1996 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

VEHICLE WILL NOT DECELERATE AND RPM STAYS AT 2100 WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE STICKS AND MAINTAINS HIGHS SPEED RPM.

VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE HARD STARTING/NO STARTING DUE TO FAULTY INJECTION SYSTEM.

THE HEATING AND COOLING PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE HAVE PROGRESSED FROM BEING INCONVENIENT TO A PERMANENT PROBLEM. FINALLY, AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL 2000 I THOUGHT THAT POSSIBLY IF I HAD THE RADIATOR FLUSHED THAT IT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE HEATING AND A/C PROBLEMS. THE 19TH OF APRIL 2000 I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR A OIL CHANGE AND TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE COOLING SYSTEM. IN THERE NOTES UNDER "CORRECTION" IT SAID "CHECK OVER COOLING SYSTEM;BELTS;HOSES;COOLANT;ECT... THEN IN THE "COMMENT" AREA IT SAID *CK -30 OR BETTER UNLESS ADVISED* IT WAS PICKED UP AND I FELT COMPELLED TO CHECK TO SEE IF THEY HAD TOPPED OFF THE FLUIDS. (BEING A WIDOW AND A SINGLE MOTHER I DON'T KNOW WHO TO TRUST ANY MORE SO I DO MORE CHECKING THEN MAYBE OTHERS) THE COOLANT RESVOIR WAS NEAR EMPTY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK OUT. WE COMPLIED AND EVERY THING WAS FINE FOR APPROXIMATELY A WEEK OR SO. ON THE 29TH OF APRIL WE DROVE IT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES ROUNDTRIP AND ON THE WAY HOME IT STARTED TO OVERHEAT. BY THE TIME WE GOT HOME ALL THE COOLANT WAS OUT OF IT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOOK IT BACK IN MAY 2ND. THIS WAS UNDER THE SECTION "CORRECTION COMMENT": CONTACTED FORD REGARDING CONCERN; ADVISED CUSTOMER ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED; DEALER AND CO. TO ASSIST; CUST. PORTION $700. WELL I GUESS THEY THOUGHT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN RELIEVED THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO STAND THE WHOLE COST, BUT I FOUND OUT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE CAR CAME FROM THE FACTORY WITH THE WRONG COOLANT IN IT. THE COOLANT WAS TOO ACIDIC AND HAD OVERTIME CORRODED THE INTAKE VALVES,ETC.,RESULTING IN THE NECESSITY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. NOW MIND YOU FORD HAD INSTALLED A BY-PASS KIT AND CHEMICAL FLUSH COOLING SYSTEM PER PROGRAM 07/29/99. AND YET WHEN I TALKED TO A WHISTLE BLOWER WANNABE, HE TOLD ME THEY WERE FIRST NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM IN JULY OF 1998. TWO OTHER TAURUSES AT THIS DEALERSHIP HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING THE DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING CAUSING NOISES IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND NO POWER STEERING WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED RACK PINION AND POWER STEERING PUMP. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

THE MAJOR PROBLEM WAS ENGINE OVERHEATING, BROWN COOLANT,LOSS OF HEATER. FORD REPEATED FLUSHED OUT THE HEATER CORE,REPLACED THE COOLLANT, FLUSHED OUT ENGINE, RADIATOR. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR OF THIS THEY FINALLY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH ANOTHER ENGINE, A REBUILT ONE OF COURSE. THEY CONTINUED TO HAVE TO FLUSH OUT THE BROWN COOLANT. NOW THE HEATER DOES NOT WORK AGAIN. THEY SAY THAT SINCE MY WARRANTY IS UP I MUST PAY FOR THE HEATER CORE EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW IT WAS GOING BAD AND THAT THEY HAD TWO RECALLS ON BROWN COOLANT PROBLEMS. THEY SAY THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH ENGINES IF THEY PERFORMED THE RECALL. THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE HEATER CORE ACCORDING TO THE RECALL NOTICE 98-B23 AND 98B23-S1 BUT DID NOT. THEY REPLACED THE STEERING RACK THREE TIMES TO GET RID OF THE NOISE WHEN TURNING. THEN THEY REPLACED THE SPINDLES WHICH THE ENDS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SEALED AT THE FACTORY BUT WERE NOT. THEY GROUND DOWN THE ROTORS SEVERAL TIMES TO KEEP THE CAR FROM VIBRATING AND REPLACED THEM ONCE. THEY REPLACED THE DOOR LOCK WHICH WOULDN'T ALLOW YOU TO OPEN THE CAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THEN REPLACED THE HOOD LATCH SO YOU COULD GET UNDER THE HOOD. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE AC KNOB TWICE SINCE THE PLASTIC INSIDE KEEPS BREAKING. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A PIECE OF JUNK SINCE I GOT IT AND CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY WITH THE COOLENT AND THE HEATER SYSTEM.

