1995 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING ND BUZZING. IT HAS FAILED

WHEN CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 60 MPH, IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE, BUT RESUMED SPEED AS SOON AS DRIVER TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE PEDAL. CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED WHEN USING THE SWITCH. BRAKE SWITCH WAS REPLACED A YEAR AND 1/2 AGO FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CAME BACK. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

STARTER SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN OVER AT 28,000 MILES, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START CAR, AND HAD TO TAKE IT TO A GARAGE, AND THEY REPLACED THE STARTER. ENGINE COOLANT TEMP GAUGE REPLACED ALSO. *AK *ML

THE RADIATOR HAS A SEAM LEAK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TANK AND THE CORE, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE RADIATOR COULD NOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE USE OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS IN THE TANK AND THE METAL CORES. *SLC

WITH MY 1 FAMILY CAR IN FOR REPAIR. FORD SHOULD LOAN ME A CAR WIFE&CHIDS&NO CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

STEEL BELT BREAKAGE. CAUSED BUMPY RIDE AND PULL TO RIGHT. MY CONCERN IS THAT WHEN I CONTACTED MICHELIN, THEY ATTITUDE WAS THAT THEIR TIRES FAIL WHEN THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN CARED FOR USING FORD REQUIREMENTS. THE FIRST TIRE TO FAIL WAS IN AUG. 1999 AND A LOCAL FORD DEALER HELPED WITH MICHRLIN. AT THAT TIME THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THIS TIME, TWO FRONT TIRES FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MICHELIN HAS STOPPED MAKING THIS MODEL TIRE. I WONDER WHY. THE TIRES HAVE ALMOST A QUARTER INCH OF TREAD LEFT AND ARE NOT WORN FUNNY. SEEMS LIKE JUNK TIRES TO ME. I REPLACED THE MICHELIN TIRES WITH COOPER TIRES, WHICH HAVE NEVER FAILED ME. PLEASE CHECK INTO MICHELIN AND PERHAPS AUTO MANUFACTURERS WHO USE THEIR PRODUCTS, WHICH HAVE A FIXED LIFE. THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: M3PA998X29 TIRE SIZE: P205X65R15 )

DEFECTIVE ENGINE MOUNTS CAUSED STRESS AND LEAKAGE OF A/C FLUID FROM THE A/C MANIFOLD LINE. SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS ASSESSED THE PROBLEM AS THE SAME FOR WHICH THE 1992/1993 TAURUS WAS RECALLED AND 1994 MODELS ON SECRET WARRANTY. *AK

SPEEDOMETER INDICATES INCORRECT SPEED AND OCILLATES BACK AND FORTH WILDLY AT ABOVE 45MPH, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE A RECALL SITUATION, ITS EVIDENT THAT FORD MOTOR CO. KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND IS NOT MAKING AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT IT!I*AK

MECHANIC AT GARAGE STATED THEY HAD SEEN ANOTHER JUST DAYS PRIOR. THAT SPRING HAD FAILED WITH SUCH FORCE IT HAD PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 20MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS DROPPED SIX INCHES FROM THE GROUND. A RECALL FOR EARLIER TAURUS'S WAS MADE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *AK *ML

AFTER HITTING A TREE AT 35MPH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY .DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AS I WAS GETTING ON TO THE HIGHYWAY. IT GOT STUCK IN FIRST GEAR AND HAD TO BE TOWED. CALLED MANY SHOPS TO GET QUOTES ON REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION, ALL COMPLAINING ABOUT TAURUS' BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 92 & 95 HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THE PROBLEM WAS MECHANICAL AND NOT THE FAULT OF THE OWNER. CONTACTED FORD CO. TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPAIR IT AND THEY DENIED MY CLAIM TWICE. IF SO MANY OF THESE CARS HAVE THE SAME TRANS. PROBLEM SHOULDN'T THEY BE RECALLED? I THINK FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFECTIVE TRANS. THEY MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTED.

