1996 FORD TAURUS Complaints

ENGINE ABRUPTLY SHUT DOWN AT 30-40 MPH. VEHICLE CAN BE STARTED, BUT ENGINE STALLED WITHIN 2-3 SECONDS AFTER SHIFTING OUT OF PARK GEAR. INSPECTION BY THE DEALER NEXT AFTERNOON POINTS TO DAMAGED CRANK SHAFT AS THE CAUSE. *JB

I HAVE A 1996 TAURUS SEDAN. DURING A CAR SEAT SAFETY INSPECTION THE OFFICER ADVISED US THAT THE ARM REST IN THE BACK SEAT COULD FALL DOWN DURING AN ACCIDENT, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY TO THE BABY IN A REAR FACING CARSEAT. THIS WAS OVERLOOKED BY THE FIRST OFFICER. WE PURCHASED A NEW CAR SEAT AND WENT BACK AND THE OFFICER NOTICED THIS, SO WE PUT THE CARSEAT BY A DOOR. HOWEVER, THEY SAY THAT THE MIDDLE IS NORMALLY THE SAFEST PLACE FOR THE BABY. IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD DO TO MAKE SURE THE ARM REST WOULDN'T FALL DOWN THIS MIGHT SAVE PROBLEMS FOR SOMEONE ELSE WHO, LIKE US DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE THIS COULD BE A HAZARD.*AK

THE SEAT BELT LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD BLINKS ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND WHEN IT DOES THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP. WHEN THIS OCCURS CONSUMER LOSES CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAS HAD A VIBRATION AND TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS, I HAVE HEARD RUMORS THAT OTHER TAURUS OWNERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEMS. CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 ADULT DRIVEN MILES ON IT AND THIS SEEMS OUT OF THE ORDINARY FOR AN AUTO WITH SO FEW MILES. *PH

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. DUE TO A BROKEN TORQUE CONVERTER.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN CONSUMER REALIZED THAT FRONT SUSPENSION DROPPED. *AK

THE ALUMINUM ON ALL FOUR WHEELS IS CHIPPING OFF CAUSING THE TIRES TO LOSE AIR, I HAVE TO PUT AIR IN THE TIRES ON A DAILY BASIS, I FEEL THIS IS UNSAFE RIDING ON TIRES THAT ARE LOW ON AIR.*AK

WAS REAR ENDED IN A FIVE CAR ACCIDENT,I HAD THE MIDDLE CAR . I WAS SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR WHICH IN TURN HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, I KNOW THAT I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HARD ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THE BAGS BECAUSE THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS IN HIS TRUNK. I CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO HIS CAR. THE POLICE WOULD NOT LET ME HAVE MY CAR BECAUSE MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. SIZE P205165R15. *AK

I OWN A 1996 FORD TARAUS GL. THE TRANSMISSION IN IT HAS FAILED TWICE. EACH TIME, IT SUDDENLY STOPPED PULLING, WITHOUT ANY WARNING OF A PENDING MALFUNCTION. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN TRAFFIC, BUT, FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT ACCOUNTS FOR ITS FAILURE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONCERNING THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND ASKED THAT THEY INSPECT IT. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE REFUSED SUCH AN INSPECTION. IN AS MUCH AS I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS A DESIGNED FLAW AND SAID FLAW WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE, I FEEL THAT AN INSPECTION COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO EITHER VERIFY OR RULE OUT ANY DESIGNED PROBLEMS. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE INSPECTION WOULD HAVE BEEN THE MOST ECONOMICAL APPROACH TO RESOLVING A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, AS OPPOSED TO WAITING FOR SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS TO OCCUR FIRST.I FEEL THAT SAFETY IS COMPROMISED WHEN A TRANSMISSION FAILS IN THE MANNER THAT THIS ONE DID; IN TRIFFIC AND WITHOUT ANY WARNNING OF PENDING MALFUNCTION. *AK