1997 Ford Taurus complaints

CAM FAILURE; APPARENTLY ROTATED RELATIVE TO CAMSHAFT. OCCURED AT LIGHT TIP IN UNDER 45MPH, UNDER 3200 RPM. ENGINE STARTED MISSING, (RUNNING ON 4 CYLINDERS) AND LOSS OF POWER BRAKES. ENGINE STARTED OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVEN 1/2 MILE TO FIND PARKING LOT. DEALER ESTIMATED COSTS AT $3000 - $9000. DT

WHILE IN MOTION THE SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN BEGAN TO FLASH. *JG

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. WE WERE CLOSE TO AN OFF RAMP, AND EXITED. AT THAT TIME, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED TO CLIMB, AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE NEAR OUR HOME. AN ENGINE CORE PLUG HAD FAILED, THE RESULTANT LOSE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, AND DAMAGE THE HEAD GASKET. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $3900. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, BUT THEY STATE THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ENGINE PROBLEM, SO I AM SUEING THEM IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT. DT

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS WHILE ON HIGH OR LOW SPEED WILL GO INTO INTERMITTENT MODE. WHICH STARTED HAPPENING AFTER HE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. (EACH TIME HE WOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS, IT WOULD WORK OKAY) THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND IT WENT ON INTERMITTENT MODE WHILE ON HIGH OR LOW SPEED WIPER MODE. THEY INSTALLED SWITCH PART #XW3Z-13359-CASWITCH 357698-1EA, WHICH WORKED FOR A WHILE, BUT EVENTUALLY STARTED AGAIN.-SOME WHAT AFTER REPAIR, BUT LESS THAN OFTEN *SCC

THE ACCELERATOR STUCK, WHEN I PRESSED IT DOWN TRYING TO MERGE ON THE FREEWAY, SO I PRESSED IT DOWN HARD HOPING IT WOULD POP BACK UP, BUT IT DID NOT. SO I HELD THE BRAKE DOWN HOPING THIS WOULD BRING THE ACCELERATOR BACK UP BUT THAT DID NOT WORK EITHER. SO AS A RESULT I HAD TO JUMP OUT OF THE CAR WHILE MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY, I DID THIS WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE DOWN TO SLOW THE CAR UP. I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY HURT. MY CAR INSTEAD OF CRASHING INTO THE OFF RAMP WALL DECIDED TO PROCEED STRAIGHT ONTO THE FREEWAY TO THE CENTER DIVIDE WHERE THE FRONT TIRE STOPPED IT. I WAS GIVEN A RIDE BY A MOTORIST THAT ALMOST HIT ME WHEN I JUMPED OUT THE CAR. WHEN MY CAR WAS FOUND THE TIRES WERE STILL SPINNING BECAUSE THE PEDAL WAS STILL STUCK, NEITHER OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE CRASH. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ON FLAT SURFACE AND NO WARNING THE POWER STEERING WILL LOCK UP THEN DISENGAGE AND IT IS CAUSING IT TO BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR WIPER ALSO STATES THAT THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *MRWHILE OPERATING ON HIGH OR LOW SPEED, WILL GO TO INTERVAL WIPER MODE. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. FINALLY, THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND A SWITCH WAS INSTALLED. SOME TIME AFTER THE REPAIR, THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN, THIS TIME NOT AS OFTEN. *JG

DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY, CAR OVERHEATED, THEN STALLED, THEN WOULDNT START. THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN, HEAD GASKET BLOWN AND THERE WAS WATER IN THE OIL. HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY THRU UNIVERSAL AND THEY ARE NOT HONORING WARRANTY. WAS NEVER INFORMED ON THE COOLING RECALL. *AK

RE: 1997 TAURUS 3.0 VULCAN - FROST PLUG CORROSION AND HEAD GASKET BLOWN!. *AK

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CAUSED TOTAL FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEMS INHIBITING BRAKING AND STEERING MAKING CONTROL OF THE CAR DIFFICULT AND ENDANGERING DRIVER, PASSENGERS AND SURROUNDING VEHICLES.*AK

