1997 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 15MPH AND RAN OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER, AND FRONTS WHEELS LOCKED UP. THERE WAS A HORRIBLE OF NOISE, AND BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE TIRE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BODY AS HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THE FIRESTONE TIRES UNDER RECALL. AT NO TIME DID THE TIRE DEFLATE. WHEN THE TREAD CAP SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE IT FLEW UP ONTO THE FENDER AREA AND CAUSED SOME SCRATCHING. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITHOUT INCIDENT OR INJURY TO ANY OF THE PASSENGERS AND NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED.( DOT NUMBER: A3UR442117 TIRE SIZE: P205/65R15 )

SERVICE BULLETIN 98-3-7: INTERMITTENT NEUTRAL CONDITION - NO WARRANTY COVERAGE EVEN THOUGH FORD HAS UPGRADED THE PART. DEALER QUOTE WAS $2500. TRANSMISSION SHOP UPGRADED FOR $1500. *AK

INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK. ALSO,WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SPEED UP FOR NO REASON. HAD TO HAVE ENTIRE SIGNAL ARM REPLACED.*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUME RWAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY BECAUSE SHE HEARD A BUMPING NOISE. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND SHE DISCOVERED THAT RIGHT PASSENGER'S FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, ONE BIG CHUNK OFF TIRE. TIRES WERE GENERAL #G45 205/70 R15. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

TREAD SEPARATION FAILURE, FIRESTONE FR680 P205/65 92S M+S, DOT HYUR F6A 353( DOT NUMBER: HYURF6A353 TIRE SIZE: P205/6592S )

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 TO 50 MPH DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

A VEHICLE WHICH IS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD SUFFERS A FAILED CLUTCH ON THE AIR CONDITIONER. AFTER CHECKING INTO POSSIBLE PART RECALLS THROUGH NHTSA, A HARD COPY SHOWS THE LAYOUT OF WHAT THE PART SHOULD LOOK LIKE , WITH SERIAL NUMBERS TO IDENTIFY THE PART. UPON INSPECTION OF THE COMPRESSOR, NO SERIAL NUMBERS WERE FOUND, JUST WHAT TYPE OF REFRIDGERANT SHOULD BE USED. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE PART I NOW POSSESS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL PART THAT WAS USED AT TIME OF MANUFACTURE. FURTHER RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS PROBLEM IS FREQUENT WITH THE TAURUS, BUT MY SPECIFIC MODEL HAS YET TO BE LISTED. I NOW WISH TO MAKE IT KNOWN. THE THEORY OF THE PART NOT BEING THE ORIGINAL SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WAS PASSED OVER AND SUPPRESSED FROM THE CONSUMER. ADDITIONALLY, AS OF 09/15/00 ONE OF THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED AND NO LONGER WORKS. THIS ON A VEHICLE LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A VEHICLE FOR TEN YEARS AND NEVER HAD THESE SORT OF PROBLEMS. I WISH TO RELAY THE INFORMATION OF WHAT I HAVE GONE THROUGH WITH THIS MODEL FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/65R15 )

TREAD FAILED AND 20% CAME OFF TIRE. TIRE DID NOT BLOW. ABLE TO STOP SAFELY. DAMAGED FENDER AS IT CAME OFF CAR.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205R6515 )

WHILE DRIVING WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE, CONSUMER FELT IT WAS TOO SOON TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE.*AK

POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE CAR HAD ABOUT 35,000 MILES ON IT WHEN PURDHASED IT, FACTORY WARRANTY WAS CARRIED OVER TO US AS THE NEW OWNERS. SOON AFTER THE SALE OF THE CAR TO US, FORD CAME OUT WITH A BROWN COOLANT RECALL, WHICH RAN UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1999. ALL OWNERS OF THESE 1997 TAURUS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL BY MAIL. IF NOTIFIED CAR OWNERS BROUGHT THEIR CARS IN DURING THIS TIME PERIOD, THE FORD DEALERS WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEVER INFORMED US OF THIS RECALL. IT WAS NOT UNTIL SHE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO NORTH BAY FORD (IN SANTA CRUZ, CA) TO REPAIR A CRACKED COOLANT HOLDING TANK ON JULY 19, 2000, THAT SHE WAS TOLD OF THE REQUIRED RECALL WORK NEED ON HER FORD TAURUS, BUT THE WORK WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY PAYMENT PROGRAM AND THE COST WAS NOW THE OWNERS PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOTHING THE FORD DEALER COULD DO ABOUT IT. AT THIS TIME WE PAID THE BILL, WHICH WAS OVER $500. THE BROWN COOLANT RECALL PROGRAM WAS REQUIRED BECAUSE OF A DESIGN ERROR IN THE ROUTING OF THE COOLING SYSTEM HOSES INTO AND OUT OF THE DASH HEATER COIL AND THE PROXIMITY OF THE HOSES AROUND THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE RESULT WAS THAT THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THE COOLANT TO TURN INTO BROWN MUD FROM EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. WE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY OVER HEATING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR UNTIL THE COOLANT TANK BEGAN LEAKING. NOW, BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE RUST IN THE COOLANT, A GALVANIC REACTION DEVELOPS WITH FREEZE PLUGS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE DEALER INSISTED ON CHANGING THE PLUGS, BUT HE ONLY CHANGED 2 OF THE 4 PLUGS. THE JOB ALSO INCLUDED A COMPLETE ENGINE FLUSHING TO REMOVE ALL THE OLD RUSTY COOLANT. ON JULY 7, 2001, BROWN COOLANT BEGAN RUNNING OUT ONTO THE GROUND FOR THE SECOND TIME WHICH REQUIRED ANOTHER $500 TO REPAIR. FORD MOTORS WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO COVER THE COST OF THERE ENGINEERING ERROR. *AK

NO SUMMARY

I AM SENDING A COPY OF A LETTER I SENT TO VARIOUS NEWS STATIONS AND AGENCIES. IT?S IN REGARD TO A PROBLEM THAT AROSE CONCERNING MY FORD CAR. I PURCHASED A 1997 FORD TAURUS IN MARCH 1997 FROM SPRINGFIELD FORD IN DELAWARE COUNTY. THE CAR CAME WITH A 3-YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY. IN MARCH OF 2000 I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THREE MORE YEARS AT THE COST OF $1,000. IN JULY 2000, WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE OVERHAULED. IF I "DIDN'T" PURCHASE THE WARRANTY IT WOULD HAVE COST ME IN EXCESS OF $2,000. WELL, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT ON 3-31-03. ON 5-21-03 THE TRANSMISSION WENT AGAIN. IT IS GOING TO COST $2,800 TO REPLACE. THE CAR IS SIX YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THEN 50,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL CERTIFIED MECHANICS THAT ALL AGREE THAT THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPEN. EITHER FORD CO. HAS A BAD TRANSMISSION FOR THIS TYPE TAURUS OR THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD H.Q. THEY HADN?T HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. AND SPRINGFIELD FORD SAID THERE?S NOTHING THEY CAN DO, EVEN AFTER I MENTIONED WE HAVE BOUGHT THREE CARS IN SIX YEARS FROM THEM, IT REALLY DIDN'T MATTER. IN CONCLUSION, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I HAVE FIVE KIDS AT HOME AND REALLY DON?T HAVE $2,800 LYING AROUND. IF THIS IS THE WAY ONE OF AMERICA?S BIGGEST CORPORATIONS STANDS BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS, WELL NOW I KNOW WHY PEOPLE ARE BUYING IMPORTED CARS AND FROM NOW ON MYSELF AND MY FAMILY WILL BE ONE OF THEM. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, ANY HELP OR FEEDBACK YOU COULD GIVE ME A CALL WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. SINCERELY, [XXX] PHONE # HOME- [XXX]\T# WORK- [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DEAR GENERAL, ON 6/17/00, I PURCHASE A USED VEHICLE FROM GERMAIN BIG LOT, NAPLES, FLORIDA. THE VEHICLE PURCHASED WAS A 1997 FORD TAURUS GL, VIN# [XXX]. ON THE DATE OF PURCHASED, DURING MY TEST DRIVE, I QUESTION THE SALESWOMAN ABOUT THE FEEL OF THE BRAKES. HER REPLY WAS THAT I WAS USED TO DISC BRAKES AND THAT THE TAURUS HAD ANTI LOCK BRAKES AND I WOULD GET USED TO THE FEEL. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY WOULD PULSATE AND THE CAR WOULD EXPERIENCE SOME VIBRATION. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN GOOD FAITH AND UNDER THE ASSUMPTION I WOULD GET USED TO IT. THE SALES PERSON ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR HAD JUST LESS THAN 25,000 MILES AND THAT IT HAD FACTORY WARRANTY UP TO 36,000. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND FAILED WHEN ACCELERATING AND SLAMMED INTO 2ND GEAR THEN REFUSED TO POWER/ WORK AT ALL - 3RD REVERSE PISTON CRACKED DEALER SAID NEEDS REPLACING AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *AK

BOUGHT 97 FORD TAURUS USED. NOTICED BROWN COOLANT AFTER PURCHASE (MAR 00). CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING IN SUMMER, RESULTING IN BLOWN HEAD GASKET REQUIRING EXTENSIVE ENGINE WORK. RADIATOR WAS DETERMINED TO BE BAD, REQUIRED REPLACEMENT TO TUNE OF $2300 FOR TOTAL REPAIR. HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT RECALL OF PRODUCT HAS BEEN OUT (98B23) DUE TO FAULTY COOLING SYSTEM AND A COOLING SYSTEM BYPASS KIT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED (WAS NOT). AFTER WORK WAS DONE, ENGINE OVERHEATED AGAIN TWO WEEKS LATER (1 AUG 2000). I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, AND FORD HAS NOT BEEN ANY HELP AT ALL; THE DEALERSHIP JUST WANTS MY MONEY AND MORE COSTLY REPAIRS. *AKY

AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE. *SLC

A KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. AIR CONDITIONER BELT CAME LOOSE. *AK

IT ISN'T JUST THE SUV'S WHERE THIS TIRE FAILURE IS OCCURRING--FORTUNATELY I MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE BEFORE WITH LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON ORIGINAL FORD TIRES. *AK

EVER SINCE TIRE SEPERATED AND WE WENT OFF THE ROAD, EVEN THE SECOND SET OF NEW TIRES WON'T STAY BALENCED. ONE TO TWO TIMES A MONTH HAVE HAD TO HAVE TIRES RE-BALENCED. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THE FORD DEALER CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND GENERAL TIRES HAVE NOT RETURNED OUR CALLS. (TIRESIZE: P205/65R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/65R15 )

NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE ENGINE FAILED WITH NO WARNING. AT 55 MPH, ENGINE LOST POWER, OVERHEATED WITH NO INDICATION FROM TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND QUIT. BROWN CRAP SPEWED FROM THE RADIATOR. LOST ALL FLUIDS. DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED ENGINE HEADS WERE CRACKED AND THE COMPRESSION TEST WAS LOW ON TWO CYLINDERS. A NEW ENGINE WAS REQUIRED. *AK

EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION HESITATION WHILE SLOWING DOWN INTO A TURN AND ROUGH TRANSITION ( BANGING) WHEN REAPPLYING ACCELERATION COMING OUT OF THE TURN. FORD DEALER REPORTS AFTER DIAGNOSTIC AND TEAR DOWN THAT PROBLEM WAS IN TRANSMISSION FORWARD CLUTCHES AND TORQUE CONVERTOR AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. TRANSMISSION ONLY HAS 48500 MILES AND ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 46000 MILES WITH ONLY SUBTLE ROUGH TRANSIENT SHIFTING AT FIRST. PROBLEM GREW WORSE WITH BANGING AND WHOLE CAR VIBRATION AT TIMES. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND WILL CONTACT SERVICE MANAGER FOR A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED PROBLEM SO THAT A DECISION CAN BE REACHED FOR AN OUT OF WARRANTY COMPONENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SITUATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME ON AND STAY FOR ABOUT A MONTH. DEALER COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION SLIPS UNEXPECTEDLY, DEALER SAYS IT'S FAULTY. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

WHEN DRIVING ON WET STREETS OR OVER AN PUDDLE I LOOSE ALL STEERING AND CONTROLL OF CAR. ESPECIALLY WHEN I MAKE AN RIGHT HAND TURNS. BELTS SQUEEL FOR 10 TO 30 SECONDS AND THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS AWWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

PROBLEM 1: DUE TO SIGNIFICANT FRONT END VIBRATION AT SPEEDS AT OR OVER 40 MPH, THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH TIE-ROD ENDS ON A CAR JUST OVER 3 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. PROBLEM 2: DISCOVERED THE SAFETY INFORMATION PLACARD ON THE DOOR POST DOES NOT LIST MANDATROY INFORMATION ABOUT TIRE AIR PRESSURES. THE OWNER'S MANUAL REFERS TO THIS PLACARD, BUT ALSO DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY TIRE PRESSURE INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP CONSUMER APPLIES GAS PEDAL, PEDAL GOES DOWN, BUT ENGINE DOES NOT REV NOR IS VEHICLE MOVING FORWARD. THEN ALL OF A SUUDEN, IT WILL SURGE FORWARD. SOMETIMES CONSUMER HAS TO SHUT OFF ENGINE TO GET VEHICLE TO RESPOND. NUMEROUS TIMES TO DEALER, CANNOT REMEDY.*AK

THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME IN SEVEN MONTHS CORE HAS FAILED,SAFETY INVOLVED IN THAT WINDSHIELD FOGS ON FAILURE. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER WAS AN EXPERIMENTAL UNIT FOR THAT YEAR. REPLACEMENT OF THE UNIT COSTS 1500 DOLLARS AND EVERY PART MUST BE REPLACED. NO COMPRESSOR CAN BE PURCHASED TO REPLACE THE OLD ONE. *AK

WHILE FREEWAY DRIVING, THE CAR DIED. NO WARNING LIGHTSOR ANY OTHER VISABLE PROBLEMS. TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER AND WERE TOLD THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND COULD HAVE ANOTHER FOR 5,500.00. TOWED THE CAR HOME AND FOUND THE COOLING RESIVORE WAS CRACKED AND HAD EMPITIED ALL COOLENT. WE FIND FROM FORD MOTORS THAT THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM, AND WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED POWER WINDOWS TO FAIL. ALSO, STEERING MALFUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND APPOINTMENT WAS RECEIVED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED FORWARD AND THEN STALLED OUT. HAVE CONTACTED DEALERSHIP.*AK

WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION THREE TIMES SINCE WE HAVE HAD THE CAR. IT FIRST WENT OUT FOUR MONTHS AFTER WE GOT THE CAR. WE GOT THIS CAR IN MAY OF 2001 FROM UGLY DUCKLING CAR SALES NOW KNOWN AS DRIVETIME. THIS CAR IS DEFINITELY A LEMON. I THINK IT HAS BEEN IN SOME MAJOR ACCIDENTS....

NOTICED BROWN COOLANT DURING MAINTENANCE. HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR. NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER, WAS TOLD OUT OF WARRANTY, NO RECALLS, NOT A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. TOOK TO NON-DEALER SHOP. FOUND LEAKING HEAD GASKET. REPLACED HEAD GASKETS, THERMOSTAT, COOLANT OVERFLOW CONTAINER, AND ANTI-FREEZE. RESURFACED CYLINDER HEADS. PERFORMED COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH. DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT ~50,000 MILES NOTICED BROWN COOLANT AGAIN.

CAR CONTINUES WITH THE NEUTRAL CONDITION OF TRANSMISSION AFTER REPAIR TRANSMISSION 7 TIMES. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHIICLE. *AK

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON DUE TO THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT BEING ON IT ONLY HAPPENS AFTER NOON WHEN TH CAR IS PARKED IN THE SUN LIGHT AND AFRAID TO CAUSE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE DRIVERS UNDERDASH LIGHT BEING SO BRIGHT. *AK

ENGINE COOLANT IS TURNING BROWN. CHANGED COOLANT AT 20,000 MILES AND RECENTLY CHANGED AGAIN AT 45,000.SHOUD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A 97' VEHICLE.

TRANSMISSION FAILED TO GET OUT OF FIRST GEAR CAUSING PROBLEMS IN TRAFFIC. TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AT RIVERVIEW FORD-MERCURY IN COLUMBIA, IL. *AK

#1 DOOR AJAR LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND DOME LIGHT ON EVEN THOUGH ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED. *AK

BELT SEPARATION IN THREE OUT OF FOUR OF THE OEM TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: M6T4 TIRE SIZE: 225-55ZR16 )

SAFETY HAZARD CAUSED BY FAILURE OF INTERIOR LIGHTS TO TURN OFF, AND AUTOMATIC UNLOCKING OF ONLY THE DRIVER DOOR, IMMEDIATELY AFTER USING POWER LOCK BUTTON TO LOCK ALL DOORS.

HEATER CORE FAILED AFTER 4 TIMES AND 2ND ENGINE FAILED. COOLING PROBLEMS NEVER FOUND.*AK

COMPLETE TRANS FAILURE

DOOR AJAR LIGHT ON DASH STAYS ON. SOMETIMES OCASIONALLY IT GOES OFF, INTERIOR LIGHTS WON'T GO OFF BECAUSE OF IT, RESULTING IN A DEAD BATTERY, BACK WINDOW DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. THE DEALER THINKS I'M CRAZY CAUSE WHENEVER I TAKE IT IN TO BE REPAIRED THE LIGHTS ARE ALL OFF. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A RELAY SWITCH AND THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT AND IT STILL IS BROKEN. *AK

WHEN CONSUMER HAS VEHICLE IN PARK GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT MOVE IN DRIVE. GEAR SHIFT IS STUCK. *AK