1996 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR IT HAD A SPARE TIRE ON IT, WHICH HAD A HOLE IN IT THAT I WAS NOT INFORMED OF. THE ELECTRICAL THINGS INSIDE THE CAR DO NOT WORK, SUCH AS THE WINDOWS, A/C AND RADIO BUTTONS. THE A/C AND RADIO CUT ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES. THE WINDSHEID WIPERS ARE SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO THE STARTER SO EVERYTIME I START THE CAR THW WIPERS COME ON AND STAY ON FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS. ALSO, I HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC AND HE SAYS THAT THIS CAR HAS BEEN SITTING UNDER WATER.

WHEN IN GEAR MY 1996 TAURUS'S POWER WINDOWS AND RADIO WILL NOT OPERATE. THEY WILL OPERATE IN NEUTRAL OR PARK. WHEN IN GEAR THE SEAT BELT LIGHT FLASHES ON. THE STEERING BECOMES TIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENS, ALMOST AS IF THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. WHEN THE IGNITION MODULE DIED, THE OTHER PROBLEMS STOPPED FOR THE MOST PART. I NOTICE OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS.

CONSUMER STATES: THE LATCH ON PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE FRONT SEAT WILL NOT LATCH WHEN SHUTTING THE DOOR.*AK

1996 FORD TAURUS PURCHASED BY MY FAMILY IN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1996 FROM HEWLETT-PACKARD FLEET VEHICLES. WE'VE HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE PARKING GEAR (CAR ROLLS WHEN IN PARK) SINCE WE GOT THE CAR. I FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN 3 "PARKING PAWL" RECALLS ON THE FORD TAURUS IN 1996--ALL OCCURRING PRIOR TO OUR PURCHASE OF THE CAR. NOW, FORD IS TELLING ME THAT THE RECALLS DON'T APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. SEEMS SUSPICIOUS SINCE I AM EXPERIENCING THE VERY PROBLEM THAT WAS DESCRIBED IN THE 3 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RECALLS LISTED AT THE NHTSA WEB SITE. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?*AK

ON MY 1996 FORD TAURUS - RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND CAUSED BROKEN SPRING TO GO INTO RF TIRE CAUSING MASSIVE TIRE DAMAGE TO SIDEWALL. FAILURE WAS AT LOW SPEED SO NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. NEW COIL SPRING AND NEW TIRE WERE PURCHASED & INSTALLED. I'VE READ THAT TAURUSES OF OTHER YEARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE BUT NOT FOR THE 1996 TAURUS. MECHANIC TOLD ME THESE FRONT COIL SPRINGS SHOULD NOT BRAKE AND A MECHANIC FRIEND INFORMED ME OF THIS NHTSA WEB SITE. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL FOR THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY FAILURE AND REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE PAID FOR PRIOR REPAIRS. THANKS.*AK

I NOTICED A CLICKING IN FRONT END WHEN TURNING,STOPPING AND ACCELERATING WICH VERY QUICKLY GRADUATED TO A LOUD POPPING SOUND.AFTER TAKING IT IN TO THE GARAGE THEY FOUND THAT THE HALF SHAFT AND TIE ROD WERE DAMAGED ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE.AFTER REPLACING THE PARTS IT WAS STILL POPPING.THEY PUT IT ON A HOIST AND REALIZED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED AWAY AT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE.THIS WAS IMEDIATELY DECLARED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE TO THE HALF SHAFT AND TIE ROD.AFTER TAKING IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO THE FRAME, HE NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR WAS NEAR COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT AS WELL.I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS THE SAME CAR (MODEL AND YEAR) AND HE IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS WITH HIS CAR.*AK

PROGRESSIVE SYSTEM FAILURES; INITALLY RAIDO GOES OUT, SEAT BELT LIGHT FLASHES AND CLICKS, INTERMITTENT WIPERS FAIL. FINALLY POWER STEERING LOCKS UP, CAUSING SAFETY CONCERNS. IF PUT IN PARK ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS RESUME OPERATION. TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR REPLACED, AUTOMOTIVE SHOP HAS SEEN 3 OTHER '96 TAURUS' WITH SAME ISSUE.*AK

I BACKED MY 1996 FORD TAURUS OUT OF THE GARAGE AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS SITTING AND THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE RIGHT TIRE. THERE WAS NO SAGGING OF THE CAR OR WARNING THAT THE SPRING WAS ABOUT TO BREAK. I TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND BOTH FRONT SPRINGS WERE FIXED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THE TIRE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH FRONT COIL SPRING RUPTURED, PUNCTURING THE TIRE. MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE.*AK

