2001 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION OF 35-40 MPH AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. NLM THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE DRIVER FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. *YH

WHILE VEHICLE WAS STANDING AND FOR NO REASON REAR WINDOW HAD BUSTED. *AK

A SQUEALING SOUND MADE WHEN MAKING A TURN. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25-30 MPH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK *YD

WAS PUT INTO AN EMERGENCY STOP SITUATION, WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES MY BRAKE PEDAL BENT IN HALF CAUSING MY FOOT TO COME OFF AND LAND ON THE GAS PEDAL. I SLAMED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT, HAD THE BRAKES NOT FAILED I COULD OF CAME TO A STOP WITH CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. FORD WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE INCIDENT AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS CURRENTLY IN LITAGATION WITH FORD OVER THE INCIDENT.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. INITIALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT, HOWEVER IT WAS DIFFICULT, ULTIMATELY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF OVERDRIVE. THEREFORE, I COULD NOT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO TAKE THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION. I LATER LEARNED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE SNAPPED. ON A ONE YEAR OLD VEHICLE W/13K MILES THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. A SIMILAR PROBLEM OCCURRED A MONTH PRIOR, WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM O/D INTO D OR 1. THE DEALERSHIPS SOLUTION WAS TO FORCEFULLY RAISE AND LOWER THE SHIFTER THROUGH ALL OF THE GEARS. SHIFTER IS COLUMN MOUNTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*AKY

WINDOWS WOULD FOG UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON! I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW & IT WAS NEVER IN A FLOOD. DEFROSTER BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED AT 21,000 MI HAD TO REPLACE RESISTORS STOPPED AT 54,000 REPLACED RESISTORS AGAIN.STOPPED AT 77,000 REPLACED RESISTORS ! DID NOT FIX PROBLEM ! TOOK CAR TO FORD DEALER THEY CHARGED $ 99.58 TO CHECK OUT NON WORKING BLOWER MOTOR.TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $453.00 TO REPLACE BLOWER MOTOR AND SEAL COWLING TO PREVENT WATER FROM COLLECTING IN THE BLOWER MOTOR!! I DID NOT HAVE THEM DO THE REPAIR. THE WATER COLLECTING IN THE BLOWER MOTOR IS WHAT WOULD CAUSE THE WINDOWS TO FOG UP !!! A BAD SAFTY HAZARD.THE NEW BLOWER MOTOR HAD A WATER DRAIN HOLE IN IT ,THAT THE OLD MOTOR DID NOT HAVE--THIS SHOWS FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS VERY HAZARDOUS WINDOW FOGGING PROBLEM !! AND COVERED IT UP. I HAVE THE OLD MOTOR WITH RUSTY WATER STAINS ON IT. IT WAS FULL OF WATER WHEN I REMOVED IT FROM THE CAR.

VEHICLE LURCHES AND REVS AT HIGH SPEED WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED AT LOW SPEED OR WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE OR REVERSE TO DRIVE, CONSUMER IS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE WHEN SHIFTING TO PARK AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION.*AK *TT

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S ALTERNATOR WIRES BECOME VERY HOT CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTENLY WHILE DRIVING. MR

CONSUMER STATES CAN NOT USE 2 OR MORE VEHICLE ACCESSORIES AT THE SAME TIME. IF USES WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HORN WILL NOT OPERATE OR VICE-VERSA. MR

CONSUMER STATES FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT WILL NOT MOVE. CONSUMER CAN NOT PULL FROM HOUSING. BELT REPAIRED BY DLR, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURING. MR

CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION JERKS IN AND OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. MR

WHILE PARKING WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER DASH/ AND FLAMES FROM UNDER HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. NO INJURIES. 2 DAYS PRIOR, VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT DEALERSHIP FOR POWER STEERING REPAIR.*AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION OF APPROXMATELY 45-50 MPH IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THERE WAS ONE INJURY. *AK

