2002 Ford Taurus Body & Structure Problems

AFTER OPENNING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HOOD TO CHECK FLUID LEVELS, THE HOOD ABRUPTLY AND UNINTENTIONALLY DROPS, SUBJECTING THE OWNER TO SERIOUS BODILY INJURIES. THERE'S NO LATCH TO MAINTAIN THE HOOD OPEN AND THE DEVICES TO SLOW THE HOOD MOVEMENT DO NOT PROPERLY OPERATE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER PENETRATED THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE CLIMATE CONTROLS TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER PENETRATED THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE CLIMATE CONTROLS TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE WILL FREEZE UP ON PARTICULARLY COLD DAYS, AND THE DOOR WILL NOT STAY SHUT ONCE IT HAS BEEN OPENED. CONSEQUENTLY, THE DOOR HAS TO BE TIED SHUT, OR IT HAS TO BE HELD ON TO. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL "SURE" FIXES FOR THE PROBLEM. ONCE THE WEATHER WARMS UP, THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY... UNTIL THE NEXT COLD SNAP. IT IS NOT COLD OUT RIGHT NOW, SO I CAN'T DOCUMENT THIS WITH A PHOTOGRAPH. INCIDENTALLY, ALL OF THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES TEND TO STAY IN THE "OPEN" POSITION ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN LIFTED. WE TEND TO GET IN THE HABIT OF PUSHING THEM DOWN AFTER WE OPEN IT, BUT IT SEEMS UNSAFE TO ME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CUP HOLDER IN THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE WAS TOO SHALLOW TO HOLD THE CUP. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER SHE STOPPED OR ATTEMPTED A TURN, THE CUP WOULD FALL OUT AND ROLL UNDER THE BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. UPDATED 08-16-12 *BF

FORD TAURUS 2002 WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH THE FRONT SUB FRAME ( ENGINE CRADLE ) BROKE AWAY DO TO CORROSION CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DO TO THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE, TRANS AND FRONT HALF SHAFTS ARE HELD IN PLACE WITH ENGINE CRADLE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT IS JUST KNOW COMING TO LIGHT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER IT WOULD RAIN, WATER WOULD LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE INTERIOR FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND ONTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS LEATHERETTE PANEL HAD FRACTURED AND WAS HANGING FROM THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COOLER. WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THEY DON'T DO THAT TYPE OF REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,049.

HAVE A 2002 FORD TAURUS SES. WATER LEAKING ONTO FLOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE, NOTICEABLE WHEN IT IS RAINING. TWO WEEKS LATER, MY HEATER/AC WILL NOT TURN ON. I TURN THE SWITCH ON AND GET ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 TAURUS WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR WAS GETTING SOPPING WET WHEN THE A/C WAS USED. I DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS BACK-FLOW THROUGH THE HIGH DENSITY FOAM SEAL THAT SURROUNDS THE DRAIN SPOUT. THE DRAIN SPOUT GOES THROUGH A HOLE IN THE FIREWALL, AND BLACK HIGH DENSITY FOAM SEALS BETWEEN THE HOLE AND THE EVAPORATOR DRAIN SPOUT. BECAUSE THE DRAIN SPOUT IS MORE OR LESS HORIZONTAL, INSTEAD OF DRIPPING OFF THE END OF THE SPOUT, THE WATER WAS FLOWING BACK ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE SPOUT TOWARD THE FIREWALL, THEN WICKING THROUGH THE BLACK FOAM BACK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, RESULTING IN A SOAKED PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. FORD OFFERED TO REMOVE MY DASH TO FIND THE PROBLEM FOR A COST OF $800 IN LABOR ALONE. THIS SEEMS TO ME LIKE A DEFECT SINCE THERE ARE THOUSANDS ONLINE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I FELL THAT FORD NEED TO FIX THIS DEFECT FOR FREE.I DO HAVE A BUMPER TO BUMPER COVERAGE THAT DOES NOT COVER THIS CAN OF REPAIR. I AM UNABLE TO USE THE AC OR VENT WITHOUT HAVE WATER UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE RUG WHICH GETS SO WET THAT IT TAKES WEEKS TO DRY OUT. I JUST DISCOVERED THAT MY WIFE'S 2005 TAURUS IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS MY 2002. REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FEB. 28 I CLOSE THE TRUCK. I NOTICED JUST BELOW THE LICENSE ON THE TRUNK THE PAINT WAS BLISTERED AND PEELING OFF THE TRUNK. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THERE IN AUG., WHEN I CAREFULLY PUT NEW PLATES ON THE CAR. THE SURFACE IS DOWN TO THE GRAY PRIMER. I GUESS WE WILL HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPAINTED AT YOUR OWN EXPENSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHEN IT RAINS, WATER SOAKS THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CAWL PANEL. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN RELATED TO THIS FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

I HAVE A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHEN THERE IS HEAVY RAIN WATER COMES INTO THE TRUNK. IT SEEMS TO PUDDLE IN THE DECK LID COVER AND WHEN I OPEN THE TRUNK LID, WATER COMES DOWN ONE OF THE TWO HINGES AND POURS INTO THE TRUNK. DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY REALIGNING THE TRUNK LID AND BY REPLACING THE WEATHER STRIP. *TR

WATER LEAKS INTO MY 2002 FORD TAURUS. AFTER STORMS THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD WILL BE WET. APPARENTLY THE WATER LEAKS INTO THE CAR AND AFTER PASSING THROUGH THE BLOWER BOX DRIPS ONTO THE CARPET. MY BLOWER RESISTOR FAILED YESTERDAY AS A RESULT OF THE WATER POOLING INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. *TR

WATER LEAKS INTO PASSENGER FLOOR AREA WHEN IT RAINS. PADDING IS NOW GROWING MOLD. *TR

LOWER BODY HAS SEVER RUST. ROCKER PANELS ARE COMPLETELY ROTTED OFF DESPITE TAKING CARE TO WASH THE CARS UNDER BODY IN THE WINTER. FLOORS ARE SOFT. UPPER BODY HAS NO RUST ISSUES. LOWER BODY I HAVE HAD TO TREAT WITH RUST PREVENTATIVE EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST 8 YEARS. I BELIEVE THE CAR WILL BE TOO RUSTED TO DRIVE IN THE NEXT 6 TO 8 MONTHS.

I HAVE NOTICED IN THE PAST FEW DAY WHEN IT HAS RAINED THAT A POOL OF WATER FORMS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. ALSO, YESTERDAY, MY FAN FOR THE HEATER/AC STOPPED WORKING. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE ACROSS THE US THAT HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEGUN TO SMELL OF STAGNANT WATER AFTER ONLY A FEW DAYS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE WEATHER HAS BEEN EXTREMELY COLD AND IT AFFECTS MY ABILITY TO SAFELY OPERATE MY VEHICLE WITHOUT HEAT. APPARENTLY THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A COMPLAINT FILED WITH NHTSA REGARDING THIS PROBLEM (COMPLAINT # 10184014). *TR

MY 2002 FORD TAURUS LEAKS WATER THROUGH THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY FRONT WINDSHIELD AND GETS WATER ALL OVER MY PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD, SOMETIMES 1/2 AN INCH DEEP. THE LEAK HAS ALSO GOTTEN INTO MY BLOWER FAN FOR MY HEATER/AC AND CAUSED IT TO SHORT OUT. THIS MAKES MY CAR VERY HUMID MAKING ALL OF THE GLASS FOG UP WHEN I AM DRIVING TO WHERE I CANNOT SEE THE ROAD. I CAN'T EVEN TURN MY DEFROSTER ON BECAUSE OF THE BLOWER FAN MOTOR THAT GOT SHORTED OUT FROM THE WATER LEAK. I USE A RAG NOW TO WIPE THE MOISTURE AWAY WITH ONE HAND AND DRIVE WITH THE OTHER. IF IT IS BELOW FREEZING, THERE WILL ACTUALLY BE A LAYER OF FROST ON THE INSIDE OF MY FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELDS!, WHICH IS TOUGH TO GET ALL THE WAY OFF DUE TO THE CONCAVITY OF THE GLASS. I THOUGHT THAT I HAD JUST LEFT MY WINDOW SLIGHTLY CRACKED THE FIRST FEW TIMES THERE WAS WATER ON MY FLOOR BOARD. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE WATER LEAKING IN WAS WHEN I HAD A PASSENGER IN MY CAR AND THE WATER SQUIRTED ONTO HIS FOOT AS I WAS BACKING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY ON A CLEAR DAY. THAT MEANS THAT THE WATER COLLECTS SOMEWHERE BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX AND UNDER THE DASHBOARD, AFTER A STEADY RAIN, AND WHEN THE DEGREE OF MY CAR CHANGES THE WATER COMES POURING IN. I SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED. THERE WAS A STEADY STEAM OF WATER FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS, ABOUT 1 1/2 CUPS OF WATER TOTAL. I HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN AT LEAST 3 TIMES WITH VARYING AMOUNTS OF WATER. TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE, I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT MY MODEL OF CAR HAD BEEN RECALLED IN 2003 FOR A LOOSE WINDSHIELD MOUNT THAT COULD LET WATER LEAK IN. BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT MY VIN WASN'T UP FOR ANY RECALLS. SO, SOMEHOW MY CAR GOT LEFT OFF THE LIST OF RECALLED CARS. THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT SINCE IT WASN'T IN THE COMPUTER TO BE FIXED, MEANING THEY WOULDN'T GET PAID. ALSO, MY REAR WINDSHIELD CREAKS WHEN I AM DRIVING WHICH MEANS THAT IT IS AFFECTED TOO. I AM SCARED THAT ONE DAY I WILL BE AN THE INTERSTATE AND ONE OF MY WINDSHIELDS WILL JUST FLY OFF. *TR

WATER LEAKS ONTO THE HEATER/AC BLOWER MOTOR ON MY 2002 TAURUS. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED AT A COST, TO ME, OF $322.00. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ALL 2001-2004 FORD TAURUS'/SABLES AS EVIDENCED BY THE TSB 04-15-3 FOUND HERE: HTTP://WWW.FCSDCHEMICALSANDLUBRICANTS.COM/FAD/TSB/04153.PDF AND A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR (WATER LEAK & BLOWER MOTOR ON FORD TAURUS') A RECALL SHOULD BE IN ORDER. *TR

WHEN IT RAINS, WATER ENTERS THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE BLOWER MOTOR. RUGS AND MATS ON RIGHT SIDE OF CAR ARE SATURATED. ALL ATTEMPTS AT STOPPING WATER ENTRY ARE FUTILE. *TR