RECENTLY I'VE NOTICED NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FIRST I NOTICED MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON. I HAD THE CAR SERVICED BUT THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND IT WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM WITH AN OXYGEN SENSOR (BANK 1). IT WAS RESET, BUT THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AGAIN, AND THIS TIME THE CODES SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH TWO(2) OXYGEN SENSORS(BANK 1 & BANK 2), BUT THE EGR CHECK CAME UP INCOMPLETE. THEN THE PANEL LIGHT INSTRUCTING ME THAT A DOOR WAS AJAR STARTED COMING ON, BUT ALL DOORS WERE SHUT. THEN IT WOULD GO OFF ALL OF A SUDDEN. NOW THE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON, AND ALL OF THE DOORS ARE SHUT. *JB

WHILE STOPPED IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC, MY 96 FORD TAURUS BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO APPR. 40-50 M.P.H I LEFT RUBBER, THANKFULLY I DID HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHICH HELPED TO SOME DEGREE. ABOUT THREE WEEKS EARLIER SOMETHING SIMILAR HAD HAPPENED BUT AT FAR LESS A SPEED APPR. 5 MPH. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. STARTED BY NOT SHIFTING INTO OVERDRIVE. THEN AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT COMPLETELY WENT OUT LEAVING ME COASTING INTO A PARKING LOT. THERE WAS NO SIGNS OR WARNING LIGHTS TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. IT ONLY HAS 72,000 MILES ON IT.*AK

FIRESTONE FT70C TIRE. P205/65R15 DOT#EL9LDAB389. THIS TIRE HAD COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY ABOUT 75 MPH AND FELT VIBRATION. WHEN TREAD SEPARATED IT CAME APART, AND THE RUBBER THAT SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE DAMAGED THE SIDEVIEW MIRROR.*AK

I HAD TO DRIVE TO CHICAGO AND SPEND OVER $500 TO HAVE MY CAMS WELDED TO PREVENT THE COMMON ENGINE FAILURE THAT IS DOCUMENTED HERE AND OTHER SOURCES.*AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER DRIVER. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY, BUT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

I'VE NOTICED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE I FIRST BOUGHT MY TAURUS. FIRST I NOTICED A RATTLE/VIBRATION IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. I ALSO NOTICED A CLICK WHENEVER I TURNED MY WHEEL HARD EITHER WAY. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH,CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM WHEEL ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND SUDDENLY CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE SHOULDERS. CONSUMER WENT UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT COIL SPRING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BROKE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A TOW BOOTH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND LURCHED AT HIGH SPEED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL, AND PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF. VEHICLE WAS FORCED ONTO A CURB, AND FLATTENED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BEFORE THE ENGINE CUT OFF . NO INJURY WAS REPORTED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE SUFFERED BACK PROBLEMS DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. *TC

THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CUT OFF WHEN SHE MADE A STOP. SHE ALSO STATED THAT SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO RE-START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND WAS TOLD THAT EVENTUALLY THE FUEL INJECTORS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHED ON, AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN PLACE. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO APPLY BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP, AND SIT FOR A FEW SECONDS WITHOUT ANY INDICATION THAT STEERING WHEEL WOULD UNLOCK. *AK THIS PROBLEM OCCURS MOST TIMES WHEN IT RAINS AND THE VEHICLE GOES THROUGH WATER. *NM

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD ALOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. *AK

DT: THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ROLLED WHILE PARKED. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS MADE ONE MONTH TO EARLY AND THAT HER VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE RECALL WAS FOR A PARK PIN WHICH WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES ROLLED WHILE PARKED ON LEVEL GROUND, BUT MOSTLY ROLLED WHILE ON HILLS. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO START THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID THAT SHE MAY FORGET TO PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND LEAVE HER VEHICLE. SHE ACTUALLY HAS HAD TO CHASE AFTER THE VEHICLE TO KEEP IT FROM HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. NO PRIOR WARNING TO THE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED GOING INTO PARK SUDDENLY AND SHE'D HAVE TO TAKE IT IN AND OUT OF GEARS. *NM

