1988 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK . THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE RPMS DID NOT RETURN TO IDLE. THE CONTACT SAW THAT THE CABLE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE THROTTLE AND CRUISE CONTROL WAS OUT OF PLACE AND THE CONTACT RE-ATTACHED THE CABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 04/06/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A TACHOMETER. UPDATED 04/13/12

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER AT ANY SPEED AND THE ROTORS BECAME CORRODED AS A RESULT OF SODIUM BUILD UP. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONSULTED, AND AGREED TAHT THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL 98V323000 CONCERNING THE SUB FRAME MEMBERS, AND RECALL 91V134000 CONCERNING THE BRAKE ROTORS. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER AND DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WITHOUTA CHARGE TO THE CONTACT. *AK

CONSUMER'S 1988 FORD TAURUS WAS DELIVERED WITH RUST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR FENDER. *TS THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES, WIPER MOTOR, BODY MOUNTS AND STRUTS. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. CONSUMER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE POLICE IN POUND. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK,

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S FUEL LINE. *MR CONSUMER WAITING FOR SETTLEMENT ON REPAIRS MADE ON FUEL PUMP, ENGINE MOUNTS, POWER BRAKE BOOSTER, MASTER CYLINDER, AIR CONDITIONER, MANIFOLD, TIRES, AND TRANSMISSION. *LA

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FUEL LINE PROBLEM. *AK THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE IDLE, MILEAGE PER HOUR, THE A/C, THICKNESS IN THE FUEL, AND THE IGNITION. (REFER TO: ODI# 10073942) *SC THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *PH

WHEN I TRY TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS HARD TO TURN ON THEN WHEN IT IS TURNED ON THE DASH DOESN'T LIGHT UP, AND THE WHOLE CAR IS DIGITAL. I HAVE TO PLAY WITH THE SWITCH AND TRY AND TURN THE KEY A LITTLE BACKWARDS TO GET THE DASH TO LIGHT UP. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST A YEAR (SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR). *NLM

SUBJECT VEHICLE: 1988 FORD TAURUS, VIN NO. [XXX] THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEAT SWITCH WIRING INSULATION BECOME ABRADED,OR PUNCTURED, AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OCCURRED THAT RESULT IN A FIRE IN THE SEAT CUSHION MATERIAL. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED IN THE SERVICE DEPT. OF TEXAN FORD, INC., 20777 KATY FREEWAY, KATY, TX 77450, PHONE 281-579-9100. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE SERVICE TECH WORKING ON THE CAR. THE FIRE APPEARED TO BE CAUSED BY THE POWER SEAT SWITCH WIRING ROUTED OVER RATHER THAN UNDER THE FRONT SEAT SUPPORT BRACE, ALLOWING DAMAGE BY SEAT CUSHION SPRING ENDS WHEN SEAT IS OCCUPIED. THE DEFECTIVE POWER SEAT CONTROL WIRING HARNESS WAS ACQUIRED BY THE OWNER AND IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION BY ANY INTERESTED PARTIES. THE FORD DEALERSHIP REPORTED NO LIABILITY FOR THE SEAT FIRE AND SAID THAT FORD HAD NOT LIABILITY FOR THE FIRE OR RESULTING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. REFER TO RECALL NUMBER 91V036000 ON THIS VEHICLE. WHEN NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY,THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MACK HAIK FORD, 10333 KATY FREEWAY, HOUSTON, TX 77024, PHONE 713-932-5065 FOR THE RECALL MAINTENANCE WORK. IT APPEARS THE RECALL WORK WAS NOT CARRIED OUT OR WAS CARRIED OUT INCORRECTLY AT THAT TIME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. DRIVER PUSHED ON ACCELERATOR, BUT AUTOMOBILE CONTINUED TO SHUT DOWN. REACHING SIDE OF ROAD, AND USING BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR, CONSUMER COULD RESTART VEHICLE BY PLACING IT IN NEUTRAL OR PARK. CONSUMER HAS NOT YET HAD AN ACCIDENT. *AK

