1998 Ford Taurus complaints

FUEL PUMP FAILURE LEAVING DRIVER STRANDED. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED AND REPAIRED AT A COST OF $568.81. *JB

THERE IS A SNAPPING AND CRACKING NOISE WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. THE ENTIRE FRONT FRAME RUSTED BECAUSE OF THE BAD METAL USED BY THE FACTORY. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK THE FRONT FRAME WAS NOT BUILT PROPERLY. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 04S17 WAS ISSUED FOR THAT COIL SPRING, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. *BF THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED DURING A RAIN STORM. *SC *JB

THERE WERE PARTICLES COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS AND ALL OVER THE CAR. THE CONSUMER'S CHILDREN HAVE BECOME SICK AND THE CONSUMER WEARS A MASK. THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR WITH NO SOLUTION. *JB

A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I'M NOT SURE WHY THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING. WHENEVER I PUSH THE BUTTON TO LET MY WINDOWS UP, TURN OFF MY READ DEFROST, OR HOLD ANY BUTTONS TOO LONG THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL FLASH. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND I TURNED OFF MY REAR DEFROST AND MY BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED, THEN MY HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT AND MY CAR ALMOST SHUT DOWN, THEN THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THE NEXT DAY, IT WAS NIGHT TIME, AND I SAW ANOTHER TAURUS DO THE SAME THING. BEING THAT TIME IS CHANGING AND I NEED MY HEAD LIGHTS, I WOULD HATE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT I CANT SEE. I HAVE HAD MY CAR CHECKED TO SEE IF THE ALTERNATOR OR BATTERY WAS GOING OUT, BUT ALL THE CHECKS WERE GOOD. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. *JB

FORD TAURUS 1998, DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING COIL CRACKED. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE SHOULD BE A FORMAL INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE COIL SPRINGS ON 1998 TAURUS. *JB

MY WHOLE COOLING SYSTEM HAS BECOME CORRODED BY THE COATING INSIDE OF THE HOSES THAT IS USED. I HAVE HAD MY HEATER CORE REPLACE 2 YEARS AGO AND MY RADIATOR FLUSHED. AND NOW IT IS FAILING AGAIN. A SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED, SO FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WHY AM I LEFT HOLDING THE BAG FOR REPAIRS ON DEFECTIVE PARTS. *NM

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE AIR VENTS ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES WITHIN SECONDS. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON PRIOR TO THE SMOKE AND FLAMES. *AK

WHILE PLACING THE KEY INSIDE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH IT FAILED TO TURN OR AND START. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO START OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE MORNING FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING IT IN FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE AIRPORT ON MAY 14, 2004, MY 1998 FORD TAURUS EXPERIENCED A BROKEN FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AT THE TIME. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN SO THAT THE FRONT TIRE WAS RUBBING ON THE BODY OF THE CAR (GENERATING TIRE SMOKE). I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SURVEY THE DAMAGE. IT WAS EVIDENT THAT IF I DROVE THE CAR ANY FARTHER EVEN MORE DAMAGE WOULD OCCUR. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS BREAKDOWN OCCURRED IN A LOCAL PRISON AREA WHERE POSTED SIGNS WARN PEOPLE NOT TO PICK UP HITCH HIKERS. THIS MADE IT CHALLENGING FOR ME TO FIND SOMEONE WHO WOULD LET ME USE THEIR PHONE TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE TO GET IT BACK ROADWORTHY. TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, I HAD TO PURCHASE 2 NEW COIL SPRINGS, 2 NEW FRONT STRUTS, A NEW STRUT MOUNT, 2 NEW FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS, AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. IT THEN TOOK ME A FEW DAYS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING ON ANY ROAD SURFACE THAT HAD BUMPS ON IT. IN JULY I BECAME AWARE OF THE RECALL ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH 1999-2001 TAURUS AND SABLE SEDANS FOR COIL SPRING BREAKAGE. I CONTACTED FORD AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO 1998 MODELS. IT APPEARS THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH 1998 VEHICLES ALSO. HOPEFULLY, MORE PEOPLE WILL UTILIZE THIS SITE TO DOCUMENT ADDITIONAL INCIDENTS TO RE-OPEN AN INVESTIGATION. *AK

PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCY. DROVE VEHICLE 197 MILES TO MY HOME. PARKED AT BACK OF DRIVEWAY UNTIL COULD TRANSFER TITLE AND PURCHASE INSURANCE. WAS MOWING GRASS BACKED UP CAR ABOUT THREE FEET. HEARD A LOUD "THUD/POP" WITH THE SOUND OR AIR ESCAPING, PULLED FORWARD ABOUT FIVE FEET. TIRE WAS FLAT. I THOUGHT I HAD A "BLOW-OUT" THOUGHT IT WAS ODD BECAUSE HAD A NEW SET OF TIRES WITH LESS THAN 400 MILES ON THEM. ASKED SON TO PUT THE DONUT ON SO I COULD TAKE THE TIRE TO GOODYEAR FOR REPLACEMENT. WAS THE LEFT FRONT TIRE INSIDE PART OF TIRE LOOKED AS IF SOMEONE HAD TAKEN A KNIFE AND CUT THE TIRE. UPON RETURNING FROM THE TIRE DEALER MY SON POINTED OUT THE BROKEN COIL SPRING ON THE LEFT FRONT (DRIVERS) SIDE. HAD CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE FOR REPAIR. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THE MECHANIC AT THE GARAGE STATED THEY HAD NEVER SEEN A COIL SPRING FRACTURE. LET ALONE ONE FRACTURE IN THREE PLACE THE WAY THE COIL SPRING DID ON THIS VEHICLE. PAID TO HAVE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS SHOCKS AND STRUTS REPLACED. HEARD ABOUT RECALL FOR TAURUS AND SABLE 899,000 ON RADIO STATION. SO I STOPPED BY LOCAL FORD, HUDSON IN MADISONVILLE KY, THEY COULD FIND NO INFORMATION ABOUT A RECALL INVOLVING MY VIN. WAS GIVEN FORD CUSTOMER RELATION 800 NUMBER. CALLED AND WAS ESSENTIALLY TOLD THAT IT WAS MY PROBLEM THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. ASKED TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR, SHE RETURNED MY CALL SOMEWHAT TIMELY, BUT REITERATED THAT MY VECHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL, AND IT WAS MY PROBLEM. IN THE

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

I HAVE A 1998 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON. ON 5 OCCASIONS THE CAR WENT INTO A SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE I WAS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE OR WHILE I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO STOP. IN EACH CASE I WOULD PRESS HARD ON THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO HOLD THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. IN THE FIRST TWO INCIDENTS, BRAKE PRESSURE WOULD HOLD THE CAR UNTIL I GOT IT OUT OF GEAR. IN THE LATER INCIDENTS BRAKE PRESSURE WOULD ONLY SLOW THE FORWARD MOTION. THE ENGINE RUSH WAS SO GREAT THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL IT WAS OUT OF GEAR. ON 2 OF THESE 5 OCCASIONS I NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS AND HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIND THE CAUSE, SO FAR WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE DATE GIVEN BELOW IS AN ESTIMATE OF THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS OCCURRED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A FAULTY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *AK

GOT BLOWOUT SO HAD 2 NEW TIRES PUT ON FRONT OF VEHICLE. DROVE 1/2 MILE DOWN ROAD GOT ANOTHER BLOWOUT ON BUSY HIGHWAY. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF ROAD SAFELY AND PUT SPARE (DOUGHNUT TIRE) ON AND RETURN TO WHERE WE HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON. WHEN THEY CHECKED AFTER REMOVING TIRE THEY FOUND THE COIL SPRING ON DRIVERS SIDE WAS BROKEN AND HAD PUNCTURED TIRE. WE NOW HAVE THE SPARE STILL ON VEHICLE AS WE CAN NOT AFFORD THE REPAIRS RIGHT NOW. *LA

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE STEERING BECOMES VERY STIFF. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. *NM

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKESTHE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THIS CAUSES A LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A WORN HOUSING SHAFT UNIT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

3RD RACK & PINION REPLACED IN MY 1998 TAURUS SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN AUGUST '99 : SEPT.'99; SEPT. '03, AND APR 04. I HAVE ONLY PUT 26,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND BELIEVE THIS IS NOT AN ITEM THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH SUCH FREQUENCY. *AK

IDLE CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

I OWN A 1998 FORD TAURUS WAGON. THE REAR SEATBELTS DO NOT WORK. I CAN NOT GET THEM TO PULL OUT AT ALL. FOR THAT MATTER, I CAN NOT BUCKLE MY CHILD IN. BOTH SIDES ARE AFFECTED. THE CENTER BUCKLE DOESN'T HAVE AN EXTRACTING BELT SO THAT IS THE ONLY USABLE SEAT BELT IN THE REAR. I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I HAVE TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS. THE COVER WAS REMOVED IN ATTEMPT TO FIX THESE AND I AM STILL UNABLE TO GET THEM TO WORK.

VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW, 2000 MILES TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING WAS REBUILT UNDER WARRANTY BY FORD. TRANSMISSION IS OUT AGAIN CAR WILL NOT MOVE WITHOUT INCREASING RPMS TO 2,500, TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. MAKES LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. ESTIMATED $2,500 REBUILD NEEDED. HEAD GASKETS WENT OUT AT 80,000 MILES AND WERE REPLACED FOR $600, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TAURUS. *LA

THE REAR SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS INOPERATIVE AND WAS STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. *AK *SC *JB

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING 1998 TAURUS WAGON.*MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM RECURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PARKED AT THE DEALER FOR A REPAIR ESTIMATE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE INOPERATIVE AND BELIEVES THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. *NM

WHILE TRYING TO BACK OUT OF OUR GARAGE, THE FRONT LEFT SPRING COIL IN OUR 1998 FORD TAURUS BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE, CAUSING A BLOW OUT. IN RESEARCHING THE NHTSA WEBSITE I LEARNED THAT THE 1993 FORD TAURUS, 1998 FORD CONTOUR, AND 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO FOUND A COMPLAINT INDICATING THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE 1998 AND 1999 FORD TAURUS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM, AND I FEEL FORTUNATE THE INCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR, AS IN OTHER REPORTED CASES, WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY WERE INFORMED OF HIS PROBLEM BUT HAVE MADE NO EFFORTS TO CONTACT ME REGARDING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. ALSO, I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE WE HAD REPORTED EXCESSIVE VIBRATION OF STEERING WHEEL AND WOBBLING OF THE CAR TO THE DEALER IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER OF 2003 BUT WERE TOLD THAT OUR BRAKES WERE OUT OF ROUND. THIS MAKES NO SENSE TO US, AS THE PROBLEM OCCURRED NOT ONLY WHEN BRAKING, BUT ALSO AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND WHEN ACCELERATING. I BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS MISDIAGNOSED AND PUT OUR SAFETY AT RISK. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM, AS I HAVE CONCERN FOR OTHERS DRIVING THE 1998 FORD TAURUS. I WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE SOME ASSURANCE THAT OUR CAR IS NOW SAFE- I HAVE READ THAT IN OTHER SITUATIONS A SHIELD WAS INSTALLED TO PREVENT A BROKEN SPRING FROM MAKING CONTACT WITH THE TIRE IN THE FUTURE. I HAVE KEPT MY REPAIR RECEIPTS AND AM HOPING THAT THIS WILL BE TREATED AS A RECALL AND RESULT IN REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY EX

FORD TAURUS THROTTLE STUCK OPEN. I STARTED THE ENGINE AND PLACED THE TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE. PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BACK OUT, THE PEDAL WOULDNT BUDGE. WHILE APPLYING MORE AND MORE FORCE, THE PEDAL FINALLY GAVE IN, COLLAPSING TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BE STUCK AT FULL THROTTLE. BEING IN REVERSE, THE TAURUS TOOK OFF AT FULL SPEED OUT OF THE CARPORT TO THE SIDE OF A HILL. RAMMING THE CAR INTO DRIVE CAUSED ME TO GO FORWARD AT FULL SPEED. UNTIL I SLAMMED THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AND CUT OFF THE ENGINE, DID I FINALLY COME TO A STOP ABOUT 100 FEET DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE IS NOW SITTING AT THE PHIL LONG DEALERSHIP IN COLORADO SPRINGS, WAITING TO BE ANALYZED. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING. I HAVE MADE A VIDEO DEPICTING THIS PROBLEM. I WILL BE CAPTURING THIS TO A VIDEO FILE SHOULD ANYONE CARE TO DOWNLOAD IT. PLEASE ADVISE ME AS TO WHAT I SHOULD DO. BEST REGARDS DAVID L. POWELL. *AK

BRAKES IN THE REAR ARE GRINDING REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *CB

