2001 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIPS INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE RACK AND PINION.*AK IT WAS ALSO DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE WHILE TRYING TO PARK. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE RACK AND PINION CRACKED. *NM

PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING SYSTEM ON 2001 FORD TAURUS.*MR WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES DID NOT ACTIVATE. THE DRIVER APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE AND DID SLOW DOWN BUT NOT SUFFICIENTLY TO AVOID HITTING TWO VEHICLES WAITING AT THE LIGHT. THE DRIVER MANEUVERED TO VEHICLE AWAY FROM THE CAR AND WENT OVER TWO CURBS AND A FEW BUMPS BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SOME UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE WAS NOTED BUT NO MAJOR BODY DAMAGE. *NM

VEHICLE : 2001 FORD TAURUS SES. REAR RIGHT COIL SPRING BROKE AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO RUPTURE. *LA

CONSUMER WAS CHARGED $189.00 BY THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH INSTALLED. THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHT RECALL 04V106000 REPAIRS PERFORMED.*AK

THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T PERFORM RECALL REPAIR ON VEHICLE. *LA SAFETY RECALL# 04V106000. *SC *JB

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSE BY STATE INSPECTION STATION OF A FAILED CONTROL AUXILIARY EMISSION UNIT, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND SMOKE. THIS HAPPENED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT A UNKNOWN SPEED,THE CONSUMER NOTICED A DRAGGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE LEFT REAR WHEEL COIL SPRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED/STARTED UP REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL INTERMITTENTLY LOCKED UP. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE AT A STOP FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I OWN A 2001 FORD TAURUS THE CAR WON'T SHIFT INTO GEAR IS THIS PROBLEM GOING TO BE RECALLED? 23,000 MILES SAME VEHICLE HAS 23,000 MILES THE EGR VALVE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IS THIS GOING TO BE RECALLED? *LA

SUSPENSION FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER PROBLEMS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE THEN STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO PISTON AND HEAD GASKET WEARING OUT. *AK

I READ AN ARTICLE TODAY CONCERNING THE US IS INVESTIGATING FORD TAURUSES FOR STUCK THROTTLES, MODEL YEARS 2005-2006. PLEASE CONSIDER EXPANDING THE INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE THE 2001 MODEL YEAR. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED FROM A FORD DEALER IN 2004 (APPROX) AND HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM OF THE CAR ENGINE SPEEDING-UP WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE ARTICLE IS LOCATED AT: HTTP://MONEY.CNN.COM/2012/03/12/AUTOS/FORD_TAURUS_INVESTIGATION/INDEX.HTM?SOURCE=CNN_BIN AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS, THE FORD DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR IS STILL DOING IT TODAY. THE WARRANTY COMPANY, BACK IN 2004/2005, SAID THEY WERE GOING TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO THE NHTSA, BUT I AM NOT SURE IF THEY EVER DID. THANK-YOU. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SHIFT GEARS. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB

DURING A 25 MPH VEHICLE COLLISION FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE FRONT SEAT BELT UNLOCKED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *TC

WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WENT TO INVESTIGATE THE NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD BLOWN. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAD FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

I WAS PARALLEL PARKING MY 2001 TAURUS AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE(TO PULL FORWARD IN THE PARKING SPACE) THE CAR SPED UP TO HI RPM'S AND I HAD TO JAM THE BRAKES ON TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF ME. *AK

AIR BAGS IN MY 2001 FORD TAURUS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON HITTING A HONDA ACCORD IN THE REAR .THE RESULT OF THE IMPACT WAS ~2500 DAMAGE TO THE FORD TAURUS AND ~ 4500 TO THE HONDA ACCORD IT STRUCK IN THE REAR WHILE STATIONARY. *AK

CAR EXPERIENCES VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAS A RATTLE IN THE "FRONT END". DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE FRONT END "LINK PINS" TO BE WORN. THESE PINS ATTACH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE AND IN TURN, HOLD THE FRONT TIRES IN POSITION. THESE PINS HAVE BEEN REPLACES TWICE ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. ONCE AT APPROX 21,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT APPROX 56,000 MILES. THE DEALER SAYS THEY SEE THIS "A LOT ON THE TAURUS" AND STATE THAT FORD HAS NOW CHANGED THE PART DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. THIS IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT AS FAILURE OF THIS PART COULD RESULT IN THE FRONT WHEELS COMING OFF THE VEHICLE (PER THE DEALERSHIP). AGAIN - SYMPTOMS ARE FRONT END VIBRATION, WHICH IS NOT CORRECTED BY TIRE BALANCE. *NM

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD TAURUS THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING ON THE STRUT BROKE CAUSING THE LEFT REAR TIRE TO DEFLATE FROM THE SPRING PENETRATING THE TIRE SIDEWALL!*JB

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH REAR DRIVER SIDE SPINDLE SNAPPED, CUTTING THE BRAKE LINE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A ROLL OVER. CONSUMER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. *AK

PULSATIONS WHILE BRAKING. WHEN I HAD ABOUT 12000 MILES ON MY 2001 FORD TAURUS, THE BRAKES STARTED TO PULSATE WHEN I APPLIED THEM. THE SERVICE DEPT TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND THE DISC NEEDED RESURFACING. NOW WITH ~29000 MILES THE PROBLEM IS REOCCURING. I EXPECT LONGER LIFE OUT OF MY BRAKES.

THE ANTI-SWAY BARS ON MY FORD TAURUS SES HAVE COME LOOSE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE BARS CAME LOOSE AT 10,000 MILES, 16,000 MILES, AND MOST RECENTLY AT 50,000 MILES. SINCE THE LATEST REPAIR (AT 50,000 MILES) IS NOW ALLEGEDLY OUT OF WARRANTY THE DEALER WANT $140 TO FIX THE PROBLEM AGAIN. AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT CONTINUE TO RESURFACE. I ARGUED WITH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER (FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS) THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND A DEFECT, NOT A NEW PROBLEM. THE BARS SHOULD NOT BE COMING LOOSE ON THEIR OWN. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ON THE SECOND REPAIR ATTEMPT (AT 16,000 MILES) THE DEALER INSTALLED A SPECIAL KIT THAT THEY RECEIVED FROM FORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS EVIDENCE THAT THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE AWARE OF A GENERALIZED PROBLEM AND THAT SWAY BARS ARE COMING LOOSE ON THIS CAR MODEL (2001 TAURUS SES) AND PERHAPS ON MANY OTHERS THAT SHARE THE SAME SWAY BAR DESIGN. NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THE SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVED IN LOOSE SWAY BARS ON THE FORD TAURUS. NHTSA SHOULD ALSO INVESTIGATE THE ATTEMPT BY FORD AND THE FORD DEALERS TO MAKE CUSTOMERS PAY FOR REPAIRS THAT NEVER RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. IF FORD AND THE DEALERS ARE ALLOWED TO CLAIM THAT THIS REPAIR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEN ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS SIT AND WAIT UNTIL THE WARRANTIES EXPIRE AND ALL DEFECTS BECOME A CUSTOMER-PAID REPAIR.*AK

WHILE REVERSING, SUDDENLY THERE WAS A CRASHING NOISE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOWER THAN THE LEFT SIDE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE VEHICLE CAN'T BE DRIVEN. THE SERVICE MAN INDICATED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRING WAS CORRODED AND CRACKED. THIS RESULTED IN THE REAR RIGHT SIDE COIL SPRING COLLAPSING AND LYING AGAINST THE TIRE. *LA

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN NEAR FRONTAL CRASH.*AK

REAR DOORS WON'T STAY CLOSED. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAD TO TIE THE TWO DOOR HANDLES TOGETHER TO KEEP THEM CLOSED. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVER NIGHT, CONSUMER FOUND THAT FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS FLAT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT SPRING COIL CUT THE TIRE 180 DEGREES. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY $950.00 TO REPLACE THE COIL SPRING, TIRE, AND LABOR COST. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE AND THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. THE FRONT LEFT OF THE VEHICLE SUNK DOWN. THE CONSUMER FOUND A BROKEN COIL SPRING AND THE TIRE WAS CUT 360 DEGREES. *SC

WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT HEADLIGHT LENS HAVE FOGGED UP. THIS WOULD CAUSE IT TO BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE DURING NIGHT HOURS. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

