1992 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

THE STARTER DOES NOT RETURN TO POSITION CAUSING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE VEHICLE (RADIO, LIGHTS AND FAN), THE STARTER WAS RECALLED ON OTHER MODELS BUT NOT THIS ONE. NLM

HEAD GASKETS BLOWN AND THE FRONT TIMING COVER GASKET LEAKING COOLANT. COOLANT MIXED WITH OIL REQUIRING $2429.54 DOLLARS TO REPAIR DAMAGE TO ENGINE. ACCORDING TO USA TODAY ARTICLE DATED, APRIL 27, 2000, TITLED "FORD EXTENDS WARRANTY ON SOME V-6 ENGINES" THE 3.8L ENGINES IN FORD TAURUS'S AND OTHER FORD MODELS HAVE HAD PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURES ALLOWING COOLANT TO ENTER THE ENGINE. FORD AGREED TO FIX THESE CARS WITH THE 3.8L ENGINES FROM 1995 ON BUT EARLIER TAURUS'S WITH THE SAME 3.8L ENGINE, SUCH AS MY CAR HAD PREMATURE FAILURES. THE HEAD GASKET IN MY 1992 TAURUS (3.8L) BLEW IT'S HEAD GASKET AT 87,595 MILES, WELL BEFORE THE EXPECTED 120,000 INDICATED IN THE PRESS. I EXPECT FORD MOTOR CO. TO RECALL THESE ENGINES OR REIMBURSE ME FOR THIS UNNECESSARY EXPENSE. *AK

THE WIPERS COMPLETELY FAIL IN HEAVY RAIN, BUT WHEN THEY DO WORK, THEY SWIPE ONCE OR TWICE AND THEN STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD WEBSITE WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RESPONSE. REPAIRS TO THIS FAULTY SYSTEM ARE TOO COSTLY FOR ME TO UNDERTAKE, AS THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL MUST BE PULLED OUT TO CORRECT PROBLEM, A PROBLEM THAT FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. PLEASE HELP. I WOULD HATE TO THINK THAT ONE OF MY THREE CHILDREN WOULD BE HURT AS A RESULT OF THIS DEVICE MALFUNCTIONING WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH THEM IN THE CAR AND IT HAPPENS TO RAIN, SNOW, ETC...

REC' RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL #98V323000. NOTIFED DEALER. APPONT SET FOR MARCH. DEALER CALLED BACK LATER & CANCELLED DUE TO NO PARTS BEING AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE SUBFRAME.

REC'D RECALL NOTICE 98V323000 IN MAIL & CONTACTED DEALER FOR APPOINTMENT. AFTER ARRIVING, WAS INFORMED NO PARTS FOR SUBFRAME WERE AVAILABLE. BEEN CALLING OFF/ON DURING THE LAST FEW MONTHS & STILL NO PARTS.

THE RIGHT MOTOR MOUNT BROKE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO JUMP AND HIT THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

BOTH THE ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE FAILED & THIS PROBLEM IS ALREADY MENTIONED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 98V323000. GEORGIA STATE IS NOT COVERED IN THE CAMPAIGN. I WISH TO KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO? ABOUT THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM I HAVE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AFTER I JUST HAD A 21 POINT CHECK FROM BOOMERSHINE, GA. AGAIN THE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED ON 03/04/99. THIS CAR HAS BEEN GIVING PROBLEMS TO ME & I FEEL THAT THE 3.8L ENGINE VEHICLES SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I AM FRUSTRATED WITH THE STABILITY AND DEPENDABILITY OF THE CAR.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP WORKING MID-CYCLE AT ANY TIME. CAN NOT BE RESTARTED WITHOUT MANUAL, EXTERIOR INTERVENTION. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED PRODUCING FLUCTUATION IN TEMPERATURE, AND CLOUDS OF SMOKE TO COME FROM THE TAILPIPE.

WE NOTICED THE PROBLEM AFTER WE HAD A STRONG GAS SMELL IN THE GARAGE. THE FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY ON THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM JUST STARTED TO LEAK GAS. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THEY STRESSED TO US ON THE PHONE THAT THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE CHANCE OF EXPLOSION AND FIRE CUASED BY THE LEAKING FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED INTO AN BUILDING, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

FRONT ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS FOUND LOOSE BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. SEEKING INFORMATION WEATHER THIS NORMAL OR NOT, CAN NHTSA HELP WITH THAT INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A DIRT BANK WHILE TRAVELLING 45-50 MPH. THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *ML

DRIVER WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND IT LURCHED FORWARD AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. FRONT END SUSTAINED HEAVY DAMAGE. NO INJURIES. ALSO REPLACED IDLE SPEED CONTROL MODULE.

PREMATURE ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE, IS CLASS ACTION LEGAL ACTION AVAILABLE? *AK

DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER BELT WON'T WORK DUE TO THE LATCH. PART OF THE SEAT IS STICKING OUT AND THE LATCH WON'T HOOK IN THE LOCK WHERE THE RELEASE BUTTON IS LOCATED. *AK

PAINT PEELING. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

OIL PAN RUSTED AND LEAKED OIL. *AK

PAINT PEELING FROM ROOF OF VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER ON MARCH OF 1999 FOR SUBFRAME MOUNTS TO BE CHANGED UNDER RECALL 98 V 323 000 AT 78,993 MILES. IN AUG 2001 105,000, MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THEREWAS A CLUNKING AND BUMPING NOISE. CONSUMER FELT LIKE INSIDE MAY FALL DOWN ON THE ROAD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION.*AK

CRUISE CONTROL LOCKED UP WHEN CAR WAS BEING STOPPED...CAR WAS FULL THROTTLE IN ALL GEARS, AND REPONDED TO NOTHING TO DROP, AND COULD NOT BE HELD STOPPED BY THE BRAKES. DISCONNECTING THE CRUISE CONTROL LINKAGE TO THE THROTTLE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS LEAK, AND VEHICLE OVERHEATS. *AK

RECALL 98V323000/SUBFRAME: RECALL REPAIRS WAS MADE IN JAN 1999; NOW THE PROBLEM HAVE REOCCURRED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WAS ALREADY DONE, AND NOTHING ELSE WOULD BE DONE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, ABOUT 90% OF THE BRAKING POWER WAS LOST. UPON THE CHECKING THE VEHICLE, A VALVE ON THE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE WAS CRACKED. OWNER WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE VALVE. THE DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING ENGINE TO HAVE COOLLANT IN THE OIL AND COMING OUT THE EXHAUST.

CRACKED HEATER CORE, CAUSED STEAM AND FUSE TO ENTER INTO THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED VISUAL DIFFICULTY. ALSO, MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

IN 1999 MY CAR OVERHEATED DUE TO THE HEADGASKETS. NOW, IN APRIL OF 2000 IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. FORD IS NOT STEPPING UP TO HANDLE WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A WIDE SPREAD DEFECT IN SEVERAL OF THEIR CARS. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE TWO TIMES WITHIN A 14 MONTH PERIOD COST WAS $1280.00 FIRST REBUILD AND $840 SECOND

MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED.

WHEN INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON CRASH, TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE FRAME WAS BENT IN THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

WHILE DRIVING AT 5MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN TIE ROD END BROKE, CAUSING LEFT WHEEL TO STAY STRAIGHT UP. WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE TURN WHILE THE RIGHT WHEEL MADE THE LEFT TURN, MAKING A SCREECHING SOUND. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

HAD PARKED VEHICLE AND LEFT IT. HEARD A NOISE. NOTICED VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. *AK

STEERING WHEEL IS VERY HARD TO TURN WHEN DRIVING AT ANY TIME WHICH MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY DURING RAIN STORMS. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING GEARS TO SHIFT ABRUPTLY.

TIE ROD FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE STEERING ABILITY AND CROSS THE CENTER LINE OF THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK A SIGN AND TREE.RECALL CAMPAIGN #98S36. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS CORROSION WITHIN THE STEERING, AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO STEER WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD OR MAKING A SLIGHT TURN. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING AT 50-55 MPH VEHICLE SWERVED AND SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT. MANAGED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN CONTROL ON THE ROAD. DEALER MOVED AND IS NOT AWARE OF THE INCIDENT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

SOMETHING BROKE ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE AND FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR. THE DEALER IS NOW OUT OF BUSINESS, AND FORD HAS NOT CONTACTED US ABOUT A RECALL.THE PLACE THAT MAINTAINS OUR TIRES SAID IT LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING HAD HIT THE SHOCK ABSORBERS,BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING ELSE. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER HAS MOVED AND IS NOT AWARE, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER DOES NOT OPERATE. THE DEALER MOVED AND IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS WARMED UP & WOULD START TO TURN STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD MAKE GRINDING NOISES IN THE RIGHT FRONT. SOUNDS LIKE METAL TO METAL. TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. HAD BOTH STRUTS, TIE RODS, OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED. NOISE STILL EXISTS. MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK

AFTER APPROX. ONE HOUR OF OPERATION THE HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT BREAKER BEGINS TO TRIP CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS EXPERINCED WITH THE LIGHTING SYSTEM. THE FAILURE OCCURED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. FURTHER TESTS BY OWNER SHOWED THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THE VEHICLE AT A STANDSTILL. THE FAILURE APPEARS TO BE TIME RELATED. HEADLIGHTS WORK NORMAL DURING THE FIRST FORTY TO FITY MINUITES. SWITCHING TO HIGH BEAMS WILL SHORTEN THE FAILURE TIME.

MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL. (98V-323)

CONSUMER REPORTING A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FAILURE CONCERNING THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME WHICH SUPPORT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WHICH MAY BECOME DETACHED DUE TO CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT RETAINING PLATE. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE REAR CORNERS OF SUBFRAME TO DROP. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE FOUR YEAR SAGO. THE CORRECTION REPLACEMENT CONCERNING CORROSION RESISTANT REINFORCING PLATE AND NEW BOLTS ON BOTH SIDE SUBFRAME MOUNT FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER.*AK

MCPHERSON STRUT OR OTHER PART OF RIGHT WHEEL BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. NO INDICTATION OR WARNING OF DEFECT. 2 HOURS PRIOR CONSUMER HAD SMELLED BURNING HYDRAULIC OIL. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT PARK AND SOMETIMES DON'T WORK

THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE FIRST FAILED IN OCTOBER, 1998. WAS REPLACED BY FRIENDLY FORD IN SPRINGFIELD, MO IN JANUARY, 1999. SINCE THEN, THE MODULE HAS FAILED ABOUT EVERY THREE MONTHS TO DATE. I HAVE HAD TO BUY A NEW MODULE EVERY 12 MONTHS DUE TO WARRANTY RUNNING OUT ON REPLACEMENT MONITORS. HAD THREE FORD DEALERS CHECK OUT AIR BAG SYSTEM, NONE COULD FIX IT, EXCEPT FOR REPLACING THE MODULE. THEY ALL CLAIMED THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT SHORT CIRCUIT "SOMEWHERE" THAT THEY COULD NEVER FIND. NOW DENNY FORD IN ROLLA, MO WANTS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS AT A COST OF $2,000+ JUST FOR THE PARTS!!!!! THIS IS GERTING RIDICULOUS. BUT I CAN'T JUST IGNORE THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE WHEN THE MODULE DIES THE AIR BAGS DON'T WORK.

SUDDEN ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL/ ACCIDENT.DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES.