1994 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING GAS PEDAL TO TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR. ALSO, BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE , PLACE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WIRING WORN THRU AT STEERING COLUMN. FORD DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS ABNORMAL.,ONLY QUICK THINKING PREVENTED A MAJOR FIRE WITH POSSIBLE INJURIES.. MINOR FIRE OCCURRED.*AK

WE HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR 3 TIMES. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS WITHIN 3 MONTHS AND WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS AT 84313 MILES AND WE PUT A NEW FORD MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR. THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED AT ONLY 16000 ADDITIONAL MILES. OUR TRANSMISSION REPAIR COST US $1345 BECAUSE WE WERE NOT CHARGED LABOR BY OUR INDEPENDENT REPAIR DEALER. THIS TIME WE DIDN'T PUT IN A FORD MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AND WE'RE STILL GOING AT OVER 120,000 MILES. WE SUED FORD IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT AND LOST.

BODY MOUNT HAD CORRODED. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION TO DROP. WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED. THE RACK & PINION ON THE STEERING WAS LOST. HAD NO CONTROL. VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC. *AK

CAR HESITATES AND JERKS WHEN PUT IN GEAR. ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT WON'T MOVE AT *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

WHEN TEMPERATURE APPROACHES 100 DEGREES AND VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AT ROAD SPEEDS APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR TO 1.5 HOURS VEHICLE IGNITION STALLS AND ENGINE DIES. THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL THE VEHICLE COOLS FOR APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MINUTES. IF VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT MODERATE SPEEDS, 50-55 MPH IT DOES NOT STALL AGAIN. FIRST TWO INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE WAS AT IDLE AND BEGINNING ACCELERATING. LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED AT ROAD SPEED IN INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. MECHANICS AT LOCAL SERVICE STATION AND FORD DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO OPERATE THIS VEHICLE WHEN CLIMATE CONDITIONS EXCEED 95 DEGREES UNTIL THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED. *AK

WAS AT STOP LIGHT WHEN ENGINE STARTED REVVING WITH FOOT ON BRAKES. VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, AND REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS WAS THE 2ND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WILL BE TAKING TO DEALER. *AK

TRANSAXLE IS AN AXOD MODEL THAT HAD THE FORWARD PISTON AND SEAL FAIL, RESULTING IN SEVERE SLIPPAGE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE PREVALENT IN THIS TRANSAXLE, AND HAS BEEN KNOWN TO FORD SINCE AT LEAST 1994 (SEE TSB 94-24-7). THE AXOD CAME WITH AN ALUMINUM PISTON, NOW REPLACED WITH A STEEL ONE. THE PROBLEM IS THE HUGE COST TO THE CONSUMER TO REPAIR, AND THE INHERENT SAFETY CONCERN OF THE TRANAXLE SLIPPING AS YOU TRY TO MERGE OR TURN ONTO A ROAD WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC.

THE FRONT ENGINE PAN GASKET (HALF-MOON SHAPE RUBBER PART) POPPED OUT, THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A PREVIOUS FORD I OWNED WITH THE SAME TYPE ENGINE.

THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH A SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WITH DRIVING TIME (OVER 10 MINUTES) AND WITH CALENDAR TIME (IT WAS DOING IT ALMOST CONSTANTLY). WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE FROM A DEAD STOP THE ENGINE WOULD RACE (1ST GEAR ACCELERATION) AND THEN SUDDENLY JUMP INTO GEAR AND LURCH FORWARD. IT WAS SOMEWHAT DANGEROUS BECAUSE I HAD TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS ENOUGH ROOM IN FRONT OF THE CAR SO AS NOT TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT.

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS MATTER BUT THE DEALER REFUSES RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT. *ML

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE WOULD ONLY TRAVEL 15-25 MPH AND ENGINE WOULD MAKE LOUD NOISE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION FAILURE/ IGNITION KEY SLIPS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE, AND REPLACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. *AK

FORD TAURUS 3.8L. SUGGEST THAT NHTSA ORDER A RECALL. BILLOWING STEAM FROM ENGINE IS BLINDING IN COLD WEATHER. FORD IS NOT SUPPORTING MY EFFORTS TO MAKE MY CAR SAFE. THEY RESEALED THE HEAD, BUT CAR CONTINUES TO LOSE COOLANT THROUGH GASKET. MANY UNSAFE CARS ON THE ROAD. THE FORD FIX DOES NOT WORK. THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE BOUGHT BACK AND TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. AS THESE CARS AGE, MORE WILL "EXPLODE" BLINDING DRIVER. *AK

DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME OF PRE-MATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE, DETECTED ANTIFREEZE ON MY SPARKPLUGS, ADVISES HEAD-GASKET REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $1400

3.8 LITER ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 78,000 MILES, CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE UP, EXTREME AMOUNT OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF EXHAUST. NO PRIOR WARNING WAS GIVEN. *AK

BOTH FRONT AND REAR ENGINE MOUNTS BROKE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. SEEKING HELP IN THIS MATTER.*AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 94E036000, FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS. DEALER STATED THAT PARTS DID NOT NEED REPLACING. HOWEVER, CONSUMER NOTED THAT THE RECALL LETTER STATED THAT STRUTS WILL ALSO BE REPLACED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN GEAR IT DIDN'T MOVE. THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, REQUIRING OVERHAUL OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. REPAIRS MADE AT OWNER'S COST. FORD AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. *AK *ML

NO SUMMARY MENTIONED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

POWER WIRE FROM CABLE TO STARTER FAILED. *ET

FORD KNOWS ABOUT PROBLEM TO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50MPH WHITE CLOUD BEGAN COMMING FROM EXHAUST PIPE AND WATER TEMPERATURE BEGAN TO RISE, PULLED OVER AND HAD CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT BOTH HEAD GASKETS HAD FAILED AND THAT REPAIR ESTAMENT WAS $1200.00, I CALLED A FORD DEALERSHIP AND RECIEVED A SLIGHTLY HIGHER ESTAMENT BUT FORD FAILED TO MENTION THAT THE TAURUS AND SABLE ENGINES WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FAULITY HEAD GASKETS.

CONSUMER COULD NOT EXIT VEHILCE DUE TO A BROKEN DOOR LOCK CLIP. NLM

HEAD GASKETAND BRAKE FAILURES. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AND HAS BEEN REPAIRED. SINCE THAT TIME IT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO ME THAT FORD IN THE YEARS OF 94 & 94 HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKET BLOWING OUT. BENA FORD IN DULUTH MN HAS SOLD UP TO 3 PER WEEK FOR THE 3.8L ENGINE FOR THE YEAR REPORTED. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO REPAIRS FORDS AND HE IS THE ONE WHO FIRST REPORTED THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM TO ME. IT COULD BE A SAFETY FACTOR IF IT HAPPENS ON A HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AND CORRECTED. I CAN PROVIDED FUTHER INFORMATION IF NEEDED, I.E. NAMES. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. RALPH LARSEN. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAD BEGIN TO FAIL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALL OF THE SUDDEN ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING WITH MY WIFE AND SON AND CAR BEGAN TO LUNGE BACK AND FORTH. AND AS I HAD GOTTEN THIS LOOKED AT I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING FROM A PROFESSIONAL IN HAWAII. I THEN PAID OVER 1 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED. NOT EVEN A YEAR LATER AND LESS THAN 30,OOO MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO AT UP AGAIN. CAME BACK TO THE STATES HAD SOMEONE LOOK AT IT AND AGAIN I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. THIS IS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE HAPPENING. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO GET THIS FIXED. MY WIFE WON'T EVEN DRIVE THE CAR IN FEAR OF LEAVING HER STRANDED. I KNOW THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE PROBLEM ON THIS PARTICULAR CAR.*AK

STARTER SOLENOID HAS BEEN MOVED FROM HAYNES MANUAL DESCRIPTION; IT IS NOW ON THE STARTER MOTOR, IN A GM-TYPE ARRANGEMENT. HOWEVER, THE STARTER MOTOR IS MOUNTED ON THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE, LOW, ESSENTIALLY UNDER THE RADIATOR. THIS EXPOSES THE STARTER LEAD (NOT THE BATTERY OR MOTOR LEAD) TO CORROSION. THIS FAILED TODAY. IT SHOULD NOT BE IN THIS POSITION OR SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM CORROSION. *AK

RECEIVED A RECALLS NOTICE ABOUT HEAD GASKET IN SUMMER OF 1999 WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS TO OLD.

TRANSMISSION ISN'T SHIFTING PROPERLY. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO FAILURE. THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN THE HEAD GASKET, WHICH IS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE OUT THE EXHAUST PIPE. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL PRIOR TO FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR , BUT DEALER ONLY REPLACED ONE GASKET, WHEN BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *YC

WHILE AT ACOMPLETE STOP VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND SUDDENLY IT ACCELERATED. THE PISTONS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *AK

FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON CRACKED CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO SLIP AS PER TSB 94-24-7 SEQUENCE #080. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THS VEHICLE. *AK

RECALL COMPONENT HEAD GASKET FAILED, HOWEVER DENIED DUE TO EXPIRATION DATE OF JANUARY 1999. MJS

PER SEVERAL MECHANICS INCLUDING CHUCK CLANCY FORD'S, IT HAS A DEFECTIVE PART (FORWARD PISTON) WHICH SUPPOSEDLY WAS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM ORIGINALLY AND NOW HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH ONE MADE OF STEEL. EACH TECHNICIAN I'VE SPOKEN WITH HAS SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND TO REPLACE THE 8 DOLLAR PART WOULD TAKE 2000 TO 2500 DOLLARS. IF THIS IS A MISTAKE THAT FORD MADE WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS THEN I THINK THAT FORD SHOULD PAY TO FIX IT. WOULDN'T YOU AGREE???

ACCELERATOR JAMMED & SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN I HIT BRAKES TO STOP CRUISE CONTROL.

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM 15 MPH AND TURNING LEFT, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR THEN BANGS INTO GEAR, CAUSING TIRES TO SCREECH AND CAR TO JUMP FORWARD QUICKLY.

I ACTIVATED CRUISE CONTROL AT 50 MPH. CAR ACCELERATED TO 75 MPH. I BRAKED AND CAR SLOWED. I TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE AND CAR ACCELERATED AGAIN. I BRAKED, TURNED OFF CRUISE CONTROL, AND CAR ACCELERATED AGAIN. I HELD DOWN CRUISE CONROL OFF BUTTON AND IT FINALLY DEACTIVATED. I DID NOT TURN IT ON AGAIN.

VEHICLE WAS IDLING WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND SURGED FORWARD, CAUSING THE CLUTCH PISTON TO GO BAD. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98V323000 IN MAIL IN MARCH. HAD CONTACTED DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY DEALER NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. MANUFACTURER' SAID THERE WAS A BACKORDER ON THE PARTS. OWNER NOT SATISFIED. *AK

WHEN SITTING AT A STOP, AND IF CONSUMER TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE WON'T MOVE. THE NEXT THING CONSUMER KNEW WAS THAT VEHICLE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, SEEMD THAT A PISTON IN TRANSMISSION WAS CRACKED. REBUILT TRANSMISSION/TORQUE CONVERTER. AK

CONSUMER STOPPED FOR A STOP LIGHT AND VEHICLE DIED, TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID IT WAS TRANSMISSION. *AK *ML

TRANSMISSION PISTON CRACKED RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO NOT MOVE AND THEN SUDDENLY TAKE OFF ON OCCASIONS. MJS

REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. NLM RECALL 98S36 (98V-323)

THE HEAD GASKETS WERE DEFECTIVE. REPAIRED AND DEFECTIVE A SECOND TIME. THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED. FORD MOTOR FINALLY ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY IN THE FORM OF FIXING IT AT NO COST. HOWEVER, 2.5 MONTHS LATER THE WATER PUMP, RADIATOR AND MOTOR MOUNTS ALL FAILED. FORD REFUSED TO ASSIST IN PAYING FOR THE PUMP AND RADIATOR. THEN REFUSED TO FIX THE MOTOR MOUNTS. I WENT TO THREE GARAGES WHO INDICATED TO ME THAT WHEN MAJOR ENGINE WORK IS DONE ($4,300 WORTH - ENGINE BLOCKS REPLACED) THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED THE OTHER ITEMS ALSO AS THEY WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER. WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR APPROX. $800 AND MOTOR MOUNTS APPROX $300.

HAD PARKED VEHICLE & LEFT. RETURNEDTO VEHICLE & TRIED TO START IT & IT FAILED TO START. FINALLY GOT IT STARTED & DROVE TO DEALER. WAS INFORMED MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED REPLACING. THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN & THE STARTER WAS ERRACTIC. RECA *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OVER AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY PUT IN A NEW ENGINE. ALSO, UPON GOING DOWN THE STREET IT FELT LIKE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN GEAR AND WAS COASTING. TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, AND HE REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED FOR RECALL 98V-009, DEALERSHIP SAID VEHICLE WAS FINE, WITHIN 3 1/2 MONTHS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE COMPONENT AND WAS DENIED SERVICES PER RECALL. MJS

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS NOT DUE TO BAD TRANSMISSION. IT IS DO TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. HAS BEEN FIXED BEFORE FOR SAME THING. GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE TRANSMISSION WILL DISENGAGE. YOU CAN DISCONNECT BATTERY TO RESET COMPUTOR AND IT WORKS FINE ENOUGH TO GET TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT AT MALOY FORD ON 7 APRIL,99 AGAIN TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THAT MAKES TWICE THIS CAR DONE THIS AND TWICE THIS CAR QUIT IN BUSY TRAFFIC. I KNOW THIS CAR IS NOT NEW. *AK