1996 FORD TAURUS Complaints

NOTICED A SHIMMEY(VIBRATION) EARLY AUGUST, TOOK CAR TO DEALER, BACK TIRES HAVE FLAT SPOTS. CAR WAS TAKEN BACK ON 8/13/01 BECAUSE IT CONTINUED TO SHIMMEY, WAS TOLD THAT ALL TIRES HAVE BROKEN STEEL BELTS. GENERAL TIRES #9002 154 3376-0000-P205/65R15 6H

ON 8/3/2001, WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE 95 IN MARYLAND, MY FORD TAURUS SUFFERED A CASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE CAR HAVING NO POWER, WHILE THE ENGINE REVVED. I NARROWLY MISSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER. THIS FAILURE WA SUDDEN AND EXTREME AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MY FAMILY'S INJURY OR DEATH. I WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO HAD TO PERFORM A MAJOR REBUILD OF MY TRANSMISSION, INCLUDING HARD PARTS. THE COST WAS IN EXCESS OF $2600.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HAD A FRONT IMPACT ON DRIVER'S SIDE, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED, NO INJURIES.*AK

VEHICLE LOST BRAKING POWER WHILE TRAVELING DOWN HILL, CAUSING IT TO LOSE CONTROL AND HIT A GUARDRAIL. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT AIRBAG LIGHT WAS BLINKING, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING BOTH AIRBAGS WENT OFF. HE WAS FORCED INTO CONCRETE BARRIERS ON ROAD. VEHICLE HAD SMOKE INSIDE, AND WAS TOTALED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK

TICKING NOISE FROM TOP OF MOTOR DIAGNOSED AS CAMSHAFT SPROCKET FAILURE BY FORD TECHNICIAN ON MY 1996 FORD TAURUS SHO, 3.4L, 207 CI V8. DEALERSHIP RECCOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE MOTOR AS PARTS MAY TAKE UP TO 5 MONTHS TO ARRIVE. I'VE HEARD THAT THIS IS NOW BECOMMING A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE CARS WITH MORE REPORTS OF THEM BEING MADE KNOWN ON THE INTERNET.*AK

CAMSHAFT FAILURE ON INTERFERENCE ENGINE IN '1996 TAURUS LOSS OF POWER STEERING/ POWER BRAKES. WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN THIS AUTO WITH SUCH A FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED?*AK

0TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE TRANSMISSION WAS 'REPAIRED' BY METRO AUTO REPAIR SERVICE, 4633A AUBURN BLVD., SACRAMENTO, CA 95841, (916) 485-3240. THIS REPAIR SERVICE STATED IN THEIR WORK ORDER: "TRANSMISSION NEUTRALS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. REMOVE FOR OVERHAUL, FOUND BAD FORWARD PISTON CAUSING SEAL TO BYPASS PRESSURE. ALSO FOUND FORWARD CLUTCH VALVE RETAINER BROKEN, REBUILD TRANSMISSION REPLACING CLUCHES, SEALS AND GASKETS ALSO REPLACE TORQUE CONVERTER AND REFIL FLUID." THE TOTAL CHARGES FOR THIS SERVICE WAS FOR "$1098.25" (INCLUDED "23.36 SALES TAX"). ON AUGUST 10, 2001, MY WIFE NOTED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP INTO NEUTRAL GEAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP; MAKING VERY UNSAFE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT WE HAD EXPERIENCED 15 MONTHS AGO. NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 983112, DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM. I ADVISED METRO AUTO REPAIR SERVICE OF THE NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN; THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THEY WERE AWARE OF IT ALSO.*AK

DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, A LOUD "THUD" NOISE WAS COMING FROM FRONT. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT FRONT RIGHT CRADLE MOUNT WAS BROKEN. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN CAMPAIGN NUMBER 98V323000. *AK *SLC

THE HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE CLOUDY AND VERY LITTLE LIGHT SHINES THROUGH. YOU CAN HARDLY TELL THAT THE LIGHTS ARE ON AT NIGHT. *AK