1999 Ford Taurus complaints

BRAKES SQUEAK LOUDLY. DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THIS IS NORMAL.

DURING LOW SPEED OPERATION, AT THE 1ST TO 2ND SHIFT/ENGAGEMENT POINT, WITH NO THROTTLE, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASE (200-500 RPM) RESULTING IN AN ABRUPT INCREASE IN VEHICLE SPEED. THIS TYPICALLY OCCURS IN PARKING LOTS AND DURING STOP AND GO DRIVING. THIS DRIVABILITY ISSUE CREATES A SEVERE HAZARD IN THE CLOSE QUARTERS SCENARIO I HAVE DESCRIBED.

CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT HOLD CONSTANT SPEED WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL. NLM

MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED POWER WINDOWS AND POWER LOCKS TO OPERATE ERRACTICALLY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

I HAVE HAD MY TAURUS AT THE SHOP NOW 4 TIMES. THERE IS GAS LEAKING OUT OF MY CAR EVERYTIME I FILL UP. I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS "OVER FILLING" THE TANK, BUT THAT'S CRAP. I AM A WORKING MOTHER OF 3 AND I HAVE TO DEPEND ON MY CAR. IT IS A REAL INCONVIENCE THAT I HAVE TO KEEP TAKING THIS CAR BACK AND FORTH TO THE SHOP WHEN IT IS ONLY 9 MONTHS OLD. FORD SHOULD BE WILLING TO REPLACE THIS CAR OUT OF GOOD BUISNESS. I'M SURE THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY WOULD NOT LIKE FOR HIS WIFE TO HAVE TO DRIVE A CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM OR HIS CHILDREN. THIS IS ONLY MY SECOND FORD CAR, AND WITH THIS EXPERIENCE UNDER MY BELT, YOU CAN BEST BELIEVE THAT I WILL "NEVER" PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE. IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY SEES AND READS THIS COMPLAINT.

WHEN BRAKING FRONT END VIBRATION FEELS LIKE CAR NOT STOPING PROPERLY

WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 40 MILES AND NEEDING TO STOP THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, ABOVE 60 YOU NEED TWO HANDS TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. BOUGHT THE CAR IN THE FIRST TIME AND THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED BUT WITHIN 2 MONTHS I HAD TO RETURN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THE ROTORS AND PADS WERE SCRAPE. THE ROTORS HAD WARPED. OF COURSE I HAD TO PAY FOR ALL OF THIS BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A WEARABLE ITEM, WHAT I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WAS I WAS STILL UNDER MY 3YR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM AS OF YET. I HAVE OWNED FORD VEHICLES FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST FOR A CAR THATS A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OLD. IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT I AM NEVEROUS TO GET IN THE CAR WONDERING WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. WHICH AS I AM TALKING THE CAR IS GOING IN AGAIN BECAUSE WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 65 MPH THE CAR VIBANTS AND I WAS TOLD I MIGHT HAVE A BAD TIRE WITH A BELT SHIFT, THEY ARE KEEPING IT FOR A COUPLE DAYS TO TEST IT!!!!!

VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE SHOWED THAT THE VENT TUBE WAS OFF THE VALVE COVER FRONT NIPPLE AT AIR INTAKE TUBE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO IDLE TOO FAST AND INTERMITTENTLY SURGE. NLM

WHILE DRIVING WOULD STEP ON BRAKE PEDAL AND STEERING COLUMN WILL START VIBRATING, AND BRAKES WILL TAKE LONG TO STOP. A TECHNICIAN SAID THAT ROTORS HEATED UP, AND HAD BEEN REPLACED. *AK

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. WHEN DRIVING 35 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT CONSUMER SMELLED FLUID BURNING, DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE CABLE ON THE GEARSHIFT BROKE. YH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM OF VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, THEY COULDN;T LOCATE THE PROBLEM. CLUNKING NOISE CONTINUED. MY SON SAID I SHOULD TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. ON SECOND VISIT TO DEALERSHIP, HAD SERVIE MANAGER DRIVE VEHICLE. IN THEIR PARKING LOT, DROVE OVER A SPEED BUMP, HEARD LOUD CLUNKING SOUND. THE CAR WAS PUT ON THE HOIST, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. A WEEK LATER, RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE STILLING MAKING CLUNKING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND HAD SERVICE MANAGER RIDE WITH ME. DROVE ON BUMPY SECTION OF INTERSTATE, CAR TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR HAD BROKEN AT THE RUBBER BUSHING CONNECTION. PARTS FOR THE STABILZER BAR HAVE BEEN ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER FOR OVER 2 1/2 MONTH. *AK

HAD TO HAVE ORIGINAL ROTORS REPLACED WHEN THE CAR WAS ONLY 1 MONTH OLD, AT 2 MONTHS HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER SET OF ROTORS, PUT ON CAR, THAT SET IS STILL ON THE CAR BUT HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES SQUEALING FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS NOW, CAR WAS TAKEN TO SERVICE DEPT. AND BRAKES WERE CLEANED SQUEALING STOPPED FOR TWO DAYS, NOW THERE IS A SLIGHT PULSING AGAIN, CAR WILL BE TAKEN TO SERVICE DEPT. AGAIN, IT SEEMS THAT THE BRAKE PROBLEM MAY BE CONNECTED TO THE IDLE SPEED , THE CARE PICKS UP SPEED EVEN WHEN YOU ARE NOT GIVING IT GAS. WHICH IN TURN CAUSES BRAKES TO BE USED MORE THEN THEY SHOULD BE. *AK

THE CAR FREE WHEELS.

CAR HAS HAD SHAKE IN STEERING WHEEL SINCE THE TEST DRIVE; WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS DUE TO CAR SITTING ON THE LOT AND THAT TURNING THE ROTORS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SHAKE RETURNED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE AND HAS CONTINUED TO BE A PROBLEM SINCE. IT STARTS AS A SUBLTE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND BECOMES A VIOLENT SHAKE AS THE PROBLEM PROGRESSIVELY GETS WORSE. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED, REPLACED 2X, DRUMS REPLACED, WHEEL CYLINDERS REPLACED. WE ASKED THEM THE LAST TIME TO ALSO CHECK PROPORTIONING VALVE, THEY SAID THEY WOULD BUT DIDN'T. IT HAS HAD A TOTAL OF 4 REPAIRS FOR THIS PROBLEM, INCLUDING THEM TURNING T HE ROTORS BEFORE PURCHASE. WE SENT A CERTIFIED LETTER TO FORD JUST BEFORE THE LAST REPAIR. THEY REPLIED WITH THE STATEMENT THAT A REGIONAL OFFICE OR THE SERVICE MANAGER FROM THE DEALERSHIP WOULD CONTACT US, AND IF NOT WE WERE TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP. NO ONE CONTACTED US, AND WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP FOR 10MONTHS WITH NO SUCCESS. THE SALESPERSON HAS TOLD US SHE'LL SPEAK TO HER GENERAL MANAGER. THE CERTIFIED LETTER WAS RECIEVED BY FORD ON 6/16/00, THE LAST REPAIR WAS DONE ON 6/24/00, AND THE SHAKE RETURNED ON 7/7/00. WE HAVE ALSO HAD A BIG PROBLEM WITH THEM GETTING PARTS TO DO REPAIRS, WITH IT TAKING WEEKS. ALSO WERE TOLD IN THE WINTER TO WAIT UNTIL SPRING FOR T HE REPAIR, THAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT JUST BE CAUSED BY SAND AND SALT, WHICH IT WASN'T.*AK

DRIVING ON LOCAL ROAD VEHICLE LOST POWER TO THE STEERING. CONTACTED DEALER NOW FOR THE 9TH TIME THEY REBUILT THE POWER STEERING PUMP. IT BROKE AFTER 3 DAYS. IT IS BACK AT THE DEALER.*AK

VEHICLE "SURGES" WHEN ACCELERATING AT SLOW SPEEDS, AND WHEN COMING OUT OF A STOP; TOOK CAR TO DEALER 2 TIMES; THEY CLAIMED THAT THEIR TRANSMISSION EXPERT FOUND NOTHING WRONG, AND ASKED IF I HAD EVER DRIVEN A CAR WITH AN ELECTRONIC SHIFT BEFORE. WHEN I SAID "NO" THEY SAID THAT WAS WHAT WAS WRONG -- THAT I WAS NOT USED TO THIS KIND OF SHIFT. HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 25 YEARS, AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS, INCLUDING WHEN I TEST DROVE THE CAR. I AM CONCERNED THAT CAR WILL ACCIDENTALLY ACCELERATE AND INJURE SOMEONE. *AK

FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR DOES NOT PROPERLY INDICATE FUEL LEVEL; LEVEL HAS BEEN INDICATED AS ALMOST EMPTY, BUT FILL-UP TOOK ONLY 5 GALLONS; OTHER TIMES, INDICATES ALMOST FULL, BUT NEEDS LOTS OF FUEL. *AK

