2001 FORD TAURUS Complaints

I WAS PARALLEL PARKING MY 2001 TAURUS AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE(TO PULL FORWARD IN THE PARKING SPACE) THE CAR SPED UP TO HI RPM'S AND I HAD TO JAM THE BRAKES ON TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF ME. *AK

TAIL LIGHT ON DRIVER'S SIDE KEPT BLOWING OUT DUE TO WATER GETTING INTO THE LENS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE TRUNK WILL OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN TWENTY FIVE TIMES SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TWICE AND CAN NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

CAR EXPERIENCES VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAS A RATTLE IN THE "FRONT END". DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE FRONT END "LINK PINS" TO BE WORN. THESE PINS ATTACH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE AND IN TURN, HOLD THE FRONT TIRES IN POSITION. THESE PINS HAVE BEEN REPLACES TWICE ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. ONCE AT APPROX 21,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT APPROX 56,000 MILES. THE DEALER SAYS THEY SEE THIS "A LOT ON THE TAURUS" AND STATE THAT FORD HAS NOW CHANGED THE PART DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. THIS IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT AS FAILURE OF THIS PART COULD RESULT IN THE FRONT WHEELS COMING OFF THE VEHICLE (PER THE DEALERSHIP). AGAIN - SYMPTOMS ARE FRONT END VIBRATION, WHICH IS NOT CORRECTED BY TIRE BALANCE. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH REAR DRIVER SIDE SPINDLE SNAPPED, CUTTING THE BRAKE LINE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A ROLL OVER. CONSUMER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. *AK

THE VEHICLE HIT A TRACTOR TRAILER FROM THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *AK *SC *JB

REAR DOORS WON'T STAY CLOSED. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAD TO TIE THE TWO DOOR HANDLES TOGETHER TO KEEP THEM CLOSED. *AK

THE DEFROSTER/AIR ON MY 2001 FORD TAURUS LX DOES NOT DEFOG MY WINDSHIELD MAKING IT HARD TO SEE WHEN THE WINDSHIELD GETS FOGGED UP.*AK

THE ANTI-SWAY BARS ON MY FORD TAURUS SES HAVE COME LOOSE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE BARS CAME LOOSE AT 10,000 MILES, 16,000 MILES, AND MOST RECENTLY AT 50,000 MILES. SINCE THE LATEST REPAIR (AT 50,000 MILES) IS NOW ALLEGEDLY OUT OF WARRANTY THE DEALER WANT $140 TO FIX THE PROBLEM AGAIN. AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT CONTINUE TO RESURFACE. I ARGUED WITH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER (FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS) THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND A DEFECT, NOT A NEW PROBLEM. THE BARS SHOULD NOT BE COMING LOOSE ON THEIR OWN. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ON THE SECOND REPAIR ATTEMPT (AT 16,000 MILES) THE DEALER INSTALLED A SPECIAL KIT THAT THEY RECEIVED FROM FORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS EVIDENCE THAT THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE AWARE OF A GENERALIZED PROBLEM AND THAT SWAY BARS ARE COMING LOOSE ON THIS CAR MODEL (2001 TAURUS SES) AND PERHAPS ON MANY OTHERS THAT SHARE THE SAME SWAY BAR DESIGN. NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THE SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVED IN LOOSE SWAY BARS ON THE FORD TAURUS. NHTSA SHOULD ALSO INVESTIGATE THE ATTEMPT BY FORD AND THE FORD DEALERS TO MAKE CUSTOMERS PAY FOR REPAIRS THAT NEVER RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. IF FORD AND THE DEALERS ARE ALLOWED TO CLAIM THAT THIS REPAIR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEN ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS SIT AND WAIT UNTIL THE WARRANTIES EXPIRE AND ALL DEFECTS BECOME A CUSTOMER-PAID REPAIR.*AK

PULSATIONS WHILE BRAKING. WHEN I HAD ABOUT 12000 MILES ON MY 2001 FORD TAURUS, THE BRAKES STARTED TO PULSATE WHEN I APPLIED THEM. THE SERVICE DEPT TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND THE DISC NEEDED RESURFACING. NOW WITH ~29000 MILES THE PROBLEM IS REOCCURING. I EXPECT LONGER LIFE OUT OF MY BRAKES.