1997 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

NAR 3-10-03 INFORMATION REQUEST ON BEHALF OF FORD MOTOR COMPANIES ABOUT A COMPLAINT SENT TO THEM FROM THE CONSUMER ABOUT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS COVERAGE. FORD REQUESTED A WRITTEN EXPLANATION TO RESOLVE MATTERS. *CB THE CONSUMER STATED AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A POLE TRAVELING AT 2- 25 MPH. DURING THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE AIR BAG, THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH 1997 TAURUS WAGON.*MR ONE OF THE BEARINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND DAMAGED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. *NM

THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CONSUMER'S 1997 FORD TAURUS FAILED. *BF THE GEARS AND BEARINGS WERE EATEN UP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. *NM

CONSUMER REQUEST ANY RECALL INFORMATION ON 1997 FORD TAURUS. *TS *NM

1997 FORD TAURUS WITH ANTI FREEZE LEAK. CONSUMER STATES SHE HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED AND THEY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. DEALER TOLD HER SHE NEEDED THE ENGINE REPAIRED AND IT WOULD COST $300 OR $400 DOLLARS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO HER, IT WAS OVERHEATING. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER A CAMPAIGN HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR ENGINE CORROSION. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHING, THEN LOSS OF POWER, ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING AT APPROX. 60MPH, FOUND ALL TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD SPILLED OUT OVER HWY, DLR INDICATES TRANS. HOSE CAME LOOSE, CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

REAR WHEEL COMES OFF THE ROAD.

TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF GEAR, IT TAKES A MINUTE TO TAKE OFF, DEALER IS REPLACING TRANSMISSION. *AK *JB

ANTI LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

SEAT BELT ANCHOR IS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. THE ONLY WAY THE RESTRAINTS CAN BE LATCHED IS IF TWISTED THE RESTRAINT ACROSS TO THE BUCKLE. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND IS WAITING FOR A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *AK THE STEERING BECOMES HARD WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREPPED, INSPECTED AND SOLD TO HIM WITH DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT IN TOTAL DISREGARD FOR HIS SAFETY. *YH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THROUGH PUDDLES VEHICLE FREEZES. THERE IS NO POWER, ENGINE SHUTS OFF AFTER VEHICLE HAS CLEARED PUDDLE, POWER RESUMES. *AK

VEHICLE VIBRATES, JERKS, HESITATES AND MAKES NOISE WHILE ENGAGING GEARS.

IGNITION SYSTEM FAILED.

TRANSAXLE FAILS WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS OF 70 MPH.

ENGINE FIRE DURING COLLISION DUE TO LEAK.

CONTROL PANEL BUTTONS DO NOT CONTROL ANYTHING, THEY ARE JUST THERE, THE ACTUAL PART HAS TO BE INSTALLED.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

WHEN THE TRANSMISSION/ENGINE IS COLD AND THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON LEVEL GROUND, THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD UP TO THREE INCHES UNTIL THE PARKING PAWL ENGAGES.

PAINT PROBLEMS.

WHILE DRIVING OVER PUDDLES VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING. ALSO ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTIONED. DEALERS HAVE NO REMEDY FOR PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMISSION JERKS SLIGHTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTED TO REVERSE, AND AFTER A BRIEF INTERLUDE THE VEHICLE INCREASES RPMS AND JUMPS BACKWARDS.

WHILE ACCELERATING TO 50 MPH VEHICLE LOCKED UP IN SECOND GEAR, CAUSING SHAKING OF VEHICLE AND STALLING. VEHICLE ALSO HAD PREVIOUS CLUNKING NOISE PRIOR TO TRANSMISSION LOCKING. ALSO DEALERS FOUND NO FAULT CODE. *AK

WHEN APPYLING THE ABS BRAKES ON WET PAVEMENT THE PEDAL TRVAELS TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION BUCKS AND SLAMS WHEN SHIFTING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC.

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IT STALLS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED ON VEHICLE. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY TRAUMA TO WINDSHIELD . THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 60-65 MPH THE STEERING OSCILLATES. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE CLEANED AT 220 MILES. AT 600 MILES THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED. AT 11, 959 MILES THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER IS STILL EXPEREINCING A PROLBEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS GOING OUT THE PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 35000 MILES I DID NOT TAKE THE CAR IN BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS TAURUS DID THE SAME THING AND I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT UNTILL THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ALL THE WAY. I DID NOT KNOW AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS A TORQ CONVERTER PROBLEM OR I WOULD NOT HAVE DRIVEN IT. BUT THE NEW TAURUS IS DOING THE SAME THING AND I HAVE HAD IT AT A COUPLE OF TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND THEY TELL ME THAT IT IS THE TORQ CONVERTER.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN HIGH RPM AND ACCELERATION ON TWO OCCASIONS, ON SECOND INCIDENT BEFORE STOPPING MOTOR THE RIGHT SIDE DRIVE AXLE BROKE AT CV-JOINT.

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SENSORY FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO DOWNSHIFT TO 45 MPH WHILE ON FREEWAY.

LEFT POWER WINDOW FAILED. *YC

TIRE HAS A SLOW LEAK. NLM (DOT025811 - SIZE P205/65R15)

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.

WINDSHIELD DISTORTED.

DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR FAILED.

SEVERE SHOCK FROM STATIC ELECTRICITY BUILD UP. *AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED RESULTING IN NOISE.

THE DOME LIGHT AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. YH

RACK AND PINION STEERING IS MAKING LOUD NOISE WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS. *AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE MULTI-SPEED, BUT THEY ONLY RUN ON SLOW. YOU HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF AND ON SEVERAL TMES TO GET THEM TO WORK RIGHT.THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BECAUSE WHEN YOU TOOK THE KEY OUT THE ACCESSORIES CONTINUED TO RUN LIKE THE RADIO WOULD KEEP ON PLAYING WITH NO KEY IN THE CAR .THEY CHANGED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IT HELPED FOR A FEW THOUSAND MILES BUT NOW THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN.ALSO I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS. *AK

WITHIN THE LAST 6 MOS. WHEN CAR HIT APPROX. 60000 MILES WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON IT WILL NOT START. EVERYTHING IS DEAD. HOWEVER, POWER IN VEHICLE WILL COME BACK IF THE INTERIOR FRONT HOOD LEVER IS ACTIVATED. POWER WILL COME BACK AND THE RADIO WILL ALWAYS BE ON AM AND THE CLOCK WILL BE AT 12:00. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS VERY SPORADICALLY. IN OTHER WORDS THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT IT WILL HAPPEN AND/OR MAKE IT HAPPEN.

SUBFRAME MOUNTS WERE LOOSE AND DAMAGED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS. DEALER REPLACED THE MOUNTS ON MAY 19, 1999. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR INTO INTERSECTIONS VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

A PUNGENT ODOR IS COMING FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM SIMILAR TO A URINE SMELL. THIS ODOR EXISTS ANYTIME THE VENTILATION SYSTEM IS TURNED ON REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM OR HEATER. IN CONTACTING THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MOLD AND MILDEW BUILD-UP IN THE VENTILATION BOXES OF THE LATE MODEL TAURUS'S. THE DEALER INDICATED THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN PUBLISHED ON THIS ISSUE BUT THEY WON'T PERFROM THE WORK BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH RISK TO SERVICE TECHNICIANS USING THE REQUIRED CLEANING SOLVENT. NO ONLY IS THIS AN IRRITATING PROBLEM, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH RISK TO MYSELF AND MY FAMILY FROM MOLD AND MILDEW SPORES OR ANY OTHER BIOLOGICAL HEALTH HAZARDS CREATED BY THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL WHEN THEY ARE SET ON LOW SPEED OR INTERMITTENT SPEED, CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. *AK

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A GRACO BOOSTER SEAT FOR MY SON. AFTER STRUGGLING TO INSTALL IT FOR ALMOST AN HOUR, I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY 85% OF CAR SEATS ARE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY..IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND THE MANUFACTURER'S DIRECTIONS, AND PEOPLE GIVE UP! THEY THINK, "NOTHING WILL HAPPEN, I'M A GOOD DRIVER". THIS IS A TERRIBLE ATTITUDE FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR CHILDREN. ALSO, THEY DON'T MENTION IN THE DIRECTIONS THAT TWO PEOPLE ARE NEEDED TO PROPERLY INSTALL THE BOOSTER SEAT. I ONLY FOUND THIS OUT BY CALLING THE MANUFACTURER FOR HELP. LUCKILY, WITH THE HELP OF A PATIENT CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, I GOT THE SEAT INSTALLED CORRECTLY.

WHEN APPYLING BRAKES ON WET OR DRY PAVEMENT THE FRONT AND REAR WHEELS LOCK UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID OR SLIDE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK