2000 Ford Taurus Body & Structure Problems

FRIDAY AFTERNOON I TOOK MY 90 YEAR OLD MOTHER AND DROVE TO CHICK FILET TO BUY A TAKEOUT LUNCH. I DROVE HOME TO MY MOTHER'S HOUSE AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BACKING UP THE CAR INTO HER DRIVEWAY. I STOPPED THE CAR AND LOOKED BEHIND ME TO CHECK FOR ANYONE WALKING AND THEN HEARD MY MOM SCREAM FIRE!, FIRE!. AS I QUICKLY TURNED MY HEAD BACK I SAW FLAMES JUMPING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY 2000 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON. I QUICKLY TURN OFF THE CAR, GRABBING THE KEYS AS I WENT, YELLED AT MY MOM TO GET OUT AND THEN JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND RACED BACK TO OPEN THE TRUNK SO THAT I COULD GET MY MOTHER'S WALKER. AS I ARRIVED AT MY MOTHER'S CAR DOOR I HELPED HER OUT AND PULLED OFF HER OXYGEN CANULA AND TOLD HER TO WALK AS FAST AS SHE COULD TOWARDS THE HOUSE. I THEN GRABBED THE OXYGEN TANK, PURSES, AND LUNCH AND RAN TOWARD THE HOUSE SCREAMING FOR SOMEONE TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A NEIGHBOR SAID THEY WOULD. I UNLOCKED MY MOTHER'S DOOR AND SHE PRESSED HER LIFE ALERT BUTTON AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I WALKED OUT SIDE TO WAIT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SAW A MAN NEAR THE CAR LOOKING AT IT. I YELLED AT HIM TO GET AWAY IN CASE IT BLEW UP. HE DID AND IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS IT BLEW GLASS, AND OTHER BITS ALL ABOUT AND WAS FULLY ENGULFED WITH FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TOOK ABOUT 7 MINUTES TO GET THERE AND THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED AND BURNING UP FROM FRONT TO BACK. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE SCARY THING IS THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER TO LET US KNOW THAT THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. NO SMOKE, NO SMELLS, NOTHING. MY MOTHER AND I COULD HAVE BEEN BURNED UP IF WE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT IN TIME. MY CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND I HAD JUST PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES FOR IT. WE DROVE OUR CAR VERY CAREFULLY AND WE HAD OWNED IT FOR 13 YEARS AND HAD LOW MILEAGE ONLY 46,000 MILES ON IT. WHY DID THIS CAR CATCH FIRE AND EXPLODE WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STEERED ABNORMALLY TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED CORROSION ON THE FRAME NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 145,000. UPDATED11/29/11 *BF UPDATED 02/29/12

WHEN IT RAINS I GET PUDDLES OF WATER ON PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD. AFTER SEVERAL TIMES OF THIS HAPPENING, THE BLOWER MOTOR HAS RUSTED OUT. WATER APPEARS TO BE COMING DOWN THE WINDSHIELD INTO THE CABIN FILTER AREA AND THEN DRIPPING THROUGH UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH AREA. *TR

2000 FORD TAURUS SE. I HAVE HAD A LEAK COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH FOR A YEAR NOW ANY TIME IT RAINS. IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT BOTH PASSENGER FLOOR AND FLOOR BEHIND PASSENGER SEAT IS SOAKED AFTER A GOOD RAIN. IT APPEARS TO ORIGINATE NEAR THE BLOWER. *TR

MY CAR DOOR DOESN'T ALWAYS LATCH IMMEDIATELY WHEN I CLOSE THE DOOR. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO DRIVE 5 MILES HOLDING THE CAR DOOR CLOSED WITH ONE HAND BEFORE THE DOOR WILL LATCH. THIS HAPPENS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THE CAR HAS TO WARM UP BEFORE THE DOOR WILL LATCH. I HAVE TRIED LUBRICATING THE DOOR LATCH AND THAT DOESN'T WORK. THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS WRITTEN ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE CAR DOOR LATCH WORKS GREAT DURING SPRING, FALL AND SUMMER.

PASSENGER FOOT WELL FILLS WITH WATER DURING HARD RAINS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE BEFOREHAND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 133,000.

FORD TAURUS WATER LEAK ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CABIN. OVER AN INCH OF WATER ON FLOOR. APPEARED AFTER CABIN FILTER WAS REPLACED. DEALER REPLACED RT. SIDE COWL AND WEATHER STRIPPING. STILL HAD LEAK. APPARENTLY THEY CRACKED OR DID NOT PROPERLY REINSTALL THE CABIN FILTER COVER. HAD SOME WORK DONE SINCE THEN WITH NEW CABIN FILTER, HAD HEAVY RAIN AND WATER DAMAGE AGAIN. THIS TIME, BLOWER MOTOR AND BLOWER RESISTOR RUINED. SMELLED ELECTRICAL BURNING. VERY DANGEROUS, I WOULD IMAGINE, NOT TO MENTION, TRYING TO DRIVE WITH FOGGED UP WINDOWS. THEY WANT ME TO PAY OVER $450 TO REPAIR. I HAVE REFUSED. INCIDENTS WERE IN 12/04 AND NOW. HAVE READ PLENTY OF INFO. REGARDING FORD'S FAULTY DESIGN OF TAURUS' (MINE) SABLES AND OTHER MODELS. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE!!! *TR

PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS FILLING UP WITH WATER WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING. *TR

2000 FORD TAURUS SE FLOORBOARD FILLS WITH WATER, UNKNOWN SOURCE. *TR

WATER LEAK FROM THE FIREWALL NEAR THE HEATER MOTOR RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF WATER POOLING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR. *TR

2000 TAURUS DRIVERS DOOR HANDLES FAILED. *TS SEVERAL TIMES, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL COVERED UNDER IT'S EXTENDED WARRANTY, THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE DRIVER' S DOOR OPEN ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT MOISTURE GOT INTO THE LOCKS. THE DEALER SPRAYED THE LOCKS. DURING THE WINTER OF 2004 AND 2005 THE CONSUMER HAD TO HOLD THE DOOR WHILE DRIVING UNTIL THE LOCK THAWED ENOUGH TO CLOSE PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR NOT UNLOCKING. NOW ALL FOUR DOOR HANDLES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *NM

PAINT SPLINTERED OFF OF REAR BUMPER WHEN A STRAY SHOPPING CART REPORTEDLY BUMPED VEHICLE. BLACK RUBBER BUMPER EXPOSED. SUCH A SLIGHT BUMP THAT NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE; PAINT JUST SHATTERED OFF OF BUMPER.

THIS EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY 2000 TAURUS: REPORT RECEIPT DATE: JAN 28, 2015 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V040000 COMPONENT(S): STRUCTURE POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 194,889 ALL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RECALL EXPAND DETAILS CLOSE 5 ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS EXPAND MANUFACTURER: FORD MOTOR COMPANY SUMMARY: FORD MOTOR COMPANY (FORD) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2013 FORD TAURUS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED DECEMBER 1, 2009, TO JULY 31, 2010, AND 2011-2013 LINCOLN MKS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED JUNE 1, 2011, TO OCTOBER 31, 2011. IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE RETURN SPRING MAY UNSEAT, RESULTING IN INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE THAT DOES NOT RETURN TO THE FULLY STOWED POSITION AFTER ACTUATION. CONSEQUENCE: IF THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE RETURN SPRING IS UNSEATED, THE DOOR MAY UNLATCH IN THE EVENT OF A SIDE IMPACT CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY. REMEDY: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT ALL FOUR OF THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES AND EITHER REPAIR OR REPLACE THEM, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN MARCH 16, 2015. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-436-7332. FORD'S NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS 15S02. NOTES: OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV. REQUEST RESEARCH HELP REFINE/NEW SEARCH SELECT ONE OR MORE AREAS TO SEARCH, THEN ENTER UP TO 25 NHTSA IDS SEPARATED BY COMMA, SLASH (/) OR NEW LINE. HELP RECALLS INVESTIGATIONS COMPLAINTS SERVICE BULLETINS NHTSA ID'S15V040. *TR

IN COLD WEATHER THE LIFTGATE COLLAPSED. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST TWO WINTERS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SOMETIMES IN COOL WEATHER THE GLASS LIFTGATE STAYS UP, IN OTHER INSTANCES WITHOUT WARNING IT SUDDENLY DROPS CAUSING PAINFUL BLOWS TO THE HEAD, HANDS OR BOTH. *TC

THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND BOTH REAR DOORS FROM THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM NUMEROUS TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

THE PANELING ON THE INTERIOR OF THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS HAS PEELED COMPLETELY OFF. *NLM

MY 2000 FORD TAURUS SE, WITH 31,900 MILES ON IT, HAS RECENTLY DEVELOPED A SIX (6) INCH LONG SPLIT IN THE SHEET METAL SKIN INSIDE THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR JAM ON THE DOOR PILLER. THE SPLIT IN THE SHEET METAL IS WIDE ENOUGH TO SEE THE INTERIOR OF THE DOOR PILLER. THIS DEFECT WILL BE REPORTED TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP ON JANUARY 6,2003. THE DEFECT WAS FIRST DISCOVERED ON JANUARY 4, 2003. I WOULD CONSIDER THIS DEFECT EXTREMELY SERIOUS SINCE THE DOOR PILLAR IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY MECHANISM. PHOTOGRAPHS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OF THE DEFECT AND CAN BE MAILED TO YOUR OFFICE UPON REQUEST.

REPORTING A SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNING VEHICLE LEFT RUNNING WITH KEY IN IGNITION SWITCH AND DOORS LOCKED. UNABLE TO UNLOCK DOOR WITH REMOTE OPENER. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS A SAFETY FEATURE, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. *AK

WATER LEAKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE WINDOW WAS REPLACED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *JB