THE FUEL PUMP JUST STOPPED WORKING CAUSING A COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF ALL SYSTEMS NO STEERING, BRAKES, ETC;JUST BY LUCK THE WIFE WAS DRIVING SLOW IN TRAFFIC BUT CAN YOU IMIANGE IF YOU WERE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS!!!! AND TO TOP IT OFF BECAUSE OF A POOR DESIGN THE CONSUMER GETS STUCK WITH A 619.00 REPAIR BILL DUE TO THE FACT THE FUEL PUMP IS LOCATED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK AND IS LABOR INTENSIVE TO REPAIR WHICH REALLY SUCKS!!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME BUT TO ME THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD NOT TO MENTION THE HIGH COST JUST TO REPAIR A FUEL PUMP

1998 TAURUS SE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH COOLING SYSTEM NOV 2001.CUTTER FORD OF AIEA THE AGENT FOR FORD MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR PROBLEM SPANING A YEAR AND A HALF. FOR THE TIME BEING PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED. HOWEVER FREEZE PLUG HAS MALFUCTIONED TWICE NOW AND I AM CURRENTLY GETTING IT REPAIRED. FUEL INJECTORS MALFUCTIONED AND WHERE REPAIRED APRIL 2003. I HAVE RECORDS OF CAR'S PROBLEMS DATING BACK TO 2000

BRAKES: FRONT BRAKE ROTORS CONTINUE TO WARP IN SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE ON 26 FEB 99, WITH 14622 MILES ON IT, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE DISC ROTORS 3 TIMES AND ALSO HAVED THEM TURNED (CUT) 3 TIMES. THIS TIME (AUGUST 03) I HAVE HAD THEM DONE BY A MECHANIC. AT LEAST 40% OF THE MILEAGE THAT I HAVE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HIGHWAY MILEAGE. OTHER: VEHICLE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS CONTROL MODULE IS FAULTY. THIS HAPPENED APROX. 2 YEARS AGO. SHORTLY AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE FROM DEALER, WHICH WAS DELIVERED DO TO A RECALL, MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BECAME VERY DIME AND WERE OF NO BASIC USE. UPON RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, IT WAS FIRST STATED THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE DYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, ONCE THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED, THEY THEN IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM TO SOME ELCTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. DO TO THE COST, APROX $250.00, I CHOSE NOT TO HAVE IT FIXED.

LAST SUMMER, MY 1998 FORD TAURUS BLEW AN ENGINE. IT WAS ABOUT 4000 MILES OVER WARRANTY. THE GARAGE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOTHING THAT I HAD DONE. THE PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY' A FAILURE IN THE OIL PUMP, THAT MY CAR HAD EXPERIENCED OIL PRESSURE PROBLEMS. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEY REGRETTED THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE A NEW ENGINE. THEY SENT IN A REBUILT ENGINE, REPLACED THE BAD ENGINE, AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES. THEN, THIS JULY (JULY 25,2003) I WAS DRIVING THE SAME 1998 FORD TAURUS WITH THE PREVIOUSLY BLOWN ENGINE. THE ADD COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR. WATER WAS POURING FROM EITHER THE RADIATOR OR HOSE. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME (ABOUT A DISTANCE OF 60 MILES). I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC. ON MONDAY MORNING, THE MECHANIC CALLED AND SAID THAT I HAD MANY MORE PROBLEMS THAT JUST A LEAK. HE SAID IT LOOKED LIKE I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. HE COULD NOT EVEN GET THE CAR TO START. BECAUSE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE BOWLING GREEN LINCOLN & MERCURY IN BOWLING GREEN OH. THIS IS WHERE I HAD ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE CAR AND THE PLACE THAT HAD REPLACED THE ENGINE THE PREVIOUS SUMMER. AFTER WAITING NEARING TWO WEEKS TO GET PERMISSION FROM DETROIT (?) TO FIX IT, AN INSPECTOR WAS SENT DOWN TO EXAMINE THE DAMAGE. HIS REPORT INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FROM A DEFECTIVE ENGINE, BUT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION. THEY VOIDED THE WARRANTY. I ASKED WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMI

HEAD GASKET AND HEAD HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO OVERHEATING, TOTAL COST OF JOB WAS 1400. DOLLARS

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING FRONT LEFT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

ENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIR SPRANG A LEAK ON THE BOTTOM SIDE. THERE IS ABOUT A 1-INCH GAP BETWEEN THE BOTTOM OF THE BOTTLE AND THE FENDER SO RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING WAS NOT THE CAUSE. I CALLED A PARTS HOUSE WHO SAID THEY HAD REPLACED 3 OF THEM IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS. SEEMS LIKE AN ODD COINCIDENCE THE BOTTLES LEAK. I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE LEAK ON ANY CAR I'VE EVER OWNED.*AK

DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE BLOCK THAT ALLOWS COOLANT TO SETTLE AND ACCUMULATE IN CERTAIN SPOTS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK.*MR TWELVE MONTHS AFTER THE COOLANT SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXHIBITING A LOST OF HEAT AND THAT WAS WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE RUST AND SEDIMENT TO ACCUMULATE OVER TIME IF THE COOLANT REMAINED IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. *JB

WHASHER PUMP SEEM'S TO HAVE SHORTED OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND CAUSED A SHORT IN WIRNG WITCH RESULTED IN A UNDER THE HOOD FIRE! ALL I DID WAS TURN ON WASHER PUMP TO CLEAN WINSHIELD AND NOTHING HAPPEN SOON AFTER I SMELLED WIRES BURNING!SOON AFTER I SEEN FIRE SHOOTING FROM UNDER CAR AND THEN IT BLAZED OUT OF HOOD BETWEEN THE COWL AND FIREWALL! THE CAR STOPED RUNNING I PULLED OFF THE SIED OF I-70 1 MILE MARKER AND THEN CALLED 911......*AK

AS I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM MY DRIVEWAY ABOUT 5 MPH I HEARD A LOUD NOISE BETWEEN HOOD AND FRONT SEATS. I SOON REALISED THAT WHEN I STEPED ON THE ACCELERATION PEDAL THE CAR WON'T GO FOWARD. I PARKED THE CAR IMMIDIATELY AND TURNED OFF WAITED FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES I GOT OFF FROM THE CAR AND I PERSONALLY INPECTED THE CAR FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE MOTOR, AND UNDERNEATH OF IT AND NO OIL WAS SPILLED (MOTOR OR TRANSMISSION). I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON STEPED ON THE BREAK AND SHIFTED TO DRIVE, AND STEPED ON ACCELARATION PEDAL, BUT CAR WONT MOVE. I ALO TRYED REVERSE AND DID NOT MOVE ASWELL. WHEN U PUTTED THE CAR INTO 2ND GEAR IT TOOK A COUPLE OF SECONDS FOR THE CAR TO MOVE. I ALSO TRYED 1ST. GEAR AND IT DID NOT MOVE AS WELL.*AK

98 FORD TAURUS, WELL MAINTAINED, HAD CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FALIURE AT 63,000 MILES. FORD HAS STONEWALLED &/OR IGNORED THE SITUATION.

WHILE TRAVELLING TO WORK ON FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 5, I HAD JUST ACCESSED INTERSTATE 65 NORTH AND HAD TRAVELLED ON IT FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES. I HAD REACHED MY NORMAL CRUISING SPEED OF 80 MPH WHEN I BEGAN TO CROSS THE BRIDGE OVER THE TENNESSEE RIVER. ON THE DOWNSIDE OF THE BRIDGE, I HAD NO WARNING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRANSMISSION CEASED TO FUNCTION. DUE TO THE SPEED I WAS TRAVELLING, I WAS ABLE TO COAST UNTIL I EXITED THE BRIDGE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1/4 A MILE, I SAFELY PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND CAME TO A STOP. I PROCEEDED TO CHECK ALL THE GEARS TO DETERMINE IF THE TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAD. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THERE WAS NO NOISE, NO JERK, NO ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000 MILES ON IT, AND I ENSURE THAT ROUTINE SERVICE IS PERFORMED ON IT. TWELVE MONTHS PRIOR, I HAD THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY SERVICED. THIS COMPLETE FAILURE CAME AS A SURPRISE TO ME AS NO WARNING SIGNS WERE EVIDENT. TODAY, I AM HAVING TO SHELL OUT $1600 FOR A COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. THE COMPANY I HAVE PERFORMING THE REPAIRS IS KNOWN TO BE VERY REPUTIBLE AND TOLD ME THAT A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE HAD OCCURRED WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION AT OR JUST PRIOR TO THE ACTUAL FAILURE. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED VERY SIMILAR SITUATIONS. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS INDEED A FLAW IN THE FORD TAURUS TRANSMISSION SYSTEM.*AK

I BOUGHT MY 1998 FORD TAURUS THIS PAST SPRING OF 2003, AND NOW THAT WINTER HAS ARRIVED, I FIND THAT I HAVE NO HEAT OR DEFROSTER. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY BLEND DOOR, AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A RECALL ITEM. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT A RECALL ITEM, AND THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $900 TO GET IT FIXED. HOW IS THIS NOT A SAFTEY ISSUE, AND HOW ARE THEY GETTING AWAY WITH NOT PAYING FOR IT? SOMEONE SIGNED OFF ON THIS CHEAP PART THAT HAS OBVIOUSLY FAILED REPEATEDLY ON THESE VEHICLES. THEY NEED TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. VISIBILITY IS A SAFTEY ISSUE, AND THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THIS ITEM. THEY SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO CHOOSE NOT TO RECALL SOMETHING BECAUSE IT WILL COST THEM TOO MUCH MONEY TO FIX. THEY SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT WHEN THEY WENT CHEAP IN THE FIRST PLACE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHICH WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP FIVE TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION WORK. TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED TWICE AND REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES FAILED AFTER THE PEDAL BECAME SOFT WHEN DEPRESSING. THIS CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT STRAP ON 1998 FORD TAURUS SEDAN WAS NOT SECURED BY MINOR OCCUPANT WHILE EXITING VEHICLE. BELT WAS OUTSIDE VEHICLE WHEN VEHICLE STARTED MOVING AND WAS RUN OVER BY VEHICLE REAR TIRES CAUSING REAR WHEEL TO LOCK AND SKID ON PUBLIC STREET. *LA

SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF VENTS WHEN AIR CONDITIONING WAS TURNED ON. IF I TURNED IT OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES, THE AIR CONDITIONING WOULD WORK AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME I TRIED TO USE THE AIR CONDITIONING. IN SEPTEMBER, WHEN I TRIED USING THE HEATER, IT DID NOT WORK. I CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT AND HAD ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED. HOWEVER THIS STILL DID NOT RESOLVE MY PROBLEM. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP,. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 98 TAURUS. THE ENGINE COOLANT FORD MAKES YOU USE CLOGS THE SYSTEM AND TURNS THE COOLANT INTO SLUDGE. THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT ON AVERAGE I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE EVERY OTHER YEAR. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *LA

WHEEL RIM ON DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS CORRODED, CAUSING AIR TO LEAK FROM THE TIRE. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR WHEEL RIM REPLACEMENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. *AK ALL 4 TIRES BLEW OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED.*TS *JB

TURN SIGNALS WOULD ONLY WORK AT TIMES. SOMETIMES THEY WOULD START TO BLINK/ILLUMINATE. THEN, STOP BEFORE THE TURN WAS COMPLETE, AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT BLINK AT ALL. THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON MANY LATE 1990 FORDS. *AK

HEATER ABRUPTLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING LAST WINTER. SINCE THEN THE COOLING SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED 6 TIMES. EACH TIME IT WILL WORK FOR A WEEK AND THEN IT STOPPED AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BLEND DOOR MOTOR, CHARGED $230 FOR IT AND IT DID NOTHING. IT WAS GIVEN A "CHEMICAL FLUSH" FOR $125 WHICH DID NOTHING. THEN THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD NEED THE HEATER CORE AND BLEND DOOR REPLACED. I WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THE OTHER WORK AT ALL. APPARENTLY THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE TAURUS FROM 96 ON. I FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET COMPLAINING ABOUT THE EXACT SAME THING AND WAS TOLD THAT THE NHTSA HAD ADVISED FORD IN 96 OR 97 THAT THEY SHOULD PROBABLY RECALL THE CARS FOR THIS PROBLEM WHICH CAUSES THE DEFROSTER TO NOT WORK AND THEREFORE MAKES IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT ALL IN THE WINTER. APPARENTLY FORD DID A " CUSTOMER SATISFACTION" RECALL WHICH EXPIRED IN 99 BUT WAS NEVER DONE ON MY CAR (I BOUGHT IT USED IN 2000). I CALLED FORD TO ASK WHY THIS WASN'T A RECALL SINCE FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND IT EFFECTS ALL TAURUSES FROM 96-99 AT LEAST. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WASN'T A SAFETY ISSUE SO IT WOULDN'T BE A RECALL. I SUBMITTED THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE YOU CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE WINTER AND SINCE WHEN OURS STOPPED WORKING WE WERE ON I-70 BETWEEN ST. LOUIS AND KANSAS CITY DURING A SNOWSTORM AND HAD TO STOP BECAUSE WE COULDN'T