10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 7,226 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
While driving the vehicle over heated and caused the vehicle to cut off. The dealer was notified. While driving the vehicle over heated and caused the vehicle to cut off. The dealer was notified. Consumer has repaired so many things on this car and it still is not right. For instance radiator was repaired twice and it burned out. Water pump repaired and its still leaking. Electrical work done to tail lights. Tire equipment has silver treads coming out of them.
- Detroit, MI, USA
95 Taurus wagon, after having car checked numerous times for various temperature control issues with heat and air conditioning over the past several years, head gasket blew...called dealership, after first noticing vapor from tailpipe along with temperature problems. Dealers explaination was thermostat problem. One week later, extreme amount of blue vapor pouring out of tailpipe along with antifreeze fluid loss that had continued to occur. Contacted dealer, said it was a head gasket and we should fill with antifreeze and find a new car, car has 84,000miles. Contacted Ford Motor Corp. About extended warranty coverage that because of low mileage didnt cover our car even though symptoms occured during covered period. Ford refused to honor or acknowledge any responsibility even knowing about gasket problems and the 3.8L engine they installed in the Taurus.
- Richmond, VA, USA
The consumer has received 3 recall, 98S36 for subframe rear plate nut replacement, and two others 01S30 and 01M09 related to the engine cooling system, the transmission failed and the engine overheats which is probably directly related to the recall, the consumer is unable to take the vehicle to be repaired since it is inoperative and the closest dealer is an hour and a half away, the vehicle has been sitting unused for about a year..
- Republica, WA, USA
Consumer stated while driving the vehicle overheated, consumer then parked the vehicle and the next day when she went to start it, there was smoke coming from the tailpip, the vehicle was towed to the dealer and consumer was infomred the head gasket had blown, which was under warranty, however the thermostat had been replaced previously on September 29 2000, and Ford would not cover the entire cost of the repairs.
- Napa, CA, USA
Vehicle keeps overheating. Dealer contacted, but problem still exists. The consumer stated that the vehicle went into reverse on its own when it was parked.
- Columbia, SC, USA
Vehicle still overheats after replacing engine. As soon as temperature gauge moved in the red, pulled vehicle over to cool off. Dealer has not been notified.
- Austell, GA, USA
While driving engine could overheat most of the time without a prior warning. Consumer needs to stop vehicle and let the engine to cool down.
- West Frankford, IL, USA
Based upon the number of failures being reported, Ford should have performed a recall and repaired all these defective 3.8 liter engines. I barely went past the mileage established by the class action settlement and will not be eligible for compensation. I am not a satisfied Ford customer!.
- Baker, LA, USA
The short block was replaced 2/23/98, under recall for gasket problem this did not fix the problem. Mileage 30577. On app. 4/7/00 a complete engine assembly was instaled. This installation compounded the problem as the engine would continously loose water from the coolingn system. The dealer has tride many things to fix the problem some of them from repair bulletins and others suggeseted by rep.. I have had this car in the shop many times both documented and some not documented. The final answer I received that they did not know what the problem is and Ford could not sopport futher assistance. I called the Ford customer service department and was told that once a car was out of warenty Ford was no longer responsible for trying to fix an extende problem even though they had not fixed it during the warenty period. They said this was a problem pecular to this vehicle and therfore they had did all they could. By the way the complete engine assembly was replaced under my extended warenty and suposudly had a 12 thousand mile warenty. I feel I am stuck with a bad situation. Any help would be appreciated.7
- Twinsburg, OH, USA
Engine gasket/ power steering, water pump failed.
- Middleboro, MA, USA
To date, Ford maintains this engine is not covered by "secret warranty" although it is the same defect as the 3.8L. Persistent problem of leaking coolant. Transmission is unreliable and unsafe. A/C clutch, compressor and water pump failed simultaneously. Replaced heater hose following A/C repair due to continued leak.
- Greensburg, PA, USA
The engine cooling fan caught on fire almost exactly as described in recall 97S66, except the fan wasn't stopped by snow. Luckily when we smelled the smoke we stopped the car, turned it off and had it towed to the dealer. This is a potentially fatal situation that affects all 1995 Taurus owners. When I called Ford to report the problem they just blew me off saying that my VIN was not in the range of vins for that recall.
- San Diego, CA, USA
Vehicle had a blown head gasket/ water pump failure, and cracked radiator. Manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was not cover for extended warranty due to the engine size 3.8L, not a 3.0L.
- Canoga Park, CA, USA
Starting on 3/15, the car would turn off with no warning, both at idle and at speeds of up to 75 mph. We are left to coast to the side of the road with no power steering or brakes. Sometimes it will recrank, other times it won't. local Ford dealer has had the car 5 times (has it now) and cannot figure it out. Have replaced fuel pump, crank sensor, cam sensor, water pump, ignition control module and various filters. Until recently, the dealer could not replicate the problem, so we kept the car until it was literally lurching and knocking, barely driving more than a mile at a time, turning off every 100 yards or so. They finally saw it turn itself off. It just goes dead. After several times, we found that there was a telltale "shudder" that occured sometime prior to it shutting off. No real pattern though. Can happen first thing in the am, when cold, or on highway at cruising speed, or on city streets in stop/go. Also at idle, or coming to a stop. Cannot find a reason for this to happen. I found 44 other instances mentioned here of this...although some people call it engine, others fuel, others even have said transmission or ignition/electrical, while all describing the same thing. When will Ford get the idea that there is a problem"??"
- Atlanta, GA, USA
No summary listed for abov evehicle.
- Lithonia, GA, USA
No summary listed for above vehicle.
- Okmulgee, OK, USA
Contrary to Ford Motor Company's extended warranty letter, there were no indications or signs that may indicate a problem. Both situations of failure happend on the main road suddenly, and the car would not restart. Luckily, although holding up traffic, I was not hit in the middle of the road, and was pushed to safety until the car could be towed!!!!from what I have read, Ford had issued an extended warranty a couple of years back, knowing of this condition, and this car should not have been on the lot for sale to begin with. Being an ordinary trusting consumer, I bought a lemon. Although Ford has extended the warranty again, as a preventative type measure to others, offering to fix the problem, it was too late for me. We have put over $4,000 in repairs, and still owe money on the vehicle. The local dealer is giving us the run around, trying to get out of this situation the cheapest way possible, and avoiding our calls. I feel it's B/C they know they will not get a sale out of us, and we are just a hassle to deal with. No other dealer will take our car at a decent trade, although we have had it fixed, B/C of the bad reputation of the vehicle Ford has created!!!!!we are stuck!!! I expect in another 2 years, the head gaskets/coolant system will fail again, B/C it's a defective engine in general. I think Ford ought to recall the car, or buy the car back, or recall it, pay off our loan, so we can buy a more reliable car without defects from a more reliable manufacturer! no safety defect listed in the summary.
- Riverview, FL, USA
Vehicle experienced failure of the recall component after initial inspection, denied service for extended period of time (2-3 weeks), owner went to another location for work to be completed due to scheduling problems.
- Dracut , MA, USA
Because I had been so frugal -- stupid? -- as to have my vehicle repaired at non-Ford dealership shop and in spite of the language in 00M09 issued 3/2000 local dealer service manager refused to consider any refund of repair cost!no safety defect listed in summary.
- Lufkin, TX, USA
- Glen Saint Mary, FL, USA