1994 FORD TAURUS Complaints

RECALL 98I002000/FRONT COIL SPRING: WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER HIT A DIP IN THE ROAD, FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, PUNCTURING THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE, AND CAUSING POOR STEERING CONTROL. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *ML

ON IMPACT REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED INTO1-3CM SIZE VERY SHARP HIGH VELOCITY FRAGMENTS WHICH COVERED ENTIRE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT (FRONT AND BACK) INCLUDING BASE OF REAR-FACING INFANT SEAT (SEAT WAS REMOVED AT A TIME). THIS REPORT IS TO UNDERLINE THE DANGER FOR THE INFANTS IN REAR-FACING INFANT SEATS IN THE EVENT OF REAR-END COLISION SINCE WINDSHIELD IN STATION WAGON WILL FAIL IN NEARLY ALL CRASHES OF THIS TYPE. IT SHOULD BE REDESIGNED TO PREVENT FRAGMENTATION AND/OR REACHING PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.*AK

3.8 LITER ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 78,000 MILES, CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE UP, EXTREME AMOUNT OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF EXHAUST. NO PRIOR WARNING WAS GIVEN. *AK

ON OR ABOUT 2/26/2000 WHILE DRIVING IN AIKEN, SC I ATTEMPETED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND MY CAR DISENGAGED WHILE IN GEAR AND MY CAR WAS ALMOST HIT BY A SEMI-TRACTOR TRUCK. MY FATHER AND MY HUSBAND HAVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY QUALIFIED MECHANICS, AND THEY TELL US IT IS THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON IN THE TRANSAXLE. THERE HAVE BEEN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLITENS (TSB) PUT OUT BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY SINCE 1991 ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THEY MADE MY CAR WITH A DEFECTIVE PART AND BOTH MYSELF AND ME TWO CHIRLREN COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE ALERT TRUCK DRIVER. FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THROUGH TSB'S 91-5-7,92-1-4,92-26A-6, 93-9-11 AND 94-24-7 WHICH EVEN TELLS THE DEALERS NOT TO USE THE ALUMINUM PISTON AND IF THEY HAVE ANY IN STOCK TO RETURN THEM TO THE PARTS DEPOT FOR CREDIT. MY FATHER MR. BOB PATTERSON HAS CONTACTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT LAWYER WHO HAS REVIEWED THE TSB 94-24-7 AND HE FEELS THAT FORD IS TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. MR. PATTERSON HAS CALLED THE DEALER WHO REFERED HIM TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE 1-800-392-3673(JOY) WHO STATED IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. HE FURTHER CONTACTED MR. RON SUMNER FORD MOTER COMPANY PRIORITY SECTION 313-322-3000 WHO SAID IT WAS UP TO THE DEALER TO INITIATE ANY ACTION TO GET ASSISTANCE AND THEN STATED THAT HE DIDN'T THINK FORD WOULD OFFER ANY. WHEN YOUR OFFICE WAS MENTIONED HE SAID THAT FORD WASN'T SCARED OF YOU. ALSO HE WOULD NOT PUT ME IN CONTACT WITH MR. JAQUES NASSER (CEO FORD) WHEN ASKED TO FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. IN CALLING BACK THE DEALER AND TALKING TO MR. SATCHER HE STATED THAT IT WAS NOT HIS RESPONSIBLITY TO CONTACT FORD FOR A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT, BUT FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT TO IT. AS A CERTIFIED ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTIONIST FOR THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA I ASK HOW MANY FATAL ACCIDENTS INVOLVING FORD VEHICLE HAVE BEEN LISTED AS DRIVER ERROR JUST BECAUSE THE INVESTIGATOR DIDN'T KNOW OF THIS SITUATION. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO RELEASE WHEN BRAKES WERE TAPPED TO SLOW DOWN. ALSO, THERE WERE NO REAR BRAKE LIGHTS, AND VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. WOULD NEED TO APPLY BRAKES TO EDGE VEHICLE TO SHIFT. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. OWNER HAS PARTS. *AK *ML

WHILE TRAVELING ON A STREET AT 15 MPH, SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ALUMINUM RING BEING EATEN UP INSIDE TRANSMISSION. RING WAS REPLACED WITH A STEEL RING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

RECALL 98V323000 FORD/SUBFRAME CORROSION; OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN JULY 1999. OWNER HAS CONTACTED DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER DOES NOT HAVE PARTS TO CORRECT RECALL. *AK

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE FLUCTUATES BACK AND FORTH. ALSO, THE NEEDLE DOES NOT MOVE UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS DRIVEN FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THS PROBLEM # 97-12-5 . REPAIRS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND CONSUMER WANTS FORD TO COVER COST OF REPAIRS. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE WENT UP AND VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING DUE TO A LEAKING ENGINE HEAD GASKET. ALSO, VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY WATER PUMP AND DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK *ML