1998 FORD TAURUS Complaints

WHEN THIS CAR IS RUNNING MORE THAN 40MINUTES, THE ENGINE "BUCKS"/JERKS/HESITATES AND IS NOT RESPONSIVE--AS IF IT WOULD STALL BUT NEVER DOES, 'THOUGH THE DASH "TROUBLE" LIGHTS BLINK FOR 1/2 SECOND EACH TIME. THIS WAS REPEATED 2-3 TIMES AT EACH OF 5 SEPRATE INCIDENTS. I HAD THE ENGINE CHECKED WITH A SCANNER AT MY REGULAR MECHANIC'S PLACE AND THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED AT A RELIABLE TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALIST. NOTHING FOUND. VARIOUS ROAD TESTS COULD NOT REPRODUCE THIS EXPERIENCE. I DID REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER. OTHER INCIDENTS OCCURRED 6/21 ABOUT 15-MIN. LATER AFTER BEING STUCK IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC FOR 20 MINUTES ON A 55-60MPH ROUTE I ALWAYS USE. THE 3RD INCIDENT WAS 7/6, ACCELERATING AFTER A FULL-STOP INTERSECTION. 4TH&5TH WERE ON 7/8 WHEN DRIVING @25-30MPH, BUT DRIVING FOR A WHILE. I DO NOTICE AFTER DRIVING 15-20 MINUTES REGULARLY, THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT @BETWEEN 35-40MPH HESITATES. I HAVE BEEN KEEPING MY HIGHEST SPEEDS DOWN TO 60MPH OR LESS, AND USUALLY DRIVING NO MORE THAN 1/2HR. EACH TRIP. I'M AFRAID TO TAKE A LONG TRIP FOR FEAR THE CAR WILL HESITATE, LOSE POWER, OR SLOW DOWN IN HEAVY EXPRESSWAY TRAFFIC. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY.*AK

ROTORS REPLACED TWICE / RESURFACED 4X IN 30000 MI. PADS ALSO REPLACED 4 TIMES IN 30000 MI. VEHICLE SHAKES SIDE TO SIDE WILDLY WHEN BRAKES APPLIED AT SPEED.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICE BRAKES WERE SPONGY WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN, BUT VEHICLE COUNTINED TO S TRAVEL. CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN PARK MODE, AND TURNED ENGINE OFF, AND VEHICLE STILL TRAVELED. CONSUMER STATED THAT ACCLERATOR WAS STUCK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE DOOR AJAR SWITCH STAYED ON PROHIBITING THE POWER LOCKS TO PERFORM AND KEEP THE DOME LIGHT ON. WHEN TRYING THE LOCK THE DOOR WITH THE POWER LOCK SWITCH ON THE DOOR CONSOLE, THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK AS THE DOOR AJAR SENSOR READ A DOOR WAS OPEN. WHEN DISCUSSING THIS WITH COASTAL FORD, THE REPAIR IS WAS NOT COVERED. I CONTACTED FORD AT (800)392-3673. I WAS TOLD BY ESSENCE, THE PROBLEM WITH NOT CONSIDERED A RECALL; THEREFORE, I AM NOT ENTITLED TO THE REIMBURSEMENT. I PAID COASTAL FORD $101.34 FOR THIS REPAIR. I SAW ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE COME IN WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT. I HAVE HEARD THE SAME COMPLAINT BY OTHER FORD OWNERS. PLEASE ADVISE IF THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE TO RECEIVING COMPENSATION. THANK YOU.*AK

ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON, AND SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER FAIL TO FUNCTION WHILE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

VEHICLE HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO ELECTRONIC FAILURE. MECHANIC STATED DUE TO DEFECT. FROM MANUFACTUER. *AK

VEHICLE RETURNED DRIECTLY AFTER PURCHASE FOR NON-FUNCTIONAL TAIL LIGHT WHICH WAS REPLACED. CONDENSATION WAS PRESENT IN TAIL LIGHT. BULB ALONE WAS CHANGED. LIGHT FAILED AGAIN IN JUNE OF 2001. DEALER INSPECTED CAR AND FIXED LIGHT BY CHANGING LENS. UPON DELIVERY OF CAR TAIL LIGHT STILL DID NOT WORK EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE RECEIVED NEW NYS INSPECTION STICKER. CAR KEPT ADDITIONAL DAYS. AT THIS POINT ONLY LENS WAS CHANGED, BULB HAS NOT BEEN CHECKED, BUT CAR PASSED INSPECTION. CHARGE WAS 224.70 FOR A NEW LENS WITHOUT REPAIR BEING COMPLETED. DEALER REP STATED THAT SILICONE CAULK COULD HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO STOP LEAK AND NEW LENS WAS NOT NECESSARY. METRO FORD THEN CLEANED A "CORRODED LIGHT SOCKET" FOR NO CHARGE. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE LENS CHANGE AND NOT PRICE GOUGED CONSUMER. ALSO HOW CAN CAR PASS INSPECTION W/O TAIL LIGHTS. THIS IS A VIOLATION OF NYS INSPECTION LAW AT LEAST. THIS CAR HAD BEEN DELIVERED AS REPAIRED AND IF WE HAD NOT CHECKED TO SEE WE WOULD HAVE ASSUMED THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THIS CORROSION PROBLEM, ACCORDING TO FORD, IS COMMON, THEREFORE SHOULDN'T THE PROBLEM BE CONSIDERED AS A RECALL FIX AND NOT BLOWN OFF AS AN ANNOYANCE. PLEASE ADVISE D WILKES. *AK

ON 6-28-01 I WAS ON I-75 GOING NORTH. MY TIRE UNRAVELED ON ME. MY HUSBAND AND A STATE TROOPER PUT ON A SPARE. MY HUSBAND HAD MY TIRES ROTATED 2 MONTHS BEFORE. I HAVE HAD 3 FLATS AND TIRE REPLACEMENTS ON MY CAR. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER RELATIONS. NICK (800-392-3673) TOLD ME FORD HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GENERAL TIRES. HE TRANSFERRED ME TO GENERAL TIRES (800-847-3349). EILEEN AT GENERAL TOOK THE COMPLAINT AND GAVE ME A FILE #38421. I AGREED TO GO TO BELLE TIRE TO HAVE THE TIRE INSPECTED. EILEEN CALLED BELLE TIRE. I TOOK THE TIRE TO BELLE TIRE ON 7-2-01. DARRELL AT BELLE TIRE (313-271-9400) CALLED GENERAL TIRE. JILL AT GENERAL TOLD HIM A FILE SHOULD NOT HAVE EVER BEEN MADE ON MY COMPLAINT AND I SHOULD JUST TAKE THE TIRE BACK TO WHERE I GOT IT. SHE WAS VERY ABRUPT AND RUDE. I LEFT.*AK

BRAKES MASTER CYLINDER FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES REDUCING BRAKING CAPABILITY. *AK

THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS HORRIBLE AND DANGEROUS. I CHANGE BRAKES EVERY 20,000 MILES OR LESS. I DRIVE HIGHWAY MILES AND SHOULD BE CHANGING AS OFTEN. ALL I GET TOLD BY THE DEALER IS THAT THEY NEED TO BE CHANGED EVERY 20K MILES. THE CAR SHAKES AND MAKES NOISES. *AK