1994 FORD TAURUS Complaints

VECHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF A RESIDENTIAL AREA. WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO TURN VEHICLE ON IT SHOOK AND IDLED HIGHLY. SHE TURNED VEHICLE OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT THE ENGINE HYDROLOCKED. WATER AND ANTI-FREEZE GOT INTO THE CYLINDERS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, REBUILT INSTALLED, NOW REBUILT IS FAILING AT 20,000 MILES, SLOW TO UP-SHIFT, DOWN-SHIFTS HARD, HERKY-JERKY BELOW 40 MPH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AIR CONDITIONINGJUST QUIT WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT FLUID WAS LOW. DEALER FILLED VEHICLE UP AND STARTED WORKING AGAIN. THEN IT QUIT. CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE O-RINGS THAT FAILED. *AK

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED OVERHEATING SYMPTOMS. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND FOUND OUT THAT THE TIMING CASE GASKET WAS LEAKING AND IT MIGHT DAMAGE THE ENGINE, WHICH ALREADY HAD DEVLOPED KNOCKING NOISES. I CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ASKED THEM FOR WARRANTY COVERAGE, SINCE IT WAS OUT OF MY REACH TO REPAIR/INSTALL A NEW ENGINE. FORD COMPANY WHICH THEN WAS SENDING LETTERS FOR FREE CHANGE OF HEAD GASKETS WHICH COULD PRODUCE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MINE. BUT MY REQUEST WENT IN A VAIN. NOW THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED OPERATION SINCE THE WATER HAS MIXED WITH THE ENGINE OIL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND HENCE I APPEAL THAT NHTSA SHOULD RESPOND TO THIS IN A BETTER MANNER. THANKING YOU.*AK

ACTUAL HEAD GASKET FAILURE OCCURED OVER 2 YEARS PRIOR TO REPORTED DATE WAS ABLE TO GET BY, BUT THE OIL LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON WHEN THE ENGINE GETS TO NORMAL TEMPERATURE AND THE CAR IS IDLING. FORD PUT OUT CARS WITH DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO LIMIT THE WARRANTY. IF IT FAILS, THEY SHOULD PAY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE PARTS- I UNDERSTAND THAT ABOUT 750,000 OF THESE FAILURES HAVE OCCURED- FORD SHOULD PAY FOR SELLING DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS.

IN 1995, WINDOWS ON FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT DOORS STUCK WHEN ROLLING DOWN. FIXED INCORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME, UNDER WARRANTY, SO FIXED AGAIN, UNDER WARRANTY. NO CHARGE THAT I RECALL BUT CAN VERIFY IF REQUIRED. LAST YEAR, LEFT FRONT WINDOW STUCK AGAIN. STRUGGLE TO ROLL IT DOWN CAUSED SWERVING. ATTENDANT NOTICED IT DURING TEST DRIVE AFTER TUNE-UP BUT MADE NO RECOMMENDATIONS. RIGHT FRONT WINDOW OKAY BUT NOT USED BECAUSE NO PASSENGERS. IN ADDITION, THOUGH CAR SELDOM DRIVEN, WATER PUMP ALREADY REQUIRED REPLACING IN 1998. CHARGED $50 DEDUCTIBLE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. FRONT WINDOW FIXED THE THIRD TIME NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. CHARGE WAS $365.72 TO REPLACE RUN AND REGULATOR. I ARGUED WITH THE MANAGER BECAUSE ALREADY FIXED TWICE BY THEM BUT NO RECORD OF FIRST 2 FIXES. THESE PROBLEMS ARE DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE I BOUGHT ANOTHER NEW FORD WAGON AFTER DRIVING A COUNTRY SQUIRE FOR 21 YEARS. IT ONLY HAD 80,000 MILES OR SO ON IT WHEN I DONATED IT TO A CHARITY BUT GUESS THEY "JUST DON'T MAKE 'EM LIKE THEY USED TO"! WILL APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE OR ASSISTANCE YOU PROVIDE. HOPE I DIDN'T GET A "LEMON". COULD BE LUCKY THAT I DON'T DRIVE MUCH BECAUSE POSSIBLY MORE PROBLEMS. WE NEED TO TRUST THE SAFETY AND STABILITY OF OUR AUTOMOBILES.*AK

I WAS TOLD THAT THE WATER PUMP BUSTED, I NEED A THERMOSTAT, AND THAT MY GEARS (LINKAGE) WANT SHIFT.*AK

WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER BREATHS EXHAUST FUMES. ALSO, DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET CAUSES CYLINDER HEAD TO WARP. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 127,000 MILES MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO HONOR WARRANTY AND REIMBURSE CONSUMER BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OVER 100,000 MILES. NLM