1997 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT CAUSING MY WINDSHIELD TO SMASH AND PASSENGER WINDOW TO BLOW OFF THE TRACK. MY INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER IT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT EVEN THOUGH IT IS VERY EVIDENT THAT IT WAS A MALFUNCTION. *JB

ALL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, HI-LOW BEAMS AND RUNNING LIGHTS WORK! ALL PANEL LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WORK. TURNING SIGNALS & EMERGENCY FLASHERS DO NOT WORK AT ALL! IT IS AS THOUGH THE WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN WERE DISCONNECTED FROM BOTH THE TURNING STICK (SWITCH) AND THE EMERGENCY SWITCH? CHECKED EVERY FUSE IN FUSE BOX UNDER HOOD AND THEY ALL LOOK OK. ASSUME NO BULB PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE WAS AND IS NO FAST BLINK... IT SEEMS LIKE THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED DURING AN ALL DAY RAIN STORM...VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS CAME ABOUT BECAUSE I ASSUMED DIRECTIONAL WERE STILL WORKING DURING SEVERAL TURNS...THEN SOMEONE ALMOST HIT ME WHEN I WAS CHANGING LANES....I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A DUMB DRIVER TILL IT HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES....THEN I NOTICED NO TURN SIGNALS...VERY SCARY (VIN: [XXX])! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

1997 TAURUS WITH 75000 MILES, BOUGHT NEW. TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THEN WOULD EITHER BANG INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING, OR WOULD HAVE TO PLACE THE CAR IN PARK, TURN OFF THE ENGINE, RESTART THE ENGINE, AND PLACE IT IN DRIVE. OFTEN ALL WOULD BE FINE FOR 2-3 WEEKS, THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ACT UP AGAIN. AFTER THREE OR FOUR MONTHS OF THIS THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP. THERE ARE NO UNUSUAL NOISES, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS CLEAN AND FULL, AND THE TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO SHIFT FINE ONCE I GET GOING. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY HAVE NO RECALLS OR KNOWN DEFECTS (OF COURSE). THE DEALER URGED ME NOT DRIVE THE CAR AND BRING IT INTO THE SHOP RIGHT AWAY. HE SAID IT WOULD LIKELY COST BETWEEN $1300 AND $2600 TO REPAIR. *JB

THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS DIAGNOSED AT A LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE WITH CODE 402 THAT SHOWED EXCESSIVE FLOW IN THE EGR SYSTEM. I REMOVED THE EGR VALVE AND TUBE FROM THE ENGINE AND INSPECTED THE COMPONENTS. THE EGR VALVE WAS EXTREMELY CLEAN AND DID NOT SHOW ANY LEAKAGE THROUGH THE VALVE WHEN IT WAS CLOSED. THE TUBE LEADING FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO THE EGR VALVE WAS ALSO EXTREMELY CLEAN. THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED TO RESET THE INDICATOR LIGHT. TWO DAYS LATER, THE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLARKE FORD IN HUDSON, OHIO FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED BY A MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE SAME RESULTS. I WAS CHARGED FOR TWO LABOR HOURS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DPFE SENSOR AND TROUBLE SHOOTING. I TOLD THE DEALER THAT I WISHED TO KEEP THE OLD PARTS. WHEN I REVIEWED THE OLD PART WITH THE MECHANIC, EXCESSIVE CORROSION WAS PRESENT IN THE HOSE OF THE SENSOR. THE MECHANIC AND SERVICE WRITER INFORMED ME THAT FORD NO LONGER MANUFACTURES THE SENSOR FROM METAL AND THE REPLACEMENT IS PLASTIC TO PREVENT THE CORROSION. THE SERVICE WRITER PROCEEDED TO SHOW ME THE PRINT OUT THAT DISPLAYED THE REPLACEMENT INFORMATION. I HAD BEEN TO CLARKE FORD ON TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS BEFORE THIS AUTOMOBILE WAS SERVICED TO SCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENTS FOR SERVICE ON TWO VEHICLES AND TO DROP THE VEHICLES FOR SERVICING. WHILE I WAS SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE WRITER, NO LESS THAN 5 OTHER CUSTOMERS RECEIVED THE SAME NEWS OF A BAD DPFE SENSOR. THE SERVICE WRITER INFORMED ME THAT THIS FAILURE WAS VERY COMMON. I FEEL THAT THIS SITUATION NEEDS FURTHER INVESTIGATION SINCE THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SO WIDESPREAD AND HAS A NEW STYLE REPLACEMENT PART TO FIX THE CORROSION PROBLEM. *JB

THE ENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIR OVER FLOWED. *NLM

BOUGHT 97 TAURUS WITH 53,000 MILES IN 03-2001 AT A DODGE DEALERSHIP, WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY [CHRYSLER 24/24]. TOOK IN FOR OIL LEAK 3,000 MILES AFTER PURCHASE. OIL PAN GASKET REPAIR WORK WAS SAID TO BE DONE. APPROX. 8,000 MILES AFTER THAT, I TOOK CAR IN AGAIN FOR OIL LEAK AND POSSIBLE COOLANT LEAK. AGAIN GASKET REPAIRS WERE SUPPOSSEDLY DONE; NO REPORT OR REPAIR ON SUSPECTED COOLANT LEAK. APPROXIMATELY 9,000 MILES AFTER THAT, CAR BREAKS DOWN ON FWY; WILL NOT CRANK/TURN OVER. HAD CAR TOWED TO SAME DEALERSHIP; REPORTED FINDINGS WERE: NO COOLANT IN RADIATOR, COOLANT IN OIL BASKET, NO COMPRESSION. EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO BREAK DOWN. THEY SAY THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS AREN'T RELATED TO PRESENT PROBLEM. I FEEL THE REPAIR WORK EACH TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE WAS INCOMPLETE, OVERLOOKED, OR MIS DIAGNOSED.

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THEY WERE HIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. BEFORE THE CRASH A COMPLETE REPAIR KIT WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE BUT THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *SCC

ICE LANDED ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE'S ROOF, WHICH CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. *JB

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DID NOT SHUT COMPLETELY. *NLM

CAM SENSOR, CAM SYNCHRONIZER BROKEN = FORD TAURUS 1997 = KNOWN FAULTY PART. MILEAGE: 36,806. FORD IS WELL AWARE THAT THE TAURUS, 1997 YEAR ONLY, HAS A FAULTY CAM SENSOR, WHOSE MAGNET FALLS DOWN OFF THE CAP AND INTO THE CAM SYNCHRONIZER DESTROYING IT. WHEN MY MECHANIC CALLED FORD W/ THE COMPUTER CODE THAT CAME OFF MY CAR, HE WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THE 1997'S HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAM. FORD TOLD HIM THAT, BUT WHEN I CALLED THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER TODAY IN DETROIT, THEY COULD NOT ACCESS THIS INFORMATION! THEY SAID SINCE I HAD NOT USED A DEALERSHIP I WAS OUT OF LUCK W/ ANY KIND OF REIMBURSEMENT. SO FORD IS WELL AWARE THAT THEY INSTALLED A FAULTY PART IN THE '97'S. I HAVE THE BROKEN PART IN MY POSSESSION. I DO NOT USE THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, S & C FORD, BECAUSE THEY NEVER GET ANYTHING RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. THEY ARE LIKE WORKING WITH LAUREL AND HARDY, SWEET BUT INEPT. I GOT TO KNOW THEM DURING MY WARRANTY PERIOD FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE BY MY AUTOMOBILE CLUB RECOMMENDED MECHANIC, ALLIED ENGINE & AUTO REPAIR, SAN FRANCISCO, LAST EVENING BETWEEN 5 P.M. AND 6:30 P.M., IE. AFTER MY WORKING HOURS & I WAS ABLE TO PICK UP THE CAR ON THE WAY TO WORK THIS A.M. - A SERVICE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE DEALER. TOTAL OUT OF POCKET: CAM SENSOR $55, CAM SYNCHRONIZER $124, LABOR 98 = $277 I SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS AMOUNT FROM FORD.

I HAD A CAM FAILURE ON MY 97 FORD TAURUS SHO, BAD DESIGN ON THE ENGINE LED TO THE FAILURE

1997 FORD SHO TAURAS. THIS CAR QUIT ON MY WIFE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE,NO POWER NO WHERE.THERE WAS CARS SLIDING,HONKING HORN ETC.TO KEEP FROM HITTING OR CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO HER.I WASN,T CONCERN ABOUT THE CAR,BUT SHE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT.THIS ISSUE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COSTLY.SOMEONE NEEDS TO STEP IN AND TAKE THESE CARS OFF THE HIGHWAY,BEFORE ITS TO LATE.MY CAR IS SITTING IN THE GARAGE DRIPPING OIL EVERY WHERE.COST TO MUCH TO FIX TO MUCH TO SELL.JUST HAVE LITTLE OVER 70000 MILES.IF ANYONE NEEDS A CAR TO LOOK AT I,VE GOT ONE.

BOUGHT A 97 TAURUS SHO AND 2 MONTHS AFTER I GOT IT THE GEAR ON THE CANSHAFT BROKE AND NOW I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED. (IT IS A DEFECT THAT FORD NEEDS TO FIX).

THE FORWARD CLUTCH METAL BAND GAVE OUT CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION NOT TO MOVE OR SHIFT INTO GEAR. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH

THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN DUE TO A HOLE INSIDE OF PLUG OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH

WHEN GEAR SHIFT IS IN REVERSE OR DRIVE,POWER STEERING GOES OFF, RADIO SOUND GOES OFF AND THE POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM I HAVE CONTACTED FORD THEY WOULD CHECK INTO THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED YET

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN JOLT WHEN A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN WAS MADE. *TS *JB

VEHICLE JERKS HEAVILY AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH

I HAVE A 1997 FORD TAURUS SHO, I STARTED HEARING A TAPING IN MY ENGINE, I ASKED A MACHANIC FRIEND ABOUT IT, HE TOLD ME THAT HE READ ABOUT THE CAM SHAFT IN THE SHO'S FROM 1996 - 1999 GOING BAD, I TOOK MY SHO TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY DETERMIND IT WAS THE CAMSHAFT HAD GONE BAD. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND THERE IS A WRITE UP ABOUT THE ISSUE.I TALKED TO FORD MOTOR CO CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HADN'T HAD ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO WARRENT A RECALL, THAT I SHOULD SAVE MY RECIEPTS AND IF THEY HAVE A RECALL THEY WOULD REFUND MY MONEY. IF IT IS A KNOWN FAULT IN THE ENGINE WHY HASN'T FORD CHECKED INTO IT? I LIKED MY FORD SHO, AND WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT FOR A LONG TIME.

A TICKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR WAS IN IDLE. I TALKED TO A FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAMSHAFT PROBLEM WAS AFFECTING MY CAR. I WAS QUOTED AROUND $6000.00 FOR THE REPAIRS. I DID SOM RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE SECONDARY DRIVE GEARS FOR THE CAMSHAFTS WERE THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE. *TT

"SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON, THEN TRANSMISSION FAILED. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION UNDER SERVICE PLAN.

THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR IN MY MOTHERS FORD TAURUS WENT OUT, AND THE INTERRIOR DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AT TIMES. THESE ARE BOTH PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HEARD ALMOST ALL TAURUS OWNERS HAVE HAD, AND I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.

DRIVER SEATBELT STATUS, DOOR SHUT STATUS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SEATBELT LIGHT IS ON EVEN WHEN WEARING SEATBELT, AND "DOOR OPEN" LIGHT, INTERIOR LIGHT STAY ON EVEN WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED.

F YOU CAN REFERENCE THE "CAR TALK" ARTICLE FROM JULY 2002 IT EXPLAINS MY PROBLEMS TO A "T". NUMEROUS MECHANICS REPLIED TO THE ARTICLE AND "CAR TALK" RELAYED THAT INFO TO ME. MY TAURUS WAS 5 YEARS OLD WHEN THE PROBLEMS STARTED. MY DRIVER'S SIDE BACK WINDOW STARTED CUTTING OUT AT TIMES. THEN MY RADIO STARTED CUTTING OUT ONLY WHEN TURNING RIGHT. THEN WHEN IN REVERSE AND SO ON TILL IT DIDN'T WORK. MY WIPERS ALSO HAD PROBLEMS AT TIMES. ALL THESE WERE MINER TILL MY POWER STEERING STARTED CUTTING OUT. THAT IS THE TIME I SAW THIS ARTICLE AND GOT THE INFO THAT THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM. FORD REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING OR ADMIT THAT THERE WAS A TREND. I GOT THE SENSOR REPLACED BY ONE MECHANIC WHO STATED HE HAD MANY FORD CARS ON WHICH HE REPLACED THE SENSORS, ALL THE SAME YEARS- 97-98S. UNFORTUNATELY, HE DID NOT REPLACE THE CONNECTOR PIECE AND THE PROBLEMS RETURNED. I THEN PAID THE BIG BUCKS AND HAD A DEALER REPLACE THE PIECE. THEY, OF COURSE, SAID THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM AND WANTED TO DO ALL THIS TESTING. I SHOWED THEM ALL THE DOCUMENTATION ON WHAT I FOUND AND WHAT "CAR TALK" SENT ME. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE GETTING IT REPLACED. I AM INCENSED THAT FORD WOULD NOT RECALL A PIECE THAT ALLOWS YOUR POWER STEERING TO GO OUT. IF A RECALL OCCURS, I WOULD LOVE TO BE PART OF IT. I AM OUT 300$.

TRANSMISSION GOING OUT AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE, SERPENTINE BELT FAILURE,CAM SENSOR & FALSE DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT, & MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SWITCH IN STEERING COLUMN

WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON IT'S FRONT SIDE YET NONE OF VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *TS *NLM

CAM SENSORS ARE BEING REPLACED IN THE 1997 FORD TAURUS MODELS; SINCE THEY ARE RELATED TO THE THE FIRING OF THE ENGINE IT WILL CAUSE THE EMISSIONS TO INCREASE AND SHOULD THEREFORE BE COVERED UNDER THE 8YR/84000 MILE LAW. DT

CATALYTIC CONVERTER RATTLING INSIDE. REPLACED BY DEALER

CONSUMER STATED THE HEATER FAILED. TS *JB

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SLIPS THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM., TS

THE ACCELERATOR STUCK, WHEN I PRESSED IT DOWN TRYING TO MERGE ON THE FREEWAY, SO I PRESSED IT DOWN HARD HOPING IT WOULD POP BACK UP, BUT IT DID NOT. SO I HELD THE BRAKE DOWN HOPING THIS WOULD BRING THE ACCELERATOR BACK UP BUT THAT DID NOT WORK EITHER. SO AS A RESULT I HAD TO JUMP OUT OF THE CAR WHILE MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY, I DID THIS WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE DOWN TO SLOW THE CAR UP. I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY HURT. MY CAR INSTEAD OF CRASHING INTO THE OFF RAMP WALL DECIDED TO PROCEED STRAIGHT ONTO THE FREEWAY TO THE CENTER DIVIDE WHERE THE FRONT TIRE STOPPED IT. I WAS GIVEN A RIDE BY A MOTORIST THAT ALMOST HIT ME WHEN I JUMPED OUT THE CAR. WHEN MY CAR WAS FOUND THE TIRES WERE STILL SPINNING BECAUSE THE PEDAL WAS STILL STUCK, NEITHER OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE CRASH. DT

WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK IN THE DOWNWARD POSITION. CONSUMER PRESSED AGAIN, HOPING THE PEDAL WOULD DISENGAGE ITSELF BUT TO NO AVAIL. *JG *JB

CAM SPROCKET FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY BEING NOTIFIED BY FORD. FORD HAS KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED OWNERS AS THERE IS APROCEDURE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. BY NOT WELDING THE CAMS ENGINE FAILURE ACCURS CAUSING EXCESSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. PREVENTIVE WELDING FOR $ 500.00 CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE TOTAL ENGINE AT A COST OF ABOUT $6,00.00 FOR SALVAGED MOTOR. DT

MY CAR HAD A MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE AT 48500 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT I HAD MULIPLE CAM FAILURES CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THIS ISSUE IS VERY SERIOUS DUE TO THE SUDDEN NATURE OF THE FAILURE AND THE OTHER COMPONANTS THAT NO LONGER FUNCTION PROPERLY ONCE THE ENGINE IS DEAD. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ON FLAT SURFACE AND NO WARNING THE POWER STEERING WILL LOCK UP THEN DISENGAGE AND IT IS CAUSING IT TO BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CAUSED TOTAL FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEMS INHIBITING BRAKING AND STEERING MAKING CONTROL OF THE CAR DIFFICULT AND ENDANGERING DRIVER, PASSENGERS AND SURROUNDING VEHICLES.*AK

RE: 1997 TAURUS 3.0 VULCAN - FROST PLUG CORROSION AND HEAD GASKET BLOWN!. *AK

THE FROST PLUGS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY DUE TO INTERNAL CORROSION. THIS CAUSED RAPID LOSS OF NEARLY ALL COOLANT FROM THE ENGINE. THE LOSS OF COOLANT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL, AND THE HEADS TO CRACK. WITHIN NINETY SECONDS, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND CONSUMER WAS LEFT WITHOUT POWER. *JG

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 45MPH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN, CAUSING TO PULL THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY, CAR OVERHEATED, THEN STALLED, THEN WOULDNT START. THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN, HEAD GASKET BLOWN AND THERE WAS WATER IN THE OIL. HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY THRU UNIVERSAL AND THEY ARE NOT HONORING WARRANTY. WAS NEVER INFORMED ON THE COOLING RECALL. *AK

VEHICLE WAS IN A REAR END COLLISON AND BOTH FRONT SEATBACKS COLLAPSED, AND LAUNCHED BACKWARDS ON IMPACT.BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED.*AK

THE COOLANT IS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE HAS RUSTED AND THE WATER PUMP IS WARPED. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB

I OWN A 1997 FORD TAURUS SHO. THE FIRST SIGN OF PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN I KEPT HEARING A TICKNG SOUND IN THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT IN TO A FORD DEALER AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A MIS- FIRING CYLINDER. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE DEALER FIX IT SO I FOUND A MECHANIC WILLING TO WORK ON THIS TYPE OF CAR. I HAD THE TWO MIS-FIRING CYLINDERS REPLACED. THE TICKING IN THE ENGINE STILL WENT ON. BEFORE ANYTHING COULD BE DONE THE CAR ACTED LIKE THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN. FINDING A MECHANIC THAT HAS ACTUALLY WORKED ON THESE TYPES OF CARS IS HARD TO FIND, INLCUDING A FORD DEALER MECHANIC. I HAD A FORD MECHANIC THAT NOW WORKS OUT OF HIS OWN GARAGE LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BROKEN CAMSHAFT 4 BAD VALVES AND BENT PISTONS. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 86,000 MILES ON IT. THE MECHANIC FEELS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE. I HAVE ALSO DONE RESEARCH INTO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. TO DATE THERE ARE 550 VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A FREAK INCIDENT WITH JUST MY CAR.

CAM FAILURE; APPARENTLY ROTATED RELATIVE TO CAMSHAFT. OCCURED AT LIGHT TIP IN UNDER 45MPH, UNDER 3200 RPM. ENGINE STARTED MISSING, (RUNNING ON 4 CYLINDERS) AND LOSS OF POWER BRAKES. ENGINE STARTED OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVEN 1/2 MILE TO FIND PARKING LOT. DEALER ESTIMATED COSTS AT $3000 - $9000. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER PUTTING KEYS INTO THE IGNITION TO START VEHICLE, KEYS GOT STUCK AS A RESULT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKING UP. CONTACTED DEALER. HAD PART REPLACED DEALER UNABLE TO REMOVE KEYS.*JB

ON AUGUST 18, 2002 I HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO A CAMSHAFT SPROCKET FAILURE. A WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.V8SHO.COM SHOWS 241 FAILURES THAT THEY CAN DOCUMENT. *JB

ENGINE IS TICKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND STATED THAT MOTOR NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AIR CONDITION UNIT SEALED NOW LEAKING AGAIN THE CV JOINTS WENT OUT AND THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP (MARTY'S AUTO DISCOUNT AT 13 AND HARRIS AVE) WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE REPAIRS SAID THE LOWER ARM CONTROL AND THE AXLE WERE IN UNSAFE CONDITION TO DRIVE . THE CAR IS STILL NOT RIGHT , THE DEALER WANTS ME TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND I WANT TO TRADE THE CAR FOR SOMETHING ELSE .I BELIEVE THERE ARE MORE PROMBLEMS COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. WE WERE CLOSE TO AN OFF RAMP, AND EXITED. AT THAT TIME, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED TO CLIMB, AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE NEAR OUR HOME. AN ENGINE CORE PLUG HAD FAILED, THE RESULTANT LOSE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, AND DAMAGE THE HEAD GASKET. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $3900. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, BUT THEY STATE THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ENGINE PROBLEM, SO I AM SUEING THEM IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT. DT

GENERAL AMERI G4S P20565R15. CONSUMER STATES HE HEARD A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THE STEEL CORE WAS EXPOSED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.