HYDRAULIC BRAKES LOCKED UP ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, CAUSING TWO ACCIDENTS

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH WATER IN ROAD DUE TO RAIN OR FIRE HYDRANT BEING FLUSHED, VEHICLE MOMENTARILY LOSES PARTIAL POWERAND BELT BEGINS TO SQUEAL. *AK

THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT; THE "HOT" NEEDLE ZOOMS TO "H" WITHOUT WARNING AND THE AIR CONDITIONER SPEWS OUT HOT AIR; UPON STOPPING, COOLANT ERUPTS FROMTHE RESERVE TANK AND SPILLS OUT IN VOLUME ONTO THE PAVEMENT AND THE CAR BECOMES UNDRIVEABLE.

WHENEVER DRIVING VEHICLE, RADIATOR COOLING (ANTI-FREEZE) WOULD OVERFLOW ONTO THE FAN SERPENTINE BELT DUE TO SLICKNESS OF COOLANT, WOULD LOSE CONTROL OF STEERING. MOVED TO SIDE OF ROAD TO LET COOLANT DRY ON FAN BELT & THEN WOULD PROCEED. *AK

WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED TRANSMISSION WOULD JERK OR SLIP. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC REPLACED IT WITH A REBUILT ONE. JERKING/SLIPPING REAPPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE BACK & IT WAS TEST DRIVEN, NO PROBLEMS EXISTED. FOR A 3RD TIME, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER THAT FORD ORDERD NOT TO FIXED THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THE MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK

DOOR HANDLE FAILED.

AFTER 8 MILES NEW VEHICLE NEEDED TO TURN ROTORS. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 3000 MORE MILES ANOTHER SET WAS NEEDED. APPROXIMATELY EVERY 3000 MILES NEW ROTORS AND CALPIERS. PUT IN NEW SYSTEMS , DEALERSHIP CAN NEVER FIX DEFECT PROPERLY. UNCONTROLABLE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS DEFECT CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

AFTER MAKING A STOP THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE UNLESS THE GEAR SHIFT WAS MOVED AROUND. VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

THE PARK PAWL IS BROKEN ON THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WILL ROLL FORWARD WHEN IN PARK. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE PART BUT HIS VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND THERE WAS A FIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK

VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES WHEN COMING OFF THE INTERSTATE, TRIED PUMPING THE BRAKES, THEY WOUDN'T WORK. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM JUST SHUT DOWN. *AK

HOOD LATCH: ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE HOOD ANT THE ENTIRE LATCH CAME OFF IN DRIVER'S HAND. *AK

DEALER SAID TOOL TO REPAIR RECALL PART COULD NOT BE LOCATED, CUSTOMER WILL BE LOCATED WHEN TO BRING VEHICLE IN.

ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATES. GURGLEING SOUND UNDER HOOD DURING FLUCTUATIONS. ODOR HEAT SMELL ENTERS CAR DURING FLUCTUATIONS. DEALER CLAIMS FLUCTUATIONS ARE NORMAL, BUT, DID INSTALL A BYPASS KIT ON THE COOLING SYSTEM AFTER NUMEROUS RETURNS TO THE DEALRSHIP. FORD CONSUMER LINE REPRESENTATIVES CLAIMSTHERE ARE NO PROBLEMS REPORTED ON THE MAKE AND MODEL, AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THE MAKE AND MODEL. *AK

THE OWNER GOT INTO THE CAR AND STARTED IT UP AND PLAYED WITH THE RADIO WHEN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A VEHICLE COLLISION.

DOOR HINGE ON CONSOLE BROKEN AND AIR CONDITIONER MAKE LOUD HUMMING NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. STEERING LOCKS UP AND CAUSE CANNOT BE DETERMINED.

ABS BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN APPLIED THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WAS VERY HARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, SPEED 25MPH. *AK

FIRST INCIDENT DRIVING UNDER WET ROADS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE RAN A PUDDLE OF WATER THE CAR STALLS BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, VERY LITTLE OR NO STEERING CAN BE DONE . *AK

POWER STEERING FAILED.

WHEN EVER THE VEHICLE RUNS THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FAIL AND ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS / CUTS OFF. THE VEHICLE CAN BE INSTANTLY STARTED BACK UP BY TURNING THE IGNITION AGAIN. DEALER CAN'T FIND SOLUTION. *ML

THE THROTTLE CABLE SNAPPED WHEN ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED.

WHEN DRIVING AT SPEED 3040 TO 40 MPH, VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

WHEN TURNING VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND RETURNING, VEHICLE MAKES NOISES AND VIBRATES. DEALER SAYS STEERING FILTER HOSE AND POWER STEERING GEAR SHORT ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ML

DURING REAR-END COLLISION THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT MECHANISM BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS INTO THE REAR SEAT. *AK

HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH OVERHEATED TWICE.

CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR HANDLE STICKING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE LOCK SWITCH.

CONSUMER SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN SHE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE SIDE HEAD-ON. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, INJURING THE PASSENGER. PASSENGER AND DRIVER WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND THE DRIVER SUFFERED A BROKEN WRIST. THE PASSENGER IS 67YEARS OF AGE. HAD ALMOST EVERY BONE IN FACE BROKEN, EXCEPT FOR LOWER JAW BONE. THE AIR BAG COVER WAS DENTED DUE TO IMPACT OF PASSENGER'S FACE. *AK

INTERMITTENT STALLING.

THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS STARTED ACTING UP A LITTLE AFTER A YEAR OF OUR VEHICLE PURCHASE. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT DOORS ARE SUPPOSE TO UNLOCK ALL FOUR DOORS WHEN AN UNLOCK MOTION IS DONE TWICE. WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH UNSATISFACTORY RESULTS. AT ONE POINT, WE COULD NOT UNLOCK THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. AFTER THE WARRENTY PERIOD EXPIRED, THE DEALER SUDDENLY HAD A SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEM BUT AT OUR EXPENSE. I DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR A REPAIR THAT SHOULD OF BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DOORS REMAIN UNREPAIRED TO THIS DAY

COMPUTER MODULE FAILED.

FRONTAL COLLISION, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, SPEED25MPH, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 150 MPH AND THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL SEPARTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER REPLACED THE RIM. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH WATER OR RAIN THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. BRAKES MAKE A SQUEEKING NOISE AND THE STEERING LOCKS UP. CONTACTED DEALER WHEN UNDER WARRANTY. PROBLEM WENT AWAY TEMPORARILY, BUT CURRENTLY PROBLEM REAPPEARED.*AK

STEERING: WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MAKING A TURN TO THE RIGHT THERE IS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING, AND IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE LIKE METAL RUBBING METAL. HAD THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR ON MARCH 6, AND DEALER SAID IT WAS IN THE STEERING AND THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART. HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THEM MANY TIMES AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE PART TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

WINDSHIELD MOLDING DEFECTIVE.

VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A MANUALLY ACTIVATED LIGHT SWITCH. WHEN THE SWITCH IS SET TO THE HEADLIGHT POSITION, THE AREA TO THE LEFT OF THE SWITCH ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HEATS UP AND REMAINS HOT. THIS CONDITION ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. *AK

ALL FOUR EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE IN WARM WEATHER, THIS HAPPENS SOMETIMES, BUT NOT ALL OF THE TIME. *AK

DRIVER HAD CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER CAR AND AIR-BAGS DID NOT COME OUT. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND STARTED SMELLING SMOKE AND THE ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *AK

DRIVING ABOUT 35MPH WHEN POWER STEERING TIGHTENED UP SUDDENLY & WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE ;LOST STEERING CONTROL, TOOK TO DEALER TO LOCATE PROBLEM. SO FAR COULD NOT. *AK

THE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKED OIL.

CAR SOLD WITHOUT RECALL WORK BEING PERFORMED.

AIR NOISE FROM FRONT WINDOW.

DIFFICULTY SCHEDULING TRANSAXLE RECALL REPAIR.

REAR BRAKES LOCK UP.