2002 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS AFTER HE PARKED, HE NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. AS OF DECEMBER 27, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 76,000.

2002 FORD TAURUS WITH FAILED COIL SPRINGS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THEIR VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND IT SHOULD BE. COIL SPRING FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH FRONT TIRES THAT WAS BEYOND REPAIR. *KB

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE CAR SITTING IN DRIVEWAY. *TR

WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE LOW SETTING ON THE BLOWER MOTOR DIDN'T WORK. I HAD THE RESISTOR REPLACED, AND THE MOTOR WORKED FOR A WHILE. THEN I NOTICED WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD. WATER WAS ENTERING THE PASSENGER SIDE, BEHIND THE DASHBOARD, THROUGH A LEAK NEAR THE AIR INTAKE OF THE BLOWER MOTOR. THE WATER HAS RUSTED THE BLOWER MOTOR, CAUSING IT TO BLOW THE MOTOR RESISTORS AND SHORT OUT THE MOTOR. IT HAS ALSO CAUSED WATER DAMAGE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE LEAK SEALED AND THE BLOWER MOTOR REPLACED. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR THE WORK TO BE DONE, SO I DON'T HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT IT WILL COST YET. I WILL REQUEST THAT THEY RETURN THE OLD BLOWER MOTOR TO ME. *TR

2002 FORD TAURUS 108,000 MILES, BROKEN FRONT LEFT SPRING 12/10/07, BROKEN RIGHT REAR SPRING 12/20/07, UPON CHECKING RIGHT REAR, ALSO CHECKED LEFT REAR, BROKEN LEFT REAR SPRING ALSO, APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR A LONG TIME. REPLACED FRONT SPRINGS AND STRUTS-$500 (LABOR WAS DONE BY MYSELF), REPLACED BOTH REAR SPRINGS ($330) LABOR DONE BY MYSELF AND SWAY BAR LINKS ON BOTH SIDES, $70. *TR

2002 FORD TAURUS WITH A FAULTY FRONT SPRING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT SPRING BROKE CAUSING THE TIRE TO BLOW. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PROBLEM IS COMMON ON THOSE VEHICLES AND THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED THROUGH THE 2001 MODELS.*KB

2002 FORD TAURUS FRONT COIL SPRING FAILURE. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE COIL SPRING BROKE HER TRANSMISSION DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND CAUSED HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DAMAGE IS THE SAME AS RECALL. CONSUMERS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING SHEARED AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO SLICE OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND A NEW TIRE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT LEFT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW. UPON INSPECTION, HE NOTICE THE STRUT SPRING PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT STRUT SPRING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 96,958. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNAVAILABLE.

ON DEC 15,2007 PULLING OUT OF MY GARAGE THE SPRING ASSEMBLY BROKE ON MY 2002 FORD TAURUS. NEED TO REPLACE SPRING ASSEMBLY STRUT AND SWAY BAR. CONTACT FORD AFTER THE REPAIR,THEY DID HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SPRINGS ON TAURUS, BUT NOT MY VEHICLE. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT GOING ANY FASTER WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER LEAKS INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH SHORTENS THE CIRCUIT IN THE FLOORBOARD. SECONDLY, SHE DISCOVERED THAT THE HEATING SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. SHE HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V087000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD). FINALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE BALL JOINTS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE TO FAIL. THE SPRINGS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE HER WITH ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD POP. GOT OUT AND DISCOVERED LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT AND AND THE COIL SPRING SNAPPED IN HALF. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN YET, AS IT HAPPENED LESS THAN AN HOUR AGO. *TR

2002 FORD TAURUS FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE WHICH IMMEDIATELY DEFLATED AND CAUSED CAR TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT. THIS HAPPENED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. AT 48,650 MILES. TO BE CONTINUED...ON 2/25/08 REAR COIL SPRING BROKE (SEE SECOND COMPLAINT). *TR

SPRING ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE, FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING ON SMOOTH SURFACE IN FAIR WEATHER. FRACTURED SPRING COMPLETELY DESTROYED TIRE AND AT A HIGHER SPEED COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. SHE THEN SMELLED BURNING RUBBER AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TWO FRONT COILS, SHIELD, AND TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,600.

TIRE PUNCTURED AND FLATTENED DUE TO FAILURE OF LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. REQUIRED REMOVAL OF TIRE AND REPAIR ON A SUNDAY. REMOVED AND REPLACED BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AND FULL SERVICE ALIGNMENT. *TR

MY 2002 TAURUS WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN MY HUSBAND HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE COIL SPRING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BROKE AND PUT A HOLE THE TIRE. THE COST TO GET THE SPRINGS REPLACED AND A NEW TIRE WAS OVER $600.00. *TR

2002 FORD TAURUS SES FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND SHREDDED TIRE. SPRING IS OFF THE BOTTOM MOUNT AND BROKEN COIL SECTION STILL HANGING FROM STRUT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. OTHER TIME WAS FRONT RIGHT SPRING WHILE WARRANTY WAS STILL IN EFFECT. I WAS MOVING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED WHEN A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD, THE FRONT TIRE WAS RIPPED OPEN THROUGH THE INSIDE SIDEWALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 15 MPH, THE FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS FAILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT BOTH OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED AND DESTROYED THE STRUT MOUNTS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE RECALLS ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR VEHICLES, BUT FORD STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP, BUT HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE TRANSMISSION TYPE AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000.

FRONT LEFT SPRING BROKE WITHOUT WARNING, PUNCTURING TIRE, NICKING CV BOOT & RUBBING ABS TONER. VERY DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES IF OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED. REPAIRS REQUIRED NEW TIRE, REPLACEMENT SPRINGS, ALIGNMENT. CANNOT AFFORD CV BBOT REPLACEMENT & TONER REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A LONG STANDING PROBLEM WITH FORD TAURUS, BUT THIS CAR IS NOT PART OF ANY RECALL. PREVIOUS YEARS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD NOT OCCUR IN A CAR THIS AGE WITH ONLY 67,000 MILES. YOU SHOULD EXTEND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE 2002 AUTOS. *TR

THE FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING ON MY 2002 FORD TAURUS FRACTURED, PUNCTURING AND SLASHING THE ADJACENT TIRE. THE FORCE OF THIS COIL SPRING FRACTURE ALSO SHATTERED AND SEPARATED THE ADJACENT STABILIZER CONTROL LINK. UPON READING SIMILAR REPORTS OF THESE OCCURRENCES, IT IS NOW APPARENT TO ME THAT ALL FOUR COIL SPRINGS ON FORD TAURUS HAVE A PROPENSITY TO FRACTURE AND SLASH THE ADJACENT TIRE. THIS COIL SPRING FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL THAT WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC. I AM NOW FACED WITH THE DECISION OF EITHER REPLACING ALL FOUR COIL SPRINGS AT MY EXPENSE OR REPLACING THIS VEHICLE WITH A REPUTABLY MANUFACTURED AUTOMOBILE. *TR

I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY ON 12/4/07 IN ,Y 2002 FORD TAURUS SES WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG UNDER THE CAR. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. WHEN I REMOVED IT, I SAW THAT THE COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN AND CUT INTO THE TIRE. *TR

THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES TURN IT OFF. WHEN LEAVING THE FREEWAY AND DRIVING ON SURFACE STREETS, THE CRUISE CONTROL REACTIVATES IF THE RESUME BUTTON IS BRUSHED. MY LOCAL FORD AGENCY EXPLAINED THAT IT'S CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE SWITCH ON THE MASTER CYLINDER. THAT'S THE SAME PROBLEM THAT LEAD TO EARLIER RECALLS BY FORD. *CN

THIS IS AN APPARENT PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THE FORD TAURUSES WHERE THE HEATER JUST STOPS WORKING. EACH TIME IT STOPS WORKING IT SEEMS TO COST OVER 2,000.00 TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE ACTUATOR MOTOR, THE HEATER CORE, AND THE BLOWER DOOR ALL CONTINUE TO BE AFFECTED. EVEN AFTER REPAIR IT SEEMS THAT IT WILL ONLY WORK FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR BEFORE IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AGAIN. JUST OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. WE HAVE REPLACED THE HEATER SYSTEM 3 TIMES AND IT JUST DID IT AGAIN. RESEARCH ON LINE SHOWS THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE WITH MANY OF THE FORD PRODUCTS THAT USE THE HEATER SET UP LIKE THE TAURUS. IT MAY ALSO INCLUDE THE FOR F150 TRUCK WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY HE HEARD A POPPING AND GRINDING NOISE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PIERCED THE TIRE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE PART. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 108,000. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN UPDATED 03/05/08 *TR

ENGINE STARTS TO MISFIRE AND LOSES POWER DURING STRONG ACCELERATION TO PASS A SLOWER VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY, OCCURS AFTER ENGINE IS WARM, AROUND TWENTY MILES OF DRIVING. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT IT THREE TIMES AND HE STATES THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, EVEN AFTER I TAKE A MECHANIC FOR A RIDE AND PROVE IT TO THEM. DEALER REPLACED WIRING, PLUGS, IGNITION AND IT STILL DOES IT AND NOW THE DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO WORK ON THE CAR ANY LONGER. *TR

HEATER/AC EITHER DIDN'T BLOW OR ONLY BLEW ON HIGH. WHEN IT DOESN'T BLOW THE WINDOWS FOG AND THE BABY IS VERY COLD. REFERENCE RECALL 03V087000 AND COMPLAINT 10184014. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. ON NOVEMBER 26, 2007, THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR FAILED. ON NOVEMBER 27, 2007 THE LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS ICE IN THE AIR BOX AND IT WAS CORRODED AND COVERED WITH MOLD. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING INTO THE AIR BOX AND CONTAINED MOLD. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ODOR IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN THE HEATER BLOWER WAS WORKING NORMALLY. THE LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE RAIN CAP NEAR THE BLOWER MOTOR, WEATHER STRIPPING, AND AIR FILTER DUE TO THE RUST, MOLD, AND ICE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE DEALER NEVER REPLACED OR REPAIRED ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS GARAGE KEPT AND NOT DRIVEN ON A DAILY BASIS. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED WITH THE MOLD IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 41,681.

RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND CAUSED TIRE TO SHRED. *TR

WATER LEAKS ONTO THE HEATER/AC BLOWER MOTOR ON MY 2002 TAURUS. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED AT A COST, TO ME, OF $322.00. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ALL 2001-2004 FORD TAURUS'/SABLES AS EVIDENCED BY THE TSB 04-15-3 FOUND HERE: HTTP://WWW.FCSDCHEMICALSANDLUBRICANTS.COM/FAD/TSB/04153.PDF AND A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR (WATER LEAK & BLOWER MOTOR ON FORD TAURUS') A RECALL SHOULD BE IN ORDER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN PRESSURE WAS NOT BEING APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. SHE WOULD HAVE TO CUT OFF THE BATTERY TO TURN OFF THE BRAKE LIGHT. SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH) AND WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAD THE REPAIR PERFORMED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 92,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE BODY SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER'S PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,000. UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIR SHOP REPAIRED SEVERAL FORD'S WITH LESS MILEAGE AND SAME DEFECT. UPDATED 01/14/08 *TR

THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. THE COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THE TIRE. UPON INSPECTION THE RIGHT COIL SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALSO. WENT TO TAYLOR FORD TO GET REIMBURSED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PRIOR YEAR TAURUS WAS COVERED IN A RECALL NOT MY 2002. *TR

2002 FORD TAURUS, COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE. SAME AS NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE04044 I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMMENTS ONLINE ABOUT THE 2002. *TR

WHEN IT RAINS, WATER ENTERS THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE BLOWER MOTOR. RUGS AND MATS ON RIGHT SIDE OF CAR ARE SATURATED. ALL ATTEMPTS AT STOPPING WATER ENTRY ARE FUTILE. *TR

2002 FORD TAURUS WITH BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS AND OTHER PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THE COILS SPRINGS BROKE, TIRES ARE WOBBLING, AND THE BELT TENSIONER LOST POWER STEERING. *KB

THE SUMMARY FROM NHTSA ACTION # EA08018 PRECISELY DESCRIBES WHAT HAPPENED W/ OUR TAURUS. " THE BROKEN COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THE ADJACENT TIRE RESULTING IN LOSS OF INFLATION PRESSURE" IN OUR CASE THE TIRE HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. **** WE ALSO HAD A SPRING/COIL BREAK W/IN THE ENGINE IN MARCH 2007. **** NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA08018 NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER : N/A MAKE / MODELS : MODEL/BUILD YEARS: FORD / TAURUS 2002-2003 MERCURY / SABLE 2002-2003 MANUFACTURER : FORD MOTOR COMPANY COMPONENT : SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED : AUGUST 28, 2008 DATE INVESTIGATION CLOSED : OPEN. *TR

REAR PASSENGER POWER WINDOW WENT OUT. MECHANIC SAID THAT HE SEES THIS ALL THE TIME AND THAT I'LL PROBABLY BE BACK SHORTLY FOR ANOTHER ONE. HE SAID THAT THEY PUT CHEAP MOTORS IN THEM AND THEY DON'T LAST LONG. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION SPRING SNAPPED. AS A RESULT, A JAGGED METAL ROD RUBBED AGAINST THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE AND CAUSED IT TO BLOW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN WHEN THE REAR SUSPENSION SNAPPED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 55,000. UPDATED 12/12/07

BLOWER MOTOR WENT OUT DUE TO WATER COMING IN FROM UNDER HOOD ON 2002 FORD TAURUS. COST $500.00 TO REPAIR AND WAS NO FAULT OF MINE. *TR

BLOWER FAN ONLY RUNS ON HIGH SETTING, PASSENGER FLOOR GETS WET SOMETIMES. READ ABOUT THIS BEING A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD TAURUS', MINE IS A 2002. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED. THE COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000. UPDATED 12/27/07 *LJ THE DEALER STATED ALSO REPAIRED THE AB SENSOR ASSEMBLY. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR COIL SPRING CRACKED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000. UPDATED 11/1/07 *TR

ON A RECENT TRIP TO N. CAROLINA WE NOTICED AN ODOR LIKE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL WAS BURNING IN OUR 2002 FORD TAURUS SES. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE A/C BLOWER WOULD ONLY WORK ON THE HIGHEST SPEED AND WE COULD HEAR A SQUEAKING NOISE BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. WE HAD THE CAR REPAIRED AT A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP IN N.C. THEY HAD TO REPLACE A RESISTOR AND THE BLOWER MOTOR. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST 3 OR 4 YEARS WE HAVE FOUND THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR CARPET WET AFTER A RAINSTORM. WE DIDN'T NOTICE THIS OFTEN BECAUSE THE CAR IS GARAGED MOST OF THE TIME. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THE WATER LEAK CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL SHORT THE FIRST TIME IT WILL ONLY HAPPEN AGAIN. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT FORD MOTOR CO. WOULD WANT TO REPAIR THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS FAILURE WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. A FIRE COULD VERY WELL HAVE STARTED IN THIS AUTOMOBILE. OR WILL FORD WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS HURT? *JB

WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER SIDE REAR SPRING BROKE IN STRUT ALSO DAMAGING TIRE. VEHICLE HAS 50,981 MILES. HAVE AN APPOINT ON 9/18/2007 TO REPLACE BOTH REAR STRUTS & ALIGNMENT DONE. *JB

FORD HEATER AUTOMOBILE: FORD TAURUS, 2002, MILEAGE: 54,700 SUBJECT: DESIGN DEFECT, HEATER MOTOR INSTALLATION BACKGROUND: AIR INTAKE FOR THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS LOCATED BETWEEN THE HOOD AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. RAIN FLOWS INTO THIS AREA AND PASSES INTO THE HEATER DUCTING. SOME OF THIS WATER FLOWS INTO THE PLASTIC HOUSING FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR CAUSING EARLY FAILURE. POTENTIAL HAZARD: EARLY FAILURE OF THE MOTOR MAY RESULT IN THE INABILITY OF THE VEHICLE HEATING SYSTEM TO REMOVE CONDENSATION FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE WINDSHIELD. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE OF THE HEATING SYSTEM DURING COLD WEATHER WOULD NOT MELT SNOW AND ICE THAT MAY ACCUMULATE ON THE WINDSHIELD. PROBLEM: THE BLOWER MOTOR IS LOCATED UNDER THE RIGHT HAND DASHBOARD HOUSED IN A MOLDED PLASTIC ASSEMBLY. THIS LOCATION IS ONE OF THE LOWEST POINTS IN THE HEATING SYSTEM THEREFORE WATER ACCUMULATES IN THE MOTOR HOUSING PLASTIC ASSEMBLY SUBMERGING THE REAR ONE-THIRD OF THE MOTOR IN WATER. THIS RESULTS IN EARLY FAILURE OF THE MOTOR DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION, AS THERE IS NOT A PROVISION TO DRAIN WATER FROM THE PLASTIC HOUSING. COMMENTS: THIS IS A KNOWN ENGINEERING DEFECT AS FORD SEALED THE HOUSING WITH A RUBBERIZED COMPOUND TO PREVENT WATER FROM THE HEATING SYSTEM FLOWING ONTO THE FLOOR. CORRECTIVE ACTION: MANDATE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO RECALL THE 2002 FORD TAURUS AND OTHER YEARS AND MODELS WITH A SIMILAR SYSTEM TO INSTALL A DRAIN IN THE HEATER MOTOR PLASTIC HOUSING IN ORDER TO DRAIN THE WATER FROM THE ASSEMBLY. I HAVE RETAINED THE FAILED BLOWER MOTOR AND PLASTIC ASSEMBLY FOR YOUR REVIEW, IF REQUIRED, IN ORDER TO OBSERVE THE RESULTS OF THIS DEFECTIVE DESIGN. NOTE: I COULD NOT DELETE AN ERROR IN EQUIPMENT ON THE NEXT WINDOW AS THIS HEATER MOTOR WAS INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THE FORD. PLEASE DISREGARD THE EQUIPMENT WINDOW. *JB UPDATED 01/07/08. *LJ

MY 2002 TAURUS' BACK SPRINGS ARE BROKEN, LIKE MANY OTHER TAURUS OWNERS. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD TAURUS AND AS I WAS DRIVING TODAY I SUDDENLY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING (ELECTRIC WIRES ETC.) THEN THE BLOWER MOTER STARTTED RATTALING AND RUNNING AT VERY LOW SPEED. THEN I TURNED OFF THE AC BLOWER MOTOR. I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHERS THAT WATER LEAK IN THE DASH BOARD HAVE CAUSED OTHER MOTOR BLOWERS TO GO BAD. I SUSPECT THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVEN'T CHECKED IT FURTHER YET. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS COULD CASUE FIRE. BUT I AM KEEPING MY BLOWER MOTOR TURN OFF. BURNING SMELL WAS VERY STRONG. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE INSTANTLY CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HIS HEAD SLAMMED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAUSED SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THERE IS NO CURRENT MILEAGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

2002 FORD TAURUS. FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. *TR