THE SHORT BLOCK WAS REPLACED 2/23/98 , UNDER RECALL FOR GASKET PROBLEM THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM . MILEAGE 30577 . ON APP. 4/7/00 A COMPLETE ENGINE ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALED . THIS INSTALLATION COMPOUNDED THE PROBLEM AS THE ENGINE WOULD CONTINOUSLY LOOSE WATER FROM THE COOLINGN SYSTEM. THE DEALER HAS TRIDE MANY THINGS TO FIX THE PROBLEM SOME OF THEM FROM REPAIR BULLETINS AND OTHERS SUGGESETED BY REP. . I HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN THE SHOP MANY TIMES BOTH DOCUMENTED AND SOME NOT DOCUMENTED. THE FINAL ANSWER I RECEIVED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND FORD COULD NOT SOPPORT FUTHER ASSISTANCE. I CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT ONCE A CAR WAS OUT OF WARENTY FORD WAS NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE FOR TRYING TO FIX AN EXTENDE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD NOT FIXED IT DURING THE WARENTY PERIOD. THEY SAID THIS WAS A PROBLEM PECULAR TO THIS VEHICLE AND THERFORE THEY HAD DID ALL THEY COULD. BY THE WAY THE COMPLETE ENGINE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARENTY AND SUPOSUDLY HAD A 12 THOUSAND MILE WARENTY. I FEEL I AM STUCK WITH A BAD SITUATION. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.7*AK

THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WOBBLES UP AND DOWN WHICH CANNOT GIVE A CORRECT READING. DEALER WILL ONLY REPAIR AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK *ML

ENIGNE MOUNTS BROKE ON ONE SIDE AND CRACKED ON THE OTHER SIDE . CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING IN HOT WEATHER OR LONG DISTANCE CONSUMER NOTICED GAS FUMES INSIDE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID THAT THE CARBON FILTER WAS FULL OF GASOLINE AND WAS NOT EXHAUSTING THE FUMES CORRECTLY. THE FILTER AND FUEL LINE WERE REPLACED AT OWNER'S COST BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED & REPAIRED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK & DEALER FOUND BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS & ENGINE WAS VIBRATING ALL OVER. DEALER REPLACED MOTOR MOUNTS AT CONSUMER'S COST. CONSUMER FELT PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK

I CALLED TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM,TOLD HIM ABOUT THE PROBLEM, THEY SAID I WAS OWN MY OWN, TO BAD. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM I FEEL IT WAS UP TO THE DEALER TO NOTIFY ME OF THIS RECALL BEFORE THEY SOLD THIS CAR TO ME. NOW MY CAR HAS CAUGHT FIRE AND SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. SO WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO? *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN FLUCTUATING BACK AND FORTH. I STOPPED THE CAR AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND THE CAR TO BE OVERHEATING. VEHICLE WAS ALLOWED TO COOL DOWN AND COOLANT WAS ADDED. CONTINUED ON TO DESTINATION WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. VECHILE WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALER IN ARKANSAS TO PINPOINT PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED.DUE TO PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8L ENGINE, FORD WOULD FIX AT NO CHARGE. REPAIR TOOK OVER A WEEK RESULTING IN MYSELF AND FAMILY HAVING TO RETURN TO FLORIDA BY OTHER MEANS AND HAVING TO RETURN TO ARKANSAS THE FOLLOWING WEEK TO PICK UP MY CAR. DESPITE THIS PROBLEM BEING COVERED UNDER AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY" FORD OFFORED NO ASSISTANCE FOR THE INCONVIENCE/EXPENSE WE WENT THROUGH, EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW WE WERE FROM OUT OF STATE AND THE VEHICLE WAS PROMISED TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE WE HAD TO RETURN TO FLORIDA. A SUBSEQUENT COMPLAINT WAS FILED TO LANDERS FORD IN LITTLE ROCK, AR AND TO THE DIRECTOR OF FORD'S VEHICLE SERVICE AND PROGRAMS DEPT. BOTH LETTERS WERE UNANSWERED/IGNORED. VEHICLE CI AGAIN LOSING COOLANT (5/24/2000) AND WILL BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER IN DOTHAN. *AK

VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT 15 TO 25 MPH. CAR WAS DECLARED TOTALED BY THE AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (AAA). ALSO, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUST CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS UNSAFE BECAUSE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET. TOOK TO A MECHANIC, AND HE SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. RECALL ON 1994 AND 1995 FORD TAURUS WITH DIFFERENT MOTORS. *AK

STARTING ON 3/15, THE CAR WOULD TURN OFF WITH NO WARNING, BOTH AT IDLE AND AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 75 MPH. WE ARE LEFT TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. SOMETIMES IT WILL RECRANK, OTHER TIMES IT WON'T. LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS HAD THE CAR 5 TIMES (HAS IT NOW) AND CANNOT FIGURE IT OUT. HAVE REPLACED FUEL PUMP, CRANK SENSOR, CAM SENSOR, WATER PUMP, IGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND VARIOUS FILTERS. UNTIL RECENTLY, THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO WE KEPT THE CAR UNTIL IT WAS LITERALLY LURCHING AND KNOCKING, BARELY DRIVING MORE THAN A MILE AT A TIME, TURNING OFF EVERY 100 YARDS OR SO. THEY FINALLY SAW IT TURN ITSELF OFF. IT JUST GOES DEAD. AFTER SEVERAL TIMES, WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS A TELLTALE "SHUDDER" THAT OCCURED SOMETIME PRIOR TO IT SHUTTING OFF. NO REAL PATTERN THOUGH. CAN HAPPEN FIRST THING IN THE AM, WHEN COLD, OR ON HIGHWAY AT CRUISING SPEED, OR ON CITY STREETS IN STOP/GO. ALSO AT IDLE, OR COMING TO A STOP. CANNOT FIND A REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I FOUND 44 OTHER INSTANCES MENTIONED HERE OF THIS...ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE CALL IT ENGINE, OTHERS FUEL, OTHERS EVEN HAVE SAID TRANSMISSION OR IGNITION/ELECTRICAL, WHILE ALL DESCRIBING THE SAME THING. WHEN WILL FORD GET THE IDEA THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM????*AK

THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT I REPORTED 3/12/99 0DI # 72011..I NEVER HEARD FROM YOU...NOR HAVE I HEARD OF A RECALL...THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM..AT A STOP SIGN. AUTO WILL NOT MOVE WHEN GAS IS APPLIED. AND THEN ACCELERATES..OR DRIVING ALONG HWY...AUTO WILL GEAR DOWN...VERY SCARY, AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A PROBLEM SEEN IN AUTO SHOPS AND WILL COST IN THE AREA IF $1,6.00

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONTRARY TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S EXTENDED WARRANTY LETTER, THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OR SIGNS THAT MAY INDICATE A PROBLEM. BOTH SITUATIONS OF FAILURE HAPPEND ON THE MAIN ROAD SUDDENLY, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. LUCKILY, ALTHOUGH HOLDING UP TRAFFIC, I WAS NOT HIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AND WAS PUSHED TO SAFETY UNTIL THE CAR COULD BE TOWED!!!!FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, FORD HAD ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK, KNOWING OF THIS CONDITION, AND THIS CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON THE LOT FOR SALE TO BEGIN WITH. BEING AN ORDINARY TRUSTING CONSUMER, I BOUGHT A LEMON. ALTHOUGH FORD HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY AGAIN, AS A PREVENTATIVE TYPE MEASURE TO OTHERS, OFFERING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, IT WAS TOO LATE FOR ME. WE HAVE PUT OVER $4,000 IN REPAIRS, AND STILL OWE MONEY ON THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER IS GIVING US THE RUN AROUND, TRYING TO GET OUT OF THIS SITUATION THE CHEAPEST WAY POSSIBLE, AND AVOIDING OUR CALLS. I FEEL IT'S B/C THEY KNOW THEY WILL NOT GET A SALE OUT OF US, AND WE ARE JUST A HASSLE TO DEAL WITH. NO OTHER DEALER WILL TAKE OUR CAR AT A DECENT TRADE, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE HAD IT FIXED, B/C OF THE BAD REPUTATION OF THE VEHICLE FORD HAS CREATED!!!!!WE ARE STUCK!!! I EXPECT IN ANOTHER 2 YEARS, THE HEAD GASKETS/COOLANT SYSTEM WILL FAIL AGAIN, B/C IT'S A DEFECTIVE ENGINE IN GENERAL. I THINK FORD OUGHT TO RECALL THE CAR, OR BUY THE CAR BACK, OR RECALL IT, PAY OFF OUR LOAN , SO WE CAN BUY A MORE RELIABLE CAR WITHOUT DEFECTS FROM A MORE RELIABLE MANUFACTURER! NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