1988 FORD TAURUS GL 3.0L V-6. HEATER CORE FAILED DURING WINTER MONTH WITH TEMPS IN THE 30-40 DEGREE F RANGE. WINDSHIELD AND ALL OTHER WINDOWS FOGGED OVER AND ELIMINATED VISIBILITY INSTANTLY. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT NIGHT AT APPROX 9:30 PM. ATTEMPTS AT USING A PAPER TOWEL WHICH WAS HANDY WAS TO NO AVAIL. AS SOON AS THE INTERIOR WINDOW WAS WIPED, IT INSTANTLY REFOGGED. USE OF DEFOGGER WAS FUTILE AND USE OF THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS OF LITTLE TO NO HELP. THE IMMEDIATE NATURE OF THE INCIDENT, FOR AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER OR A DRIVER UNFAMILIAR WITH THE ROAD IT COULD LEAD TO A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. ANYONE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED WHEN THIS WOULD OCCUR WOULD VERY LIKELY BECOME DISORIENTED, LOSE CONTROL, AND CRASH WITH LIKELY FATAL RESULTS. THERE ARE VERY LIKELY, NUMEROUS "UNEXPLAINED FATALITIES" WHERE THIS VERY INCIDENT WAS THE CAUSE. AFTER THE CRASH, FINDING THE CAUSE WOULD BE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND, DUE TO THE FATAL ENDING, NO ONE FROM INSIDE THE AUTO TO RELATE WHAT HAPPENED. THE SAME HEATER CORE AND INSTALLATION ARRANGEMENT HAS EXISTED ON THE FORD TAURUS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. I REPORTED THIS SHORTLY AFTER IT OCCURRED BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE.*AK

CONSUMER CAME TO A START, ENTERED INTO INTERSECTION AND VEHICLE STALLED. ONCE ENGINE COOLS DOWN, IT WILL START BACK UP. CONSUMER IS AWARE OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

RUBBER MOUNTS DETERIORATED, CAUSING THEM TO CRACK IN HALF, DEALER REPLACED. *SLC

WHEN THE HEATER CORE FAILS IN COLD TEMPERATURES, LARGE VOLUMES OF STEAM FROM THE SUPERHEATED COOLING FLUID IS RELEASED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSING ALL WINDOWS TO FOG WITHIN 5 TO 10 SECONDS RENDERING THE DRIVER BLIND ON THE HIGHWAY. OPENING THE WINDOWS AND SHUTTING OFF THE HEATER IS NOT A RAPID ENOUGH REMEDY. THE WINDSHIELD REMAINS FOGGED AS DOES THE REAR WINDOW, EVEN WITH THE REAR WINDOW DE-FOG/ICER ON. THIS INCIDENT PRODUCES A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION FOR EVEN AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AT NORMAL URBAN TRAFFIC SPEEDS. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND AT NIGHT, THIS BECOMES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE RUPTURE OF THE HEATER CORE IS INSTANTANEOUS AND COMES WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

I WAS DRIVING LOOKING FOR A PARKING SPACE WHEN CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED. *AK

WHILE USING JACK AS VEHICLE EQUIPMENT SAW A SPLIT ON BODY OF JACK NEAR THE HINGE. THERE ARE CRACKS ON BOTH SIDES OF JACK NEAR THE HINGE. *YH

THE ENGINE CRADLE SUPPORT BUSHINGS HAVE CORRODED, NOW THE A PIECE OF THE STEEL FRAME IS HANGING DOWN, MY EXHAUST MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AS WELL AS THE RACK & PINION. I LOST ALL STEERING WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURED. ONE WHEEL IS TURNED INWARD AND THE OTHER IS STRAIGHT, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS/DEADLY ACCIDENT. THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE AT THIS TIME.I HAVE CONTACTED 3 DEALERS AS WELL AS CUSTOMER SERVICE 800 FOR FORD AND NHTSA AND AM NOT GETTING THIS RESOLVED, I'M BEING TOLD I HAVE NO OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE.I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS POSSIBLE. I'VE TRIED TO GET IN TOUCH W/CEO OF FORD, HE HASN'T RETURNED CALL. I HAVE NO CAR AT THIS TIME, THIS NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.IF I CANNOT BE REACHED YOU MAY CALL PAUL MARZEC AT 540- 659-6180 AFTER 6PM.

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN IGINTION MODULE. *AK *SLC

STRUT ROD LOCATED BETWEEN LOWER CONTROL ARM AND FRONT OF SUBFRAME UNDER RADIATOR ON ONE SIDE, CAUSING ROD TO MOVE A HALF INCH. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK THE MOUNT IN THE FRAME BROKE CAUSING THE STRUT ROD TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH AND WORE OUT THE BUSHINGS. *YH

2:30 IN THE AFTERNOON ON SEPT 20TH..I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY TAURUS AROUND TOWN,BURIEN WA. I WAS GOING ABOUT 35 TO 40 MPH. AND I WAS 4 BLOCKS FROM HOME WHEN MY CAR WENT DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. NO WARNING SIGNS..NOTHING..JUST CAME TO A DEAD HALT..I LOOKED DOWN AT THE GAGES AND I NOTOCED MY CAR SAID OVERHEAT..IT WAS IN THE RED...THAT CAR NEVER HAD AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM..ALL PROPER LIQUIDS WERE IN THE CAR..SO I COULDNT START THE CAR AND I'M STUCK ON A BRIDGE IN A 2 LANE TRAFFIC AREA AND THE START OF RUSH HOUR. I CANNOT START THE CAR. I HAD TO BE TOWED 4 BLOCKS TO MY HOME EVER SINCE THAT DAY MY CAR IS UNABLE TO START. I SAW IN THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT THE RECALL OF THE FORDS BECAUSE OF A DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW THAT CAN CAUSE A VEHICLE TO STALL...MY FATHER PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 1988 IN CALIFORNIA AND I BOUGHT IT FROM HIM 4YRS AGO..SINCE HAD NEW TRANNY IN..NEW RACK PINION AND SAT FOR 2 YRS AND STARTED DRIVING AGAIN IN 99 NO PROBLEMS SINCE UNTIL THIS STALL ON THE BRIDGE . PLEASE RESPOND IF THIS FITS THE CRITERIA OF THE RECALL

WIRE FROM STARTER RELAY TO IGNITION SWITCH HAD NO INSULATION OTHER THAN RUBBER CAUSING WIRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WIRING IN THE DASH TO MELT AND CAUSE A FIRE. *SLC

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE AT AN INTERSECTION, AND GIVING CAR GAS IT WILL SEVERELY HESITATE, THEN POP AND BACKFIRE, THEN IT WILL GO. TOOK TO FORD FOR A TUNE UP, AND PROBLEM GOT WORSE. TFI MODULE WAS NOT REPLACED.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. ENGINE PULLED AWAY FROM MAIN FRAME DUE TO DEFECTIVE BOLTS. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING BOOT HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SUB FRAME FAILURE, OTHER PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE INCLUDE: TFI MODULE, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BLOWER MOTOR WAS OVERHEATING, FUEL PUMP FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *SLC

RECALL 98 V 323 000/SUBFRAME CORROSION: WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH SUBFRAME DETACHED FROM BODY MOUNT AND CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *TT

I HAVE HAD 2 IGNITION MODULE FAILURES DURING THE 10 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED MY 1988 TAURUS. THE FIRST INCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES AND THE SECOND AT APPROXIMATELY 105,000 MILES. WHILE THESE FAILURES DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT THEY DID CAUSE A GREAT DEAL OF INCONVENIENCE AND COULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCES. FORD DOES NOT SEEM TO THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, YET I HAVE HAD 3 IGNITION MODULE FAILURES ON FORD VEHICLES DURING THE PAST 15 YEARS.

TEMPERATURE WENT UP, AND LARGE AMOUNT OF WHITE VAPOR CAME FROM OUT OF TAIL PIPE. DEALER SAID WARRANTY DID NOT EXTEND BACK THAT FOR BECAUSE OF THE YEAR OF VEHICLE. *AK

SUB FRAME BOLTS BROKE MOTOR MOUNTS ON ENGINE AND BOOT ON STEERING---BOLTS WERE DEFECT ALL FOUR BOLTS---PUT STRESS/STRAIN ON ENGINE/STEERING

CONTACTED FORD VIA WEBSITE WITH NO FEEDBACK AND CONTACTED LOCAL FORD DEALER WITH NEGATIVE FEEDBACK. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

KNOWN FAILURE OF ORIGINAL COMPONENT AT LOWER THAN NORMAL LIFE EXPECTANCY. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED HEATER NOT WORKING. PULLED OVER & TURNED VEHICLE OFF. RESTARTED VEHICLE & HEATER WORKED FINE. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN SIGNAL SWITCH WAS TURNED ON, THE LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK. THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE JIGGLED BEFORE BEING ABLE TO START VEHICLE. HAS NOT BEEN TO DEALERSHIP AS OF YET.*AK

SEATBELT BUCKLES JUST CAME APART IN MY HANDS. BOTH FRONT SEATBELTS HAVE NO BUCKLES, BECAUSE OF THIS. REAR WIRING FOR RUNNING LIGHTS, DEVELOPED EXTREME CORROSION AND TAILLIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY BLEW OUT APPROXIMATELY EVERY TWO-THREE DAYS. A SMALL ELECTRICAL BURNOUT OCCURRED BURNING THE PLUGS AND LENSES. HOOD SHOCKS USED TO HOLD UP HOOD WHILE WORKING ON VEHICLE SUCH AS CHANGING/ CHECKING OIL...ETC...ARE NON FUNCTIONAL AND NO BAR IS PROVIDED , NOR IS THERE A SPACE FOR ONE. CAUSING EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITIONS BECAUSE HOOD DROPS DOWN SUDDENLY CAUSING INJURY.

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE IN HALF, CONSUMER CAN'T DRIVE WITHOUT SEATBELT, IT IS STATE LAW WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURED. *AK *YC

RECEIVED RECALL #98V323000. CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE ON DATE GIVEN. THE RECALL FOR SUBFRAME CORROSION MOUNTING PLATE WAS REPAIRED. PICKED VEHICLE UP. THE VEHICLE STILL SHAKES & SHIMMIES UNDERNEATH. THE RECALL REMEDY HAD FAILED. OWNER NOT HAPPY. *AK

CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING ERRATIC OPERATION OF IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY. VEHICLE WILL EITHER NOT START OR CUTS OFF DURING OPERATION. *AK DEALER FIRST REPLACED STARTER ASSEMBLY AND THEN LATER DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY. *SLC

THIS TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT TWICE IN A 6 MONTH SPAN/I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS TRANSMISSION WAS NOT RIGHT WHEN IT COME OUT OF THE FORD PLANT ,RATHER THAN FIX IT BEFORE IT GOT TO THE SHOWROOM,THEY PUT OUT A SERVICE MEMO TO HAVE IT FIXED AFTER IT TORE UP SOMETHING TO DO WITH A FLUID COOLING PROBLEM OUR CAR HAS HIGH MILEAGE ON IT BUT ANYONE WHO HAS ONE HAS HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *AK

LEMON SINCE THE DAY I GOT IT. FORD WON'T HONOR HERTZ RESALES. AT 31K ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION BLEW; MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, LIST OF DEFECTS WOULD BE TWO PAGES LONG--SOME MAY STEM FROM SEVERE CORROSION ON UNDERSIDE BUT CAR WAS ONLY ON EAST COAST FOR 1 YEAR. FORD NONRESPONSIVE. *AK

COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE SIGNAL LIGHTS AND ODOMETER TO FAIL. COULDN'T TELL THE MILEAGE. *AK

POWER STEERING HOSE ARE TO CLOSE TO ENGINE MANIFOLD THREE TIMES THEY MELTED CAUSING FLUID TO BE LOST AND STEERING FAILURE ONE TIME A HOSE BROKE CAUSING A FIRE THE HARNESS HAD TO BE REPAIRED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF FLUID STARVATION THE HOSE WERE PLACED AWAY FROM MANIFOLD AFTER GREAT EXPENSE SOME ONE COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED ARE KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR THE SUBFRAME CORROSION RECALL, WHEN SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC FOR CHECK UP, MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS WERE MISSING, DEALERSHIP DID NOT TELL CONSUMER HER ENGINE MOUNTS WERE MISSING, WHEN SHE BEGAN TO DRIVE THE ENGINE WAS MOVING AROUND.

IGNITION OPERATES WITH OUT THE KEY. OCCASIONALLY STOPS WORKING.

DRIVER'S SEAT CLIP FOR THE FRONT ATTACHING BRACKET WAS MISSING CAUSING THE SEAT TO LURCH BACKWARD. MJS

DEALER PUT WRONG BATTERY, AND BATTERY EXPLODED AND LEFT A BAD ODOR. *AK

HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY ADJUSTED THE HEADLIGHTS, AND THEY STILL DO NOT WORK. *AK

WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TOTALLY LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING ON A QUIET ROAD. THERE WAS NO CRASH. ALSO, BRAKE CALIPERS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

SPRINGS FROM THE REAR SEAT BROKE THROUGH THE CUSHION & ENTERED THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS. HAD NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE CSS. HAD TURNED VEHICLE OFF & TOOK CHILD OUT OF SEAT. THE NEXT DAY, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & HAD IT CHECKED. A FIRE HAD OCCURRED UNDER THE SEAT WHERE THE CSS WAS LOCATED. *AK

RECALL ON REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS. MY CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SUBFRAME MOUNTS WHICH ARE IDENTICAL TO THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE FRONT MOUNTS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE SAME RECALL.

NEED MANUFACTURER TO CONFIRM EMISSIONS CERTIFICATION FOR US.