I HAVE, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ENGINE RUNNING ROUGHLY, AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. EACH TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BY INSTALLING A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SENSOR (WHICH HAPPENS TO NEVER BE COVERED UNDER THE SO-CALLED EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED). THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS YET TO BE RECTIFIED YET REMAINS A PROBLEM. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN TURNING OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM A STOPPED POSITION, CAR WILL ACCELERATE PROPERLY AT FIRST BUT THEN RPM'S WILL BUILD AND TRANSMISSION WILL VIOLENTLY JERK AFTER THE INCREASE IN RPM'S. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING HIGH-SPEED (55-75) DRIVING CONDITIONS. OF COURSE, THE DEALERS (YES, I'VE HAD IT AT TWO DEALERS) HAVE NEVER FOUND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION REPAIR PERSON CHANGE THE FLUID AND FILTER AND INFORM ME THAT THERE WAS A FILM IN THE FLUID INDICATING A WEARING PROBLEM WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT ON, DISPLAYED SERIES OF CODE, THEN REMAINED ON. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER THEY RECORDED CODE B1342. REPLACED AIR BAG MONITOR PART NUMBER YF1Z-14B321EA. THIS SAME VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PART REPLACED IN SEP-2003 LESS THAN 3000 MILES BETWEEN THE TWO FAILURES.

SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER CAR (2001 FORD TAURUS) HIT POTHOLE. NO SIDE IMPACT TOOK PLACE. NO DAMAGE TO SIDE OF CAR. ONLY DAMAGE WAS SCRAPE ON RIM OF FRONT LEFT WHEEL AFTER IT WENT INTO THE POTHOLE GOING FORWARD. ON AT LEAST 2 OCCASIONS PRIOR TO THIS THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON AND OFF PERIODICALLY. INCIDENTS WERE DOCUMENTED WITH AUTO DEALER AT SERVICE INTERVAL AND DEALER SAID COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. BUT WITH A HISTORY OF A PROBLEM WITH SENSORS AND A DEPLOYMENT DUE TO NO SIDE IMPACT, THIS IN MY OPINION REPRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE EXPLORED AS HAVING AN AIRBAG GO OFF AS YOU ARE DRIVING COULD CERTAINLY TRIGGER AN ACCIDENT.*AK

THE VEHICLE HIT A TRACTOR TRAILER FROM THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *AK *SC *JB

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE TRUNK WILL OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN TWENTY FIVE TIMES SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TWICE AND CAN NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

THE FRONT LEFT SPRING ON MY 2001 FORD TAURUS BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE AS I WAS BACKING OUT MY GARAGE IN JANUARY OF 2004. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND HAVE THE TWO FRONT SPRINGS REPLACED AND PURCHASE A NEW TIRE. *LA

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED ON 12/26/03. UNIT WAS REPLACED WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED PUMP. THIS PUMP FAILED ON 1/2/04. CAR SERVICED ON 1/6/04. TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE BEFORE WE PICKED UP THE CAR THAT EVENING. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER RE-MANUFACTURED UNIT ON 1/7/04. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE THAT EVENING. THIS PUMP FAILED ON 1/9/04 WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR. LUCKILY, IT DID NOT FAIL ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE HAD HAD IT REPAIRED THE PREVIOUS TIMES. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED AGAIN WITH, YES, YOU GUESSED IT, ANOTHER RE-MANUFACTURED POWER STEERING PUMP. CAN'T WE GET A NEW PUMP? I HOPE THAT FORD IS NOT PUTTING RE-MANUFACTURED PARTS INTO YOUR NEW CARS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND UPON USING THE CRUISE CONTROL CONSUMER HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY PRESS THE BUTTON TO SHUT THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. HOWEVER, THE BUTTON BECAME INOPERABLE, AND HE HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES VERY HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK

WITHOUT WARNING FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 25 MPH. *AK THE FORCE OF THE DEPLOYMENT CAUSED THE SEAT BELT TO BE TORN FROM THE DOOR POST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT SOMETHING HIT THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP STATED THAT THE AIR BAG, SENSOR OR BOTH ARE DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT RESOLVED THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED I A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER SUSTAINED LOWER BACK AND NECK INJURIES.*AK

NOTIFICATION RECALL 04S17 SAFETY EXISTS IN 2001 TAURUS, FRONT SPRING RUSTED THROUGH AND SNAPPED OFF PIERCING THE TIRE. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HER EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THE CONSUMER SAW A RECALL NOTICE ON THE INTERNET FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND REQUESTED A REFUND. CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V332000. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT FORD USED FAULTY PARTS THAT RESULTED IN ADDITIONAL EXPENSES . *TC SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL IN THE MAIL AFTER BEING TOLD THE COIL SPRINGS WERE NOT ON RECALL IT WAS JUST A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ISSUE. *JB

WHEN AT A STOP VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE ACCELERATING. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I PUSHED THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER IN TO GET HOT AND IT SHOT OUT. IT FELL ON THE FLOOR MAT AND I BURNED MY HAND PICKING IT UP BEFORE IF CAUGHT THE CAR ON FIRE. I NO LONGER USE MY LIGHTER FOR FEAR IT WILL START A FIRE. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE FRONT END SHOOK VIOLENTLY.*AK THE DEALER ROTATED AND BALANCED ALL FOUR TIRES. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS AND ADJUSTED THE REAR BRAKES. *NM

WINDSHIELD POPPED OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO GLASS REPAIR SHOP FOR REPLACEMENT. *PH

I HAD A SEVERE T-BONE TYPE CRASH WITH A VEHICLE-NOT MY FAULT AS THE OTHER VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND ENDED UP IN FRONT OF ME-TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 TO 50 MPH. ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY. OUR AIRBAGS, NEITHER DRIVERS NOR PASSENGERS, DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SHOULDER HARNESSES KEEP US FROM BEING THROWN FORWARD. ONLY THE FACT THAT WE BRACED OURSELVES KEPT BOTH OF US FROM BEING BADLY INJURED. *LA

BOUGHT USED 2001 TAURUS IN AUG. OF 2002. ON THE TEST DRIVE I NOTICED THE CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT AND THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER AT NO COST TO ME DID A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND WHEEL BALANCE. I DROVE AGAIN AND IT WAS FINE. APPROXIMATELY 4500 MILES LATER THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION RETURNED AND THE CAR WAS AGAIN PULLING SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION WAS THAT A WHEEL WEIGHT WAS LOST, BUT HAD NO EXPLAINATION FOR THE PULLING. THEY REBALANCED THE WHEELS AND ROTATED THE TIRES. AGAIN EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL NOV. 2003 AS I WAS DRIVING I ONCE AGAIN FELT THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WAS MUCH MORE SEVERE ON CORNERING. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP(NEAREST FORD DEALER WAS 25 MILES AWAY). THEY FOUND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TO HAVE A FLAT SPOT ON THE OUTER TREAD AREA(SLIPPED BELT) AND BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS TO BE LOOSE, THE LEFT ONE BEING EXTERMELY WORN. THEY INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CONTINENTAL OE TIRES NOT HOLDING BALANCE, HAVING BAD WEAR PROBLEMS, ETC. THEY INSTALLED TWO AFTERMARKET, GREASABLE TIE ROD ENDS AND DID A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND ROTATION. AT THIS POINT I HAVE SUBMITTED THE REPAIR BILL TO A FORD DEALER FOR POSSIBLE REIMBURSMENT, HOWEVER I AM NOT HOLDING MY BREATH. MY OPINION IS THAT CONTINENTAL TIRES ARE JUNK AND FORD KNOWS IT. THE FORD DEALER INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD NO OTHE PROBLEMS LIKE MINE, A MUCH DIFFERENT OPINION THAN THE INDEPENDENT GARAGE. ALSO TIE ROD ENDS USUALLY DON'T FAIL AT 39K MILES FOR NO REASON. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS A 2002 TAURUS WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES AND HAS HAD TO HAVE THEM BALANCED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION.

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON NY THRUWAY AT 65 MPH. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED FOR SERVICE. PARTS DAMAGED INCLUDED REPLACING THE COIL SPRING, THE STRUT, AXEL, TIRE, AND AXEL BEARING. *LA