SPEEDOMETER KEEPS JUMPING WHILE DRIVING. I CANNOT TELL WHAT SPEED I AM DRIVING THE CAR AT. FROM WHAT I HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD TAURUS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH VEHICLE HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING ABOUT 30 MPH, AND DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN CRASH. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

SPEEDOMETER HAS FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE 38000 MILES. FORD WANTS $500 FOR THE PART PLUS LABOR. THEY WILL NOT GURANTEE NEW SPEEDOMETER PARTS IN ANY WAY. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I AM TRAVELLING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I COULD BE HIT ON THE FREEWAY IF I AM GOING TOO SLOW. I ALSO DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF GETTING A TICKET BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY HEARD A LOUD NOISE. PULLED OVER, TURNED VEHICLE OFF, LET IT COOL DOWN, WENT TO START IT BACK UP, AND IT FROZE. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

DEFECTIVE HEATER CORE CAUSED COOLANT VAPORS TO LEAK ONTO FRONT WINDSHIELD, CAUSING WINDOWS TO FOG UP AND AFFECTING VISIBILITY. VEHICLE HAD TO BE PULLED OVER, AND TRIED TO CLEAN COOLANT OFF THE WINDOW. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

CAR DIED IN PARKING LOT. AFTER ABOUT 7 ATTEMPTS, CAR STARTED ON ITS OWN. CAR IDLED ROUGH AND WAS EMITTING WHITE EXHAUST AND ON WAY HOME. PUT CAR INTO PARK AT EACH STOP LIGHT TO KEEP IT FROM DYING. NOTICED A SMELL WHEN GOT HOME. THOUGHT AT FIRST A BATTERY OR ALTERNATOR PROBLEM. DROVE TO DEALER NEXT DAY AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A FAULTY HEADGASKET WHICH BLEW THE ENTIRE ENGINE. DOING RESEARCH ON YOUR WEBSITE NOTICED QUITE A FEW OF SAME COMPLAINTS. A CAR THIS YOUNG WITH UNDER 80,000 MILES SHOULD NOT NEED ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. WOULD APPRECIATE SO MUCH IF AN INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED. WE BOUGHT CAR 1 1/2 YEAR AGO FOR 10,000 AND CAN'T AFFORD THIS HEFTY OF A REPAIR, AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. BUT OTHERS HAVE HAD IT TOO SO I THINK IT IS INVESTIGATION WORTHY. ON A FEW OF THE COMPLAINTS THERE WAS AN INVEST #1E98080 AND RECALL #98M01KAA LISTED....CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THIS MEANS. THERE ARE ONLY 4 RECALLS UNDER THE MODEL AND TYPE AND THIS # WAS NOT LISTED. IF AN INVEST. WAS DONE IN '98 I THINK THEY NEED TO DO ANOTHER NOW BECAUSE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS CAME FROM THIS YEAR OR LAST YEAR. MANUFACTURER OR DEALER HAS NOT BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR OUR NEW CAR. CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE TO FIND INFO ON THAT RECALL # A FEW OF THE COMPLAINTS SAID FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS, BUT NO ONE HAS BEEN HELPFUL...THANK YOU

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 45 TO 50 MPH SPEEDOMETER OPERATES ERRATICALLY DUE TO A MALFUNCTION OF SPEEDOMETER CABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHEN MY 3.8 LITRE ENGINE BLEW ITS HEAD GASKET I COULD NOT GET VEHICLE TO START AGAIN, AND HAD TO ELICIT THE HELP OF OTHERS TO PUSH THE VEHICLE FURTHER OUT OF HARMS WAY; THE CAR STOPPED ON AN EXTREMELY BUSY STREET AND THERE WERE MANY HONKING HORNS AND SEVERAL PEOPLE TRYING TO HAPHAZARDLY CHANGE OUT OF MY LANE; MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS AS THIS WAS AT RUSH HOUR HEADING INTO WORK; VERY HARROWING INCIDENT ALTHOUGH NO ONE WAS HURT. *AK

DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKET LEAKED OIL WHICH SPILLED ONTO THE MANIFOLD, CAUSING A FIRE AND ENGINE PROBLEMS. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 38000 MILES, ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACED BY FORD AT NO COST. THE NEW ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED 11 MONTHS AND 11000 MILES LATER AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR REPLACEMENT. THIS PROBLEM WAS KNOWN THE FIRST TIME IT WENT AND FORD REPLACED THE ENGINE, BUT IT APPEARS THEY DID NOT ACTUALLY SOLVE THE UNDERLYING HEADGASKET PROBLEM. *AK

TTHERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION... WE DRIVE VERY CAREFULLY AND FOLLOW ALL MFG MAINTANCE..THE TRAN. JUST GETS STUCK AND GEARS DOWN OR ALL OF A SUDDEN IT ACCCERATES MY HUSBAND HAS HAS BEEN DRIVING IN D2 TO SEE IF THAT HELPS.....TRANSMISSION WORK IS VERY EXPENXIVE....I CALLED FORDS TO SEE IF TTHEY HAD A REACALL AND WAS TOLD NO....THIS CONDITION IS VERY SCARY........... THANK YOUO WA IT DGETS STU..... *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE TRAVELED AN ADDITIONAL COUPLE OF FEET BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. VEHICLE DID NOT COME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH. BRAKES WERE LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC. BUT, MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

BECAUSE I HAD BEEN SO FRUGAL -- STUPID? -- AS TO HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED AT NON-FORD DEALERSHIP SHOP AND IN SPITE OF THE LANGUAGE IN 00M09 ISSUED 3/2000 LOCAL DEALER SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO CONSIDER ANY REFUND OF REPAIR COST!NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

COOLING FAN SHORTED OUT BECAUSE OF THE SNOW. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. NO RECALL FOR CONSUMER VEHICLE BY VIN#. *AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE TO WARM THE ENGINE, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. THE CONSUMER IS ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE FIRE, ALSO THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO THE FIRE.(LAWYER ON BEHALF OF CLIENT). *YH

SPEEDOMETER HEAD FAILED CAUSING THE NEEDLE TO FLUCTUATE STARTING AT 35-40 MPH. NLM

WHILE DRIVING, COIL SPRING BROKE IN TWO PIECES, CUTTING THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE, CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS SO LOW, A TIRE JACK COULD NOT GET UNDER VEHICLE. *SLC

THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE START JUMPING UP AND DOWN CRAZILY WHEN THE CAR GOES PAST 50 MPH AND DOES NOT INDICATE THE CORRECT SPEED ANYMORE. AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE A LOT OF CLICK CLILCK NOISE IN THE SPEEDOMETER.

SPEEDOMETER FAILED TWICE IN FOUR YEARS. THE NEEDLE SWINGS WILDLY BACK AND FORTH, ESPECIALLY AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 45 MPH. THE ORIGINAL UNIT FAILED AT 35,000 MILES (26 MONTHS). A NEW UNIT WAS INSTALLED IN JANUARY, 1998 (43,000 MILES). IT TOO FAILED APPROXIMATELY 24 MONTHS LATER. NOW I NEED A THIRD SPEEDOMETER. THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY IS FOR TWELVE MONTHS. FORD TELLS ME THAT THE SPEEDO UNIT CANNOT BE REPAIRED. IT MUST BE REPLACED WITH A BRAND NEW UNIT AT A COST OF NEARLY $700 ($500 FOR THE PART, $126 FOR LABOR, PLUS 6% STATE SALES TAX). I CANNOT SPEND $700 KNOWING THAT THIS PART WILL LIKELY FAIL IN TWO YEARS. FORD SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL, OR PROVIDE A LIFETIME WARRANTY. SPEEDOMETERS SHOULD NOT BREAK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. BY NOT KNOWING THE SPEED AT WHICH I AM TRAVELING, I AM PUTTING MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS AT RISK. IN ADDITION, THIS IS A DRIVER DISTRACTION BECAUSE THE DRIVER IS CONSTANTLY PREOCCUPIED WITH TRYING TO DETERMINE HIS SPEED. THIS ALSO PUTS LIVES AT RISK SIMILAR TO TALKING ON CELL PHONES AND PLAYING WITH THE RADIO. THIS IS IN NO WAY AN ISSUE WITH MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. THEY ALWAYS PROVIDE EXCELLENT SERVICE. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *AK

HAD A HEAD BOLT HEATER INSTALLED AND OIL CHANGED 3 DAYS PRIOR TO FIRE. NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO USE HEATER. CAR WAS WARMING UP WHEN FIRE OCCURED. ANY IDEAS ON POSSIBLE CAUSES? *AK

UPON LEAVING A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT CAR HESITATES A FEW SECONDS THEN "JERKS" BACK AND ONLY THEN PROCEEDS, THUS CAUSING NEAR ACCIDENTS

THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS STARTING FROM THE DAY IT WAS DELIVERED. THE PROBLEMS BEGAN WITH FLAKING PAINT, MISALIGNED HOOD, DOOR AND BUMPER DUE TO POOR QUALITY CONTROL. THESE PROBLEMS WERE FIXED BY DEALER W/O CHARGE, AS WAS THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. REPAIRS FOR MUFFLER FAILURE, SWAY BAR LINKAGE FAILURE, AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE AND STARTER MOTOR FAILURE WERE NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER UNDER ANY SORT OF RECALL. THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER AND STARTER MOTOR COST OVER $1200 TO FIX. THE PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM WAS INTERMITTENT. SOME TIMES THE CAR WOULD START AND OTHER TIMES THE STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE AT ALL. ONE TIME THE ENGINE SIMPLY DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. STARTER MOTOR WOULD NOT ENGAGE UNTIL ENGINE COOLED DOWN AND HAD BEEN SITTING FOR AN HOUR OR TWO. THEN STARTER MOTOR WOULD WORK. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP SAID THE STARTER MOTOR PROBABLY HAD "DEAD" AREAS IN STARTER MOTOR THAT MAY BE CAUSING INTERMITTENT FAILURE. AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE ATTRIBUTED TO FAILURE OF "MOTOR MOUNTS" THAT CAUSED RUPTURE OF MULTIPLE HOSES IN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. I'VE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WITH SO MANY EQUIPMENT FAILURES WITH THIS TYPE OF MILEAGE.*AK

SPEEDOMETER NO LONGER REGISTERS CORRECT SPEED. IT JUST MAKES A GRINDING NOISE AND BOUNCES FROM APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH RADING TO PEGGED POSITION. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE BUT FORD HAS ELECTED TO IGNORE IT AND PLACE THE SAFETY OF THE OWNER IN JEOPARDY AND THE COST OF REPAIR ALSO ON THE OWNER. *AK

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WOBBLES ALL OVER, MAKING SPEEDOMETER USELESS, YOU CAN NOT TELL HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST $300.00. APPARENTLY THE MANUFACTURER HAS HAD PROBLEMS BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN PART NUMBER CHANGES. ALSO I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

WHEN SPEEDOMETER BREAKS, THE NEEDLE WILL START JUMPING BACK AND FORTH, AND DOES NOT INDICATE THE CORRECT SPEED. AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WOULD A SERIES OF CLICK, CLICK NOISE AT THE SPEEDOMETER. MY BROTHER'S 95 TAURUS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND HE IS GOING TO FILE A COMPLAINT TOO. *AK