VEHICLE WAS IN A REAR END COLLISON AND BOTH FRONT SEATBACKS COLLAPSED, AND LAUNCHED BACKWARDS ON IMPACT.BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED.*AK

THE COOLANT IS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE HAS RUSTED AND THE WATER PUMP IS WARPED. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER PUTTING KEYS INTO THE IGNITION TO START VEHICLE, KEYS GOT STUCK AS A RESULT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKING UP. CONTACTED DEALER. HAD PART REPLACED DEALER UNABLE TO REMOVE KEYS.*JB

AIR CONDITION UNIT SEALED NOW LEAKING AGAIN THE CV JOINTS WENT OUT AND THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP (MARTY'S AUTO DISCOUNT AT 13 AND HARRIS AVE) WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE REPAIRS SAID THE LOWER ARM CONTROL AND THE AXLE WERE IN UNSAFE CONDITION TO DRIVE . THE CAR IS STILL NOT RIGHT , THE DEALER WANTS ME TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND I WANT TO TRADE THE CAR FOR SOMETHING ELSE .I BELIEVE THERE ARE MORE PROMBLEMS COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

ENGINE IS TICKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND STATED THAT MOTOR NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

GENERAL AMERI G4S P20565R15. CONSUMER STATES HE HEARD A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THE STEEL CORE WAS EXPOSED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

TRANSMISSION WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SLIP FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. THE SPROCKET ON THE CAMSHAFT HAD COME LOOSE WHICH THREW OFF THE TIMING/PISTONS, HITTING A VALVE, AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *SCC

TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN 5 YEARS. TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPENED TO ATLEAST 100 OF THE 20,000 TAURUS SHO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS TO ALL OF THEM. FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO RESOLVE THIS DEFECT OR BAD DESIGN PROBLEM BECASUE THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY LOSS OF LIFE. IT IS ONLY GOING TO BE UNTIL THERE IS SOME UNSUSPECTING MOTHER AND CHILD THAT DIES FROM LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON AN EXPRESSWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THEN MAYBE FORD WILL TRY TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO FORCE FORD TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE LOSS OF LIFE HAS OCCURED. NOT ONLY WILL FORD NOT FIX THERE MISTAKE BUT THEY HAVE THE ONLY PARTS TO REPAIR THESE VEHICLE AND HAVE SET THE PRICE TO PUCHASE THESE PARTS AT AN OUTRAGOUS AMOUNT. $1000 FOR A NEW CAM. $500 FOR A GASKET SET $12000 FOR A NEW ENGINE.*AK

CAM GEAR FAILURE, CAR STALLED AT 40 MPH IN TRAFFIC, LOST ALL POWER, FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, UNWILLING TO ADMIT ANY PROBLEM WITH CAMSHAFT GEAR, AND WILL NOT HELP WITH REPAIR BILLS. 100 DOCUMENTED CASES OF CAM GEAR FAILURE CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.V8SHO.COM. *AK

THE CAR SLAMS INTO 1ST GEAR FROM 2ND WHEN SLOWING DOWN, ALSO WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE FROM THE PARKED POSITION, AND SOMETIMES FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE COOLANT RESEVIOR LOOKS AS THOUGH SOMEONE FILLED IT WITH MUD.

I HAVE A 9197 TAURUS THAT HAS WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE A VERY SIMPLE AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEM.BUT THINGS HAVE GONE FROM BAD TO WORST. AS WE BEGAN TO FIND THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM(2 VERY SMALL CRACKS ON THE OUTER CASING OF THE COMPRESSOR), WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASY TO CROSS MATCH THE YR/MAKE/MODEL TO FIND THE CORRECT COMPRESSOR. WHEN I PURCHASED THE COMPRESSOR AND COMPARED IT TO WHAT WAS ON MY CAR THERE WAS NOT EVEN THE SLIGHTEST RESEMBLANCE.WE THEN PROCEEDED TO GET THE COMPRESSOR # OFF THE PART ON MY CAR, WHEN WE CROSSED REFERENCED THAT # THE PART WAS NO WHERE NEAR THE PART ON MY CAR.WE CONTACTED A FORD DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPT. AND FOUND OUT THAT THAT YRS MODEL HAD A "PILOT " PROGRAM FOR APPROX. 5000 CARS OR SO W/ A COMPRESSOR THAT HAS NO ORIGINAL PART FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPRESSOR. I AM STILL IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIX MY A/C IN TEXAS IN AUGUST.I AM FORTUNATE THAT I HAVE SOME HONEST AND DEDICATED MECHANICS AROUND ME THAT ARE TRYING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM FOR ME.I HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED AN ACCUMULATOR AND ORFUS LINE WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE INSTALLED WHEN OR RATHER IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO GET A COMPRESSOR TO FIT.I AM FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY THAT FORD DID NOT INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THIS "PILOT" PROGRAM, AND OFFER TO REPLACE OR AT LEAST MAKE A PART THAT CAN REPLACE THE "MORPHED " PART THAT IS ON THESE CARS OUT THERE.THIS PROBLEM KEEPS COSTING ME MORE $$$$$$. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT FORD FEELS IT NEEDS TO BE DECEPTIVE TO SELL CARS. I WILL NEVER, NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN AND I WILL BE V

VEHICLE RAN OVER A POTHOLE AT 20-25 MPH ON A WET ROAD AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED, AND PASSEGER'S AIR BAG BURNED OUT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK

ENGINE COOLANT TURNED BROWN AND SUPPOSEDLY CORROSIVE DUE TO SO-CALLED POORLY DESIGNED COOLING SYSTEM. THIS CAUSED MY TIMING COVER TO BEGIN LEAKING AND MY HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE TO FAIL WHILE ON OUR FAMILY VACTION IN SEATTLE. I HAVE NOTICED NUMBEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM IN YOUR FILES AND WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE THAT CAN BE TAKEN. I AM LOOKING AT A BILL OF APPROXIMATELY $4,0000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. PLEASE SUGGEST ANY ACTION THAT I CAN TAKE TO RECOVER ALL OR PART OF THIS COST FROM THE MANUFACTURER.

WHILE STANDING STILL AT LIGHT AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SHUTDOWN AND BECAME INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH BRAKE FAILED TO OPERATE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. THEY INFORMED CONSUMER MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE JUMPED INTO NEUTRAL AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE STOPPING AT A LIGHT AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE AX4N TRANSMISSION. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. *TT

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFTED AND BECAME STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 10 MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. *AK CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY 1997 FORD TAURUSES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. (ACCORDING TO FORD DEALER, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY) *SCC

WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE NUMBER OF REPORTED FAILURES ON THIS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPONENT FOR THIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. *AK

ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, OR STARTING UP FROM A RED LIGHT IN HOT WEATHER, WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING ON VACATION, AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE RPM SHOT UP TO APPROXIMATELY TO 4,200 RPM, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I HAD TO LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR AND LET THE RPM DROP DOWN TO ABOUT 2400 RPM, WHEN I APPLIED THROTTLE SLOWLY AND THE CAR SLOWLY ACCELERATED UP TO 55 MILES PER HOUR. THIS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN MAKING A U TURN AND THE CAR REPEATED THE SAME ACTION EVEN WHILE MOVING AT SLOW SPEED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY ROAD TESTED AND PUT THE CAR ON THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY THING WRONG WITH THE CAR OR TRANSMISSION AND THAT THEY CONTACTED FORD MOTOR AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION OF THE 1997 TAURUS. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND MYSELF, AS I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK AND A CAR ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN THE PROBLEM AROSE.*JB

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE AND VEHICLE CUT OFF, WHICH WAS AS CAUSED BY CAM FAILURE. *AK *TT

WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY ,CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO PASSENGER. DEALER WILL INSPECT VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FRONT END WAS LOW DUE TO BOTH COIL SPRINGS BEING CRACKED. CONTACTED DEALER, THEY INFORMED CONSUMER THAT BOTH COIL SPRINGS SHOULD NOT HAVE CRACKED AT THE SAME TIME.*AK

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE WILL SHIMMY, ALMOST CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL . *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 50-55 MPH, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT NEAR THE FENDER HEAD LIGHT. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAGS CONTAINED CHEMICALS THAT BURNED BOTH PASSENGER/AND OWNER ON THE FACE, AND THE OTHERS ON THEIR UPPER CHEST AREA. *AK *SCC

IN WARM OR MOIST TEMPERATURE REAR LEFT WINDOW IS INOPERATIVE.*AK

PISTON CRACKED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE A LATE ACCELERATION AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED.*AK

4TH GEAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE. O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHED REPEATEDLY. THOUGH CAR WAS SERVICED ONE MONTH PREVIOUSLY AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS NOT BURNED, TRANSMISSION DISINTEGRATED PLANETARY GEARS. METAL CHUNKS AND BURNED FLUID FOUND WHEN EXAMINED AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. OBVIOUSLY ANOTHER 3.8L/FORD TRANSMISSION DEFECT FAILURE AS IS WELL DOCUMENTED. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT OF THE REPAIR COSTS BUT THUS FAR HAS REFUSED. WHEN IS ANYONE GOING TO FINALLY HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ONGOING PROBLEM IN TAURUSES THROUGHOUT THE 90'S?. *AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TT

SCREW IN ENGINE SHEARED OFF, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE SECONDARY SPROCKET ON THE CAMSHAFT OF MY 1997 TAURUS SHO. THIS TO ME SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THE CAMSHAFT IS ATTACHED TO THE CAM BY SPLINES WHICH UNDER THE STRESS OF THE ENGINE SPIN UN THE CAM WHICH THROWS OFF THE TIMING AND DESTROYS THE ENGINE. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND ASKED THE PEOPLE OF V8SHOW.COM TO SEND THEM SOME CAMS SO THEY CAN TEST THEM. I AM AN OWNER THAT OWES $6000 ON A VEHICLE WHICH IS COMPLETLY OUT OF ORDER SITTING IN MY GARAGE BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY ANYWHERE BETWEEN 5000 AND 15000 TO FIX IT. 5000 IS FOR A USED ENGINE WTH 50,000 MILES ON IT. 15,000 IS THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE FROM FORD. PLEASE HELP IN ANYWAY YOU CAN. *AK

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, AND THEY FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMPS POSITIVE WIRE WAS CUT ON A SHARP EDGE INSIDE OF FUEL TANK, WHICH LEFT THE WIRE EXPOSED TO THE FUEL TANK, AND CAUSED IT TO SHORT CIRCUIT.*AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT, AND NOW PLACES A PROTECTIVE COVER ON THE WIRES. *SCC

ALL'S WELL IN PARK AND NEUTRAL, BUT WHEN IN REVERSE OR DRIVE, THE RADIO QUITS, INTERMITTENT WIPERS FAIL, WINDOWS WON'T WORK, LOSS OF ABOUT 75% OF POWER STEERING. PUT IT IN NUETRAL AND ALL IS WELL. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR. I FOUND 10 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME FAILURE IN A 96 OR 97 FORD TAURUS.

UPON ACCELERATION AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL, RESULTING IN VEHICLE SLOWLY RESPONDING TO ACCELERATOR APPLICATION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK

ERROR CODE 0761-HYDRAULIC FAILURE OF SOLENOID/TRANSMISSION. CAME ON. WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED, VEHICLE AS CONSUMER DESCRIBES, WAS "DRAGGING" UPON ACCELERATION. OWNER HAS ANOTHER TAURUS WITH SAME CONDITION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AKI

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES FROM BETWEEN 65 TO 45 MPH THERE IS A SERIOUS SHAKING FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO MOTION. THAT REALLY CONCERNS ME HAVING THREE SMALL CHILDREN. THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT ALSO DOESN'T SHUT OFF AS IT SHOULD.*AK

CONSUMER STATES AFTER FILLING UP GAS TANK, CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL POURING OUT OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL FILTER NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB