1998 FORD TAURUS Complaints

THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM REPLACED A BATTERY ON 05/20/00. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE BATTERY, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT NEEDED A NEW AIRBAG MODULE. SINCE THIS LIGHT HAD NEVER COME ON BEFORE, I BELIEVED IT HAD TO DO WITH THE NEW BATTERY REPLACEMENT. I REFUSED THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW AIRBAG MODULE TO SEE IF THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF ON ITS OWN. AFTER THREE WEEKS IT HAS NOT. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH WILL NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAG MODULE. MY SECOND CONCERN IS WITH THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL). THEY HAVE OCCASIONALLY GONE ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING AND HAVE STAYED ON AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF AS WELL. I CAN MAKE THEM GO OFF BY TURNING THE HEADLAMPS ON AND OFF. THE DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NO CAUSE FOR THIS. *AK

THE VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY WILL ACCELERATES ON IT'S OWN WHILE COASTING AT A SLOW SPEED. THIS REQUIRES HEAVY PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THIS IS A VERY REPEATABLE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE ALSO IDLES VERY FAST AT ALL ENGINE TEMPERATURES WHICH CAUSES VERY HARSH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND IS TELLING ME THIS IS NORMAL.

TRUCK CARGO LIGHT BURNED HOLES THROUGH 3 LAYERS OF FABRIC, COULD HAVE CAUSE A FIRE, THIS IS A VERY HIGH POWERED HALOGEN BULB AND CAN GET QUITE HOT WHILE THE TRUCK IS OPEN, THE LIGHT HAS NO PROTECTIVE COVER.

WHLE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING UNDERNEATH DRIVER'S SIDE, AND FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND WITHIN MINUTES VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. INVESTIGATOR ADVISES FIRE CAUSED BY FAULTY FUEL LINES. DAMAGE TOO EXCESSIVE TO HAVE BEEN ELECTRICAL. *AK

AFTER DRIVING AND PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK, VEHICLE WILL IDLE TO 3000 RPMS. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP, IS TO SHUT OFF VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER HAS BEEN HEARING POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICE, MANY PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. NLM

WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR JUST STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. BEFORE IT WAS TURNED BACK ON, VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, THEN CUT OFF. *AK

WHEN BRAKING AND STOPPING OR BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS COMPLETELY ON THE BRAKE AND NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. I'M VERY INTERESTED TO HEAR IF ANYONE ELSE HAS REPORTED A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *AK

V6 ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED, CAUSING AN ENGINE FIRE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN USE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, CONSUMER HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON. BUT, DEALER DID NOT DETECT A DEFECT. *AK

THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MILES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD LOST CONTROL OF WHEEL AND WAS FIGHTING TO STEER THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A MONTH 7/23/99 AND AGAIN8/23/99. THE LORD WAS TRULY WITH ME I COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BOTH TIMES. *AK