CONSUMER HAD A FRONT END COLLISON AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER/PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK AT THE TIME OF FRONT END COLLISION THE HOOD CAME IN THROUGH WINDSHEILD ON RIGHT SIDE. SEAT BELT FAILED IN REAR WHICH IS HOLDING CHILD'S SEAT. BACK REST ON LEFT BACK SEAT CAME LOOSE. *YH

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE WAS IN AN OFFSET CRASH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SUFFERED A BROKEN RIGHT WRIST. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

BRAKES WORE OUT ROTORS WARPED HAD NEW ONE PUT ON 3WEEKS LATER SAME THING HAPPEN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH CONSUMER BROADSIDED ANOTHER VEHICLE BETWEEN TWO PASSENGER DOORS FRONT AND BACK, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

RIGHT BACK SEAT ROSE UP WHEN FRONT OF THE SEAT WAS PUSHED. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO RECOGNIZED THE DEFECT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIX IT. ON A HEAD TO HEAD COLLISION, SEAT WOULD POP UP FROM UNDERNEATH OF PASSENGER, WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGES. *AK *ML

PARKING BRAKE CABLE BROKE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN DRVING VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING COULD STEP ON THE BRAKES AND HEADLIGHTS WILL DIM EACH TIME CONSUMER WOULD STEP ON THE BRAKES. *AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL ON OR FOOT ON GAS PEDAL, AND VEHICLE STARTED PICKING UP SPEED FOR NO REASON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR VEHICLE. HAD THE TRANSMISSION & TORQUE CONVERTOR REPLACED ANYWAY. *AK

VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP WHEN IT WAS REARENDED & PUSHED INTO A TRUCK IN FRONT IN WHICH IT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT FROM REAR, SEAT BELTS FAILED TO TIGHTEN UP, AIR BAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO UPPER & SIDE OF NECK AND SPINE. WAS THROWN AROUND. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT SMELLED LIKE A BURNING ODOR FROM THE REAR RIGHT BRAKES. TECHNICIAN SAID THAT PART WAS WORN OUT. *AK

VEHICLE DOES NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN FOOT IS TAKEN OFF THE ACCELERATOR, CONSUMER HAS TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE TO ADJUST THE SPEED WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKES TO WEAR QUICKLY. NLM

WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IF CONSUMER TAKES FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, VEHICLE WILL JUST TAKE OFF, UP TO 1700 AND 2000 RPM. CONSUMER SAYS IT STARTED OUT ONCE A DAY, NOW IT'S ALLTHE TIME. *AK

NEW VEHICLE REQUIRED NEW RACK AND PINION STEERING, WHICH CAUSED NOISE, THE BRAKES REPLACED WHICH WERE CAUSING VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE BRAKING. *MJS

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED FRONT END BEGINS TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. ALSO, STEERING COLUMN SHAKES. ROTORS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY DEALER. REPAIRS DID NOT WORK, OWNER HAD TO GO TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO FIX PROBLEM. *AK *ML

SEAT BELTS CONTINUALLY LOCK IN POSITION WITHOUT BRAKING OR CAUSE. *MJS

WHILE LOADING THE TRUNK, THE LIGHT BULB WAS ON. WHEN CONSUMER CLOSED TRUNK THE LIGHT BULB BURNED PART OF THE LUGGAGE, BULB WAS NOT PROTECTED. OWNER CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLITY THAT THE BULB COULD START A FIRE. *AK *ML

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO MAINTAIN SET SPEED ON DOWNHILL HIGHWAY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE SPEED INCREASED FROM 55 TO 85. SINCE IT WAS A NEW CAR, AND NO OTHER CARS ON THE STATE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME, I DID NOT REALIZE THE INCREASE IN SPEED SINCE THERE WERE OPEN FIELDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD. WHEN I NOTIFIED THE SELLER, I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS MARKED SO IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. MY BASIC QUESTION IS, "WHO READS THE MANUAL BEFORE ACTUALLY HAVING A PROBLEM?" I BELIEVE THE WORDS, CRUISE CONTROL" SHOULD NOT BE USED SSINCE THE WORD CONTROL IS MISLEADING IF THE CAR GAINS SPEED ON A DOWNWARD SLOPE. OR AT LEAST, THE SELLER SHOULD NOTIFY THE PURCHASER WITH A BIG NOTATION THAT THIS IS SO. THE FAILURE OF THIS KNOWLEDGE LED TO MY GETTING A COSTLY SPEEDING TICKET FROM THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE. *AK

VEHICLE IS EMMITING A ODOR FROM THE HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WHICH MAKES IT HARD FOR PASSENGERS TO BREATH. NLM

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN VEHICLE IS DECELERATING IT VIBRATES UNCONTROLLABLY. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN I FIRST SMELLED THE INTOXICATING FUMES. ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED I PROCEDED TO DRIVE ABOUT 1/8TH MILE. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO ACCELERATE. THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR INSTANTLY WENT DEAD MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP DID SAY THEY HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 FORD TAURUS, HOWEVER THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THEM. THE DEALERSHIP THAT REPAIRED MY CAR HAD ANOTHER CAR COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE MY CAR WAS THERE.

REAR DEFOGGER/DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK WHEN NEEDED, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT FOUND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH GOING DOWN A 5% GRADE, CAR WILL NOT HOLD IN CRUISE CONTROL. CAR GOES FROM 70 MPH TO 85 MPH WITHIN SECONDS ON STEEP GRADE. ALSO, BRAKES ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO GIVE GOOD BRAKING POWER. TAKEN TO 2 DEALERS, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE TAURUS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT WAS REAR ENDED BY CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPCT, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

WHILE THE SHIFT LEVER WAS IN PARK THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. *AK

MY HUSBAND TURNED ON THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER AND THE WHOLE WINDOW SHATTERED. *AK

ACCELLERATION WITH NO PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL (FOOT COMPLETELY OFF PEDAL) AND NO ENGINE BRAKING. THE UNWANTED ACCELERATION OCCURS MOSTLY AT SLOW SPEEDS SUCH AS IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND IN PARKING LOTS. AFTER ACCELERERATING SLIGHTLY, IF I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AT AROUND 10 MPH, THE CAR WILL FREQUENTLY CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE, AND THEN SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR, AT WHICH TIME IT LURCHES FORWARD. IT WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE TO OVER 20 MPH BEFORE STARTING TO GRADUALLY SLOW DOWN. THIS OCCURS FREQUENTLY WHEN DRIVING IN CROWDED PARKING LOTS AND REQUIRES CONSTANT USE OF THE BRAKES TO COMPENSATE. IF THERE IS ANY DOWNGRADE, NO MATTER HOW SLIGHT, THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO SPEED UP. THIS IN FACT, IS EVIDENT AT ANY SPEED....DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AT 25 MPH, THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE TO OVER 40 MPH ON A VERY, SLIGHT DOWNGRADE. I MUST USE THE BRAKES CONSTANTLY. DRIVING ON MOST ROADS, I NOTICE THAT I AM ALWAYS CATCHING UP TO CARS IN FRONT OF ME, AND HAVING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, WHILE NO OTHER CARS HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS ON. THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER TEST DROVE THE CAR AND VERIFIED THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC HOWEVER, STATED THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE CAR WAS DESIGNED AND THAT HE COULD DO NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED AND ACCELERATED, AND DAMAGED THREE OTHER VEHICLES. VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. PEDAL DID GO TO THE FLOOR DURING ACCELERATION. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATOR STICKS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ML

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND COMING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT HIM IT FROM THE LEFT SIDE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. AIRBAG WENT OFF IN DRIVER'S FACE. THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS FACE BECAME NUMB, AND HIS GLASSES BLEW OFF OF HIS FACE AND BROKE. ALSO, AND BURN MARKS ARE ON HIS FACE. *AK

THE TAURUS HAS EXPERIENCED MANY INSTANCES OF: 1) UNWANTED ACCELERATION AT SLOW SPEEDS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS IS CHARACTERIZED BY EXCESSIVE "CREEP" FROM STANDSTILL, A SHIFT TO SECOND GEAR WITH A SUDDEN LURCH FORWARD. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN SLOW SPEEDS WITHOUT FOOT ON BRAKE. 2) NO ENGINE BRAKING. THE TAURUS WILL NOT SLOW DOWN WITH AT ALL WHEN ALL PRESSURE IS REMOVED FROM THE ACCELERATOR....AS IF ON CRUISE CONTROL. 3) EXCESSIVE SPEED INCREASE WHEN DRIVING DOWN A GRADE, NO MATTER HOW SLIGHT. DRIVING ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE BY 15 MPH OR MORE WITH NO PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL. THIS NECESSITATES RIDING THE BRAKE FREQUENTLY.*AK

CONSUMER EXPIRENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK