSIDE THE FUEL TANK HAD ITS INSULATION WORN OFF DOWN TO THE BARE WIRE, AND HAD SHORTED OUT. OTHER WIRES ALSO SHOW SIGNS OF WEAR, BUT ARE NOT YET WORN THROUGH. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE WIRES. THE WIRES WERE DAMAGED DUE TO THE WAY THE FUEL PUMP WAS ASSEMBLED WITHIN THE GAS TANK. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND IS NOT LIMITED TO ONLY OUR CAR. FORD HAS ISSUED 3 TSB'S RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM (98251, 5226, AND 12189) AND I HAVE ALSO FOUND SEVERAL RELATED COMPLAINTS IN THE NHTSA DATABASE (ODI ID 549996, 707889, 713208, 807546, 838030, 853283, 879245, 10018293, AND 8012733). I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD NOT ONLY CAUSE COMPLETE VEHICLE FAILURE (LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES) AT ANY SPEED, BUT ALSO THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF A SPARK INSIDE THE GAS TANK IS NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION. THIS WIRING PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR ANY FORD TAURUS FIRES, OR ACCIDENTS INVOLVING LOSS OF POWER. WE ARE CONVINCED THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THA

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 2, 200384,900 milesIL

TRANSMISSION FAILURE,KEEPS SLIPPING AND SHIFTING UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVINGAT 65MPH. IT WILL SHIFT DOWN TO SECOND GEAR.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 8, 200340,000 milesIL

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY. *JB WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP LIGHT, ETC., THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES, ESPECIALLY TO THE OVERDRIVE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WON'T MOVE UNLESS THE VEHICLE REVVED. THE PROBLEM CAN IMMEDIATELY BE CORRECTED BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE IN PARK AND RESTARTING. THIS PROBLEM USUALLY WILL OCCUR 3-4 TIME PER DAY. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE. *SCC

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed May 6, 200398,000 milesMA

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE MECHANIC STATED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS ROUTED IN A WAY WERE IT CAUSED FRICTION AND WORE OUT THE INSTALLATION WHICH CAUSED THE WIRES TO BE EXPOSED. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 1, 200354,275 milesTX

PREMATURE ENGINE AND COMPONENT FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FAILED AT LESS THAN 55,000 MILES.

Air Bags
Filed Apr 21, 200385,000 milesMI

WHILE PARKING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Apr 21, 2003MI

MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT CAUSING MY WINDSHIELD TO SMASH AND PASSENGER WINDOW TO BLOW OFF THE TRACK. MY INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER IT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT EVEN THOUGH IT IS VERY EVIDENT THAT IT WAS A MALFUNCTION. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 15, 2003117,000 milesNC

THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED A LIQUID SUBSTANCE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND MADE THE GEARS DIFFICULT TO SWITCH. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Apr 15, 200365,000 miles00

THE VEHICLES INTERIOR LIGHTS AND DOOR AJAR CHIME CAME ON AND STAYED ON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. *NLM

Power Train
Filed Apr 4, 2003IL

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN JOLT WHEN A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN WAS MADE. *TS *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 1, 200360,000 milesPA

1997 TAURUS WITH 75000 MILES, BOUGHT NEW. TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THEN WOULD EITHER BANG INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING, OR WOULD HAVE TO PLACE THE CAR IN PARK, TURN OFF THE ENGINE, RESTART THE ENGINE, AND PLACE IT IN DRIVE. OFTEN ALL WOULD BE FINE FOR 2-3 WEEKS, THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ACT UP AGAIN. AFTER THREE OR FOUR MONTHS OF THIS THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP. THERE ARE NO UNUSUAL NOISES, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS CLEAN AND FULL, AND THE TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO SHIFT FINE ONCE I GET GOING. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY HAVE NO RECALLS OR KNOWN DEFECTS (OF COURSE). THE DEALER URGED ME NOT DRIVE THE CAR AND BRING IT INTO THE SHOP RIGHT AWAY. HE SAID IT WOULD LIKELY COST BETWEEN $1300 AND $2600 TO REPAIR. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Mar 30, 200368,000 milesIL

ALL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, HI-LOW BEAMS AND RUNNING LIGHTS WORK! ALL PANEL LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WORK. TURNING SIGNALS & EMERGENCY FLASHERS DO NOT WORK AT ALL! IT IS AS THOUGH THE WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN WERE DISCONNECTED FROM BOTH THE TURNING STICK (SWITCH) AND THE EMERGENCY SWITCH? CHECKED EVERY FUSE IN FUSE BOX UNDER HOOD AND THEY ALL LOOK OK. ASSUME NO BULB PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE WAS AND IS NO FAST BLINK... IT SEEMS LIKE THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED DURING AN ALL DAY RAIN STORM...VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS CAME ABOUT BECAUSE I ASSUMED DIRECTIONAL WERE STILL WORKING DURING SEVERAL TURNS...THEN SOMEONE ALMOST HIT ME WHEN I WAS CHANGING LANES....I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A DUMB DRIVER TILL IT HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES....THEN I NOTICED NO TURN SIGNALS...VERY SCARY (VIN: [XXX])! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 25, 200357,000 milesMI

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THEY WERE HIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. BEFORE THE CRASH A COMPLETE REPAIR KIT WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE BUT THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *SCC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Gas Recirculation Valve (egr Valve)
Filed Mar 22, 200364,834 milesOH

THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS DIAGNOSED AT A LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE WITH CODE 402 THAT SHOWED EXCESSIVE FLOW IN THE EGR SYSTEM. I REMOVED THE EGR VALVE AND TUBE FROM THE ENGINE AND INSPECTED THE COMPONENTS. THE EGR VALVE WAS EXTREMELY CLEAN AND DID NOT SHOW ANY LEAKAGE THROUGH THE VALVE WHEN IT WAS CLOSED. THE TUBE LEADING FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO THE EGR VALVE WAS ALSO EXTREMELY CLEAN. THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED TO RESET THE INDICATOR LIGHT. TWO DAYS LATER, THE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLARKE FORD IN HUDSON, OHIO FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED BY A MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE SAME RESULTS. I WAS CHARGED FOR TWO LABOR HOURS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DPFE SENSOR AND TROUBLE SHOOTING. I TOLD THE DEALER THAT I WISHED TO KEEP THE OLD PARTS. WHEN I REVIEWED THE OLD PART WITH THE MECHANIC, EXCESSIVE CORROSION WAS PRESENT IN THE HOSE OF THE SENSOR. THE MECHANIC AND SERVICE WRITER INFORMED ME THAT FORD NO LONGER MANUFACTURES THE SENSOR FROM METAL AND THE REPLACEMENT IS PLASTIC TO PREVENT THE CORROSION. THE SERVICE WRITER PROCEEDED TO SHOW ME THE PRINT OUT THAT DISPLAYED THE REPLACEMENT INFORMATION. I HAD BEEN TO CLARKE FORD ON TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS BEFORE THIS AUTOMOBILE WAS SERVICED TO SCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENTS FOR SERVICE ON TWO VEHICLES AND TO DROP THE VEHICLES FOR SERVICING. WHILE I WAS SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE WRITER, NO LESS THAN 5 OTHER CUSTOMERS RECEIVED THE SAME NEWS OF A BAD DPFE SENSOR. THE SERVICE WRITER INFORMED ME

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Mar 20, 2003WI

THE ENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIR OVER FLOWED. *NLM

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Mar 10, 2003MN

NAR 3-10-03 INFORMATION REQUEST ON BEHALF OF FORD MOTOR COMPANIES ABOUT A COMPLAINT SENT TO THEM FROM THE CONSUMER ABOUT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS COVERAGE. FORD REQUESTED A WRITTEN EXPLANATION TO RESOLVE MATTERS. *CB THE CONSUMER STATED AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A POLE TRAVELING AT 2- 25 MPH. DURING THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE AIR BAG, THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB

Air Bags
Filed Mar 6, 2003NY

ICE LANDED ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE'S ROOF, WHICH CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. *JB

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Mar 4, 2003ME

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DID NOT SHUT COMPLETELY. *NLM

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Feb 20, 2003VA

WHEN GEAR SHIFT IS IN REVERSE OR DRIVE,POWER STEERING GOES OFF, RADIO SOUND GOES OFF AND THE POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM I HAVE CONTACTED FORD THEY WOULD CHECK INTO THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED YET

Seat Belts › Front
Filed Feb 20, 2003PA

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, ALSO THE SEAT BELT UN-BUCKLED WITHOUT BEING DISENGAGED.*JB

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 13, 200336,806 milesCA

CAM SENSOR, CAM SYNCHRONIZER BROKEN = FORD TAURUS 1997 = KNOWN FAULTY PART. MILEAGE: 36,806. FORD IS WELL AWARE THAT THE TAURUS, 1997 YEAR ONLY, HAS A FAULTY CAM SENSOR, WHOSE MAGNET FALLS DOWN OFF THE CAP AND INTO THE CAM SYNCHRONIZER DESTROYING IT. WHEN MY MECHANIC CALLED FORD W/ THE COMPUTER CODE THAT CAME OFF MY CAR, HE WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THE 1997'S HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAM. FORD TOLD HIM THAT, BUT WHEN I CALLED THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER TODAY IN DETROIT, THEY COULD NOT ACCESS THIS INFORMATION! THEY SAID SINCE I HAD NOT USED A DEALERSHIP I WAS OUT OF LUCK W/ ANY KIND OF REIMBURSEMENT. SO FORD IS WELL AWARE THAT THEY INSTALLED A FAULTY PART IN THE '97'S. I HAVE THE BROKEN PART IN MY POSSESSION. I DO NOT USE THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, S & C FORD, BECAUSE THEY NEVER GET ANYTHING RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. THEY ARE LIKE WORKING WITH LAUREL AND HARDY, SWEET BUT INEPT. I GOT TO KNOW THEM DURING MY WARRANTY PERIOD FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE BY MY AUTOMOBILE CLUB RECOMMENDED MECHANIC, ALLIED ENGINE & AUTO REPAIR, SAN FRANCISCO, LAST EVENING BETWEEN 5 P.M. AND 6:30 P.M., IE. AFTER MY WORKING HOURS & I WAS ABLE TO PICK UP THE CAR ON THE WAY TO WORK THIS A.M. - A SERVICE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE DEALER. TOTAL OUT OF POCKET: CAM SENSOR $55, CAM SYNCHRONIZER $124, LABOR 98 = $277 I SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS AMOUNT FROM FORD.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 7, 2003OH

THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR IN MY MOTHERS FORD TAURUS WENT OUT, AND THE INTERRIOR DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AT TIMES. THESE ARE BOTH PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HEARD ALMOST ALL TAURUS OWNERS HAVE HAD, AND I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 6, 2003IL

THE FORWARD CLUTCH METAL BAND GAVE OUT CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION NOT TO MOVE OR SHIFT INTO GEAR. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 6, 2003CA

THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN DUE TO A HOLE INSIDE OF PLUG OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 4, 2003TX

VEHICLE JERKS HEAVILY AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH

Seat Belts › Front › Warning Light/Devices
Filed Jan 29, 2003101,000 milesNH

DRIVER SEATBELT STATUS, DOOR SHUT STATUS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SEATBELT LIGHT IS ON EVEN WHEN WEARING SEATBELT, AND "DOOR OPEN" LIGHT, INTERIOR LIGHT STAY ON EVEN WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED.

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Jan 28, 2003FL

THE FRONT RIGHT SIDEWALL SPLIT CAUSING A BLOW OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator PedalCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 13, 200397,900 milesCA

WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK IN THE DOWNWARD POSITION. CONSUMER PRESSED AGAIN, HOPING THE PEDAL WOULD DISENGAGE ITSELF BUT TO NO AVAIL. *JG *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 10, 200379,912 milesFL

"SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON, THEN TRANSMISSION FAILED. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION UNDER SERVICE PLAN.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor
Filed Dec 13, 200242,800 milesPA

CATALYTIC CONVERTER RATTLING INSIDE. REPLACED BY DEALER

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed Dec 9, 2002PA

CAM SENSORS ARE BEING REPLACED IN THE 1997 FORD TAURUS MODELS; SINCE THEY ARE RELATED TO THE THE FIRING OF THE ENGINE IT WILL CAUSE THE EMISSIONS TO INCREASE AND SHOULD THEREFORE BE COVERED UNDER THE 8YR/84000 MILE LAW. DT

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Nov 21, 2002MN

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 45MPH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN, CAUSING TO PULL THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Nov 18, 2002MI

THE CONSUMER INTERIOR LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD AND WILL NOT GO OFF THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Nov 13, 2002VA

IDLE SPEED WILL INCREASE WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN SUDDEN UNEXPLAINED HIGH IDLE/ACCELERATION RATE (IDLE SPEED INCREASES FROM 600-800 RPM TO 1500-2000 RPM) THAT MAKES STOPPING DIFFICULT. IN ADDITION, WITH THIS HIGH IDLE THE CAR WILL MAKE A SUDDEN SURGE WHEN BRAKE IS RELEASED. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER OVER 18 TIMES, DEALER AND FORD ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM, HAVE CHANGED NUMEROUS PARTS BUT WERE NEVER ABLE TO FIND ACTUAL CAUSE. FORD REFUSES TO MAKE REPLACEMENT AND/OR REPURCHASE OFFER OTHER THAN WHAT DEALER WILL OFFER AS MINIMAL "TRADE-IN" VALUE IF I PURCHASE A NEW FORD. DT

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core
Filed Nov 8, 200252,000 milesMS

CONSUMER STATED THE HEATER FAILED. TS *JB

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Nov 7, 200211,000 milesIL

WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON IT'S FRONT SIDE YET NONE OF VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *TS *NLM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Nov 4, 2002MI

THE FROST PLUGS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY DUE TO INTERNAL CORROSION. THIS CAUSED RAPID LOSS OF NEARLY ALL COOLANT FROM THE ENGINE. THE LOSS OF COOLANT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL, AND THE HEADS TO CRACK. WITHIN NINETY SECONDS, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND CONSUMER WAS LEFT WITHOUT POWER. *JG

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Nov 3, 2002MN

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT PASSENGER RESTRAINT SEAT BELTS NO LONGER RETRACT AFTER USE, NO LONGER PROVIDE TIGHT RESTRAINT, AND THEREFORE PUT PASSENGERS AT RISK. DT

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Nov 2, 2002IL

CAM SPROCKET FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY BEING NOTIFIED BY FORD. FORD HAS KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED OWNERS AS THERE IS APROCEDURE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. BY NOT WELDING THE CAMS ENGINE FAILURE ACCURS CAUSING EXCESSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. PREVENTIVE WELDING FOR $ 500.00 CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE TOTAL ENGINE AT A COST OF ABOUT $6,00.00 FOR SALVAGED MOTOR. DT

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 29, 2002AZ

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SLIPS THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM., TS

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 1997 Ford Taurus → · Every Taurus year → · How the figures are calculated →