1996 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

I HAVE A 1996 TAURUS SEDAN. DURING A CAR SEAT SAFETY INSPECTION THE OFFICER ADVISED US THAT THE ARM REST IN THE BACK SEAT COULD FALL DOWN DURING AN ACCIDENT, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY TO THE BABY IN A REAR FACING CARSEAT. THIS WAS OVERLOOKED BY THE FIRST OFFICER. WE PURCHASED A NEW CAR SEAT AND WENT BACK AND THE OFFICER NOTICED THIS, SO WE PUT THE CARSEAT BY A DOOR. HOWEVER, THEY SAY THAT THE MIDDLE IS NORMALLY THE SAFEST PLACE FOR THE BABY. IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD DO TO MAKE SURE THE ARM REST WOULDN'T FALL DOWN THIS MIGHT SAVE PROBLEMS FOR SOMEONE ELSE WHO, LIKE US DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE THIS COULD BE A HAZARD.*AK

THE SEAT BELT LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD BLINKS ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND WHEN IT DOES THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP. WHEN THIS OCCURS CONSUMER LOSES CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAS HAD A VIBRATION AND TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS, I HAVE HEARD RUMORS THAT OTHER TAURUS OWNERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEMS. CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 ADULT DRIVEN MILES ON IT AND THIS SEEMS OUT OF THE ORDINARY FOR AN AUTO WITH SO FEW MILES. *PH

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. DUE TO A BROKEN TORQUE CONVERTER.*AK

THE ALUMINUM ON ALL FOUR WHEELS IS CHIPPING OFF CAUSING THE TIRES TO LOSE AIR, I HAVE TO PUT AIR IN THE TIRES ON A DAILY BASIS, I FEEL THIS IS UNSAFE RIDING ON TIRES THAT ARE LOW ON AIR.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN CONSUMER REALIZED THAT FRONT SUSPENSION DROPPED. *AK

WAS REAR ENDED IN A FIVE CAR ACCIDENT,I HAD THE MIDDLE CAR . I WAS SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR WHICH IN TURN HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, I KNOW THAT I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HARD ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THE BAGS BECAUSE THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS IN HIS TRUNK. I CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO HIS CAR. THE POLICE WOULD NOT LET ME HAVE MY CAR BECAUSE MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

ON AUG. 4, 2003, I NOTICED MY CAR WAS SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL ON A STOP. ON AUG. 5, 2003, MY CAR WAS SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL ON A STOP, AND HESITATING BEFORE SLAMMING INTO FIRST UPON ACCELERATION. ON AUG. 6, 2003, MY CAR STOPPED SHIFTING BACK INTO FIRST WHEN IT NEUTRALIZED AT A STOP. IT HAD TO BE MANUALLY SHIFTED TO PARK, AND BACK INTO DRIVE. IF I TURNED OFF THE OVERDRIVE, WHICH IS AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED ON THIS CAR, SHE DROVE LIKE NEW, BUT IF I FORGOT TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE MY OVERDRIVE, MY CAR VERY LOUDLY REMINDED ME TO SHUT IT OFF.

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING LEAK. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP.

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. SIZE P205165R15. *AK

TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND RIGHT BEFORE THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANNY BUCKS. I WAS TOLD BY TWO TRANSMISSION SHOPS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS A FAULTY FORWARD PISTON AND NEEDS TO BE REBUILT AT A COST OF $1800.00 DOLLARS. THE CAR HAS ONLY 71K MILES. AFTER READING ALL THESE HORROR STORIES, I THINK FORD SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE A RECALL!!

I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD TAURUS IN 1998(FEBRUARY). IN THE SUMMER OF 1998 I BEGAN DEVELOPING COOLING PROBLEMS. SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH RUSTY RADIATOR WATER, HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED TWICE, AND AM NOW TOLD I POSSIBLY NEED A NEW MOTOR. I AM TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE COOLING SYSTEM OF THESE CARS IN OR ABOUT 1999, THAT HAS SINCE EXPIRED. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL. *PH

WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OUR HEATER CORE AND ENDED UP REPLACING IT. WE CONTINUALLY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR CALIPARS AND HAE REPLACED THEM TWICE AND REPAIRED THEM ONCE (THEY SEIZE). WE CURRENTLY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH PEELING PAINT ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR, AND WINDOW SEALS THAT WE HAVE NOT YET FIXED; ARE THERE ANY RECALLS FOR THESE PROBLEMS? A BODY SHOP TECHNICIAN TOLD US THAT IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAINTED ONCE; WE ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR.

NHTSA# 96-V-086-000: PARK PAWL SHAFT WAS IMPROPERLY POSITIONED WHEN THE ROLL PIN THAT RETAINS IT WAS INSTALLED DURING TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY. IF THE SHAFT WAS NOT PROPERLY POSITIONED, THE ROLL PIN MAY NOT HAVE LINED UP WITH THE GROOVE IN THE SHAFT AND HAVE BEEN CRUSHED AT ASSEMBLY. ALSO, A BURR COULD HAVE BEEN RAISED ON THE SHAFT. *AK CONSEQUENCE THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PARK PAWL OCCASIONALLY NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR DOES NOT APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

THIS CAR CONTINUALLY STALLS OUT , THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, THE ENGINE REPAIR LIGHT COMES ON, THE UNDERNEATH SUSPENSION SQUEEKS AND GROANS, THE BRAKES SQUEAK, THE WHEEL DOESN'T TURN WHEN THE CAR STALLS OUT. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN I AM TURNING A CORNER, THE CAR STALLS OUT AND THE WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. NOW THE COMPUTOR SYSTEMS ARE NOT WORKING THE AIR CONDITIONING. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR TO GET THE RADIO AND THE AIR CONDITIONING TO START UP. THESE THINGS HAPPEN BUT NO ONE CAN FIND A PROBLEM.

HEADLIGHTS WOULD ONLY WORK SOME OF THE TIME. DEALER REPLACED DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE ENGINE DEVELOPED A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL, ALMOST LIKE A BELT SQUEAL. IT WAS DETERMINED THE CAM SYNCHRONIZER WAS DEFECTIVE. AT THAT TIME THE CAM POSITION SENSOR WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE MAGNET WAS FALLING OUT. THE COOLANT OVERFLOW BOTTLE WAS DISCOLORED, LEAKING AND FULL OF CRACKS CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO POUR OUT OF THE COOLING SYSTEM. FORD ACKNOWLEDGES THERE IS A BANK TO BANK COOLANT FLOW IMBALANCE ON SOME 1996 MODEL YEAR TAURUS LEADING TO CONTAMINATED/CORRODED COOLANT. RECALL 98B23 WAS PERFORMED. BUT THE DAMAGE WAS ALREADY DONE TO THE REST OF THE COOLING SYSTEM.

MY 1996 FORD CAR CAME WITH GENERAL AMERI G4S P20565R15 TIRES. BY NOW THREE OF THE FOUR HAVE FAILED DUE TO BELT/TREAD SEPARATION. MILEAGE WAS BETWEEN 40000 AND 50000 MILES. REMAINING TREAD ON HIGHEST MILEAGE TIRE WAS .207". THEY HAVE NEVER RAN UNDERINFATED OR OVER LOADED. THE SERIAL # IS ACUR442515.*AK

I OWN A 1996 FORD TARAUS GL. THE TRANSMISSION IN IT HAS FAILED TWICE. EACH TIME, IT SUDDENLY STOPPED PULLING, WITHOUT ANY WARNING OF A PENDING MALFUNCTION. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN TRAFFIC, BUT, FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT ACCOUNTS FOR ITS FAILURE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONCERNING THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND ASKED THAT THEY INSPECT IT. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE REFUSED SUCH AN INSPECTION. IN AS MUCH AS I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS A DESIGNED FLAW AND SAID FLAW WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE, I FEEL THAT AN INSPECTION COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO EITHER VERIFY OR RULE OUT ANY DESIGNED PROBLEMS. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE INSPECTION WOULD HAVE BEEN THE MOST ECONOMICAL APPROACH TO RESOLVING A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, AS OPPOSED TO WAITING FOR SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS TO OCCUR FIRST.I FEEL THAT SAFETY IS COMPROMISED WHEN A TRANSMISSION FAILS IN THE MANNER THAT THIS ONE DID; IN TRIFFIC AND WITHOUT ANY WARNNING OF PENDING MALFUNCTION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK *TS *JB

I HAVE A 96 FORD TAURUS (VIN [XXX]) I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE HEATER CORE REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THIS CAR SINCE I HAVE HAD IT, THE MOST RECENT TIMES BEING 6 MONTHS APART. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR (LABOR IS 675.00) I CALLED FORD TO COMPLAIN AND WAS TOLD NO RECALLS AND NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS. I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATER CORE AND A TSB HAD BEEN RELEASED ABOUT IT. I THINK FORD SHOULD HAVE TO REFUND ME THE MONEY I HAVE SPENT ON HAVING IT FIXED AND HAVE IT FIXED ACCORDING TO THE TSB ALSO! I HAVE HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND ALL OF THEM SEEM TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF TSB OUT ABOUT THEM, WHY IS FORD NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THESE KNOWN PROBLEMS?? *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

IN MAY 03 FORD SAID TRANS. WAS JUST WORE OUT. HAD REBUILT BY AAMCO AND THEN AT THE END OF JULY TRANS. HAD NO PARK, WAS JUST LIKE IN NUTRAL. ON THE WAY TO AAMCO TRANS. FELL APART. AAMCO TRYED TO SAY WE DID SOMETHING WRONG, BUT DECIDED THAT WE COULDN'T HAVE SO ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIND A NEW CASE FOR ARE AX4N TRANS. NOW. IT HAS BEEN OVER TWO WEEKS NOW AND STILL CAN NOT FIND A CASE. HOPE THEY FIND SOON SO CAN GET CAR BACK AND GET RID OF IT, NEVER TO OWN ANOTHER FORD. THIS CAR HAS HAD CONTINUAL SMALL BUT STILL PROBLEMS NEVER THE LESS SENCE WE PURCHASED IT. HAVE BEEN A FORD LOVER ALL MY LIFE AND AM KIND OF SAD TO SAY I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AS YOU DESCRIBED IN YOUR FEBRUARY 2001 ARTICLE ON ANOD E TRANSMISSIONS. THE CAR HAS 97K MILES ON IT AND I BELIEVE THE USED CAR DEALER KNEW IT HAD PROBLEMS WHEN HE SOLD IT TO ME BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE CONCERNING THE CAR UNTIL I VISITED THIS WEBSITE. I BELIEVE I WILL USE THE LEMON AID CAR BOOK IN TRYING TO GET EITHER FORD OR THE DEALER TO DELIVER. THE DEALER WAS CALLED FLEET DEPOT IN BRIDGEVILLE, PA I AM GOING TO THE CLOSEST DEALER KENNY ROSS AND HOPE I MAY GET SOMETHING RESOLVED. SINCERLEY, PAUL K. LITTLE

THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *JB

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK APRIL 17,2003 ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH AND MY 1996 FORD TAURUS SHO JUST QUIT RUNNING . I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED AND BENT ALL THE VALVES (32) IN THE ENGINE. WHEN I ASKED WHAT IT WOULD COST TO FIX THEY GAVE ME A FIGURE THAT I COULD NOT BELIEVE. WITH LABOR AND PARTS APPROXIMATELY $9000.00. I ONLY HAVE 61,000 MILES ON THE CAR. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM *TT

DEFECTIVE FREEZE PLUGS IN 1996 FORD 3.0 VULCAN ENGINE IN TAURUS SEDAN. ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FREEZE PLUGS CORRODED THROUGH LETTING HOT ENGINE COOLANT SPILL ON TO MY HANDS CAUSING BURNS. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AS THE CAR OWNER. COST OF REPAIR VEHICLE WAS OVER $500 THE ENGINE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REMOVED AND ALL FREEZE PLUGS WERE REPLACED. THIS COST SHOULD HAVE BEEN BORN BY FORD MOTOR CO. BUT WAS AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE FOR ME. *JB

(1)THROTTLE WENT COMPLETELY TO FLOOR AND AUTO COULD NOT BE STOPPED (2)AUTO ACCIDENT SALEM POLICE REPORT #03-19963 NEAR FATAL INJURIES (3)NO REPAIR DONE. *NM

I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS ON MY 1996 FORD TAURUS THREE TIMES OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. *JB

I USED MY ORIGINAL JACK TO LIFT THE VEHICLE TO CHANGE THE FRONT, LEFT TIRE. WHILE LOWERING THE VEHICLE, THE JACK SUDDENLY GAVE OUT WITH THE SOUND OF STRIPPING THREADS, AND THE CAR SLAMMED TO THE GROUND. FORTUNATELY, NO PART OF MY BODY WAS UNDER THE CAR, AND THE TIRE WAS IN PLACE. IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ON THE FAULTY JACK: WHERE THE CRANK MEETS THE BOLT: 5J 29 2 AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE BOLT: 00492 AT THE BASE OF THE JACK: 2549 NOTE: I WAS DOING THIS IN MY GARAGE, ON A FLAT, CONCRETE SURFACE. THE JACK REMAINED ON ITS BASE THE ENTIRE TIME - IT DID NOT TIP OVER.*JB

WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVE WAY, THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM PH *JB

THE FAILURE OF THE CAMSHAFTS IN A DUAL OVER HEAD CAMSHAFT ENGINES CAN CAUSE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CAMSHAFTS (PER DEALER) ARE FAILING AND I FEAR THAT THEY WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO MY PASSENGERS OR MYSELF. THE DETROIT FREE PRESS HAS PUBLISHED A SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THE FAILURE OF CAMSHAFTS IN TAURUS SHO ENGINES SINCE 1996. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE REFUSES TO ADMIT THEY HAVE A RECALL ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THEY BEGAN REPLACING CAMSHAFTS ON VEHICLES WITH AS LITTLE AS 30,000 MILES FOR THE FAILURE OF THE WELDS THAT ATTACH THE CAMSHAFT SPROCKETS TO THE CAMSHAFTS. AFTER SPENDING NEARLY THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS ON REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE IT CAME BACK WITH A NOISE WHICH THE DEALER HAS IDENTIFIED AS CAMSHAFT FAILURE. THE COSTS OF REPAIR WERE ESTIMATED AT BETWEEN TWO AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NO PLANS FOR A RECALL AND THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT RETURNING MY CALLS. WHAT COURSE OF ACTION CAN I PURSUE IN THIS MATTER? *JB

THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON THE DASH OF MY 1996 FORD TAURUS HAS BEEN ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. AFTER MANY DIAGNOSTIC TESTS THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT RESOLVED. THE OBD COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE IS READING FOR 4 OXYGEN SENSORS WHEN THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 3 OXYGEN SENSORS. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE FAILING EMISSIONS TESTING FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA. *NLM

MY FORD TAURUS HAS LESS THAT 50,000 MILES ON IT AND I TREAT IT LIKE A BABY. BROUGHT IT IN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT SERVICED DO TO THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COMING ON. THEY CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER, PERFORMED MULTI-POINT INSPECTION, CHANGED THE ENGINE COOLANT AND REPROGRAMMED THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AS PER TSB 97-8-6. I ALSO HAD THEM ROTATE THE TIRES. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR AS FAR AS RUNNING (EXCEPT THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS ON). AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND WENT TO ACCELERATE THE CAR WAS HAVING A HARD TIME "GRIPPING THE ROAD". CALLED FORD DEALER. TOOK IN AGAIN. THEY INFORMED THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. CALLED FORD HEADQUARTERS NO HELP THERE. THIS CAR WAS ORIGINALLY A LEASED CAR AND WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED BY US IT HAD LOW MILEAGE. NOT A HAPPY CAMPER! *NLM

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*JB

MY 17-YEAR-OLD SON WAS DRIVING TO EDINBURG, TEXAS ON A PRETTY BUSY STREET, WHEN OUT OF THE BLUE THE ENGINE STARTED TO FAIL. HE NEARLY GOT KILLED. THANK GOD THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. THE CAR CRACKED THE HEAD, AND IS IN NEED OF MAJOR REPAIR. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT. ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THE LAST INCIDENT, I NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT WATER WAS A BROWN, ALMOST MUDDY COLOR AND TEXTURE. I FIGURED IT WAS JUST LEFT OVER DAMAGE FROM THE ENGINE REPAIRS IT HAD RECEIVED. AFTER DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH I FOUND THAT FORD HAD A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTICE PROGRAM FOR A "BROWN COOLANT RECALL." I NEVER GOT THE NOTICE AND MY WARRANTY EXPIRED A LONG TIME AGO. THIS IS CLEARLY A FULL OUT ''RECALL.'' I WOULD LIKE FOR THE NHTSA TO GET FORD TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES THAT THEY HAVE CAUSED. MANY PEOPLE ALL OVER THE INTERNET HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM CURRENTLY STILL PAYING FOR THE CAR AND IT IS NOT FAIR FOR FORD TO GET AWAY WITH THIS NON-SENSE. MY SON COULD HAVE DIED ALL BECAUSE FORD DIDN''T PROPERLY NOTIFY ME. I WILL CALL FORD TOMORROW AND EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED. IF THEY DON''T HELP, AND THE NHTSA DOESN''T HELP EITHER, I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SUE FORD. THIS IS TOTAL NONSENSE. I'M NOT TRYING TO STEAL THEIR MONEY, I JUST WANT FOR THEM TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN SCREW UP.

50 MPH CRASH HIT A MAILBOX AND TWO SIX INCH LOCUST TREES. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH OF THE SENSORS WERE PUSHED INTO THE RADIATOR

THE CAMSHAFT IN MY CAR FAILED AND CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. IT WAS A 1996 FORD TAURUS SHO. IT CAUSED A COMPLETE POWER LOSS AROUND A CORNER AND I WAS ALMOST INVOLED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO MANY SHO OWNERS. THE REPAIR COSTS ARE RUNNING ME $5000 DOLLARS. THIS IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT IT COULD HAVE DONE TO MY FAMILY. PLEASE HELP THIS NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM. SOME MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY AS ME. *AK

PREVIOUSLY TO THIS ON 1/99, RECALL 98B23 WAS COMPLETED DEALING WITH THE RUSTY, CORROSIVE COOLANT CONDITION WHICH DEVELOPS IN THE 1996 TAURUS. NOW THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAS DEVELOPED NUMEROUS STRESS CRACKS CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO POUR OUT. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTIOIN IT APPEARS THE RADIATOR HAS ALSO DEVELOPED A LEAK.

MY AUTOMOTIVE IS MAKING A NOISE FROM MY VALVETRAIN AREA THAT MY MECHANIC INDICATES IS A POTENTIAL CAMSHAFT (AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE FAILURE) PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE FIXED BEFORE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE.

THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SELECTOR (ALSO CALLED PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH) SHORTS INTERNALLY AND CAUSES THE VARIABLY ASSISTED STEERING TO MALFUNCTION (STOP ASSISTING ENTIRELY). DATE OF INCIDENT MAY NOT BE EXACT. WHILE TURNING RIGHT AT LOW SPEED INTO AN ALLEY POWER STEERING FAILED MOMENTARILY CAUSING FRONT WHEEL TO JUMP THE OPPOSITE CURB ONTO THE SIDEWALK AND DAMAGE WHEEL COVER. TSB # 96255 MAY DESCRIBE PROBLEM, BUT I'M NOT SURE. FORD DEALERSHIP PULLED UP A REPORT ON THIS FOR ME. REPORT STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SELECTOR MAY SHORT INTERNALLY AND CAUSE THE POWER STEERING ASSIST TO BE REDUCED (ELIMINATED), POWER WINDOWS TO FAIL, AND STEREO TO TEMPORARILY FAIL. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND SPORADIC, BUT SINCE THE STEERING IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED THIS PROBLEM CONSTITUTES A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD. I FEEL THAT I WAS LUCKY AS THERE WAS NOBODY/NOTHING TO HIT AND THAT ALL I HAD DAMAGED WAS A WHEEL COVER.

TRANSMISSION SLIPS--86,000 MILES GETTING TRANS REBUILT

WHILE TRAVELING AT THE POSTED HIGHWAY SPEED LIMIT, THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. UPON LEAVING THE FREEWAY AND ROLLING TO A STOP. VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT COULD ONLY ATTAIN SPEEDS OF 5MPH. DEALER CLAIMED THE EXHAUST CAMSHAFT SPROCKET LINES WERE STRIPPED, THIS WAS A PRESSED ON ASSEMBLY. DT

2ND FORD VEHICLE TO HAVE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. FIRST WAS MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR WHICH I ALREADY REPORTED TO YOU. IT WAS 1,000 MILES OVER THEIR EXTENDED 100,000 LIMIT. THIS HAS CAUSED SERIOUS FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY TO OUR FAMILY THAT MAY TAKE A FEW YEARS TO CATCH UP. TOOK FORD TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT LAST WEEK AND LOST. THIS IS A TRAVESTY TO HAVE THIS HAPPENING TO FAMILIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. I SINCERELY HOPE YOUR ORGANIZATION CAN FORCE THEM TO PAY REPARATIONS. *TR

BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS ARE INOPERATIVE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. NEITHER BELT WOULD RETRACT BACK INTO SPOOL MECHANISM. BOTH REAR BELTS HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF FOLDING AND TWISTING. WHICH MADE USE OF THE BELTS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AT TIMES. BELTS HAVE EXPERIENCED NORMAL USE ONLY. FORD WILL NOT REPLACE THE BELTS FOR FREE BECAUSE THEY ARE BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD. DT

CAM SHAFT FAILURE. CAM GEAR SEPARATED FROM CAM SHAFT, CAUSING CATASTROFIC ENGINE FAILURE. TS *DT

THE CAM SHAFT SPROCKET FAILED, RESULTING IN A EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE TRANSMISSION WILL LOCKED UP AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND THE CONSUMER WILL BE FORCE TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

WHILE DRIVING 60MPH THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING. ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING. TS

HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR 2 TIMES . *AK