ON I-24 EAST BOUND, RAINING, ABOUT 65 MPH, PULLED INTO LEFT LANE TO PASS SLOWER VEHICLE, CAR HYDROPLANED AND LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HIT HEAD ON INTO GUARDRAIL - NEITHER DRIVERS NOR PASSENGERS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED (BATTERY STILL HAD POWER AFTER COLLISION), WENT BACKWARDS DOWN THE INTERSTATE ON THE SHOULDER CAUSING CAR TO BE A COMPLETE LOSS. CAR: 2001 BLUE FORD TAURUS SES - PURCHASED: 01/21/2002 LOSS: 01/23/2002. *AK (TIRESIZE: 16 INCH)

TIRES HYDROPLANED CAUSING CAR TO BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE AND SPINNING THE CAR HEAD INTO A GUARDRAIL, WHERE THE AIRBAGS (DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS) FAILED TO DEPLOY.*AK (TIRESIZE: P215/60R16)

VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY WHEN OPERATED ABOVE 60MPH OR WHILE COMING TO A GRADUAL STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTEHR DETAILS.*AK

BRAKE ROTORS KEEP OVERHEATING, RESULTING IN THEM CRYSTALIZING. HAD THEM REPLACED 4 TIMES, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY VEHICLE WAS MAKING A VERY BAD NOISE. CONSUMER STATES THE FAN PULLEY FELL OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

I BOUGHT A NEW FORD TAURUS IN 2001. THREE MONTHS AFTER MY PURCHASE, A VIBRATION BEGAN IN THE FRONT END. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND HAD REPAIRS. TO MY DISMAY, THE CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE AGAIN IN JANUARY 2002. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR REPAIRS AGAIN. APRIL 2002 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, SO MORE REPAIRS. THIS CONTINUED UNTIL I GAVE THE CAR BACK (JULY 2004) DUE TO THESE PROBLEMS AND MANY OTHERS. THE DEALERSHIP, SILSBEE FORD, SEEMED TO ONLY FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY,RESULTING IN ME RETURNING THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND AGAIN. I BELIEVE THERE WAS AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM THAT WAS OVERLOOKED AND I ASSUMED TAKING THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP THE PROBLEM WOULD HAVE BEEN FOUND AND PROPERLY FIXED. BY MAR 2003 APPR. 21,000 MILES ONE CV SHAFT AND AXLE SEAL REPLACED, ROD ASY REPLACED AT 38,000 MILES, AND BY JAN 2004 THE OTHER CV AXLE WAS REPLACED. THIS CAR HAS HAD THREE SETS OF TIRES BEFORE 60,000 MILES, NEW ROTORS AT APPR. 38,000 MILES. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED A NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE REPLACING. CONSUMERS NEED TO BE INFORMED OF MAKESHIFT REPAIRS DONE AT DEALERSHIPS. I TURNED IN MY CAR TO THE COMPANY BECAUSE IT WAS GETTING TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND OBVIOUSLY THE DEALERSHIP WASN'T COMPETENT ENOUGH TO FIND THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM. I HAVE TRIED MANY DIFFERENT AVENUES TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION AND THE FORD COMPANY KEEPS STATING THE WARRANTY IS OUT. I KNOW THIS BUT THE PROBLEM IS, MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME OR AT LEAST THE SECOND TIME IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS, WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. I BELIEVE MY FAMILY WAS ENDANGERED BECAUSE OF THE NEGLIGENCE OF THIS COMPANY. *JB

PAVEMENT WAS A LITTLE BIT WET, BUT THE VEHICLE LOST TRACTION CONTROL TOTALLY AND RAN ALONG THE CURB BEFORE CAN BE STOPPED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS BUT DID NOT SEEM TO WORK WELL. ON OTHER (3~4) OCCASIONS IN MAKING TURNS, THE TIRES APPEARED TO SPIN TOO FREELY FOR SECONDS BEFORE TRACTION REGAINED.*AK

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH TIRES. TIRES WERE CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHAKE WHEN DRIVING DUE TO IMPROPER DESIGN OF THE TIRE BELT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED TIRES AT 1600 MILES. P215/60R16, REPLACEMENT TIRES, 4000 MILES, MOUNTED ON A 2001, FORD, TAURUS. *AK THE VEHICLE STILL SWAYS AND SHAKES, EVEN AFTER THE TIRES AND RIMS HAD BEEN REPLACED. ALTERNATOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS RATTLE NOISE FROM WINDSHIELD /DASH AREA. *YH

WHEN CAR WAS STARTED AIRBAG INDICATOR ON INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTINUED TO FLASH FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. INDICATOR STOPPED FLASHING AND REMAINED ON. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO DEALER. AIRBAG INDICATOR WENT OUT WHEN KEY WAS TURNED OFF. SERVICE ADVISOR SAID IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND RECOMMENDED IT BE BROUGHT BACK MONDAY MORNING. CAR WAS RETURNED TO DEALER ON MONDAY. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE AND SUGGESTED THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. SERVICE ADVISOR SAID TO CHECK BACK WITH FORD IN THE FUTURE AND SEE IF THERE IS AN ADVISORY ON THIS PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER INVOLVED IN A FRONT IMPACT CRASH. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $11000.00. NO INJURIES.*AK *SLC

MY NEW 2001 FORD TAURUS HAS HAD AN ANNOYING INTERMITTENT SHIMMY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES AT SPEEDS UNDER 45MPH AND THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES DURING BRAKING. THE CAR'S WHEELS HAVE BEEN REBALANCED TWICE AND REALIGNED ONCE WITH NO SUCCESS BETWEEN TWO DEALERSHIPS. FORD ANN HARBOR MICHIGAN HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE CAR IS STILL NOT FIXED. *AK

PE 02 035: BRAKE/ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEPARATION: PEDAL ADJUSTABLE, WHILE APPLYING BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN FROM 70 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED AT THE SAME TIME AND ALMOST CAUSED A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ON TWO OCCASIONS.*AK CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER.*JB

UNSURE ABOUT ACTUAL MILEAGE OR AMOUNT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE; BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN ATTEMPTED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT WHICH IN TURN CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR; MY INSURANCE CO. FIELD EXPERT ENGINEER OPINES THAT THE CRASH CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO PUT A CRIMP IN THE BRAKE LINE WHICH IS TOTALLY CONTRARY TO WHAT HAPPENED. I SWEAR UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER HAS TO PUSH THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY IN BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL STOP. CONTACTED DEALER. MR

THERE WAS SOME LEAKING FROM RADIATOR WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A CRACKED HOSE. TAKEN TO DEALER AND DEALER REPLACED HOSE. A FEW MONTHS LATER, PROBLEM WAS STILL OCCURRING. *AK CONSUMER STATES ENGINE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, DEALER REPLACED THE O2 SENSOR AND WATER PUMP, THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER STATES THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING HOT AIR AND CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN ASTHMA ATTACK. *SLC

WHEN BACKING UP AT ALMOST 0 MPH, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND DROVE BACKWARDS UP A HILL IN A PARKING LOT. DOWN THE SAME WAY, AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. DAMAGE WAS $1500. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM, BUT I KNOW THERE WAS SOMETHING VERY WRONG. *AK

FRONTAL COLLISION AT 55 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ADJUSTABLE PEDALS. THE PEDALS ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER THAT WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE WOULD SURGE AS IF IT WANTED TO CONTINUE IN DRIVE AND NOT STOP. THE LAST INCIDENT THE VEHICLE SURGED TO THE POINT CONSUMER COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY A FENCE. *JG

GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL SIT TOO CLOSE TOGETHER AND CLOSE TO THE SAME HEIGHT, WHEN FORD WAS CONTACTED, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO INSPECT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 20 MPH AND PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER FELT THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, RESULTING IN ALL ELECTRIC ACCESORIES WENT OUT, FOUND A LOSE WIRE IN THE STARTER

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 2001, TAURUS, P215/60R16 SIZE. WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH TREAD ON FRONT RIGHT SEPARATED FROM SIDEWALL, CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK FIRESTONE REPLACED THIS TIRE, HOWEVER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE OTHERS. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD-ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS IN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE REASON OF FAILURE. DRIVER EXPERIENCED SEVERE BRUISES, AND WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY BREATHING. SHE WAS HOSPITALIZED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WON'T STAY IN PLACE UNDER SOME CONDITIONS. MOST COMMONLY IT WON'T STAY IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS AT THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, EG. TRYING TO PUT IT AT 'LEFT' WHILE THE STEERING IS STILL TOWARD 'RIGHT'. IT HAPPENS TO ME OFTEN BECAUSE I NEED TO MAKE A SHARP LEFT TURN RIGHT AFTER I LEAVE MY GARAGE, WHILE THE LATTER IS A SHARP RIGHT TURN. SOMETIMES THIS PROBLEM ALSO OCCUR EVEN THE STEERING IS STRAIGHT AHEAD. IT OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS BRAND NEW SO I DOUBT IT'S A DESIGN FLAW.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT ALL REAR SEAT BELTS INTERMITTENTLY DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE BELTS WILL CURL UP AND GET STUCK IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. ALSO, WHEN UNBUCKLING AFTER USE BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM.

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CONSUMER BEGAN TO SMELL AN ODOR/ SAW WHITE SPARKS, THEN FLAMES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THE REAR LEFT WHEEL INCLUDING THE RIM CAME OFF WHILE IN TRANSIT. THE LUGS: NUTS THAT THE RIM IN PLACE WERE STILL INTACT. LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, BUT ABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT ANY INJURIES. I AM FILING A COMPLAINT FOR FAULTY MANUFACTURING.*AK

THE DEALER SHIP WILL NOT HELP ME AND BLAMES ME FOR THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AND FORD AGREES WITH THEM I AM GETTING NO HELP AND THE CAR DRIVE HORRIBLE FOR BEING A 2001. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND I BELEIVE I HAVE BEEN MISLEAD IN PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

PE 02 035:BRAKE/ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEPARATION: WHEN APPLYING BRAKE, DRIVER'S FOOT MISTAKENLY PRESSED ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE DISTANCE OF TRAVEL BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS BEING TOO CLOSE. *SLC

BOTH REAR DOOR AND FRONT PASS. DOOR LATCH SPRINGS WILL NOT RETRACT HANDLE/LATCHES. PASSENGER THINKS THEY HAVE CLOSED DOOR, BUT HANDLE IS UP/OUT AND DOOR IS NOT LATCHED. DOOR FLIES OPEN ON A TURN IN ROAD. *NM

CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF A GARAGE USING IDLE SPEED WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARD, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL BY SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND THEN INTO REVERSE, VEHICLE STRUCK SEVERAL ITEMS IN THE GARAGE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AND RIGHT FRONT DOOR, FORD STATED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS CAUSED BY A FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE , HOWEVER CONSUMER DISAGREES. *SLC

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATING, TIRES WERE BALANCED AND THE FRONT TIRE WAS FOUND TO BE OUT OF ROUND, WHICH STILL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*JB

HEATER BLOCK INCORRECTLY THREADED TO ENGINE... NOW NEED NEW ENGINE... HAVE ONLY HAD CAR FOR ONE MONTH!! ACCIDENTLY REPORTED THIS COMPLAINT YESTERDAY AS A 2000 TAURUS... SO YOU CAN DELETE THAT ONE!*AK

PROBLEM #1: WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AND THE TRANSMISSION IS PUT IN REVERSE, THE CAR "JUMPS" BACK APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT, EVEN THOUGH YOUR FOOT IS PRESSED FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS WAS REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO HAS BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION "IN THE HOPES" THAT THIS WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM BUT IT DID NOT. WHEN I INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP OF THIS, THEY CLAIMED THAT THE "JUMPING BACK" PROBLEM WAS NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. THIS DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE SINCE THEY ADMITTED IT WAS A PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY AND TRIED TO CORRECT IT BY REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM #2: THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT BELT TIGHTENS BY ITSELF AROUND THE LAP WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS RESULTING IN A RESTRICTION OF NORMAL MOVEMENT INSIDE THE CAR. THE SEATBELT HAS, ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS "LOCKED-UP" WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, PREVENTING ME FROM TURNING TO LOOK OVER MY SHOULDER FOR ON-COMING TRAFFIC TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO FIX THIS BY REPLACING THE SEATBELT. WHEN I INFORMED THEM THAT THE TIGHTENING PROBLEM STILL EXISTED, THEY SAID THAT THE SEATBELT TENSION WAS NORMAL. THIS AGAIN DOES NOT MATCH WHAT THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY SAID AND ACTED ON BY REPLACING THE SEATBELT IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS POSE, IN MY OPINION, A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD THAT THE DEALERSHIP IS CURRENTLY CLAIMING ARE BOTH BEYOND THEIR CAPABILITY TO RECTIFY.*AK

WHEN PARKED ON INCLINES & SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE TRANSMISSION JERKS & CLANKS VERY BAD!DEALLERSHIP SAID THAT IS NORMAL FOR THE FORD TAURUS I FIND THIS HARD TO BELEIVE. *AK

ON MARCH 6, 2001, I PURCHASED A 2001 FORD TAURUS LX, FROM CHINO HILLS FORD, CHINO, CALIFORNIA 91710. ON APRIL 6, 2001, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FORD WEST, ARTESIA BLVD., BELLFLOWER BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE STRANGE PART IS WHEN I PHONED THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM, THEY GAVE ME INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SHIFT THE GEAR AS IF IT WAS PART OF MY OWNER'S MANUAL. I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE TAURUS VEHICLE. WHEN THE SERVICE DEPARMENT AT FORD WEST PULLED THE INFORMATION UP ON THE CAR FROM THE COMPUTER, IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE CAR'S REAR BUMPER HAD BEEN REPLACED WHEN IT HAD 5 MILES ON IT. (THIS WAS NEVER DISCLOSED TO ME). I PICKED UP THE CAR DROVE HOME AND THE BRAKE SWITCH WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME I CALLED CHINO HILLS FORD TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE BRAKE SWITCH. I DROVE THE CAR TO CHINO HILLS ON APRIL 12, 2001, I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE SERVICE PERSONNEL THAT THERE WERE LOOSE WIRES AND I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. ALL OF THIS WAS ASSESSED BY HIM WITHOUT TAKING THE VEHICLE INTO THE SERVICE AREA. CHINO HILLS SUPPLIED ME WITH A RENTAL AND SAID IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE A DAY TO REPAIR. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD CHECK THE CAR THOROUGHLY SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED MORE THAN ONCE IN SUCH A SHORT TIME OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR I COULD FEEL THAT THE BRAKES WERE STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY, SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ONLY TO FEEL AS THOUGH THEY WERE NOT TAKING MY CONCERNS SERIOUSLY. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT THE BRAKES FAILED TWICE ON THE CAR. TWO ENGINEERING COMPANIES INVESTIGATED AND FOUND OIL IN THE BRAKE LINE. NOW FORD DOES NOT WANT TO COMPENSATE ME WITH A NEW CAR AND OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES FOR A RENTAL. A MORE DETAILED LETTER HAS BEEN SENT TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, PRODUCT CLAIM DEPARTMENT. I DESPERATELY NEED YOUR HELP. FORD SAYS THE CAR IS READY, BUT I FEAR FOR MY FAMI LY'S SAFETY!!!!