2000 Ford Taurus Electrical System Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO SHUT OFF, WHICH REQUIRED THE BATTERY CABLE TO BE DISCONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THE EVENT THAT THE DAY TIME RUNNING LAMPS, HIGH BEAMS, AND FOG LIGHTS SHORT OUT. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

PART OF THE ENGINE, TOP PORTION CLOSEST TO THE FIREWALL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET NEAR MY RESIDENCE IN LANCASTER, CA. I NOTICED THE SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN I CAME TO A STOP AT THE STOP LIGHT.

MY 2000 FORD TAURUS SES IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE RADIO AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS.WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING THE RADIO IS PLAYING AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING.AS I AM DRIVING THE CAR THE RADIO SUDDENLY TURNS OFF AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WON'T WORK.THE RADIO AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WON'T WORK FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I START THE CAR TO GO SOMEWHERE THE RADIO AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING AGAIN.AS BEFORE,WHILE I AM DRIVING THE RADIO GOES OFF AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING AGAIN AND THEY WON'T WORK FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.

THE CAR BURNT TO THE GROUND OUT OF NO WHERE.

STARTED TO SMELL BURNED WIRES IN CAR. LOOK UNDER DASH AND SMOKE AND WIRES WHERE BURNED. BRAKE LIGHTS DONT WORK. READING ONLINE AND OTHER ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND PEOPLE WHERE HAVING SAME ISSUE. WHEN I CALLED DEALER THEY SAID THERES NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THEY ARE NO MORE RECALLS ON THAT. BUT I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CAN CAUSE GREAT DANGER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE STARTER AND SOLENOID FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

I CONTACTED FORD IN 2011 BECAUSE MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AND EXPLODED. THEY WROTE ME A LETTER ASKING FOR RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. I HAD BOUGHT IT USED FROM REYNOLDS FORD IT HAD 1 OWNER. I DID HAVE IT FIXED BY PEOPLE NOT AT FORD AND OIL CHANGES NOT AT FORD . I BOUGTH A NEW CAR BUT THE FIRE WAS SCARY AND MY LIABILTY DOES NOT PAY FOR IT. I RECENTLY SAW ANOTHER CAR ON FACEBOOK IT LOOKED LIKE MY CAR IA SKED WHAT KIND OF CAR IS THAT THEY SAID A 2000 FORD TAURUS. I BLEIVE THAT THIS SHOULD OF BEEN RECALLED WHEN I TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO ME. I WAS LUCKY I JUMPED OUT RIGHT AWAY OR I WOULD HAVE BURNED AND THANK GOD I HAD NO CHILDREN WITH ME. I AM REPORTING THIS TO YOU. PLEASE LET ALL OTHER FORD TAURUS OWNERS KNOW MY CAR HAD JUST HIT 200,000 MILES. I HOPE NO ONE GETS HURT. FORD SHOULD HAVE THE RECORDS OF THE PICTURES I SENT TO THEM. I WAS NOT GOING VERY FAST ON A LOCAL STREET WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DASH BOARD I OULLED OVER FAST UNDID MY SEAT BELT AND GRAB MY PURSE AS SOON AS I DID THAT THE MOTOR EXPLODED AND WAS ON FIRE. WITNESS SAID THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY THE FIREMAN WERE THERE PRETTY FAST AND THEY BELIEVED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. IF I CAN HELP IN ANY WAY PLEASE LET ME KNOW AT [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 13 YEAR OLD SISTER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, ON THE STREETS,ON CHRISTMAS EVE, GOING ABOUT 40 MPH, I STARTED TO SMELL SOMETHING AS IF PLASTIC WAS BURNING, I TURNED INTO A SHOPPING CENTER NEARBY, BUT WITH IT BEING CHRISTMAS EVE, IT WAS SO MANY CARS INSIDE THE SMALL STRUCTURED SHOPPING CENTER THAT WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE, I WAS UNCERTAIN IF IT WAS MY CAR SMOKING OR SOMEONE NEXT TO ME. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO THE NEXT OPEN PARKING SPACE, THIS GUY QUICKLY RAN UP TO MY CAR AND TOLD ME TO AND MY SISTER TO GET OUT BECAUSE AS I WAS DRIVING HE SAW FIRE BALLS COMING FROM THE UNDER MY CAR. AT THIS POINT IT WAS CLEAR THAT IT WAS MY CAR SMOKING VERY BADLY, I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS QUICKLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITH IN SECONDS. WE QUICKLY JUMPED OUT LEAVING THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. WE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT DIDN'T DETERMINE A CONCRETE CAUSE BESIDES AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS DRIVING NO KIND OF WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE THERMOSTAT DID NOT READ "OVERHEAT" OR ANYTHING. I HAD LIABILITY ON MY CAR. IT WAS A 2000 FORD TAURUS, BUT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULDN'T PAY FOR ANYTHING. IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT GUY THAT RAN UP TO MY CAR AND TOLD ME AND MY SISTER TO GET OUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T SEE ANY FLAMES UNTIL I CUT THE CAR OFF. *LN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WALKED TO THE BACK OF HIS HOME WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS LOCATED AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE INCIDENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE BEFOREHAND AND HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2000 FORD TAURUS FAILED. *TR

1. WIRE TO ALTERNATOR BURNING SINCE LAST REPAIR-7-26-08 2. REPLACE HARNESS TO CORRECT CONCERN,EXCESSIVE VOLTAGE DROP 3. REPLACE ENGINE COMPARTMENT-COMPLETE WIRING HARNESS. *NM

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A CAR IN DECEMBER OF 2005 AND HAVE $6000 AS A CURRENT BALANCE. ON 05/03/2006 I WAS CRANKING UP MY CAR WHEN IT IGNITED AND CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD GET THERE. I CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATION DEPARTMENT AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO THEM AND REQUESTED THAT THEY REPLACE MY CAR BECAUSE A 2000 FORD TAURUS SHOULD NOT JUST IGNITE ON FIRE FROM CRANKING IT UP, AND THEY DENIED MY REQUEST. I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE ON THIS MATTER OR ARE COMPANIES ALLOWED TO SELL CUSTOMERS DEFECTIVE CARS AND NOTHING BE DONE ABOUT IT. I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE ON IT SO THE INSURANCE COMPANY COULD NOT ASSIST ME. I INFORMED THE DEALER FROM WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY ALSO SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. *JB

2000 FORD TAURUS. VEHICLE HAS CONSTANT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FROM JANUARY 9TH UNTIL TODAY 02/26/06, CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN 4 TIMES. WON'T START. ALMOST $1,000 LATER AND 4 AAA TOWS, THE CAR WON'T START AGAIN. *NM

SEPTEMBER 5, 2005 MY CAR STARTED TO SMOKE AND WHEN THE HOOD WAS LIFTED THERE WAS A FIRE. WITHIN SECONDS MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *NM

2000 FORD TAURUS. DRIVING AT NIGHT, HEADLIGHTS AND ALL RUNNING-PARK LIGHTS FAILED. PARKED CAR AND IDLED WHILE TRYING DIFFERENT HEADLIGHT SWITCH POSITIONS. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, LIGHTING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. DEALER (OF COURSE) COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS NOR CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. FACTORY CUSTOMER SUPPORT WAS CONTACTED, AND HAVE YET TO RECEIVE CALL-BACK. *NM

DT: TOOK 2000 FORD TAURUS TO THE MECHANIC FOR SERVICE, AND THEY SAID NEW SPARK PLUGS WERE NEEDED. FORD DEALER REPLACED ANOTHER PART ON THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, WHEN IT GETS UP TO 40-50 MPH IT LURCHES 2 0R 3 TIMES.*AK

2000 FORD TAURUS SEL 24V V-6 CONTINUALLY DIES WHILE IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED PER FORD RECOMMENDATIONS. FORD DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICED THE CAR TWICE PRIOR TO CURRENT FAILURE FOR SAME CONDITIONS. RECENT RECOMMENDATION FROM FORD SERVICE PERSONNEL WAS TO 'USE A DIFFERENT IGNITION KEY.' PER RECOMMENDATIONS AND USING A DIFFERENT KEY, CAR CONTINUES TO STALL/DIE WHILE IN TRAFFIC, RENDERING POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, AND DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS INOPERATIVE. IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION, I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS CAR IS SAFE (BY DESIGN OR MANUFACTURER'S INABILITY TO REPAIR) TO OPERATE ON PUBLIC MOTORWAYS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL AT WILMERFJOHNSON@YAHOO.COM OR VIA PHONE AT 908/310-4055 (LEAVE VOICE MAIL MESSAGE IF I AM UNABLE TO ANSWER YOUR CALL.) THANK YOU.*AK WILMER F. JOHNSON

IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE OR INFORMATION THAT MIGHT HELP TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION BELOW, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD CONTACT ME. I STARTED MY 2000 FORD TAURUS WITH 56,000 MILES TO GO TO WORK ON JULY 29TH, AND AS SOON AS I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY, A LOUD EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD OCCURRED. IT WAS LIKE A BOMB GOING OFF, THE MOTOR BECAME LOUD AND STARTED REVVING. THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD HAD EXPLODED DUE TO THE PCM (POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE) HAVING THE WRONG FLASH (A SOFTWARE PROBLEM PROGRAMMED AT THE FACTORY). THE PCM CAUSED A BACKFIRE OUT THE TOP OF THE MOTOR. FORD DEALERS WERE SUPPOSE TO CORRECT THIS IN APRIL/ MAY OF 2000 . I PURCHASED MY CAR IN JULY 2000 AFTER THEY WERE ALL SUPPOSE TO BE FIXED. THE FORD DEALER HAS COME DOWN FROM $500 TO $250 TO FIX MY CAR, BUT REFUSES TO TO FIX IT FREE. WE ARE NOW AT A STALEMATE UNLESS I AGREE TO PAY FOR THE MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. AS OF TODAY 8/4/04 THE CAR IS STILL NOT FIXED. I ALSO HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE. *AK

WHILE TURNING THE TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO COME ON. THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. 2000 ,FORD, TAURUS SEL SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. IT HAS BEEN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TWICE REGARDING THE ISSUE. TODAY AFTER THE THIRD OCCURRENCE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED THAT I USE A DIFFERENT IGNITION KEY WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE - I DO NOT ACCEPT THIS AS A VIABLE SOLUTION TO THE TROUBLE. WHEN THE ENGINE DIES WHILE IN TRAFFIC POWER STEERING/POWER BRAKES, AND DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS ARE LOST. THE CAR IS A MENACE TO THE DRIVING PUBLIC. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE ITS BEHAVIOR CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. MY CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD, AND HAS ONLY 33000 MILES. ALL I WISH IS FOR FORD TO FIX THE CAR, SO THAT IT IS RELIABLE AND NO LONGER A DANGER TO MYSELF AND THE MOTORING PUBLIC.*AK