1997 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. *MR *SC *JB

THE CAR WAS PARKED. I STARTED THE CAR, STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW OIL LEAKING ABOUT A FOOT FORWARD OF THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE. *LA

L997 FORD TAURUS WAGON. 60K MILES. TREATED WITH KID GLOVES AND HAD THE FLUID CHANGED AT 60K IN THE TRANSMISSION. WITHIN 200 MILES THE TRANS WENT OUT. IF I HADN'T NOTICED LEAKAGE IT LIKELY WOULD HAVE STOPPED WITH A DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCE HAPPENING AS A RESULT...I.E. HEAVY TRAFFIC, PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, ETC. *JB

BRAKE LINE BURST ON 2 DIFFERENT FORD CARS IN SAME WEEK! AND IN BOTH CASES IT WAS ROT, AND IN BOTH CASES IT WAS THE HARD TUBING, NOT THE HOSES. ONE A 1997, SO IT WAS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD. BRAKE LINE ROTTED ENOUGH TO BURST DURING FIRM STOP. THE NEW ABS STYLE BRAKE LINES ARE DANGEROUSLY THINNER THAN THE OLDER STYLE BRAKE LINES. THEY ALSO SEEM TO HAVE ELECTROSTATIC PROPERTIES THAT CAUSE PREMATURE ROTTING IN SOME CASES. THE PIECE THAT BROKE WAS MUCH MORE ROTTED THAN THE OTHER PIECES ATTACHED THE HOLDING CLIPS ACTUALLY CAUSES MORE ROTTING BECAUSE WATER COLLECTS IN THE OPEN SPACE WHERE IT HOLD THE THINNER BRAKE LINE. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THAT THESE BRAKE LINES ARE BEING MADE MUCH THINNER. ALSO ON THE 1997 FORD TAURUS THE BRAKE LINES HANG DOWN LOWER THAN OTHER SUSPENSION IN THE MIDDLE AND PRESENT A HAZARD DURING WINTER WHEN CARS MAY BE DRIVEN ACROSS FROZEN SNOW. FORD ENGINEERS NEED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL. BRAKE LINE TUBING WALLS MUST BE MADE THICKER. I HAVE HAD MANY CARS AND DRIVEN THEM OVER 100K MILES EACH AND NEVER HAD A BRAKE LINE BURST FOR ROT BEFORE. THIS CAR BROKE AT AROUND 80K I THINK. DATE IS APPROXIMATE...I'M NOT GOING TO LOOK UP THE REPAIR BILL RIGHT NOW. FORD COULD EASILY BE NUMBER ONE IF THEY STOP DOING STUPID THINGS LIKE THIS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND UPON PRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE ONLY WAY CONSUMER COULD STOP THE VEHICLE WAS TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. HOWEVER, THE LAST TIME SHE DID THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

1997 FORD TAURUS. CAR BEGAN ROUGH IDLING AT COLD START. AFTER WARMING UP WOULD RUN FINE. TOOK TO MECHANIC TWICE. THEY DID NOT KNOW PROBLEM SAID IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. CAR ONLY HAD 80,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. CAR EVENTUALLY STARTED LOSING ANTI-FREEZE (NOT LEAKING, JUST TURNING UP LOW EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS), EXHAUST FUMES HEAVY, WHITE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST, GAS MILEAGE TERRIBLE. I TOOK TO MY UNCLE, A MECHANIC IN ANOTHER CITY AND HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS IMMEDIATELY. AS I SUSPECTED, HEAD GASKET. WILL COST $800-1000 TO REPAIR. THIS IS MY SECOND FORD. OTHER WAS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. AFTER TWO TRANSMISSIONS AND A CRACKED ENGINE IT DIED TWO YEARS AGO FOR GOOD. I'M A SIGLE MOM AND THIS IS ONLY TRANSPORTATION. CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR YET. BUT IT WILL NOT BE A FORD WHEN I CAN. FORD HAS CHANGED AND IS NOT THE SAME AS IT USED TO BE. FORD DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE CONSUMER. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE ENGINE WAS IDLING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND RETURNED TO NORMAL DRIVING. *AK

I HAVE TWO ESSENTIALLY IDENTICAL 19'97 FORD AUTOMOBILES; A TAURUS AND A SABLE. ON THE TAURUS I JUST HAD THE GAS TANK REPLACED BECAUSE THE MECHANIC SAID AND SHOWED ME THAT IT WAS LEAKING AT THE SEAMS. I NOT ICE NOW A GASOLINE SMELL COMING FROM THE SABLE.. BASED ON TWO OUT OF TWO VEHICLES, I BELIEVE THAT THERE MIGHT BE A GENERAL PROBLEM WITH FORD GAS TANKS LEAKING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE FUEL TANK LEAKED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CATCH FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

AIR COMPRESSOR APPEARS TO BE ONE OF THE EXPERIMENTAL UNITS WITH NO REPLACEMENT NEW OR REMAKE . 1997 TAURUS AIR COMPRESSOR IS CRACKED IT IS A SHAME THE FORD MOTOR CO. CAN GET AWAY WITH THESE SORT OF THINGS THE 1997 TAURUS IS A FORD LEMON. FORD MAKE RIGHT YOUR BIG GOOF I AM SURE IF THE PUBLIC KNEW OF THIS THE 1997 TAURUS WOULD HAVE NO RESALE VALUE. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE BURNING VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO CONTAIN THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF LOST OIL OR OTHER FLUIDS. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO HUMAN ERROR. THE CONTACT RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF FORD RECALL NUMBER 05S28 AND SHE FEELS THAT THIS COULD BE THE CAUSE OF HER ENGINE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED. AS A RESULT, THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. *AK

(1) INTERMITTENTLY, RADIO TURNED OFF WHEN BACKING UP OR DURING FORWARD TURN. (2) WHILE DRIVING, SEATBELT LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING WITH SEAT BELT FASTENED, THEN POWER STEERING FAILED AND RADIO TURNED OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY (3) VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO ONE MONTH PREVIOUSLY FIXED SAME PROBLEM ON 1997 TAURUS BY CHANGING THE PARK-NEUTRAL SWITCH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IT WAS HARD TO SHIFT GEARS/STEER THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK. *AK THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS INTERMITTENT, THE RADIO WOULD GO OFF WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. THE PROBLEM WOULD START WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, REVERSE, OR NEUTRAL. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF WITHOUT CAUSE. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. *AK THE CHECK ENGINE SOON HAD ALSO COME ON. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, BOTH AT DIFFERENT TIMES. *SC

THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR MOTOR FROZE UP CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO SNAP. I HAVE BOUGHT 2 DIFFERENT BELTS AND THE HAVE BOTH SNAPPED IN TWO. THERE IS NO WAY TO BYPASS THIS PROBLEM AND THE PART MUST BE REPLACED IN A SHOP. *JB

VEHICLE QUIT RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN JUST AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT ON A BUSY 55MPH HIGHWAY. COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT FOR MY 17 YEAR OLD INEXPERIENCED DRIVER. PUSHED VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MY REPAIR SHOP. VEHICLE HAD JUST OVER 100,000 MILES. WAS TOLD VEHICLE WAS ONLY RUNNING ON 5 OF 8 CYLINDERS. AFTER EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSIS, IT WAS DETERMINED TO THAT THE ENGINE CAM GEAR BROKE LOOSE THAT OPENS UP THE VALVE TO THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER. MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE HEAD AND THE EXHAUST VALVES. SPENT ALMOST 3000.00 DOLLARS TO HAVE ALL REPAIRS MADE TO THE MOTOR. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT WHEN THE CAR ABRUPTLY SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. PLEASE HAVE FORD ISSUE A RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE CAMS WITHIN THE 3.4L V8 SHOWS BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY HURT. *LA

WHILE PULLING FORWARD BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THIS CAUSED DRIVER TO BURN HIS HAND, AND THE WINDSHIELD TO BREAK. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

RANDOM CHANGES IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SPEED, REGARDLESS OF SETTING. HAZARD SIGNALS FAILED OR ONLY ONE SIDE FLASHING. TURN SIGNAL FAILURE (OF EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR CONSOLE LIGHTS). FAILURE OF INTERIOR LIGHTING TO TURN OFF AFTER DOORS CLOSED. FAILURE OF POWER WINDOWS (ALL FOUR). SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESULTING IN REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF GEM MODULE. TURN SIGNAL/WIPER CONTROLS REPLACED. GEM MODULE REPLACED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP ,WHO COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER CHECKED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF. *AK *LA

1. STEERING AND POWER COMPLETELY FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING AFTER ONLY TWO WEEKS AFTER BUYING CAR 2. HAD REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT IT,SOMETHING ABOUT MODULE, 3. AFTER ABOUT 4 MO. STARTED SAME PROBLEM AGAIN, NO RESPONSE FROM DEALER OR FORD ABOUT MY CONCERNS,CAUSED MY DAUGHTER TO HIT A TREE DAMAGING CAR HEAVILY AND CAUSING MY DAUGHTER TO HIT HER HEAD RESULTING IN HEADACHES 4. HAD CAR REPAIRED FROM ACCIDENT AND LET IT GO BACK BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT 5. NOW WE'RE BEING CONSTANTLY HARASSED BY FORD MOTORS LAWERS WELTMAN,WEINBERG & REIS 323 LAKESIDE AVE. CLEVELAND 44113-1099, PHONE216.739.5081 WITH GARNESHMENTS NOW THEY TRYING TO GET OUR SOCIAL SECURITY. *NM

3 DIFFERENT SEAT BELTS ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE SEIZED UP -- COMPLETELY FAILED -- IN THE 6 YEARS WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR. THE SEAT BELTS LOCK IN PLACE, AND ARE THEN NON-FUNCTIONING. WE ARE ABOUT TO REPLACE THAT THIRD BROKEN SEAT BELT.*AK

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1997 FORD TAURUS SHO USED.AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND SOME DISTURBING NEWS THE CAM SPROCKETS ARE WILL MORE THAN LIKLEY FAIL AND JUST TO METION FORD NEW THIS AND SCREWD PEOPLE. *AK ANYWAYS THE OTHER DAY ABOUT 2 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR I HEARD A TICKING NOISE THAT YOUASLLY AND MORE THAN LIKLY MEENS YOUR CAM HAS ALREADY FAILED IT JUST HASNT SLIPPED YET WHEN IT SLIPS YOU HAVE ANYWHERE FROM 4,000 TO 6,000 IN ENGINE REPAIR'S NOW MINE HASNT SLIPPED AND HOPEFULY IT WHANT BUT IT HAS THE TICKING NOISE LIKE YOUR DRIVING A TICKING TIME BOMB AND YOU DONT KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO GO OFF.THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THIS IS I LOVE MY CAR AND I LOVE MY LIFE AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS WHEN THE MOTOR GOES YOU LOSE ALL YOUR POWER LIKE YOUR BRAKES,POWER STERRING NOW IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERN FOR HUMAN LIFE YOU WOULD ASK FOR A RECALL ON THIS AUTOMOBILE AND SAVE PEOPLE THE GREIF THAT FORD IS PUTTING US THROUGH AGAIN MY MOTOR IS STILL FUNCTIONAL THANK GOD BUT IT IS A TICKING TIME BOMB HOPEFULY WE WILL GET JUSTICE AND FORD WILL HAVE TO RECALL ALL FORD TAURUS SHO'S AND HOPEFULY IT WILL COST THEM SOME MONEY AND TROUBLE SINCE THATS WHAT THERE PUTTING US THROUGH NOT TO METION THE TRANS PROBLEMS THAT THEY ALSO KNEW ABOUT BUT I WANT GO INTO THAT OTHER THAN THEY SURGE CLUTCH GOES BAD 1ST-2ND GEAR ARE HARSH WHEN SHIFTING ALOT OF OTHER THINGS I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND CONCERN SINCERLY DAYNE A. GOMEZ

I HAVE ADVISED FORD MOTOR CO OF A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION IDENTICAL TO CONDITION FOUND IN RECALL # 97V-097NSA-111PAW, FORD # 97S75. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM THE SERVO COVER IS CAUSED BY THE COVER BECOMING PERFORATED BY RUST. THIS ON A 1997 FORD TAURUS WHICH HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF BUT DRIVEN IN VERMONT & NEW HAMPSHIRE WHERE SALT IS USED DURING WINTER SNOWS. FORD MOTOR CO DECLINED ANY PARTICIPATION BECAUSE MY CAR DOESN'T FALL INTO THE PRODUCTION CATEGORY OF THE RECALL. THE SYMPTOMS AND LEAKING OF OIL AGAINST THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR WHEN DRIVING ARE THE SAME AS THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. TO THIS END, THE FIRST RUST THROUGH PROBLEM OCCURED WITH THE OIL COOLER LINE WHICH RUSTED OUT PREVIOUSLY AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED. JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO THE METAL TUBE FROM THE HEATER TO THE REAR OF THE ENGINE BEGAN LEAKING FROM RUSTOUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I ASSURE YOU THIS CAR IS NO "RUST BUCKET" I AM A FULLY CERTIFIED (IN ALL SUBJECTS) NIASE MECHANIC AND KNOW WHEREFROM I SPEAK. THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE TAURUS MODELS OPERATING IN NEW ENGLAND AND I'M CERTAIN MINE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE RUST PROBLEMS. THE VIN # [XXX] TRANSMISSION DATA PLATE: [XXX] OIL PAN READS: AXOD METRIC ENGINE: 3.0L DATE OF MANUFACTURE: 8/97. *JB UPDATED 08/03/2012 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER. POLICE INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK

THE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKS IN PLACE WHICH ENABLES THE PASSENGER TO PULL IT OUT. THE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH

THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A NOISE WHEN I TURN RIGHT AT TIMES. I HAVEN?T HAD IT FIXED YET. SOMETIMES MY WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS FRONT WON?T ROLL DOWN. IT HASN?T BEEN FIXED. THE CAR WOULDN?T GO FORWARD WHEN YOU HAD TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN FIXED. THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON HAD TO BE CHANGED. I COULDN?T DRIVE IT FURTHER AS IT WOULDN?T GO FORWARD AFTER I STOPPED.

IN JUNE OF 2003 I BOUGHT MY 1997 FORD TAURUS WITH ONLY 97,000 MILES, FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP. IN SEPT. OF 2003 IT BEGAN TO LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SO I GOT THAT FIXED AND THEN IN OCTOBER I WENT TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY AND MY CAR WOULDN'T GO. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT OUT AND FOUND OUT THATIT WOULD STILL GO FOWARD. I DROVE IT TO MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE DOWN THE ROAD TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING TIGHTENED AND I COULDN'T TURN. NOW MY CAR DOESN'T RUN AT ALL. IT IS THE FIRST AND ONLY CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED.*AK

THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP WIRES ARCHED WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. *PH

RIGHT REAR WINDOW WON'T ALWAYS CLOSE AFTER OPENING. TRANSMISSION SLIPS DURING LOW SPEED STARTS THROUGH INTERSECTION OR PARKING LOT. FEELS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL. THEN WHEN TRANSMISSION ENGAGES, IT SUDDENLY LURCHES CHIRPPING THE TIRES.

WHEN THE CONSUMER RELEASED THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE BOLTED BACKWARDS AND STRUCK A BUILDING. *PH THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THE A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR 1997 TAURUS' FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DIDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY. IT WOULD SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND MAKE LOUD NOISE. *AK THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED LEAVING HER IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION. BY JIGGLING THE SHIFT LEVER, SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE THEN INTO DRIVE. THIS HAD BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 1991-1998 MODELS. FORD WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *SCC *JB

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF...TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED AND REPAIRED AND IS NOW NEEDING REPAIR AGAIN...TIRES FROM NORMAL WEAR...BRAKES FROM NORMAL WEAR...

REAR BRAKE LINE RUST THROUGH. *NM

FIRESTONE P205/65R15 PEELED AND SHREDDED ON THE REAR OF MY 1997 FORD, TAURUS AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF CAR.*AK

19'97 TAURUS, LIKE MANY OF THE FORD & OTHER PRODUCT LINES, HAVE THE GAS FILLER PIPE ON THE STARBOARD SIDE. WITH THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE TO SELF-SERVE, THIS ?!@#$% ARRANGEMENT GENERATES CONFUSION IN BUSY SERVICE STATIONS LEADING TO A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR FUEL SPILLS AND FIRES. ALL CARS, EVEN IF THEY THINK THE EUROPEAN LOCATION IS "CUTE" SHOULD BE MANDATED TO HAVE FUEL FILL PIPE LOCATION ON THE PORT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. REDUCE CONFUSION. INCREASE SAFETY. *AK

DT: CONSUMER OWNS A FORD TAURUS. THE HEADLIGHT LENS WAS NOT CLEAR, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. THE CLOUDINESS HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE IN THE LAST 5 YEARS. HAD TO BUY 2 NEW SEALED HEADLIGHTS.*AK *NM

HAVE BEEN LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. HAD THE FITTINGS REPLACED. CORRECTED PROBLEM FOR 1 DAY. MECHANIC STATED THE TRANSMISSION LINES ARE LEAKING AND WILL NEED REPLACED. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY LOCATING THE LINES DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE PART HAS BEEN CORRECTED SEVERAL TIMES AND THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM WITH THE LINES. NOW I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND SHIFTING. THE TRANSMISSION IS BANGING INTO GEAR. BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 2000. WHEN I CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT THE ORIGINAL. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTUREDIN SEPTEMBER 1996 AND THE TRANSMISSION, ACCORDING TO THE NUMBERS ON IT, WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1998. HAD A 1994 TAURUS AND THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY WENT OUT OF IT AND I TRADED IN FOR THIS 1997. I WILL DEFINITELY NOT BUY ANOTHER TAURUS OR FORD PRODUCT.

1997 FORD TAURUS - 3.0L V6 OHV TYPE U TENSIONER PULLER SEIZED UP WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY - RESULT: SERPENTINE BELT SHEARED OFF THE TENSION PULLEY ASSEMBLY. PULLEY AND BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO WATER PUMP NOT RUNNING BECAUSE NO BELT WAS OPERATING THE PUMP DUE TO THE TENSIONER PULLEY SEIZING. MECHANICS STATED THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THIS ITEM ON THE 3.0 L V6 ENGINE AND SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE TO OTHER ITEMS WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON 4 TO 5 CARS PER WEEK. (THE BRAKE SHOP - CENTERVILLE, IN). *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE SPEEDOMETER HAS FAILED, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALE NOTIFIED. *AK

"SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON (2ND TIME) FIRST TIME FORD DEALERSHIP DID FULL TRANSMISSION FLUSH($125) TO SEE IF CORRECTED PROBLEM. TWO MONTHS LATER (ON LONG DRIVE), WARNING CAME ON AGAIN. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND SAID IT WAS A TRANSMISSION CODE THAT NEEDED THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED TO DETERMINE CAUSE ($300). THEY TOLD ME THAT (EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAS WORKING OK) THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE. ALL PARTS AND COMPONENTS WERE EITHER SCORCHED OR FAILED WHEN TESTED AND RECOMMENDED A TOTAL REBUILD ($2862) OR PURCHASE A FORD REBUILT ONE ($2756). I SAID THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR WITH 39,400 MILES ON IT. THEY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING AND I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THEY SOUNDED INTERESTED BUT WOULD NOT BACK UP THEIR PRODUCT DUE TO BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. (SO MUCH FOR THE QUALITY ONE - CUSTOMER CARE MOTO). READING OTHER COMPLAINTS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE FORD TAURUS OVER THE YEARS. WE HAD A 1994 TAURUS THAT HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS TO THE TUNE OF $1,100. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS IS MY LAST FORD PRODUCT AND THEY WONDER WHY PEOPLE BY FOREIGN VEHICLES!. WHEN I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP TO PUT THE CAR BACK TOGETHER THAT I CAN GET A REBUILT TRANSMISSION FROM 2 OTHER TRANSMISSION SOURCES (USED PARTS FOR $1400) OR NEW REBUILT PARTS FOR $2030), THEY THEN SAID "LET ME SEE IF THERE IS ANY LAST THING MY MANAGEMENT WILL DO" OF COURSE WHEN PUT ON THE SPOT TO LOSE BUSINESS AND RESPECTABILITY THEY LOWERED THEIR PRICE TO $2281 FOR A FORD REBUILT ONE. I AM STILL CONCERNED SINCE A LOT OF OTHERS SAY THEY HAD FAILURES WITH THEIR 2ND ONE TOO! IT COMES WITH A 3/36,000 WARRANTY. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS DAY AND AGE THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TOTAL REPAIR COSTS WHEN KNOWN DEFECTS OCCUR. A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AS SOME TRANSMISSIONS HAVE SEPARATED AND LOCKED UP CAUSING IMMEDIATE STOPPAGE OF VEHICLE LIKE SLAMMING ON BRAKES.*AK

1997 FORD TAURUS ONLY 100000 MILES AND IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *AK

THE PUMP THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE TRANSMISSION IS ALUMINUM AND IS CAUSING THE PART TO FAIL AND OVERHEAT. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE IT WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL AND WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.*AK

ON MORNING OF JUNE 13, 2003 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00 AM, I STARTED MY CAR. THE CAR STARTED BUT MADE A CLICKING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE BAY. I LOOKED TO SEE THE PROBLEM AND DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC FOR HIS INSPECTION. AT FIRST CHANCE OF INSPECTION ON JUNE 19TH THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE THE ENGINE AND I WOULD BE BETTER OF TO TAKE TO A FORD DEALER. I THAT TIME DROVE THE CAR TO PLACE OF PURCHASE, WHITMOYER FORD. ON FRIDAY THE 20TH, I WAS INFORMED MY WHITMOYER FORDS SERVICE (DAVE) THAT THE CAMSHAFT HAD SLIPPED AND HAD CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. ON JUNE 23RD I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY SERVICE (800-241-3673) AND ADVISED THEM OF THE PROBLEM. THE FORD MOTOR SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOOK MY INFORMATION AND PROCEEDED TO READ ME A RESPONSE ALONG THE LINE: THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THUS NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED IN REPAIRING OF THE CAR. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE SUPERVISOR AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUPERVISOR GUIDELINES WERE NOT ANY DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE PROVIDED. I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO THE SUPERVISOR ALTHOUGH I HAVE GOTTEN VOICE MAILS WITHOUT ANY NUMBER TO CALL. I HAVE RESEARCH MORE ON MY PROBLEM AT HTTP://WW2.V8SHO.COM/SHO/CHANGES.HTML AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THEY ALONE HAVE 268 CAMSHAFT FAILURES LIKE MINE LISTED. FROM WHAT I CAN DETERMINE THAT FORD MOTOR CO. HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE 1997 AND HAS NOT ADMITTED TO THE PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO COVER FOR THE COST OF REPAIR OF ALL 4 CAMS IN THE ENGINE. THE BILL COULD BE AS GREAT AS $10,000 PER OCCURRENCE IF NOT REPAIRED AND PREVENTATIVE WORK PERFORMED. AS OF JUNE 25, 2003 FORD ZONE REP HAS NOT RETURNED PHONE CALLS OF WHITMOYER FORD. THE FOLLOWING WEB SITE HAS PDF FILES WHERE FORD HAS OFFERED, SOME ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE PA ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE, TO A CONSUMER BUT STILL FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. *NLM

TRANSMISSION FAILURE,KEEPS SLIPPING AND SHIFTING UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVINGAT 65MPH. IT WILL SHIFT DOWN TO SECOND GEAR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING APROX 30 MILES AN HOUR WITHOUT ANY COLLISION OR IMPAC BOTH OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED..*AK

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY. *JB WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP LIGHT, ETC., THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES, ESPECIALLY TO THE OVERDRIVE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WON'T MOVE UNLESS THE VEHICLE REVVED. THE PROBLEM CAN IMMEDIATELY BE CORRECTED BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE IN PARK AND RESTARTING. THIS PROBLEM USUALLY WILL OCCUR 3-4 TIME PER DAY. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE. *SCC

WHILE PARKING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

1997 FORD TAURUS WAGON. OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD IN TRAFFIC 5 TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE FUSE TO THE FUEL PUMP REPEATEDLY BLEW, BUT NO OTHER PROBLEMS WERE EVIDENT EACH TIME THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE. THE ENGINE WOULD RUN ROUGHLY, STALL, AND SURGE, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, AND GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE. THE MECHANIC SUSPECTED A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A WIRE TO THE FUEL PUMP INSIDE THE FUEL TANK HAD ITS INSULATION WORN OFF DOWN TO THE BARE WIRE, AND HAD SHORTED OUT. OTHER WIRES ALSO SHOW SIGNS OF WEAR, BUT ARE NOT YET WORN THROUGH. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE WIRES. THE WIRES WERE DAMAGED DUE TO THE WAY THE FUEL PUMP WAS ASSEMBLED WITHIN THE GAS TANK. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND IS NOT LIMITED TO ONLY OUR CAR. FORD HAS ISSUED 3 TSB'S RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM (98251, 5226, AND 12189) AND I HAVE ALSO FOUND SEVERAL RELATED COMPLAINTS IN THE NHTSA DATABASE (ODI ID 549996, 707889, 713208, 807546, 838030, 853283, 879245, 10018293, AND 8012733). I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD NOT ONLY CAUSE COMPLETE VEHICLE FAILURE (LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES) AT ANY SPEED, BUT ALSO THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF A SPARK INSIDE THE GAS TANK IS NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION. THIS WIRING PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR ANY FORD TAURUS FIRES, OR ACCIDENTS INVOLVING LOSS OF POWER. WE ARE CONVINCED THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE RELATED ACCIDENTS INCREASES AS CURRENT VEHICLES AGE. FORD EVIDENTLY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, OR THEY WOULD NOT HAVE REVISED THE WIRING HARNESS AND GIVEN SPECIAL INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS TO THEIR TECHNICIANS. *NLM

THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED A LIQUID SUBSTANCE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND MADE THE GEARS DIFFICULT TO SWITCH. *JB