1998 FORD TAURUS Complaints

TOOK 1998 FORD TAURUS (DURATEC 3.0) IN FOR COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH AND TRANSMISSION FLUSH. WITH ONLY 54,000 MILES, I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND A REAR STABILIZER BAR WAS BROKEN, AND A FRONT AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING. THOSE ARE CLEARLY MATERIALS DEFECTS, AS WE TAKE EXPERT CARE OF THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH ROTORS SINCE WE DROVE THE CAR OFF THE LOT. THE POOR QUALITY ROTORS THE FACTORY INSTALLS ON THESE CARS CONTRIBUTES TO WARPING, WHICH WOULD BE NOTICEABLE BY A PULSING WHEN BRAKING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE. IN THE PROCESS OF DOING SO HE HEARD AN UNKNOWN GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. HE PROCEEDED TO PULL BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND PULLED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE OFF. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN OFF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *NM

CONSUMER SLID INTO A GUARD RAIL WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH IN WET CONDITIONS. CONSUMER STRUCK THE GUARD RAIL WITH FORCE HEAD ON, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE REAR LEFT DOOR OPEN ON IT'S OWN. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. *AK THERE WAS A CUT ON THE INSIDE OF THE SIDEWALL. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD A 2001 FORD TAURUS THAT WAS RECALLED FOR THE PROBLEM AND A 1993 MODEL THAT EXPERIENCED THE SAME. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND THEN VEHICLE'S FRONT SHIFTED DOWN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND STOPPED MOVING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, DAMAGED THE SWAY BAR, AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK *JB

FUEL PUMP FAILURE LEAVING DRIVER STRANDED. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED AND REPAIRED AT A COST OF $568.81. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN, HAD THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BREAK ON MY 1998 TAURUS STATION WAGON, DESTROYING THE TIRE. REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOMETHING SIMILAR, CONTACTED LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO SAID THE RECALL ONLY COVERED 1999 - 2001 ONES. HAD BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AND TIRE REPLACED, ALONG WITH AN ALIGNMENT. AFTER RETURNING HOME, I CHECKED OUT THE DETAILS OF THE RECALL ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. INTERESTING TO SEE THAT I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH A 98 THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL PROGRAM. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DIRECTLY, THEY TOLD ME THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE MY CAR WAS NOT IN THE RECALL. CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHO SAID HE WOULD TALK TO THE DISTRICT SERVICE REP TO SEE IF FORD WOULD COVER MY REPAIR COSTS. REP SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS. DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT I HANG ONTO MY PAPERWORK IN CASE THE RECALL WAS EXPANDED IN THE FUTURE. *JB

THERE IS A SNAPPING AND CRACKING NOISE WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. THE ENTIRE FRONT FRAME RUSTED BECAUSE OF THE BAD METAL USED BY THE FACTORY. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK THE FRONT FRAME WAS NOT BUILT PROPERLY. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 04S17 WAS ISSUED FOR THAT COIL SPRING, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK