2004 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

I AM WRITING THIS REPORT ON BEHALF OF MY WIFE'S COUSIN, [XXX]. , WHO EXPERIENCED A LIFE THREATENING TIRE FAILURE. [XXX]. , A 71 YEAR OLD WIDOW, HAD LEFT ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL IN TUCSON, AZ AT APPROXIMATELY 5 PM ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2005. SHE WAS SOUTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 19, PROCEEDING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, IN HER 2004 FORD TAURUS LX VIN [XXX], WITH 2500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE WEATHER WAS MILD, HIGH 60'S, THE ROAD SMOOTH AND CLEAR. APPROXIMATELY 16 MILES INTO HER TRIP SHE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN AND CATACLYSMIC TIRE FAILURE ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, A CONTINENTAL TOURINGCONTACT AS P215-60R16 94T. SHE QUICKLY DECELERATED AND CAME TO A STOP ON THE RIGHT BERM OF THE INTERSTATE. I SAW THE TIRE IN HER TRUNK AND IT LOOKED "NORMAL". WHEN I RAISED THE TIRE AND FLIPPED IT I DISCOVERED THAT THE INNER TIRE WALL HAD FAILED, JAGGEDLY (SAW TOOTH) TORN, COMPLETELY THROUGH THE WALL, 360 DEGREES AROUND THE TIRE. MUCH OF THE TIRE WALL APPEARED "MISSING". HER TRUNK WAS FULL OF FRIABLE BLACK CHUNKS AND POWDER FROM THE TIRE INNER SIDE WALL. I HAVE A SAMPLE. THE INNER TIRE WALL BEAD WAS STILL SEALED AGAINST THE WHEEL RIM, NO SEPARATION. MY IMMEDIATE REACTION WAS THAT SINCE THE OUTER TIRE WALL APPEARED NORMAL AND ONLY THE INNER TIRE WALL FAILED THAT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT HAD OCCURRED WITHIN THE OUTER TIRE WALL LEADING TO LONG TERM OVERHEATING AND SUBSEQUENT SIDE WALL DISINTEGRATION AND FAILURE.*AK WHEN THE DEALER EXAMINED THE TIRE, HE SHOWED THE CONSUMER AN ALLEGED TREAD PUNCTURE AND INTERIOR TREAD LAYER TEAR WHICH VOIDED THE WARRANTY. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

COLLISION ON 01/17/05 I WAS A PASSENGER, MY HUSBAND DRIVING. OUR 2004 FORD TAURUS WAS IN COLLISION WITH A HORSE, THE HORSE CAME THROUGH WINDSHIELD ON PASSENGER SIDE. IN ALL PROBABILITY TOTALED MY CAR. PENDING INSURANCE ADJUSTER DECISION. THE AIRBAG DID NOT RELEASE. I WAS INJURED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT RELEASE. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THE BUMPER HAD TO BE HIT TO MAKE IT GO OFF. FROM THE TOP OF BUMPER ALL THE WAY TO MIDDLE OF ROOF CAVED AND SHATTERED. IF THE AIRBAG WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO RELEASE, I FEEL THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS NOT AWARE OF THIS MISREPRESENTATION. I THINK CONSUMERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF SOMETHING THAT IS JUST AN ADDITIONAL FIXTURE THEY PAID FOR, NOT A SAFETY FEATURE. *JB

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES... USUALLY AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH THE ABS SYSTEM LIGHT TURNS ON AND AFTER THIS THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL SHUDDER HEAVILY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THIS IS INTERMITTANT. WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A STOP AND IS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED THE ABS LIGHT GOES BACK TO NORMAL STATUS (NOT ON). USUALLY DRIVING ON SLOWER SURFACE STREETS WILL NOT ACTIVATE THE LIGHT AT ALL.

POWER CONTROL SEAT DID NOT WORK. WHEN COMING BACK TO THE VEHICLE AFTER BEING OFF CONSUMER GOT INTO VEHICLE AND TRIED TO MOVE SEAT FORWARD AND SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN THE FRONT BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

2004 TAURES SES SPUTTERS, LOSES POWER AND STALLS AND HIGHER SPEEDS. *JB

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING IT TO GO OUT OF CONTROL AND A STRIKING A BUILDING.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN IT ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE JUMPED A CONCRETE RETAINER AND LEFT TIRE MARKS ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE CRASHED THROUGH A GLASS WINDOW OF A VIDEO STORE AND LEFT TIRE MARKS ON THE CARPET. THE CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND IT CAME TO A STOP. THE SERVICE DEALER DID NOT KNOW THE CAUSE THEREFORE DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO FIX. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE SHOWED SIGNS OF AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE RPM'S WHERE HIGHER THAN THEY SHOULD BE. *TC

THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RECIRCULATION FUNCTION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL IS MISLEADING. *NM *NM

WHEN IT HAS SNOW OR SLUSH ON ROADWAY, I LOOSE MY BRAKING ABILITY AND HAVE GONE THROUGH AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS FAULT. I ALSO ASKED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT THIS AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER. I ALSO ASKED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY ALSO DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER. NEITHER RESEARCHED THIS AS TO MY KNOWLEDGE. THIS COULD HAVE DISASTROUS RESULTS IF TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY. THIS IS PRIMARILY IN THE WINTER WHEN SNOW/SLUSH IS ON ROADWAYS AND TEMPERATURE WOULD BE AROUND FREEZING. IT HAPPENS WITH LOW MILEAGE 10-12 MILES AT THE MOST. *TR

WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND PULLED TO THE LEFT. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. AS A RESULT, AIR BAGS WERE INOPERATIVE AND WOULDN'T DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED, PER DEALERSHIP. *AK

CAR SURGES ON COLD STARTS,AND AT TIMES JUST IDLE (COLD OR HOT). *NM

INDEPENDENT SHOP HAD ALREADY FIXED NHTSA RECALL 04V106000. CONSUMER SENT THE ORIGINAL INVOICE TO THE MANUFACTURER, BUT MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE CONSUMER'S EXPENSES BECAUSE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. *AK

2004 TAURUS SE - CONTINUAL CHIRPING NOISE FROM MY WHEEL COVERS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BREAKS OR BEARINGS. TSB SAID TO PACK WHEEL COVERS WITH FELT. HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES DUE TO NOISE. POOR WHEEL COVER DESIGN BY FORD. I AM EXPECTING TO HAVE CURRENT WHEELS REPLACED WITH ALUMINUM.*AK

DRIVER OF 2004 FORD TAURUS BRAKED HARD SUDDENLY. ALTHOUGH AS FRONT SEAT PASSENGER I WAS BELTED AND SITTING PROPERLY, I WAS THROWN FORWARD, BELT WENT AROUND NECK,CHOKING ME, RESULTED IN IMMEDIATE,HEADPRESSURE,RIGHT ARM & LEG IMPAIRED, FAILED NEURO TEST FOR BALANCE. ER & MD SUGGEST TIA OCCURRED, PROBLEMS REMAIN, COULD IMPROVE. BELT TESTED BY FORD, SAID WAS OK, WOULD ACCEPT NO LIABILITY FOR PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED. BELT SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE AROUND MY NECK. HAVE RIDDEN AS PASSENGER IN THAT VEHICLE MANY TIMES. BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE DOING MORE TESTING, OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILURE OF BELT TO RESTRAIN ME, AND GO AROUND NECK.*AK

I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 TAURUS WAGON WITH ABS AND OPTIONAL TRACTION CONTROL IN MARCH,2004. I HAVE HAD THREE INSTANCES WHEREIN AT LOW SPEED (5-10 MPH) AND ON EITHER WET ROAD , GRAVEL OR OTHER ROUGH SURFACE, AND ON ATTEMPT TO BRAKE, I HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE AND/OR THE ENGINE SIMULTANEOUSLY ACCELERATES. I HAVE HAD TO PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO OVERCOME THE FORWARD SURGE. ON ONE OCCASION I FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. I HAD PRESENTED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN APRIL, 2004. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER (SMITH CAIRNS FORD,YONKERS,NY) CLAIMED THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE UNEVEN. SUBSEQUENT TO THAT REPAIR, I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ONLY THIS TIME THE "ABS"AND TRACTION CONTROL" WARNING INDICATORS ACTIVATED. THE DEALER REPLACED LEFT FRONT WHEEL TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN ON JULY 8, 2004. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND I AM AWAITING ADVICE FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER AS TO WHEN THE COMPANY SERVICE REP. CAN INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *LA

THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS ONE LOCK WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR.*MR THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *NM

I BOUGHT A 2004 FORD TAURUS SE BRAND NEW. AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS I STARTED TO GET VIBRATION FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BETWEEN 42-45 MILES PH. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND A MFG WARNING CAME ON FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THE DIRECTIVE WAS FOLLOWED BY THE DEALER SO I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS OVER. WITHIN TWO DAYS LATER THE PROBLEM GOT MORE SEVERE AND IN ADDITION TO THE VIBRATING GAS PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE. I MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AT THE DEALER AND AFTER WAITING TWO HOURS FOR MY CAR THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS UNDER RESEARCH TO FIND A PERMANENT FIX FOR BOTH PROBLEMS. I TOLD THE DEALER THE THIS IS A 2004 FORD TAURUS WITH 2,900 MILES ON IT AND THE PROBLEM WAS GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY AND THAT I WANTED MY CAR FIXED FOR FEAR THAT SOMETHING WORSE WOULD HAPPEN. THE DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND TOTALLY IGNORED MY SAFETY IN THIS CAR. FORD MOTOR COMPANY FURTHER SAID CHECK BACK IN ABOUT 6 MONTHS MAYBE WE MIGHT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEMS. IN THE MEANTIME THEY COULD CARE LESS IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME IN THEIR CAR KNOWING I HAD PROGRESSIVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND THAT I WAS TOTALLY UNSATISFIED. I EVEN SUGGESTED THAT THEY KEEP THE CAR UNTIL IT WAS FIXED AND LEND ME A LOANER CAR UNTIL THE CAR WAS SAFE, AGAIN THEY REFUSED. PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT BOTH PROBLEMS WERE VERIFIED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR THEY DIDN'T DENY THE PROBLEMS BUT REFUSED TO FIX IT FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *LA

CONTINUALLY "CHIRPING" NOISE WHILE CAR IS MOVING. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT WAS IN THE WHEELS. WAS TOLD THAT THIS CAN NOT BE CORRECTED BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED TO FORD AND THEY GENERATED A LETTER TO DEALERS TELLING THEM NOT TO REPLACE THINGS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. MEANWHILE, I HAVE TO DRIVE A BRAND NEW CAR THAT SOUNDS LOUD AND ANNOYING. *AK

MY 2003 FORD TAURUS SE; HAS HAD A ROUGH IDLE AND ROUGH RUNNING WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AND WHEN STOPPED. THE ENGINE WILL ACT LIKE IT IS RUNNING OUT OF FUEL, SOME TIMES IT WILL JUST SHUTDOWN WITH NO WARNING. USUALLY HAPPENS UNDER 40 MPH.*AK VEHICLE IS MAINTAINED BY A FORD DEALER, AND HAS ALL FILTERS CHANGED BEFORE THE SCHEDULED TIME. ALSO HAS HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED TWICE IN 60,000 MILES ALONG WITH COOLANT CHANGE AS DIRECTED BY FORD. DEALER SAYS THAT ROUGH IDLE AND HESITATION IS NORMAL FOR THIS V6 ENGINE. BUT I SEE THAT OTHER FORD AND MAZDA VEHICLES USING THIS ENGINE ARE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. ALSO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 CONTINENTAL 215X60X16 TIRES DUE TO EXPLOSIVE BLOWOUT BETWEEN 35000 MILES AND 55,000 MILES

CAR SURGES FORWARD IN PARK ON COLD STARTS. *JB

FORD IS NOT ADDRESSING COSTOMER PROBLEMS ON ANY OF THERE PRODUCTS MY TAURUS ACCORDING TO FORD MEETS THE REQUIRMENTS OF BEING RECALLED FOR THE POWER SEAT FIX YET FORD REFUSES TO RECALL MY CAR LEAVING ME AND MY WIFE IN A LIFE THREATING POSTION. *AK

WHEN I BOUGHT FIRST BOUGHT MY 2004 FORD TAURUS IT WOULD SHIFT WITH A JERK AND MAKE A BRIEF NOISE. FORD SERVICED IT AND IT WAS BETTER. BUT IT STILL WOULD OCCASIONALLY SHIFT HARD. ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT DID NOT ENGAGE IN GEAR, I WENT BACK TO PARK AND THEN SHIFTED TO DRIVE AGAIN AND IT DID NOT GO IN GEAR AGAIN. SO I SHIFTED TO LOW TO FINALLY GET IT GO. THEN IT FINALLY WENT TO DRIVE WHEN I SHIFTED AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS OFF AND ON SINCE THEN, ONLY LATELY IT HAS STARTED TO DO IT MORE AND IS SHIFTING WITH A JERK SOMETIMES ALSO. I HAVE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, FILTERS, FLUIDS, BELTS, PLUGS, ETC. *TR

THROTTLE CABLE RUBBING AGAINST ENGINE CAUSING GAS PEDAL VIBRATION. OIL FILTER LEAKS ONTO PART OF MUFFLER CAUSING SMOKE NO MATTER HOW TIGHT. *NM