1993 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

A FEW DAYS AGO I DISCOVERED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE APPEARED TO BE LOW ON AIR. I HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED ON 8/25/2000 WITH GOODYEAR AMERICAN EAGLE P205/65R15 AT WAL-MART IN BAYTOWN, TEXAS. THE TIRES WERE DUE FOR ROTATION AND BALANCE, SO I HAD WAL-MART IN BAYTOWN, TEXAS PERFORM THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND CHECK THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE FOR A LEAK. AFTER THE MECHANIC REMOVED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE FROM THE RIM HE DISCOVERED A CRACK ON THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE TIRE. THE CRACK RAN PERPENDICULAR TO THE DIRECTION OF TREAD. THE CRACK RAN ACROSS THE TREAD AREA AND UP INTO BOTH SIDEWALLS. THE CRACK WAS NOT VISIBLE ON THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF THE TIRE. I LOOKED AT THE TIRE AND THERE APPEARED TO BE A SLIGHT MOLD INDENTATION IN THE CRACK AREA. I CONTACTED GOODYEAR'S CONSUMER INFORMATION SERVICE AND PROVIDED THEM WITH THE SAME INFORMATION. THEY ACCEPTED THE INFORMATION BUT ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS A WAL-MART PROBLEM. WAL-MART REPLACED THE TIRE IN QUESTION AT NO EXPENSE. I VISITED WAL-MART YESTERDAY 12/23/2000, AND SPOKE TO THE STORE MANAGER AND MECHANIC. THEY AGREED TO CHECK THE REMAINING THREE TIRES FOR PROBLEMS NEXT WEEK. THE MECHANIC WAS GOING TO TRY TO LOCATE THE TIRE THAT WAS REMOVED AND STORE IT FOR EXAMINATION. THE INTERIOR TIRE DAMAGE WAS VERY UNUSUAL. I'M NOT ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY TIRES, BUT ALSO THE SAFETY OF OTHER PEOPLES TIRES. IT MAY BE A GOOD IDEA TO TRY TO GET HOLD OF THIS TIRE FOR EXAMINATION. PLEASE CONTACT ME, IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. *AK (TIRESIZE: P205/65R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/65R15 )

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. COOLANT TEMPERATURE FULL HOT, THEN COOLS, THEN FULL HOT, ETC. *AK

CAR BEGAN STALLING IN LATE 2000. MECHANIC FINALLY DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS FAILED INGITION CONTROL MODULE. REPLACEMENT PART IS UNAVAILABLE. IT IS NOT KNOWN WHEN IT WILL BE. CAR IS UNDRIVABLE AND HAS BEEN SITTING FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.*AK

I TALKED TO FORD OF CANADA OVER 2 YEARS AGO ABOUT THE OIL PAN RUSTING BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HEARD OF AN OIL PAN RUSTING. FORD MOTOR COMPANY DID NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. NOW THE OIL PAN HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND IT IS COSTING ME ABOUT $ 500.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. TWO YEARS AGO IS WHEN MY 3.8L HEAD GASKET STORY BEGAN. FORD MOTOR COMPANY DID NOT HELP ME AT THE TIME WHEN I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEN IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR I FOUND OUT THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS EXTENDED BENFITS TO 1994 AND NEWER FORD TAURUS OWNERS. WHILE I AM HAPPY THAT THOSE OWNERS ARE GETTING HELP THAT STILL LEAVES ME OUT IN THE COLD. I TALKED TO FORD IN JUNE ABOUT THE EXTENDED BENFITS AND WAS TOLD TO FAX IN MY RECEIPTS FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPAIRS FOR THEM TO JUDGE IF I WOULD GET REIMBURSED. I DID NOT GET REIMBURSED AND FROM WHAT I CAN FIND OUT NO 1993 OWNERS OF FORD TAURUS 3.8L DID GET ANY HELP FROM FORD. I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY COMPLAINTS FORD HAS HAD ABOUT OIL PANS RUSTING AND LEAKING BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THEY DROPPED THE PRICE ON REPLACEMENT OIL PANS BACAUSE OF THE VOLUME OF SALES.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED SAME AS ON MY 1995 TAURUS. HOWEVER, FORD SAYS THE 1993 TAURUS IS NOT COVERED ON THE WARRANTY. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILURES I HAVE EXPERIENCED IS SIMILAR TO THAT CITED IN THE RECALL OF 1994 AND 1995 FORD TAURUS VEHICLES WHICH OCCURRED JUST OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY MILEAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH THE EXACT SAME FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO THE OWNERS OF THE 1994-5 TAURUS OWNERS BY RECALLING THE 1993 FORD TAURUS VEHICLES FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD GASKETS AND/OR THE ENGINE AT FORD'S EXPENSE. *AK

RECALL NEEDS TO INCLUDE 93 TAURUS. NO SAFETY DEFECT INCLUDED IN SUMMARY. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS RANDOMLY STOP DURING OPERATION, AND MAY OR MAY NOT RESTART AFTER THAT. THIS PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED WITH THE ORIGINAL PART IN MID-1998. AFTER A FEW UNSUCCESSFUL DIAGNOSES (I.E., THE WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED 2 TIMES IN 1998/99 WITHOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM), THE WIPER "MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH" CONTROL WAS REPLACED BY MORANDE FORD AT MY EXPENSE ON 3/17/99 AND THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS NOW OCCURRING AGAIN. WIPERS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE FORD WIPER CONTROL UNITS, SINCE THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH BOTH THE ORIGINAL PART (1998/1999) AND THE REPLACEMENT PART (2000). I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR (EVEN ONCE THE PART IS REPLACED AGAIN) BECAUSE THE PROBLEM RECURS EVEN WITH THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. *AKY

BY FORD'S SERVICE BULLETIN 98-4-9 ISSUED IN MARCH OF 1998, THEY ADMIT TO AN INSUFFICIENT ENGINE HEAD GASKET SEAL ON 3.8L V-6S WHICH CAUSES COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEMS AS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. THEY SHOULD COVER THE REPAIRS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH NOTICED VIBRATION COMING FROM ENGINE AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A BLOWN OUT HEAD GASKET. *AK

REPLACED HEAD GASKET, BOLTS AND THE SIDE COVER PLATE ON TIMING CHAIN BECAUSE OF LEAKING WATER. CJ

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND GOES OFF SEVERAL TIMES, THE VEHICLE IDLES ERRATICALLY AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING DUE TO INTEMITTENT FAILURE OF THE IGNITION CONTROL ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIX THE VEHICLE BECAUSE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER WANTS INVESTIGATION REGARDING PARTS SHORTAGE. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). *YH

RECALL 98V323000, APPOINTMENT ON 30 NOV 2000 FOR RECALL REPAIRS. AS OF DECEMBER 5, 000 DEALER STILL HAD CAR , REPAIRS NOT COMPLETED. *AK

VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING STALL, WILL NOT RESTART. *AK

3.8 ENGINE, BLOWN HEAD GASKET, UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD HAS OFFERED TO FIX 95S AND 94S BUT NOT 93S. WHY?*AK

DEALER IGNORED TO IDENTIFY PROBLEM /PERSUED QUESTIONABLE WORK. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK

HEAD GASKETS FAILED DUE TO WARPED HEADS. *AK

TAURUS HAS A MELTED CONNECTOR AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! NHTSA CAMPAIN # 98V009000 RECALLS TAURUS'S DEC. 1992 TO SEPT. 1993. MY TAURUS WAS MANUFACTURED IN SEPT. 1992 AND IS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. IT'S OBVIOUS A 1993 TAURUS MANUFACTURED IN SEPT. 1992 HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS A TAURUS MANUFACTURED IN DEC. 1992. DID THE NHTSA MAKE A MISTAKE AND NOT ENCOMPASS ENOUGH CARS. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THE NHTSA WOULD BE CONCERNED AFTER READING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE 1993 TAURUS NOT COVERED DUE TO THE DATES, DEC. 1992 TO SEPT. 1992. I CALLED FORD AND THE WON'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE SEPT. 1992 CARS ARE NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. WILL THE NHTSA CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE RECALL?*AK

POWER STEERING ON EXTREME LEFT GETS STUCKUP MOMENTERIARILY MANY TIMES. *AK

AFTER HAVING SERVICED VEHICLE TECHNICIAN FOUND OUT THAT VEHICLE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. TECHNIAN WAS REPAIRING ENGINE.*AK

HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED AT 72,000 MILES, CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE . *AK THE CUSTOMER OBJECTS THAT THE MANUFACTURER RECALLED 1994 AND 1995 MODELS BUT NOT 1993 MODELS EVENTHOUGH THE PROBLEMS ARE THE SAME. *YH

THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 104500 MILES. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM MY DAUGHTER AND WE DID NOT REALIZE THAT IT WAS USING WATER VERY SLOWLY. WE COULD HEAR GURGLING NOISES UNDER THE DASH BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. IT WAS AIR GETTING INTO THE SYSTEM FROM THE ENGINE. THE GASKETS WERE BAD LONG BEFORE THE 100000 MILE SILENT RECALL FORD PUT IN PLACE ON THIS PROBLEM. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO SPEND AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY ON A PROBLEM FORD KNEW ABOUT.*AK

WHEN CONSUMER PUT TURN SIGNALS ON THEY DO NOT SHOW IN THE BACK OF VEHICLE. SIGNAL LIGHT WILL SHOW UP ON PANEL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT, CAUSING POOR DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 98V009000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98S01 DUE TO VIN. IN ADDITION, PLUG HAS MELTED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING AND THEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD DROP BACK TO NORMAL, WHILE DRIVING THE HEAT COULD BE FELT BUT AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE STOPPED SO DID THE HEAT, THE PINHOLES IN THE RADIATOR WERE FIXED, THE THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, THE MAMUFACTURER ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT THEY REFUSED REPAIR DUE TO MODEL YEAR. NLM

ENGINE DIES WITHOUT WARNING. HAVE REPLACED FUEL PUMP TWICE, ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE ONCE, INERTIA SWITCH ONCE. HOW DO I FIX IT?*AK

NAR 03/03/2003. THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH EVENTUALLY HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALSO THE BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO LACK OF A SECOND GEAR. THE ENGINE WENT OUT IN NOV 1997 WHICH WAS LIKELY HEAD GASKET FAILURE. JAN 9, 2003 THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED AS A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET IN THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE. *JB

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL, VEHICLE ENDED UP GOING OFF THE ROAD AND INTO THE BUSHES WHERE THERE WERE LOGS ON THE GROUND, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH WHITE SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE AND ENGINE COOLANT LEAKAGES. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED OF A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDS WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

ENGINE FAILURE; WELL MAINTAINED CAR; HEAD GASKET BLOWN, NOW ENGINE MUST BE REBUILT. THIS OCCURRED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ME TO THE HOSPITAL. I AM 78 YEARS OLD. FORD IS NOT EVEN ASSISTING WITH REPAIRS. THIS CAR IS A SAFETY MENACE AND THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS NEGLIGENT!.*AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 60,000 MILES, CAR STALLING SINCE PURCHASE AT HIGH SPEEDS, CAUGHT ON FIRE TWICE. *AK

CAR HAS BEEN CONSUMING COOLANT AT A RATE OF 1/2 GAL PER DAY. NO LEAKAGE UNDER CAR. MECHANIC DOING TUNEUP FOUND GRAY COLOR ON TWO SPARK PLUGS. HE SAID THAT THIS IS PROOF OF LEAKING HEAD GASKET. IMMEDIATE REPAIRS ARE NEEDED ($1600 TO $3500).

FORD ADMITS BAD GASKETS & BOLTS IN THEIR 1988-1995 3.8 LITER ENGINES AND HAS HAD VARIOUS REPAIR PROGRAMS, BUT MY VIN IS PRESENTLY EXCLUDED. A LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER SAYS FORD HAS REPAIRED "MILLIONS" OF THESE ENGINES

HEAD GASKETS BLEW WHEN I STARTED CAR IN GARAGE. I HAD CAR TOWED TO MY REGULAR REPAIRMAN. HE ADVISED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT UNCOMMON WITH TAURUSES. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. FIVE TIMES BY PHONE AND SENT TWO LETTERS WITH NO POSITIVE RESPONSE ALTHOUGH MY RESEARCH INDICATED THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED, WHICH CAUSED OTHER ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WE CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM, KNOWING THAT THE 3.8 LITER ENGINES ARE KNOW FOR THIS PROBLEM, THEY WOULD NOT HELP BECAUSE ONLY 94'S AND 95'S WERE ON THE RECALL. THEY ALSO NEED TO RECALL THE 93'S.*AK

DURING IDLE SITUATIONS (IN ANY GEAR), ENGINE WILL IDLE VERY HIGH AND SOMETIME ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY. GUNNING ENGINE DOES NOT EFFECT IT. TURNING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING USUALLY RESETS IDLE TO NORMAL LEVEL.*AK

ENGINE MOUNTS ARE CORRODED. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS GO OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.*AK

MOTOR MOUNTS THAT HOLD THE ENGINE HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY 35000 MILES . FORD DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WOULD BE DRIVING 65MPH WHEN VEHICLE STALLED OUT IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TWICE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT PROBLEM WAS TRANSMISSION. SECOND TIME INFORMED IT WAS MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND MECHANIC REPLACED IT. STALLING PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *SLC

CAR HAS BEEN INTO HOLMS-TUTTLE FORD ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THE CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD WAITING TO HAVE A ACCIDENT. THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM SURFACED IN DEC. 1997. FORD MTR. REFUSES TO HELP. I CAN SUPPLY FULL DOCUMENTATION. THANK YOU. RONALD B. BORGQUIST. *AK

SPEEDOMETER ON TAURUS AND WINDSTAR MODELS OF FORD ARE BAD. WHY AREN'T THEY BEING RECALLED? ISN'T KNOWING YOUR CORRECT SPEED A SAFETY CONCERN.*AK

FAILED HEAD GASKET. *AK

I BROUGHT MY CAR TO SARASOTA FORD ON FRI. SEPT. 8, 2000 TO DIAGNOSE A FUEL ODOR, CLICKING IN THE FRONT END, AND AN A/C PROBLEM. FORD REPLACED THE A/C BY REMOVING THE DASH. AFTER WORKING ON IT FRIDAY, ALL DAY SATURDAY (EVEN AFTER CLOSING), AND MONDAY, IT WAS READY EARLY AFTERNOON, SEPT. 11. I DID NOT HEAR FROM FORD, SO CALLED I MYSELF TO PICK AROUND 12::40 PM TO PICK UP THE CAR. I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS AND GOT INTO MY CAR, ONLY TO NOTICE THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT NOT WORKING RIGHT. I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING THEN BECAUSE I ALSO NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT GOING ON AND OFF. A MECHANIC STANDING NEARBY HELPED ME BY LOCATING DAN WHITE, THE SERVICE WRITER FOR MY CAR (AND ASST. SERVICE MANAGER). DAN WALKED TO MY CAR TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LIGHT BEING ON. HE EXPLAINED THAT 'HE' (I ASSUMED, THE MECHANIC) DIDN'T NOTICE THE LIGHT AT FIRST, BUT NOTICED IT LATER. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE AIRBAG MODULE HAD BEEN ALL TAPED UP AND THAT'S WHY THE LIGHT WAS ON. I INFORMED HIM THAT MADE NO SENSE TO ME AND ASKED WHY HE HAD NOT INFORMED ME. HE TOLD ME HE DIDN'T TELL ME BECAUSE HE ASSUMED I HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, OR TAPED IT UP MYSELF. I EMPHATICALLY INFORMED DAN THAT WAS NOT THE CASE!! I CONFIRMED WITH DAN AT THAT TIME HIS STATEMENT TO ME THAT 'HE' (THE MECHANIC) DIDN'T NOTICE THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT AT FIRST, ONLY LATER. HE TOLD ME THAT THE MECHANIC THOUGHT MAYBE HE SHORT CIRCUTED SOMETHING AND WENT TO CHECK AND FOUND THE MODULE HAD BEEN TAPED. I FIND IT PECULIAR THAT DAN WHITE DID NOT INFORM ME ABOUT THE SITUATION UNTIL I ASKED HIM ABOUT IT WHEN I WAS IN MY CAR, READY TO DRIVE OFF AFTER PICKING IT UP AT THE DEALERSHIP. DAN SAID HE DID NOT INFORM ME BECAUSE HE . I ARRIVED HOME, I ALSO DISCOVERED THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL AND THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER WORKED. I FIND IT ALSO PECULIAR THAT THESE ELECTRICAL ITEMS (INCLUDING THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT) WERE ALL WORKING WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR TO HAVE THE AC REPAIRED!! IS A REPAIR FACILITY REQUIRED T

CAR IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND THEN DOES NOT START. DEALER IN CALIFORNIA CLAIM THEY CAN NOT OBTAIN THE REPLACEMENT PART, THAT THE SUPPLIER FORD USED DOES NOT MAKE THAT SPECIFIC PART ANY MORE.*AK

LOST SPEED SUDDENLY ON MAJOR ROAD-SCARY AND DANGEROUS

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED, FORD RECOGNIZED PROBLEM AND OMITTED THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH 3.8L ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ON TAURUS'S, BUT WOULD NOT FIX THIS VEHICLE. APPEARS TO BE A COVER UP ON FORDS PART. THEY WILL ONLY FIX CARS WHICH ARE OWN BE THE ORGINAL OWNER.