I BOUGHT A USED 1996 FORD TAURUS FROM A LOCAL FORD DEALER, BROCKPORT FORD, IN 1998. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN JULY OF 2000, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED A HIGH TEMPERATURE. I PULLED OVER TO FIND THE CAR LEAKING COOLANT. I TOOK THE CAR TO VISION FORD AND THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE'S FREEZE PLUGS AS A COST OF $452. RECENTLY I HAD THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM, ONLY THIS TIME IT THE REPAIRS COST ME $907. I QUESTIONED TWO FAILURES OF THIS TYPE ON A RELATIVELY NEW CAR AND LOCATED NUMEROUS WEBSITES DEVOTED TO THIS SAME PROBLEM IN 1996 FORD TAURUS VEHICLES. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED NUMEROUS THERMOSTATS AND NOW MY HEATER CORE IS GOING. THIS IS ALL DUE TO A MANUFACTURING/ ENGINEERING DEFECT, WHICH CAUSES THE ANTIFREEZE TO TURN ACIDIC AND ATTACK THE ENGINE PARTS. THERE WAS A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WARRANTY EXTENSION" ISSUED BY FORD FOR THIS KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT, BUT IT EXPIRED IN AUGUST OF 1999. AS THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, WHICH I FEEL IS A SAFETY CONCERN, I FEEL FORD SHOULD BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THERE SHOULD BE A MANDATED RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE. ALSO, WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, THE FORD DEALER SHOULD HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE APPLIED THE REPAIR KIT AS SHOULD THE DEALER WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR BOTH REPAIRS. A DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE AWARE OF COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THEIR MODELS AND SHOULD COMMUNICATE THIS WITH THE OWNERS. *LA

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE REVERSING CONSUMER FOUND A PIECE OF THE BROKEN COIL SPRING ON THE GROUND OF THE GARAGE. THE DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE AND THE COIL PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. RECALL 04V332000 WAS ISSUED BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *NM

RECALL CAMPAIGN ; A FRACTURED FRONT COIL SPRING CAUSED THE FRONT TIRE TO BLOWOUT. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE 1999-2000 MODELS ONLY. *SC *JB

THE SCRATCHES ON THE FRONT HEADLIGHT LENS WERE CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER'S VIEW. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. IT WAS CALLED SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF CLUTCH PLATES WHICH CAUSED THE PARK PIN PLATE NOT TO STAY IN POSITION. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER THAT THE PIN DID NOT STAY ENGAGED IN THE PARK POSITION. HE WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT BECAUSE HE LIVED IN CANADA HE NEVER RECEIVED THR RECALL NOTICE. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN CANADA. THE CONSUMER SPENT ABOUT $5000-6000 IN REPAIRS ON SOMETHING THAT WAS RECALLED AND NO ONE WANTED TO HELP HIM BECAUSE OF WHERE HE LIVED. *AK *SC *JB

FOUND THAT THE REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN DURING A TIRE ROTATION. *AK

THE FRAME OF MY 1996 FORD TAURUS HAS RUSTED OUT WHERE THE FRAME MOUNTS TO THE BODY ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *MR

VEHICLE TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED.*MR THE TIRES ONLY HAD 30000 MILES ON THEM. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES. *JB THE CONSUMER HAD NEW STRUTS INSTALLED ALONG WITH HAVING THE TIRES ROTATED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION CLUTCH PLATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE PARKED FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. AS A RESULT, THE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. *AK BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. THE UPPER BRACKET ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM

THE STATE INSPECTION REFUSED TO INSPECT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BECAUSE THE SUB FRAME CORRODED BEYOND REPAIR. *AK

FORD TAURUS: HEAD LIGHTS FOGGED OVER. WE FEEL THERE IS A SEVERE DEFECT IN THE SEALS FOR THESE HEADLIGHTS.*AK

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BECAME STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. *AK *NM

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CAR AND JUST AS I EXITED, THE CAR BEGAN JERKING UNCONTROLLABLY AS I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT. EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR WOULD DO THIS. THE FOLLOWING DAY I COULDN'T EVEN GO TO WORK AND HAD ONE MECHANIC TELL ME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND HE COULD REPAIR FOR $1600+(NOT INCL TAX). I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC THE FOLLOWING DAY AND WAS BASICALLY TOLD THAT THIS WAS COMMON WITH THE TAURUS'S AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1901.00 (TAX INCL). APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BASED ON THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ. FORD SHOULD REALLY ADDRESS THIS. THE PROBLEM SPECIFICALLY WAS:TORQUE CONVERTER, NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH, OVERDRIVE PISTON, PUMP SHAFT, ETC. *JB

MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE I WAS GOING TO WORK OUT OF TOWN. CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO REPLACE IT AND CALL A TOW TRUCK. I MISSED A DAY OF WORK . HAD TO RENT A CAR. I HIT A DITCH AND HAD 2 FLATS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *TR

CONSUMER SHIFTED VEHICLE TO PARK, BUT VEHICLE WOULD ACTUALLY BE IN THE REVERSE GEAR. THIS WOULD CAUSE A PROBLEM FOR THE CONSUMER WHEN TRYING TO PARK THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

TRANMISSION DOES NOT WORK GOOD IT HAS AHARD BUMP WHEN TAKEING OFF HAD IT REDONE BUT HAD THE SME PROBLEM AND PUT TWO SPEED SENORS IN IT SAME THING ITALKED TO SOME MOREPEOPLE THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM

WE HAD PURCHASED OUR 1996 FORD TAURUS IN JULY OF 1999 WITH 30,000 ON THE ODOMETER [XXX]. NOT LONG AFTER THIS I HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED AND, AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES THE HEATER CORE GOES OUT. AT A COST OF $600 WE HAD IT REPLACED. SINCE THEN THE HEATER CORE HAS BEEN REPLACED 7 TIMES; THE LAST TIME BEING JANUARY 9, 2004 WITH 75,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE FIRST TIME THE HEATER CORE HAD BEEN REPLACED IT WAS DONE BY OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED WITH A FORD PART. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PART WOULD HAVE A 12 MONTH, 12,000 MILE WARRANTY, SO IF THE PART FAILS AGAIN IT WOULD BE COVERED BY FORD. THIS WAS A GOOD THING. THE PART ALWAYS FAILED BEFORE THE 12K MILES OR 12 MONTHS (NOTE: WE ALSO HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED LAST SUMMER 2003 AT A COST OF $850). AFTER THIS LAST TIME IT WAS SUGGESTED BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WILL NO LONGER REPLACE IT, NOR WILL FORD. SINCE THIS CAR WAS MADE IT SEEMS, FROM WHAT I HAVE READ AND RESEARCHED THAT FORD HAD USED A DIFFERENT COOLANT WHICH AS CAUSED THESE PREMATURE FAILURES AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. FORD BLAMES IT ON ELECTROLYSIS; SAYING THAT IF THE COOLANT SYSTEM CONTAINS MORE THAN .4 VOLTS THAT IT CAN CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE OF ANY PART OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM. I HAVE CHECKED THIS VOLTAGE EACH AND EVERY TIME BEFORE HAVING THE HEATER CORE REPLACED AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN BELOW .2 VOLTS. I DID NOT CHECK IT THIS TIME AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY MEASURED .7 VOLTS!? I PERSONALLY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ELECTROLYSIS IS OR HAS EVER BEEN THE PROBLEM. FORD REFUSES TO DO ANY THING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM REGARDLESS OF THE CAUSE. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT WE BUY ANOTHER CAR; THIS WAS NOT IN OUR PLANS BECAUSE THE CAR WILL BE PAID OFF IN JULY OF 2004; MY WIFE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO NOT HAVING ANY MORE CAR PAYMENTS. SO MUCH FOR QUALITY IS JOB ONE! PLEASE NOTE: THE FORD DEALER HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM THANKS TO NO HELP FROM FORD.*AK UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ENGINE REPLACEMENT COSTS $16,000. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE DRIVER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

1996 FORD TAURUS WHILE INSTALLING NEW FRONT BRAKE PADS IT WAS NOTICED THAT BOTH FRONT SPRINGS WERE BROKEN.*AK

VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING AFTER DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER. SERPENTINE BELT SQUEALS FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS AND WHEN THE NOISE STOPS THE STEERING POWER IS RESTORED. *LA

ENGINE ABRUPTLY SHUT DOWN AT 30-40 MPH. VEHICLE CAN BE STARTED, BUT ENGINE STALLED WITHIN 2-3 SECONDS AFTER SHIFTING OUT OF PARK GEAR. INSPECTION BY THE DEALER NEXT AFTERNOON POINTS TO DAMAGED CRANK SHAFT AS THE CAUSE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING LEFT ADJUSTING BAR PULL OUT OF THE TIE ROD. *AK