1999 FORD TAURUS Complaints

I HAVE HAD THREE INSTANCES OF ENGINE RACES TO 3000 RPM WHEN STOPPED IN IDLE AND IN GEAR. DEALER CAN'T REPEAT PROBLEM AND THEREFORE HASN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES CONTINUED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, UNABLE TO IDENTIFY FAILURE. MJS

TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ALLOW VEHICLE TO DECELLERATE WHEN YOU LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR, SPEED STAYS CONSTANT. *YC

DECELERATES POORLY (WON'T SLOW DOWN) WHEN REMOVING FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR (GAS PEDAL); ESPECIALLY SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. CAN BE REPRODUCED WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN "OD" AFTER THE CAR IS WARMED UP. MIGHT EVEN BE WORSE ON COLDER DAYS (LESS THAN 50 DEG F). IT'S LIKE THE SPEED CONTROL IS "ON"; THE RPMS ON THE TACHOMETER DON'T DROP, AND THE CAR CONTINUES AT THE SAME SPEED OR EVEN ACCELERATES! YOU CAN'T COAST DOWN, IT REQUIRES BRAKING TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. IT ALSO SEEMS TO TAKE LONGER TO STOP - WHEN BRAKING - BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE WORKING AGAINST THE BRAKES. ON ROADS THAT HAVE A SLIGHT DECLINE, IT REQUIRES YOU TO BRAKE OFTEN TO MAINTAIN THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. DRIVING THIS CAR IS JUST UNNERVING; I'M NOT USED TO USING THE BRAKES SO MUCH. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR BACK TO MY FORD DEALER TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. ON THE FIRST VISIT (3/16/99), THE SERVICE MANAGER TOOK MY CAR FOR A DRIVE AND AGREED MY CAR HAD A PROBLEM. HE THEN GAVE ME AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE SECOND VISIT WHEN I LEFT THE CAR TO BE WORKED ON. LATER THAT DAY, HE CALLED ME AT WORK TO TELL ME APOLGETICALLY, THAT FORD CONSIDERED THIS "NORMAL"; NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED. HE LEFT ME A COPY OF SSM#12066 (SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGE) THAT STATES: "1998-1999 TAURUS/SABLE 1998 & 1999 TAURUS/SABLE 3.0L 2-VALVE, 4-VALVE AND SHO VEHICLES CALIBRATED WITH INCREASED AIR FLOW AT CLOSED THROTTLE TO PREVENT TIP-IN-BUMPS. A RESULT MAY BE REDUCED DECELERATION FEEL AND LESS ENGINE RPM REDUCTION AT CLOSED THROTTLE WITH THE VEHICLE MOVING....NO REPAIR SHOULD BE ATTEMPTED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS AS THEY ARE NORMAL." SINCE FORD HAS AN SSM THAT ADDRESSES THESE SYMPTOMS OTHERS MUST ALSO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS. MY WIFE OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS, WITH EXACTLY THE SAME MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION AND IT DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IT DECELERATES WHEN YOU LIFT YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR UNDER ALL CONDITIONS. I'VE ALREADY CONTACTED FORD BY LETTER AND HAVE TALKED TO THEM ON THE PHONE. I HAVE LITTLE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY WILL BE FIX IT.

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY, CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN LETTING THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOWN A LITTLE, THE WINDOW WILL GO ALL THE WAY DOWN, AND CONSUMER HAS TO PRESS A BUTTON TO GET WINDOWS BACK UP. *AK

WHEN DRIVING IN LOW SPEED THE VEHICLE RACED REAL HIGH. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT VEHICLE INTO PARK IN ORDER FOR THE ENGINE TO STOP RACING HIGH. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED, AND VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE REPAIR SHOP ONCE. DEALER WANTS THE VEHICLE BACK IN THE SHOP TO DO SOME TESTING. *AK

IN THE EARLY MORNING AND EVENING, THE LIGHT TAN DASHBOARD REFLECTS ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH MAY CAUSE VISUAL DIFFICULTY AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH CONSUMER EXPIERENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. WHILE CONSUMMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. TO FINALLY STOP VEHICLE, CONSUMER HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF IN DRIVE AND COAST VEHICLE TO A STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

THE VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED SHORT. HAD APPLIED BRAKES QUICKLY. ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE ACCELERATED AFTER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. REARENDED VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK