1996 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED. YH

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 30MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY,RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD (FRONT DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. HAVE TO BE OPENED FROM REAR)

WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO A LEAK WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALSO, A PROBLEM WITH BATTERY DRAINING OUT, AND HEADLIGHTS COME OFF AND ON. CONSUMER HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK THE THERMOSTAT FAILED. *YH

VEHICLE WAS SOLD SUBSEQUENT TO THE INCIDENT. SCARED FOR THE CAR AND TIRE PERFORMANCE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/65R-1 )

HEAD GASKET FAILED PREMATURELY CASUING THE VEHICLE TO BURST INTO SMOKE AND STEAM WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. NLM

RAIN ON 10/04/99 TURNED WIPERS ON TO 4 TO 6 SECONDS WIPE---STARTED TO RAIN HARDER MOVED WIPERS TO LOW SETTING--STARTING WIPING EVERY 10 TO 12 SECS---HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD WIPERS STARTED TO WORK LIKE THEY SHOULD--HIT ANOTHER BUMP--WIPERS WENT BACK TO SLOW SPEED---THEN STOPPED...HAD TO USE HIGH SPEED TO GET THE WIPERS TO WORK

TRANSMSSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH. NO SIGN GIVEN DURING MALFUNCTION. INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 62,990 MILES. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *AK *ML

THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT INTO THE GARAGE (NOT THE FORD DEALERSHIP), THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER AND IT SHOWED A $12.00 PRT AND IT WAS ON THE OUTER PART OF THE TRANSMISSION. A WEEK LATER THE PART HAD STILL NOT COME IN, IT WAS ON BACK ORDER THROUGH FORD AND IT TOOK 10 DAYS TO GET HERE, WHEN THE GARAGE WENT TO DO THE WORK, IT SHOWED THAT IT WAS QUITE FAR INTO THE TRANSMISSION, BECAUSE I DID NOT BUY THE EXTENTED WARRANTEE, IT IS NOT COVERED. BUT THIS CAR HAS ONLY 59.000 MILES.

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT KEPT BLINKING ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY;. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE DEFECTIVE LINNING AROUND THE TIRES. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED AT THIS TIME. TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE, #420, P205/165R15. HE HAS CONTACTED FIRESTONE AND FORD.*AK

DOME LIGHT/DOOR ADJAR INDICATOR COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. AT NIGHT, DOME LIGHT DISTURBS DRIVER. WILL GO ON AND OFF AS YOU DRIVE. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIX. IS GETTING WORSE, NOW IT TRIPS THE CAR ALARM AS DOOR ADJAR SETS IT OFF WHEN LOCKED WITH ALARM SET.*AK

I PURCHASED MY '96 FORD TAURUS WAGON IN '99. I HAD IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS WITH THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. THE LIGHT WAS CHECKED AND I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THE SYSTEM WAS RESET. MONTHS LATER, THE LIGHT POPPED ON AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE OXYGEN SENSOR (BY FORD MOTORS). 6 MONTHS LATER, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS ANOTHER SENSOR. MONTHS AFTER THAT WAS REPAIRED THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AGAIN AND UP UNTIL THIS DAY (12-17-05) I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT/ INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH AN OXYGEN SENSOR. I ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTING WITH A JERK WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND TAKING OFF WITH A JERK--- AFTER 8 MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE CAR. ITS WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BUT AFTER THE REPAIR--THE CAR CONTINUED TO DO THE SAME THING. THE PROBLEM STILL HUNTS ME. MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GETS OUT OF CONTROL. MY DRIVER DOOR LOCK LATCH WILL POP UP AS IF THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION--LEAVING ME TO MANUALLY PUSH THE LOCK DOWN WHEN GETTING OUT THE CAR. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CONTROL MOVES MALFUNCTIONS BY GOING FROM FAST TO SLOW AND FAST AGAIN WITH OUT ME CHANGING THE SPEED. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SITUATION TO FORD MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON MY CAR AND MY PROBLEMS WERE NOT RESOLVED. *JB

DEFROST FAILED AND HAD VERY POOR VISIBILITY WHEN WINDOWS FOGGED ALMOST CAUSING WRECK

ANYTIME I EVEN GO THROUGH A PUDDLE I LOOSE POWER STEERING AND BATTERY LIGHT GOES OUT. THE CAR HAS NOT STALLED YET BUT THE DATE I PUT ON THIS REPORT THE POWER STEERING WENT AS I WAS TURNING INTO AN ENTRANCE TO WALMART AND I COULDNT CATCH IT IN TIME TO STOP IT FROM HITTING THE CURB. I DID SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE TY ROD AND DRIVER WHEEL WELL. FORD SAID THAT WAS NORMAL. I WAS NOT WARNED OF THIS WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND CANT FIND A REPORT ABOUT THAT ANYWHERE. IT IS DEFINITLY LIFE THREATENIG LIVING IN BUFFALO IN THE WINTER WHAT WILL HAPPEN? I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AND I JUST BOUGHT IT.

OUR TAURUS HAS HAD OVERHEATING PROBLEMS SINCE WE BOUGHT IT, FORD DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL THERE WAS OVER 66,000 MILES ON THE CAR.TODAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY THE ENGINE THREW A ROD OR PISTON.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT AND NOT A FACTORY DEALER. A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS PURCHASED FROM LAPLACE FORD. FROM WHAT I GATHER LOOKING AT SERVICE BULLETINES ON MY CAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN MAY OF 1995. IT WAS A PROGRAM CAR FROM THE DEALER WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE FACTORY WARRANTY.

NO SUMMARY

CALLED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE REPAIRS, WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR COOLANT SYSTEM PROBLEMS. WAS TOLD TO JUST BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD FIX IT.BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER ON 09/21/99 AND WAS THEN INFORMED THEY WOULD NOT DO THE REPAIR FOR FREE BECAUSE THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED ON 08/31/99. CALLED FORD AND WAS INFORMED THIS WAS NOT A RECALL BUT AN OWNER NOTIFICATION. I RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION,BUT EXPERIENCED MECHANICAL PROBLEMS DIRECTLY RELATED TO DEFECT IN MANUFACTURE. IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE? SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE AT NO COST TO ME? I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM AND AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. IF THIS WAS AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM AND NOT A RECALL WHY WAS I NOT NOTIFIED?

WITH OUT WARNING THE ENGINE QUIT ON THE HIGHWAY, THE DRIVER COMPARTMENT FILLED WITH STEAM. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT ABSOLUTELY COULDN'T SEE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING A FAILURE OF THE HEATER CORE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY RUINING THE CYLINDER HEAD.

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. REPLACED ENTIRE ASSEMBLY. COMMONLY REPORTED ON THIS MODEL VIA INTERNET AND PERSONAL CONTACTS THAT OWNED TAURUS'. SUGGEST MANUFACTURER BE HELD LIABLE.

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE HESITATING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. INFORMED CONSUMER TO REPORT CONDITION TO DEALER. *AK

NONE, ONLY ENGINE FAILURE

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO A SERVICE ROAD, MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AND TIRE ROD BROKE, VEHICLE VEERED OFF TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A CONCRETE POWER LINE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE. CONTACTED THE LOCAL MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

ABS MODULE NEEDS REPLACEMENT. REPLACEMENT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $587.90. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHY? MUST WE PAY INSTEAD OF MANUFACTURER. *AK

I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE PROBLEM I ENCOUNTERED WITH MY VEHICLE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL YEAR AS THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A TSB. THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE MANIFEST ITSELF BY STALLING WHEN DECELERATION IS OCCURRING. THE STALLING OCCURS RAMDOMLY WITH THE ENGINE OPERATING AT NORMAL TO SLIGHTLY ELEVATED TEMPERATURE. ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT ONE THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AND THIS IS USUALLY THE FIRST INDICATION THAT A STALL HAS OCCURRED. I BELIEVE THIS STALLING REPRESENT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE, ONE THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF.

THE POWER STEERING FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT. FLUID IS COMING FROM TUBBING THAT'S RUBBING AGAINST THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF VEHICLE. THIS HAD CAUSED A PIN HOLE IN TUBE. ALSO, STEERING WAS MAKING GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNED. HAVE NOT BEEN TO DEALER YET.

I AM CURIOUS IF OTHER FORD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS HAVE FAILED AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE.

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON THE FRONT PANEL LIGHTS UP WHEN CAR IS TURNED ON. THE "OD" OR OVERDRIVE BLINKS WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN AT/OR ABOVE 60MPH. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WE PAYED 80 DOLLARS FOR A CHECK-UP (FORD DEALER LOCATED ON 46-12 NORTHERN BLVD,, ASTORIA QUEENS, NY). THREE HOURS LATER THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR HAD A MALFUNCTION IN THE TRANSMISSION. HENCE, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE CHANGED AND THE COST WAS $2,300 DOLLARS. THEY NEEDED TO KNOW IMMEDIATELY! I REFUSED BECAUSE THE COST SEEMED TO HIGH AND I WASN'T COMPLETELY SURE IF THIS WAS REALLY THE PROBLEM. I THEN TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC DEALING WITH TRANSMISSIONS ONLY. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE LIGHT TROUBLE. THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM NOT EVEN BY USING THE COMPUTER. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER AGENCY (FRIEND OF MINE) WHO KNOWS ABOUT TRANSMISSIONS. HE SAID THAT HE HAD FIXED MANY TAURUSES BEFORE, BUT HAD NEVER ENCOUNTERED SUCH A PROBLEM. FINALLY, I DECIDED CALL FORD TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY SIMPLY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, WHICH I HAD ALREADY AT FIRST. I TOOK IT BACK TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER LOCATED AT THE OPPOSITE END OF NORTHERN BLVD. THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING AS THE LAST FORD DEALER. AFTER ALL THIS CONFUSION, I DECIDED TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM. IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AND I HAVE BEEN TO FLORIDA AND BACK ALREADY TWO TIMES FROM MY HOME (NEW YORK). I USE THE CAR ON A DAILY BASIS. I AM VERY UPSET AND CONFUSED ABOUT ALL OF THIS. I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON AND I THINK I DESERVE AN EXPLANATION THE FORD COMPANY. I SENT IN THIS INFORMATION TO YOU PEOPLE (NHTSA) TO SEE IF YOU CAN HELP ME OUT ON THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! -CARLOS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 10 MPH BRAKES WILL LOCK UP IN RAINY CONDITIONS, CAUING THE VEHICLE TO CUT OFF.THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *AK

MY CAR TAKES 2-3 ATTEMPTS TO START.AS A CHRONIC PROBLEM.CAR DIAGNOSIS BY DEALER.

THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING SMOOTHLY AFTER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED BY DEALER. DEALER DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH CAR UPON COMPLAINT. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY HAD IT OCCURRED AT A HIGHER SPEED.

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE PARK GEAR POSITION. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. *AK

WHILE CHANGING GEARS FROM PARK TO DRIVE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT INDICATION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. OWNER PAID FOR REPAIRS TO TRANSMISSION AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *AK *ML

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT ALSO, VEHICLE LEAKED/STALLED AND CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

HAVE CONTACTED CAL WORTHINGTON NUMERIOUS TIME. UNABLE TO RESOLVE ISSUE. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

CAR STALLS AT STOP LIGHTS OR WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN ON HOT SUMMER DAYS. TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN FOURTH GEAR.

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 38,000 MILES. FORD WAS NOTIFIED AND DIDN'T CARE BECAUSE IT WAS BEYOND THEIR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FULL OF CRACKS, AND HAD TO HAVE STARTED BEFORE 36,000 MI. THIS WAS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION I PUT INTO A FORD CAR AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED . I TRIED TO GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH A FORD SERVICE CENTER, BUT THEY WERE TOO BUSY. I TOOK IT TO INDEPENDENT STATION . THEY HAD 4 OTHER TAURUS' THERE FOR TRANSMISSIONS, ALL FAIRLY NEW CARS

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, SETTING PARKING BRAKE AND TURNING OFF ENGINE THE DRIVER LEFT VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE BACKWARDS, ONTO A BUSY STREET AND EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT ROLLED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. *AK

OUTER HEADLIGHT LENS YELLOWING,INTERIOR FILLING WITH MOISTURE

THROTTLE BODY GOT STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE, WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

4TH GEAR FAILED, TRANSMISSION REBUILT. *AKY

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM FAILING COMPLETLEY. VEHICLE INSPECTED BY DEALER SHOP AND INFORMED CONSUMER THA T NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF IT CAUGHT A FIRE IN THE ENGINE TOWARDS THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DURING WARM/HOT WEATHER THE ENGINE WILL DIE WITH NO WARNING. IT HAPPENS WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO BRAKE OR SLOW DOWN. I HAVE TRIED PUTTING PREMIUM FUEL AND INJECTOR CLEANER TO SEE IF THIS WOULD HELP THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DOESN'T. THE PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE FREQUENT.

TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS

STEERING RACK NOISY & POPS WHEN MAKING HARD RIGHT TURNS. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. *YC

ENGINE OIL PAN RUSTED THROUGH FROM THE BOTTOM WHICH CAUSED OIL LEAK. THIS MAY CAUSE A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK