1998 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

TRUCK CARGO LIGHT BURNED HOLES THROUGH 3 LAYERS OF FABRIC, COULD HAVE CAUSE A FIRE, THIS IS A VERY HIGH POWERED HALOGEN BULB AND CAN GET QUITE HOT WHILE THE TRUCK IS OPEN, THE LIGHT HAS NO PROTECTIVE COVER.

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN WOULD VIBRATE MODERATELY TO VIOLENTLY. DEALERSHIP LOOKED INTO THIS DEFECT AND REPLACED FRONT ROTORS/ TIRES, AND BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

DURING BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS (RAIN MIXED WITH SNOW) DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES & VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN ANCOLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DID NO DEPLOY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY. ALSO, STEERING FAILURE. *AK

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE AND WITHOUT WARNING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT PROBLEM. THIS WOULD BE THE 5TH TIME THAT THE MECHANIC HAD NOTED AND DOCUMENTED THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE EVERY 15 THOUSAND MILES.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE WAY THE THROTTLE BODY IS BEING MADE. *SCC

REAR BRAKES WORN OUT AND ROTORS NEEDED TURNING CAUSING NOISE ,ALSO ALL TIRES NEEDED REPLACEMENT. YH

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITHOUT OPERATOR ACTION. IN OCTOBER '99, THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING FORWARD WHEN IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. THE OPERATOR STEPPED ON THE BRAKES HARD FOR A WHILE AND THE ACCELERATION STOPPED. IN JANUARY '00 THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE OPERATOR'S GARAGE. THE OPERATOR STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THEN THE RPM'S PICKED UP TO A LEVEL WAY ABOVE NORMAL FAST IDLE. THE OPERATOR NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD NO RESISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED THIS TIME AND HE SENT 2 MECHANICS TO INSPECT. THE DEALER REPLIED THAT EVERYTHING WAS "OK".*AK

1. NEED COMPLETE NEW TRANSMISSION, 2ND GEAR BURNED UP WITH ONLY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. 2. DOON AND DOOR AJAR LIGHTS WON'T GO OFF, INTERIOR PANAL LIGHTS WON'T COME ON AND I GET SHOCKED EVERY TIME I CLOSE THE DOOR AFTER EXITING. 3. GEAR SHIFT COLUMN BROKE WHILE CAR WAS IN PARK SHIFTING TO DRIVE.

THE FUSE BOX IS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL . EVERY TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED, FOOT WOULD HIT THE FUSE BOX. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE COVER OF THE FUSE BOX TO COME OFF. THEN THE FUSES WERE KNOCKED OUT & WOULD CAUSE VEHICLE NOT HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS. HAS TAKEN VEHICLETO DEALER & SO FAR THE MECHANIC HAS REPAIRED IT 5 TIMES. *AK

ACCELERATOR STUCK CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DRIVING INTO A PARKING GARAGE, PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE BECAUSE PASSED THE KEY PAD THEN FORWARD, AND VEHICLE JUST TOOK OFF AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

IN INITIAL FAILURE, BROKEN LINKS CAUSED VEHICLE TO FAIL TO TURN AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 45 MPH. IN THE SECOND FAILURE, SUSPENSION BECAME LOOSE. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO HOLD WHILE DESCENDING A HILL. IF CONTROL SET TO 55, UNLESS YOU APPLY THE BRAKE YOU CAN BE DOING 75-85 MPH AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. DEALER SAYS CONDITION NORMAL AND THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT WILL HOLD SPEED ON AN INCLINE, DESPITE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN PREVIOUS VEHICLES TO THE CONTRARY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING COULD SMELL FUMES, AND MOLD. ALSO, WHILE STOPPING WOULD HEAR A LOUD SQUEACHING NOISE OR METAL SCRAPING. *AK

I WAS DISENGAGING CRUISE CONTROL WHICH WAS SET AT 62 MPH TO DEACCELERATE ON A DECLINE TO MANEUVER CURVES IN ROAD. I APPLIED BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT RESPOND. CAR ACTUALLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE RESULTING IN A CRASH AGAINST A GUARD RAIL. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND RESULTED IN TWO INJURIES ALTHOUGH NOT SEVERE

WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, ENGINE ACCELERATED, HIGH IDLE SPEED AND SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL WOULD NOT BRING DOWN. HAD TO SHUT ENGININE DOWN. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, NO CODES. DLR SAID TO RETURN IF PROBLEM ARISES AGAIN.

CAR WILL ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN AFTER CAR IS PUT INTO PARK, NOW IT IS DOING IT WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING, INTERIOR LIGHT WILL COME ON AND NOT GO OUT, RADIO TURNS ON AND OFF BY IT'S SELF, ELECTRIC SEAT ONLY WORKS HALF THE TIME, GOES BACK THEN WILL NOT GO BACK UP, CAR WILL INCREASE IN RPM'S WHEN YOU ARE IN PARK AND WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP UNLESS YOU TURN OFF ENGINE, STARTING TO CLIMB IN RPM'S WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING. SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY LATCHED ON PASSENGER FRONT SEAT.*AK

WHEN TURNING THE KEY IN IGNITION VEHICLE DOES NOT START. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

FRONT PASSENGERS SEATBELT WILL NOT PULL OUT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH AND UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY FAILED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS. *AK

I PUCHASE THIS PROGRAM CAR WITH 19,089 , IT CAME WITH THE ORIGINAL FACTORY OF 36/36,000 MI. WARRANTY. I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 72 MONTHS OF 60,000 MILES. ABOUT 500 MILES AFTER I FIRST PICKUP MY CAR THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT WHEN THEY PUT IT ON THEIR COMPUTER. THEN THEY TRIED TO MOVE IT. THE TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETELY BURNED UP, AND HAD TO BE REBUILT. THE NEXT TIME THE TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING TROUBLE, WAS ON AUG 28, 2001, AT 55,000 MILES. THE CAR STARTED EXPERIENCING PERIODS WHERE IT WOULDN'T ENGAGE, HAD EXTENDED SHIFTS, OR SHIFT HARSHLY. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED, THIS IS 36,311 MILES AFTER THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. WHEN I ASKED FORD ARE THEY GOING TO EXTEND THIS WARRANTY BEYOND THE 12/12000 THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO NEED. I CHECK ANOTHER WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.AUTOSAFETY.ORG AND FOUND OUT THAT GEARTRAIN MELTDOWN, AND CRACKS IN THE FOWARD CLUTCH PISTON, HAS PLAGUE FORD TAURUS'S SINCE 1986.*AK

FRONTAL COLLISION AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BOTH CARS TOTALED. *AK

THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MILES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD LOST CONTROL OF WHEEL AND WAS FIGHTING TO STEER THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A MONTH 7/23/99 AND AGAIN8/23/99. THE LORD WAS TRULY WITH ME I COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BOTH TIMES. *AK

CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER'S WIFE SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH STOPPED FOR SIGN, AND WHILE CROSSING OVER, GOING WEST, THE HOOD BENT, WINDSHIELD BROKE AND FRONT LEFT WHEEL BROKE FROM THE FRAME ,AND THE CONSUMER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL HARD, AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

INCONSISTENT SPEED CONTROL, VEHICLE WILL NOT DECELERATE, WILL PICK UP SPEED ON HILLS, ABSOLUTELY NO ENGINE BRAKING, REQUIRES EXCESSIVE USE OF BRAKES

WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS SET IT ACCELERATES AL LEAST 15 MPH PAST THE SPEED IT WAS SET FOR. *AK

FRONT AIR BAGS ON 1998 FORD TAURUS DID NOT DEPLOY IN HEAD ON COLLISION.

VEHICLE IS STALLING AND THE RPM VALVES ARE GOING UP. EHICLE KICKS INTO GEAR AND SHIFTS VERY HARD. *AK

THIS PROBLEM REALLY HAMPERS MY NEED FOR SPEED. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

THERE WAS A FIRE WITHIN THE TRUNK WHEN SLEEPING BAG CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER PUT THE FIRE OUT. HOWEVER, SMOKE CAUSED ALOT OF DAMAGE. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

FOLLOWING IS THE E-MAIL FROM A PERSON ASSIGNED TO THIS TAURUS: IT MIGHT BE ADVISABLE TO ALERT ALL DRIVERS OF NEWER TAURUSES TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS A FUEL PUMP SHUT-OFF SWITCH LOCATED ON THE UPPER INSIDE WALL OF THE TRUNK. THIS IS INERTIA OPERATED, AND AN UNSECURED LOAD HITTING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRUNK CAN TRIP IT, SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE. I HAD THIS HAPPEN YESTERDAY AS I TURNED OFF THE FREEWAY DOWN JAMES STREET. WITHOUT THE POWER BOOST ON BRAKES AND STEERING, I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THE CAR SLOWED AND INTO THE MUNI GARAGE. IF I HAD LESS STRENGTH IN MY LEGS, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. ONCE THE SWITCH HAS BEEN ACTUATED, IT CAN BE RESET VIA A BUTTON ON ITS TOP, BUT ACCESSING THE TRUNK IN NECESSARY TO DO THIS.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE BACKING UP, RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLES. MJS

PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO RESPOND TO ANY OF ITS FUNCTION. ALSO, BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER FAILED; AND KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COAST INTO A TREE AND THEN FLIP OVER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

THIS IS AN SE MODEL WITH A FACTORY INSTALLED SPOILER ON THE TRUNK. THE SPRINGS ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE TRUNK LID IN IT'S FULLY OPEN POSITION. THIS HAS HIT MYSELF AND MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY SEVERAL TIMES. HOW LONG BEFORE ONE OF MY KIDS GET SERIOUSLY HURT GETTING SOMETHING FROM THE TRUNK!! THE DEALER SAYS IT IS BECAUSE OF THE ADDED WEIGHT OF THE FACTORY INSTALLED SPOILER. THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NONSENSE. THE SERVICE REPORT STATED THAT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND!!*AK

THIS IS TO REGISTER THE ENGINE R.P.M. SURGING THAT OCCURS WHEN THE FORD TAURUS IS PLACED IN PARK FOLLOWING ROAD USE. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER TAURUS OWNERS AND THEIR COMMENTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH MY EXPERIENCES OF THE ENGINE RACING TO 3,000 R.P.M. OR HIGHER. IF THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTED TO REVERSE OR DRIVE WITHOUT THE BRAKE FIRMLY APPLIED, CERTAINLY WHAT WOULD BE UNATTENDED ACCELERATION WILL OCCUR WITH LIFE THREATENING CONSEQUENCES. I'VE BEEN TO MY FORD DEALER (MARSHALL FORD, INC. OF UNION, MS). THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DIAGNOSE AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THEY HAVE TRIED THEIR BEST TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH. HOWEVER, MY COMMUNICATIONS WITH FORD MOTOR CO. REGARDING THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM HAVE NOT BEEN SATISFACTORY. THEY HAVE DENIED ANY EXISTENCE OF THIS MALFUNCTION. THE NUMBER OF TAURUS OWNERS WITH IDENTICAL ENGINE R.P.M. ACCELERATION COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE REFLECT A MUCH DIFFERENT STORY. CAN YOU INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND CONSULT WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONCERNING THE ENGINE R.P.M. SURGING AS DESCRIBED, WHICH IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS.

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING WHILE DRIVING . VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE TOOK OFF IN REVERSE, CAUSING DRIVER TO SMASH INTO 3 OTHER CARS. OWNER EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM ON MARCH 26TH AND APRIL 29TH. THOSE INCIDENTS DID NOT RESULT IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY PULLS TO THE LEFT, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO TORQUE. NLM

WNEN I LEFT THE DEALER AND PUT THE BRAKES ON A BLOCK AWAY THEY DID NOT WORK AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED. I TOOK THE CAR RIGHT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IF THEY COULD NOT MAKE THE CAR 100% I COULD TRADE. WELL THAT NEVER HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME I USED THE CRUISE CONTROL IT MAKE A HORRIBLE NOISE WHEN I ENGAGED IT. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK THE ENGINE REVS UP TO BETWEEN 3 AND 4. I HAVE TO TURN IT OFF TO MAKE IT STOP.*AK

VEHICLE RETURNED DRIECTLY AFTER PURCHASE FOR NON-FUNCTIONAL TAIL LIGHT WHICH WAS REPLACED. CONDENSATION WAS PRESENT IN TAIL LIGHT. BULB ALONE WAS CHANGED. LIGHT FAILED AGAIN IN JUNE OF 2001. DEALER INSPECTED CAR AND FIXED LIGHT BY CHANGING LENS. UPON DELIVERY OF CAR TAIL LIGHT STILL DID NOT WORK EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE RECEIVED NEW NYS INSPECTION STICKER. CAR KEPT ADDITIONAL DAYS. AT THIS POINT ONLY LENS WAS CHANGED, BULB HAS NOT BEEN CHECKED, BUT CAR PASSED INSPECTION. CHARGE WAS 224.70 FOR A NEW LENS WITHOUT REPAIR BEING COMPLETED. DEALER REP STATED THAT SILICONE CAULK COULD HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO STOP LEAK AND NEW LENS WAS NOT NECESSARY. METRO FORD THEN CLEANED A "CORRODED LIGHT SOCKET" FOR NO CHARGE. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE LENS CHANGE AND NOT PRICE GOUGED CONSUMER. ALSO HOW CAN CAR PASS INSPECTION W/O TAIL LIGHTS. THIS IS A VIOLATION OF NYS INSPECTION LAW AT LEAST. THIS CAR HAD BEEN DELIVERED AS REPAIRED AND IF WE HAD NOT CHECKED TO SEE WE WOULD HAVE ASSUMED THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THIS CORROSION PROBLEM, ACCORDING TO FORD, IS COMMON, THEREFORE SHOULDN'T THE PROBLEM BE CONSIDERED AS A RECALL FIX AND NOT BLOWN OFF AS AN ANNOYANCE. PLEASE ADVISE D WILKES. *AK

GOING DOWNHILL WITH SPEED CONTROL SET AT 65 MPH, SPEED WENT UP TO 80 MPH. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. CONDITION WAS STATED TO BE NORMAL. *AK

WHEN LEVER IS IN PARK VEHICLE WOULD IDLE UP TO 3000 RMPS LIKE IT WAS TAKING OFF. VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. FOOT WOULD REMAIN ON THE BRAKE DUE TO HIGH ACCELERATION. HAVE BEEN TO DEALER AT LEAST 4 SEPARATE TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM. *AK

LOW SPEED BRUSH WITH RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAUSED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITH SUCH FORCE THAT RIGHT SIDE WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED. PASSENGER FRONT SEAT UNOCCUPIED.

SINCE MOVING TO EL PASO, TX, MY FORD TAURUS' A/C HAS BEGUN SPEWING OUT A VILE SMELL AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 30 MINUTES. WHEN I PARK AND THEN RESTART AFTER WORK, OR THE NEXT MORNING, A THICK MUSTY MOLD SPORE SMELLING CLOUD BLOWS THROUGH THE A/C VENTS FOR THE FIRST FEW MINUTES. MY WIFE REPORTS THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH HER '96 FORD TAURUS. FRIENDS WITH ALLERGIES CAN'T STAND RIDING IN THE VEHICLES. WHEN WE RETURNED TO KC, MO (PLACE OF PURCHASE) FOR A VISIT, THE SMELL SEEMED TO GO AWAY TEMPORARILY. ONE WE RETURNED TO EL PASO, THE PROBLEM CAME BACK WITHIN A WEEK. I SUSPECT THAT THERE IS A MOLD THAT IS INDIGINOUS TO THIS AREA THAT FINDS THE A/C VENTS A FURTILE BREEDING GROUND. THE SMELL HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY CASA FORD, BUT THEY FAILED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I COMPLAIN TO FORD "CUSTOMER CARE" BUT THEY DON'T CARE.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL AND SETTING SPEED CONTROL AT A CERTAIN SPEED, IT WILL NOT STAY AT SET SPEED, BUT IT WILL SPEED UP. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. *AK

CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE AT 9:00PM AND PLUGGED IN HEATER BLOCK, USING AN EXTENTION CORD DUE TO LOW TEMPARTURES TO KEEP OIL WARM OVER NIGHT. VEHICLE WAS USED AS A RENTAL CAR AT AIRPORT. CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 1998 AT DEALERSHIP-ROEN FORD-715-425-6122--660 N. MAIN ST. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO KNOWN CAUSE FOR FIRE, BUT WILL GIVE CONSUMER REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. CONSUMER PLUGGED IN ENGINE BLOCK EMERSION HEATER APPROX. 9PM, 8AM THE NEXT MORNING VEHICLE'S FRONT HAD COMPLETELY MELTED, AND THE GARAGE WAS SMOKE FILLED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HER STEERING RACK AND PINION BROKE. DEALERSHIP FIXED IT THE FIRST TIME. THEN, VEHICLE REPEATED THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND APPLIED BRAKES THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE. BRAKING SYSTEM DIDN'T ALLOW HER TO BRAKE EFFECTIVELY.*AK THE BRAKES FAILED DUE TO A PROBLEM IN AUTO LOCK SYSTEM. *YH

INSIDE COURTESY LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON FOR 25 MINUTES OR UP TO AN HOUR BEFORE GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AS DRIVER WAS PUTTING VEHICLE INTO PARK RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING A WALL.

VEHICLE DOES NOT DECELERATE AFTER THE DRIVER HAS REMOVED FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL. DEALER SAYS THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING NORMALLY, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.