2002 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING CAME LOOSE AND SHREDDED TIRE ON 2002 FORD TAURUS WAGON WITH 95,116 MILES. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES [XXX] SAID THAT THIS FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO NHTSA RECALL 04V33200 FOR DEFECTIVE COIL SPRINGS ON 1999-2001 FORD TAURUS. FORD REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING HAD FAILED, PUNCTURING THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 160,000.

THE DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE WILL FREEZE UP ON PARTICULARLY COLD DAYS, AND THE DOOR WILL NOT STAY SHUT ONCE IT HAS BEEN OPENED. CONSEQUENTLY, THE DOOR HAS TO BE TIED SHUT, OR IT HAS TO BE HELD ON TO. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL "SURE" FIXES FOR THE PROBLEM. ONCE THE WEATHER WARMS UP, THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY... UNTIL THE NEXT COLD SNAP. IT IS NOT COLD OUT RIGHT NOW, SO I CAN'T DOCUMENT THIS WITH A PHOTOGRAPH. INCIDENTALLY, ALL OF THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES TEND TO STAY IN THE "OPEN" POSITION ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN LIFTED. WE TEND TO GET IN THE HABIT OF PUSHING THEM DOWN AFTER WE OPEN IT, BUT IT SEEMS UNSAFE TO ME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD BECOME FLAT. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRE WAS SHREDDED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TO TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED, PUNCTURING THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 126,000. UPDATED 05/23/13*LJ 05/31/2013 *JS

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. NORMAL ACCELERATION UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS, UPON RELEASING THE GAS PEDAL THE THROTTLE STUCK OPEN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT DECELERATE WITHOUT HEAVY BRAKING. PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. DISCOVERED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD PUSHED ITSELF BACK OUT OF A LOCKING FERRULE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HOLD IT IN PLACE WITH PLASTIC TABS, AND LODGED SIDEWAYS SO THE THROTTLE WAS BEING HELD OPEN. PUT THE CABLE BACK IN PLACE AND IT APPEARED TO BE PROPERLY SEATED BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED TWICE MORE BEFORE I COULD GET THE VEHICLE HOME. THE PLASTIC TABS HAVE BECOME BRITTLE AND BROKEN AND NO LONGER PROPERLY HOLD THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FERRULE TIGHTLY IN ITS SOCKET. I SEE NOW FROM INTERNET RESEARCH THAT I COULD HAVE COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED THE CABLE TO COMPLETELY ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. BUT IN THE DARK & COLD AND BEING UNFAMILIAR WITH THE MECHANICS OF THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE I DIDN'T HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE AT THE TIME. UPON A BIT OF INTERNET RESEARCH I SEE THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON FAILURE MODE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PART ON 2001-2006 FORD TAURUS' AND OTHER FORDS THAT USE A SIMILAR MECHANICAL CRUISE CONTROL METHOD. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE... THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD EASILY CAUSE A CRASH AND FATALITIES. IT WAS A PRETTY UNNERVING EXPERIENCE AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH CARS AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING OVER 35 YEARS... I'D HATE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER. *TR

WHILE BACKING MY CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A LOUD POP, FOLLOWED BY A HISSING SOUND IN MY FRONT LEFT TIRE (THE DRIVERS SIDE). I THOUGHT I RAN OVER A NAIL AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED TO INVESTIGATE. SEEING JUST A FLAT TIRE I TRIED PULLING BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY TO CHANGE THE TIRE, HOWEVER THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I INVESTIGATED FURTHER AND DISCOVERED THE SPRING HAD BROKEN AND WAS IMPALED IN MY RECENTLY PURCHASED NEW TIRE! I HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS - I WOULD HAVE LOST ALL CONTROL AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT!!! I NOTED MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FRONT SPRINGS ON FORD TAURSUS' ENDING IN 2001. I STRONGLY URGE THE NHTSA TO PLEASE EXTEND THAT RECALL TO INCLUDE THE NEWER FORD TAURUS' THAT SEEM TO STILL EXPERIENCE THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY DEFECT. HOW MANY LIVES HAVE TO BE LOST OR PROPERTY DAMAGED BEFORE FORD IS HELD RESPONSIBLE? *TR

LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE AND A LINK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENDLY ACCELERATED UP TO 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED TWO BROKEN LEGS, TWELVE CRACKED RIBS AND THE LEFT SHOULDER WAS SHATTERED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SAVAGE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

CAR INTERMITTENTLY LOSES POWER TO POWER WINDOWS AND DASH BOARD LIGHTS. SOMETIMES IT TAKES ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO COME BACK OR NOT AT ALL, UNTIL NEXT START. TRY TO RESTART SAME OUTCOME, AT LEAST IT DRIVES. PROBLEM IS IF YOUR WINDOWS ARE DOWN CAN'T RAISED THEM. LIVE IN CALIFORNIA FORTUNATELY VERY LITTLE RAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH MAKING A LEFT TURN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V106000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL . THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV UP. THE CONTACT HEARD A GROWLING AND RUMBLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE FAILURE DID NOT RECURRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V266000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,500.

THE SEAL LEAKS ON THE FUEL TANK. *TR

1ST MAJOR INCIDENT- ON SEPTEMBER 12TH -TRAVELING AT APPROX 50 MPH AND WHEN I TRIED TO BRAKE THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN BUT STAYED OR EVEN ACCELERATED ITS SPEED.I EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO GET CONTROL OF THE CAR AND CONTINUED TO MY DESTINATION. MY WIFE CALLED THE SANDY SPRINGS FORD DEALERSHIP AND WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO DROP OFF THE CAR THE NEXT EVENING FOR SERVICE ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14TH. THE FORD REP TOOK DOWN ALL OF MY INFORMATION BUT NEVER MENTIONED THE RECALL OR THE REPERCUSSIONS OF DRIVING THIS CAR AFTER THIS REPORTED INCIDENT. 2ND INCIDENT- ON SEPTEMBER 13TH - TRAVELING APPROX 50 MPH AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND FOR A FEW SECONDS I THOUGHT I WOULD NOT ONLY KILL MYSELF BUT OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE ON THE FREEWAY. I MANAGED TO PULL THE CAR INTO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX PARKING LOT. I CALLED AAA AND THEY DELIVERED THE CAR TO THE SANDY SPRINGS FORD DEALERSHIP. MY WIFE CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE THE NEXT DAY - SPOKE WITH KAREN. WHY WERE WE NOT TOLD ABOUT THE RECALL (DID RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET)? HER RESPONSE: THEY JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT THAT VERY SAME DAY. WE JUST RETURNED FROM VACATION AND OUR NEIGHBOR JUST DELIVERED OUR MAIL, WELL THERE WAS A LETTER FROM FORD ABOUT THE RECALL. THEN, ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16TH WE RECEIVED AN AUTOMATED CALL FROM SANDY SPRINGS FORD ABOUT THE RECALL. DOES FORD HAVE ANY IDEA IN THE ACT OF NEGLIGENCE THEY HAVE CREATED? THERE COULD HAVE BEEN FATALITIES. OUR CAR IS STILL AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP - IT IS STALLING OUT AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT THE SAME (CHARGED US TO FIX THEM). FORD SAID THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF AND THEY WERE REQUIRED TO REPORT IT AND MAIL YOU THE PART. WAS THIS DONE? FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I CAN NOT FATHOM THAT A CAR MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT HAVE ALERTED THEIR DEALERS ABOUT THIS RECALL. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALERTED AND WARNED ON MONDAY EVENING AND TOLD DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR.

I WAS TOLD THAT MY TAURUS' REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND COULD PUNCTURE MY TIRE. AFTER NOTICING THAT MY CAR WAS VERY LOW IN THE REAR, I TOOK IT IN TO GET AN ESTIMATE. TO JUST FIX THE BACK IT WOULD BE AROUND $800, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS FOR WHAT MY CAR IS WORTH. IT IS 10 YEARS OLD AND HAS NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN FORD CARS, AND A BIG PROBLEM IN TAURUS'. SO MUCH THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON PREVIOUS YEARS, BUT NOT ON THE 2002. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER 2002 TAURUS OWNERS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT NO REMEDY FROM THE COMPANY. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WHY NOT FIX IT IN ALL MODELS IT AFFECTS? I WOULD RATHER NOT DIE IN A CAR CRASH IN ORDER TO GET MY POINT ACROSS TO THE COMPANY ABOUT THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. REGARDLESS OF THE NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD PRIOR, I STILL CONSIDERED GETTING ANOTHER FORD WHEN IT WAS TIME TO BUY A NEW CAR. HOWEVER, WITH THIS FIASCO, I AM NOW ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN, AND NEVER POSITIVELY COMMENT ON FORD CARS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE AND CRUISE CONTROL CABLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 202,000.

I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN 2002 AFTER PREVIOUSLY OWNING SEVERAL FORD VEHICLES. ON JULY 20, 2012, I ATTENDED A FAMILY FUNERAL A LITTLE OVER TWO HOURS AWAY FROM MY HOME. WHILE RETURNING HOME VIA I-75 IN MIDDLE GEORGIA, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY INCREASED TO OVER 6000 RPM. I IMMEDIATELY LET OFF THE GAS AND LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW TO SEE WHITE SMOKE BOILING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. AFTER SAFELY GETTING THE CAR OFF THE INTERSTATE, I RAISED THE HOOD TO SEE TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL OVER THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. IT'S SIMPLY A MIRACLE THE CAR DID NOT CATCH FIRE. I WAITED FOR TWO HOURS IN 100 DEGREE HEAT BEFORE A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME AND I QUOTE, "WE SEE A LOT OF TAURUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS LIKE THIS AT AROUND 120,000 MILES." IF THIS IS SO, WHY CAN'T FORD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? I REALIZE THE CAR HAS SOME AGE ON IT, BUT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THIS. SINCE DAY ONE, I HAVE "BABIED" THIS CAR AND HAVE NEVER ONCE ABUSED IT IN ANY WAY. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN IT RECKLESSLY AND HAVE ALWAYS SERVICED IT ON REGULAR INTERVALS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN MY SHOP FOR OVER 3 YEARS BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IT REPAIRED. I WISH FORD WOULD MAN UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR ME AND MANY OTHERS. HOWEVER, I CERTAINLY WON'T HOLD MY BREATH. "HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY?" I HAVEN'T. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE THROTTLE STUCK IN PLACE AND WOULD NOT DECELERATE. UPON INVESTIGATION THE CLIP THAT HOLDS THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS BROKEN, ALLOWING THE CABLE TO SLIP OUT OF PLACE AND JAM THE THROTTLE CABLE IN AN ACCELERATED POSITION. *TR

I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR INTO PASSING GEAR TO GO AROUND A VEHICLE IN THE PASSING ZONE ON A HILL. WHEN I RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND ON TOPPING THE HILL WE WERE TRAVELING OVER 70 MPH. I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR BUT ACCELERATION CONTINUED. COMING DOWN THE HILL I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED TO OVER 6000 RPM. I STOPPED ON LEVEL GROUND AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. ON RESTART, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY REVVED TO OVER 6000 RPM AND A TRANSAXLE WARNING ICON APPEARED. BY ALTERNATELY SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF GEAR I JERKED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE MECHANICS KNEW THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY; BROKEN PLASTIC TABS HAD ALLOWED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE SHEATH TO SLIP OUT OF THE THROTTLE CONNECTOR. THE CABLE SHEATH WAS JAMMED AGAINST THE EDGE OF THE CONNECTOR, HOLDING THE THROTTLE OPEN. WHEN THE SHEATH WAS REINSERTED INTO THE CONNECTOR, RPM RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE MECHANICS WIRED THE CABLE TO THE CONNECTOR SO WE COULD CONTINUE OUR TRIP. FUNCTION IS NORMAL 3K MILES LATER. THE DEALER INDICATED NO RECALLS OR TSB'S RELATED TO THE PROBLEM AND WANTS $34. FOR A NEW CABLE. *TR

I NOTICED THE REAR OF THE CAR SITTING LOW. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED, AND FRACTURE WAS VERY NEAR TIRE. *TR

CAR WAS RUNNING GOOD I PARKED THE CAR WHEN I CAME BACK THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALSO DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A COMMUNICATION BOX, WENT AIR BOURNE, AND CAME TO A STOP AFTER LANDING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V266000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATED 9/10/12 *CN

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (GARDEN STATE PARKWAY) AND ALL OF SUDDEN, MY FRONT RIGHT TIRE GOT COMPLETELY FLAT AT FULL SPEED. AFTER TOWING TRUCK CAME AND CHANGED THE SPARE TIRE ON. FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WENT TOTALLY FLAT. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME BOTH FRONT COILS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE PARKING MARKER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED APPLIED EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL CRASHING INTO A CONCRETE PARKING BAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 101,000.....UPDATED 10/11/12 *BF UPDATED 10/17/2012 *JS

STARTED THE ENGINE THIS MORNING AND THE ENGINE RACED TO OVER 4000 RPM, HAVING NEVER TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TODAY. SHUT IT DOWN AND STARTED IT AGAIN - SAME THING. NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE ON THIS CAR. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND A BEIGE COLORED PLASTIC GUIDE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD A CHIP OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE GUIDE ENTRY POINT SUCH THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE AND SHEATH WERE CAUGHT OUT OF ALIGNMENT IN THE SLOT OF THE CHIP IN THE GUIDE. I PULLED OUT, STRAIGHTENED AND RESET THE CABLE, SHEATH AND GUIDE AND, AGAIN STARTED THE ENGINE. PERFECT IDLE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING! I WON'T DRIVE THIS CAR UNTIL I KNOW IT'S RESOLVED. DO YOU NEED PICTURES? I DON'T SEE ANY RECALL FOR THIS HERE... *TR

COMING OFF AN ON RAMP ONTO THE INTERSTATE, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND THE BRAKE WOULD NOT DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. IT REACHED 85 MPH BEFORE I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, COASTED TO THE SHOULDER, AND SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. I STARTED THE CAR AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP AGAIN, SO I SHUT IT OFF AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 35 MPH WITHOUT THE CONTACT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO RIVE THROUGH A RED LIGHT. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 158,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BANG. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING HAD ALSO FRACTURED AND WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 06/05/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT TIRE. UPDATED 06/06/2012*JS

COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM. HAVE REPLACED WATER PUMP 4 TIMES IN THIS VEHICLE. THERE IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. PLEASE ISSUE RECALL. SPECIFIC PROBLEM...CAR SHUTS DOWN.

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A SHARP LEFT TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A DEEP EMBANKMENT RATHER THAN TURNING. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS TURNED LEFT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS STRAIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A HALT. THE CONCLUSION WAS A BROKEN TIE ROD. THE VEHICLE REMAINED UPRIGHT AS IT CAREENED DOWN THE HILL. THE CRASH RESULTED IN MINOR INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *TR

THE VEHICLE LEFT THE DRIVEWAY AND APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS LATER THE FRONT RIGHT FRONT SPRING BROKE, COMING OUT OF ITS NORMAL POSITION, UNCOILING, THE SHARP EDGE OF THE SPRING CONTACTING THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE, RIPPING AN APPROXIMATE 24 INCH TEAR IN THE TIRE CAUSING INSTANT TIRE DEFLATION. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. *JS

WITH A HARD PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL AT 55MPH..THE GAS PEDAL STUCK IN THE FULLY PRESSED POSITION AFTER LIFTING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL...I THEN PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND STOMP THE GAS PEDAL A FEW TIMES AND THEN THE GAS PEDAL RELEASED FROM THE FULLY PRESSED POSITION. *TR

AT 6:30 A.M. ON 4/4/2012 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN I FELL ASLEEP ,CROSSED THE CENTER LINE, HIT A SEMI HEAD ON & MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE 2002 FORD TAURUS WAS A VEHICLE I PURCHASED NEW. THE PASSENGER SIDE WITH NO ONE IN THAT SEAT DID DEPLOY. *TR

WAS OUT DRIVING AND RUNNING ERRANDS WHEN I STARTED NOTICING WHEN I STOPPED AT A LIGHT,NO MATTER HOW MUCH PRESSURE I APPLIED TO MY BRAKE PEDAL IT SEEMED MY ENGINE WAS EITHER IDLING HIGH OR THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH WITH MY BRAKE SYSTEM. IN THE TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONTROL THE FUNCTIONING OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND DEEMED AS THE OWNER DRIVING THE CAR TO BE UNSAFE AND REFUSE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT I FEEL IS NOT SAFE FOR ME OR THE HIGHWAY. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED I HAVE LOOKED AT NUMEROUS OTHER ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME THINGS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLES CARS AND NOT ONLY MINE.I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL GETTING THIS DEFECT TO BE KNOWN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY BUT HAVE FOUND SEVERAL REPORTS OF THE PROBLEM ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE ! I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET FORD TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM. I TALKED TO FORD ON THE PHONE AND THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL DESPITE ME HAVING THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEMS AND HAVING ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDALS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND IT CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FLAT TIRE WITH THE SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR THE FAILURE BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 5/11/12 *CN

MY WIFE STARTED TO ACCELERATE OUR FORD TAURUS SES ONTO A HIGHWAY BUT NEEDED TO SLOW DOWN FOR A CAR IN FRONT OF HER THAT WAS TURNING. SHE COULD FEEL THAT I COULDN'T SLOW DOWN. FINALLY SHE SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF SO THAT SHE COULD BRING THE CAR TO A HALT. I CAME TO LOOK AT THE CAR AND STARTED IT APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES AND THE ENGINE WOULD RACE TO ABOUT 4500 RPM. THEN ON ABOUT THE 7TH TIME, THE CAR STARTED FINE AND IDLED AT THE CORRECT SPEED. HAVE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WORK TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM... *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE ENGINE RPMS WERE STUCK AT 4,000. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY TURNING THE IGNITION OFF. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC DISCONNECTED THE THROTTLE CABLE FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000. UPDATED 04/19/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ACTIVATED AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE. THE PLASTIC SHEATH AROUND THE CABLE SPLIT AND BECAME HOOKED TO THE BRACKET, WHICH FORCED THE CRUISE THROTTLE STAY OPEN. UPDATED 04/30/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD BECOME FLAT. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED AND HAD PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER GETTING INTO HER VEHICLE AND STARTING, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WERE FRACTURED AND HAD PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V332000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE AND TORE UP TIRE. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD TAURUS SEDAN, AND WHILE DRIVING ABOUT A MONTH AGO I PUSHED GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, THE THROTTLES BECAME STUCK CAUSING THE CARS ENGINE TO SPEED UP TO 80 MPH IN A 30 MPH SPEED ZONE. I HAD TO APPLY AS MUCH PRESSURE TO THE BREAKS AS I COULD TO CONTROL THE CAR, AND FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A GAS STATION, WITH THE ENGINE STILL RACING, PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND TURN OFF THE CAR. I WAS SO AFRAID I JUST SET IN THE CAR FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO COLLECT MY THOUGHTS. I OPEN THE HOOD TO SEE IF ANYTHING HAD BROKEN OR CAME APART BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY UNUSUAL. I TURN THE CAR BACK ON, THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING, I LOOKED FOR THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND FOUND IT. HOWEVER, I NOTICE THAT THE SMALL PLASTIC O-RING ON THE CABLE USED AS A STOP WAS CAUGHT ON THE CORNER OF THE AIR INTAKE HOUSING. I PULLED BACK ON THE CABLE RELEASING IT. WHEN I LET GO OF THE CABLE IT WENT BACK TO ITS NORMAL POSITION, THE ENGINE STOPPED RACING AND SLOWED TO A NORMAL IDLE. I CREPT BACK HOME WERE THE CAR SET FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE I HAD THE NERVES TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. IT HAPPEN AGAIN ON 3/14/12 WHEN I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO PASS A TRUCK ON I-70W IN COLUMBUS, OH.

STARTED VEHICLE, PUT FOOT ON BRAKE AND PUT INTO DRIVE. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD,THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE NOSED DOWN, AND I STOPPED. INSPECTION OF VEHICLE SHOWED BROKEN LEFT FRONT SPRING. *TR

HAD A FRONT SPRING BREAK A 83000 AND A REAR SPRING AT 135567 BOTH ON DRIVER SIDE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS 900 $$$. *TR

DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE AND CUT INTO TIRE DEFLATING IT. SMOKE FROM WHEEL-WELL BACKED UP TRAFFIC - LIMPED TO A SIDE STREET ON FLAT TIRE. REPLACED COIL SPRING AND TIRE. REALLY WORRIED ABOUT SERIOUS ACCIDENT SHOULD OTHER SPRING BREAK ON HIGHWAY AT HIGHER SPEED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ITEM ESPECIALLY SINCE THESE ARE THE SAME COIL SPRINGS AS ON THE '01 MODEL FOR WHICH THERE WAS A RECALL. *TR

ON APPROXIMATELY 01-27-12 WE NOTICED VEHICLE WAS NOT RIDING SMOOTHLY. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO FORD AGENCY ON 02-06-12 WHERE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED ON 10-11-02. WE WERE INFORMED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $550.72 WHICH WE AGREED TO. MILEAGE ON 02-06-12 WAS 35,373. THIS CURRENT REPORT IS PRECEDED BY OUR ODI NUMBER 10260740 FILED ON 03-04-09 REPORTING FAILURE OF OUR FRONT END COIL SPRINGS REPLACED AT A COST OF $617.71. *TR

BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE HEARD NOISE AND THEN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. AFTER REMOVING THE TIRE FOUND THAT THE COIL SPRING HAD FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. *TR

WAS RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AT 45MPH AND WENT TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE THROTTLE FAILED TO DISENGAGE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP USING BRAKES AND SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. OPENED UP THE HOOD AND FOUND A SLEEVE WAS STUCK TO THE HOUSING BODY CAUSING THE THROTTLE CABLE TO NOT DISENGAGE PROPERLY. WE RESEATED THE SLEEVE AND TAPED UP THE JOINT IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME. WE NOTICED AN INVESTIGATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND OTHER INCIDENTS SIMILAR TO OURS SO WE THOUGHT WE MAY NEED TO REPORT THIS AS WELL. *TR

MY SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD SON HAD TOLD ME PREVIOUSLY THAT THE GAS PEDAL HAD BEEN SUCKED DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR ACCELERATED WILDLY. AT FIRST, I DISMISSED IT AS THE FLOOR MAT GETTING TANGLED IN THE GAS PEDAL. BUT THEN I EXPERIENCED IT MYSELF AND IT WAS A WILD AND CRAZY EXPERIENCE TO GET THE CAR UNDER CONTROL WITHOUT ANY ADVANCE NOTICE THAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF FROM A DEAD STOP AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO VARSITY FORD IN ANN ARBOR, MI (INVOICE # [XXX]) AND HERE IS THE SERVICE WRITE UP LANGUAGE; "CUSTOMER STATES GAS PEDAL WILL STICK TO THE FLOOR INTERMITTENTLY, CHECK AND ADVISE. CHECKED THE EECV SYSTEM AND ROAD TEST INSPECTED THE THROTTLE AND CABLE AND FOUND ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS CONCERN, HOWEVER, RECOMMENDED SOME PM TUNE-UP WORK. REPLACED AIR FILTER AS MAINTENANCE. THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT. I WILL FILL OUT ANOTHER COMPLAINT FORM FOR THE SECOND INCIDENT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT FOR A SECOND RELATED INCIDENT. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO CHECK MY FORD TAURUS FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION 5 WEEKS EARLIER, THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED. MY SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD SON CALLED ME FROM THE PARKING LOT OF HIS HIGH SCHOOL CLEARLY PANICKED THAT UPON PLACING THE CAR IN GEAR, THE GAS PEDAL WAS SUCKED TO THE FLOOR OF HIS FORD TAURUS AND ACCELERATED WILDLY OUT OF CONTROL. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS HAD OCCURRED BUT THIS ONE WAS A NEAR MISS WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER VEHICLES. SURE ENOUGH, THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO FREE IT UP. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO VARSITY FORD IN ANN ARBOR, MI (INVOICE # [XXX]). THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE IS TAKEN FROM THE SERVICE ORDER; "CUSTOMER STATES GAS PEDAL STUCK WIDE OPEN, HAD TO BE TOWED IN, CHECK AND ADVISE. FOUND THROTTLE CABLE BINDING AND HOLDING THE ACCELERATOR LEVER DOWN. ORDERED THE PART AND REPLACED THE CABLE. NOTE THE OLD CABLE HAD WATER IN IT AND FROZE (THIS WAS THE SERVICE GUY'S SPECULATION), THAT'S WHY IT WAS INTERMITTENT. RECOMMENDED NOT POWER WASHING THE CABLE END (WE HAD NEVER POWER WASHED THE CAR AND WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS)." I HAVE RETAINED THE REPLACED PARTS FOR YOUR OR ANY OTHER ENTITY'S INSPECTION. TOTAL COST OF THIS REPAIR: $125.25; TOTAL COST OF THE PREVIOUS EVALUATION 5 WEEKS EARLIER: $164.01; THE COST OF PEACE OF MIND THAT YOUR CAR IS NOT GOING TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL: PRICELESS. 1. HOW DO I GET MY MONEY BACK? 2. HOW DO I KNOW THAT THEY CORRECTED THE ISSUE? THE DISCUSSIONS I AM READING ARE INDICATING A CRUISE CONTROL ISSUE. VARSITY FORD REPLACED AN ACCELERATOR CABLE. *TR