1992 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

CAR BURNED UP. *AK

HEADGASKET BLEW AND ENGINE HEAD WARPED ON MY 3.8L FORD TAURUS WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPEND WITHIN A YEAR. MY MECHANIC TOLD THIS IS VERY COMMON ON 3.8L ENGINE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE NHTSA HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT THIS.*AK

FOLLOW-UP -- I.E., ADD'L COMPLAINTS ABOUT FAILURES FOR SUCH A LOW-MILEAGE CAR. THESE CAUSED SAFETY PROBLEMS AND ALSO CONCERN BY CONSUMER'S CERTIFIED MECHANIC. MANUFACTURER SHOULD ASSIST FOR PAYMENT OF DEFECTS AND FAILURES. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED. *AK

FOR A CAR WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE, HAVE HAD TO REPLACE OR FIX SIGNIFICANT NUMBER ITEMS (SERIOUS SAFETY ITEMS INCLUDED!!) THAT FAILED. HOPE MANUFACTURER CAN HELP REIMBURSE COSTS. PER RESEARCH, THESE ITEMS SHOULD NOT BREAK DOWN AT THIS MILEAGE LEVEL! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

AFTER A QUICK STOP CABLE OF THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT ON FLOORBOARD SNAPPED. NO INJURIES.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY FOR THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT SYSTEM IS BROKE AND FAILS TO LOCK INTO POSITION, DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THIS COMPONENT IS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND IS NOT AFFECTED BY A RECALL.*AK. CONSUMER STATES THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT CABLE SEPARATED WHEN COMING TO A QUICK STOP.*SLC

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT FLASHES ON DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON FAILED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO SLIP, DOWNSHIFT IN BANG. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISON WITH A LIGHT POLE AT 30-40 MPH AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THROTTLE STICKS AT 35 MPH, THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON 2 DEC 2001.*AK

VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY TIME/ ANY SPEED. DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *YD

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT AT NINETY-ONE THOUSAND MILES, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT GASKETS BLOWOUT AT OR AROUND NINETY-THOUSAND MILES, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER FOR RECALL OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT WAS TOLD IT DID NOT APPLY TO 1992 MODELS, CONSUMER FELT THAT 1992 MODELS SHOULD BE INCLUDED. *AK *NLM

AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING. CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED, AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUED FLASHING. AIRBAG MONITOR ALSO REPLACED. THIS WAS CONSIDERED A DOUBLE FAILURE. PLEASE LINVESTIGATE IF THE FIRST FAILURE WENT UNDETECTED, OR CAUSED THE SECOND FAILURE, OR WAS A COINCIDENCE. YOUR RESPONSE WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

WHILE PROCEEDING FROM A STOP SIGN ANOTHER DRIVER HIT CONSUMER ON DRIVER'S SIDE TOWARDS FRONT OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER'S CAR WAS TOTALLED. ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS SMASHED. ALSO, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

MECHANIC STATED MANY TAURUS TRANSMISSION NEED REPLACEMENT (CONFIRMED BY OTHER MECHANICS) . FORD UPGRADED THE REPLACEMNT PARTS BECAUSE ORIGANALS WERE OF POOR QUALITY. CAN YOU CONFIRM THIS.*AK

CAR WILL CUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

3.8 LITER HEAD GASKET BLEW AND CAUSED MAJOR DAMGAE TO ENGINE AT ONLY 72,000 MILES ! CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN HARD AND ALL SERVICE/MAINTENCE WAS KEPT UP. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND FORD IS NOT WILLING TO HELP WITH THE COST. I CALLLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE AND EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND DID NOT KNOW IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AMONG THIS ENGINE. I AM VERY DISAPOINTED IN FORD FOR THIS. FORD SHOULD AT LEAST SPLIT THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *AK

LEFT FRONT STRUT COIL SPRING BROKE, CAUSING END OF BROKEN COIL SPRING TO SLICE OPEN TIRE, CAUSING A TIRE BLOWOUT AND SUSPENSION OF CAR DROPPING, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO FRONT TIE-ROD END AS WEIGHT OF VEHICLE FELL ON STEERING MECHANISM. SPEED AT BREAK AROUND 5 MPH AS DAUGHTER WAS PULLING AWAY FROM STOP. THIS IS DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE; AND, SHE PAID BILL FROM HER COLLEGE SAVINGS. CONSIDERING MILEAGE & AGE, I THINK FORD SHOULD AT LEAST PAY FOR 50% OF TOTAL BILL ($618). FORD CUSTOMER SERV. REP. TOLD ME THERE WAS IN FACT A RECALL, BUT MY VIN # DOESN'T QUALIFY ME FOR A REFUND. JUDGING FROM YOUR OTHER LOGGED COMPLAINTS, THERE SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR FAULT WITH FORD'S REASONING ON WHO'S ELEGIBLE AND WHO'S NOT. THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS SITE FOR THESE DEFECT INVESTIGATION AND CHECKING INTO THIS COMPLAINT.*AK

AFTER STARTING FROM A STOP ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISES AT LOW SPEEDS. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE ENGINE WAS NO GOOD, THAT BEARINGS WERE GONE . I NEEDED A NEW OR REBUILT ENGINE AND THAT THIS WAS COMMON ON THE 3.8L ENGINE. THIS ENGINE ONLY HAD 46,404 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

IGNITION MODULE FAILED IN JUNE, 2001 AT 101,377 MILES AND NOW AGAIN IT HAS FAILED AT 113,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR JUST WOULDN'T START IN FRONT OF A BUILDING, THE SECOND TIME AT A CITY INTERSECTION AT MIDNIGHT. IN CHECKING WITH FORD CORP AND THE LOCAL FORD DEALER THEY HAVE NO HEAT DEFLECTOR, INSULATOR OR KIT TO MOVE THE IGNITION MODULE FROM ITS LOCATION JUST ABOVE THE ENGINE AT THE BASE OF THE DISTRIBTOR. NOW I FEEL MY CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND NO ONE WILL EVEN OFFER A SOLUTION. DO I NEED TO FILE A LAWSUIT FOR THE BLUE BOOK VALUE OF MY CAR AGAINST FORD?

FUSES KEPT BLOWING AND VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING, CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED OUT.*AK *SLC

I DISCOVERED THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS HAD BROKEN. THEY BOTH BROKE ON THE OUTSIDE LOWER COIL.*AK

CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH HEATER, AND HEAT GAUGE WOULD GO UP AND DOWN. THOUGHT AUTOMOBILE WAS GOING TO EXPLODE. TOOK AUTOMOBILE TO SHOP, AND THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS HEAD GASKETS. *AK THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE WAS A COMMON PROBLELM WITH 3.8 ENGINE. *YH

MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BROKEN OFF, JUST TOP TWO NOT BOTTOM TWO. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER SAID IT WAS REGULAR STRESS. *AK

THE A/C - HEATER BLOWER STOPS RUNNING FOR AN INDEFINITE TIME PERIOD. DURING THIS TIME PERIOD, THE TURN SIGNALS WILL NOT WORK. FOR NO ACTION ON MY PART, THE BLOWER RESTARTS. AT THE INSTANT THAT THE BLOWER RESTARTS, THE AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT LIGHTS MOMENTARILY, THE SAME AS IT DOES WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON. I STRONGLY SUSPECT THAT THE AIR BAG IS NOT "READY" DURING THE TIME THAT THE BLOWER IS OFF, CLEARLY A DANGEROUS CONDITION. DURING THE TIME THAT THE BLOWER IS OFF, I THINK THAT THE BACKUP POWER SUPPLY (A CAPACITOR) DISCHARGES, AND WHEN THE POWER IS RESTORED TO THE BLOWER, THE BACKUP POWER SUPPLY CAPACITOR RECHARGES, CAUSING THE AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT TO LIGHT MOMENTARILY. SEVERAL TIMES, THE KAM (CONTINUOUS MEMORY) HAS BEEN CODE-SCANNED, WITH THE RESULT THAT NO FAILURE CODES WERE REVEALED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON ONLY DURING ENGINE START; NOT AFTERWARDS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGH WAY OVER 40 MPH TRANSMISSION WILL LOOSE SPEED DOWN TO 10 MPH. CONSUMER COULD BE REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK

ENGINE LOCKED BECAUSE HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING AND WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM TAIL PIPE. TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT 3.8L V6 ENGINE HAD BLOWN ANOTHER HEAD GASKET, FIRST ONE OCCURRED AT 47,700 MILES. *AK CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND. *SLC

WHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT, AND MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND IT WAS MOTOR MOUNTS. *AK

PREMATURELY CRACKED AND ROTTED COMPONENTS. ENGINE MOUNTS WERE ALREADY REPLACED VIA PREVIOUS RECALL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 70MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ABS BRAKES BECAME STUCK. BRAKE ASSIST FAILED. BRAKES WERE SMOKING. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE WOULD REV VERY HIGH. DISCONNECTED CRUISE CONTROL CABLE TO THROTTLE. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY, THERE IS SERIOUS BUCK/JERK UPON ACCELERATION FROM STANDSTILL, RESULTING IN LOSS OF ACCELERATION POWER. CLEARLY, THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. SEVERAL TIMES, THE KAM (CONTINUOUS MEMORY) HAS BEEN CODE-SCANNED, WITH THE RESULT THAT NO FAILURE CODES WERE REVEALED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON ONLY DURING ENGINE START; NOT AFTERWARDS.*AK

FROM ALL THE INFORMATION I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REVIEW, THERE SEEMS TO BE AN UNUSALLY HIGH INCIDENCE OF HEAD GASKET FAILURES IN THE 3.8L ENGINE. THIS WOULD SEEM TO INDICATE A FACTORY DEFECT PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND VEHICLE JUST STOPS WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. BUT, VEHICLE WILL STARTS BACK UP. DEALERSHIP CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK

MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 7 TIMES IN 5 YEARS. NOT NOTIFIED OF RECALL. NOT HAPPY AT ALL WITH PURCHASE OF CAR AND SELLER HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WENT IN 1999 AND WAS REPLACED FOR $2500. IN DEC 2000 THE HEAD GASKET WENT AND IT DESTROYED MY NEW TRANNY ALSO SO I NEEDED TO GET THEM BOTH FIXED. IT ALSO DESTROYED MY RADIATOR WHICH I ALSO JUST REPLACED. IN TWO YEARS TIME I HAVE PUT CLOSE TO $6000 INTO THIS CAR. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME TO WRITE TO YOU. I BELIEVE THE HEAD DESTROYED ALOT OF MY PARTS AND THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BLOWN AT 94000 MILES. I ALSO KNOW OTHER FORDS WERE KNOWN FOR THIS AND FORD COVERED IT. I FEEL FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR A LEAST HALF OF THE $6000 I SPENT IN THE PAST YEAR. THANK YOU. *AK

I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 1995 FROM THE DEALER. IT ONLY HAD 17K MILES ON IT AND A 1 YEAR UNLIMITED WARRANTY BUMPER TO BUMPER EXCEPT TIRES. (I WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD HAD A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD AND HAD BEEN COMPLETELY RE-CHECKED BY THE FACTORY.) THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, ON MY LUNCH HOUR I DROVE ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES TO A DOCTOR APPT. 45 MINUTES LATER AS I HEADED BACK TO MY OFFICE, THE CAR STARTED ACTING FUNNY, BEING "JERKY." WITHIN ONE MILE IT GOT WORSE. NONE OF MY WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. AFTER WORK, I STARTED THE CAR AND WHITE/CLEAR SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE BACK. I DROVE 1/4 MI TO P/U MY DAUGHTER AND WE DROVE 1 1/4 MILES HOME. THE CAR DIED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE REST IS HISTORY. *AK

WHILE TRAVELLING 40 MPH HEADGASKET BLEWOUT, CAUSING FLUID TO CONTAMINATE THE ALTERNATOR WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. *SLC

I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE (800) 392 3673 SINCE THIS PROBLEM IS LISTED AS A RECALL ON YOUR WEBSITE, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I THINK THAT SINCE MY VEHICLE IS EXHIBITING THE PROBLEM, IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED, CONSUMER OWNS TWO OF THESE VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

I AM UPSET, THAT I GOT MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES, THERE IS NO OTHER REASON WHY MY GASKET CAN FAIL SO EARLY (AT 84,000 MILES). THIS IS QUITE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, AND I BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MADE. THAT IS WHY IT BLEW ON ME, NOT BECUASE OF MY FAULT. IF SOMEONE CAN GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH ME, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. *AK

HAVE PAID ALOT OF MONEY FOR THE HEATER TO GET FIXED BUT IT STILL WILL NOT WORK. SICK OF DEALING WITH CAR, DEALER, AND MANUFACTURER!!!!!!!!!!

I'M OUT THE COST OF BUYING THIS CAR AND THE REPAIRS I'VE MADE--CANNOT INVEST ANY MORE $. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS AT SLOW SPEED. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT THERE IS A CRANKING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING. DRIVER FEELS THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY