The car has had problems starting from the day it was delivered. The problems began with flaking paint, misaligned hood, door and bumper due to poor quality control. These problems were fixed by dealer w/O charge, as was the head gasket failure. Repairs for muffler failure, sway bar linkage failure, air conditioner failure and starter motor failure were not covered by the manufacturer under any sort of recall. The most recent problem with the air conditioner and starter motor cost over $1200 to fix. The problem with the ignition system was intermittent. Some times the car would start and other times the starter would not engage at all. One time the engine simply died while driving down the road. Starter motor would not engage until engine cooled down and had been sitting for an hour or two. Then starter motor would work. Mechanic at dealership said the starter motor probably had "dead" areas in starter motor that may be causing intermittent failure. Air conditioner failure attributed to failure of "motor mounts" that caused rupture of multiple hoses in air conditioning unit. I've never had a vehicle with so many equipment failures with this type of mileage.

- Acton, MA, USA

While driving at 55mph on flat surface and with no warning, the head gasket blewout, which caused vehicle to overheat. Consumer had to pull over. Dealer notified.

- Columbia, MD, USA

Engine was running rough, dealer replaced the idler pulley and belt.

- Corsicana, TX, USA

Consumer states vehicle is losing water and antifreeze and on occasion is running hot and missing. Consumer recevied recall notice relating to head gasket failure. However, when diagnosed by dealership, dealer claimed could not find anything wrong. Consumer's personal mechanic found water and antifreeze was leaking down onto the pistons and rusting the spark plugs, and causing damage to the radiator and thermostat. However, even though there was a recall notice for the head gaskets, it was replaced at owners expense. Consumer is requesting reimbursement.

- Epworth, GA, USA

While driving the engine mounts snapped, causing engine to jump around under the hood. Dealer notified.

- Edgewood, MD, USA

The Ford warranty covers the head gasket problem for 7 yrs./100,000 miles. The inception date of the warranty of this vehicle was 7/05/95. The problem occurred at 6:00pm on 7/05/02--7 years to the day of the warranty starting. Ford says I am not covered because I reported the problem to a dealer on 7/8/02.

- Erie, PA, USA

Engine fan stopped and caused vehicle to overheat. Took vehicle to dealer, and they stated that it was a blown headgasket.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

Speedometer has been replaced twice at considerable expense. Vss has been replaced once, transmission has been rebuilt once, and speedo gear which fits into the transmission have all been replaced once at considerable expense. Head gaskets have been replaced once, also at considerable expense. Speedo has now failed for the third time.

- Saranac, MI, USA

Ford had replaced oil pan and valve gaskets in 8/25/00 for $735. On 5/09/02 oil gaskets blew out on highway. Ford dealership refuses to accept any responsibility regarding this matter. Three weeks prior, the radiator blew, costing $385 to replace. The Ford company needs to acknowledge that it has produced a poor product, and the consumer should not need to bear this burden and cost.

- Winthrop, MA, USA

Ford had replaced oil pan and valve gaskets in 8/25/00 for $735. On 5/09/02 oil gaskets blew out on highway. Ford dealership refuses to accept any responsibility regarding this matter. Three weeks prior, the radiator blew, costing $385 to replace. The Ford company needs to acknowledge that it has produced a poor product, and the consumer should not need to bear this burden and cost.

- Winthrop, MA, USA

While driving and without warning head gasket has blown out. Dealer stated this has occurred in all Ford Taurus, and had not yet been able to fix the malfunction.

- Camario, CA, USA

Vehicle was smoking and the radiator fluid leaked all over engine due to a blown head gasket.*jbconsumer voiced concerns about vehicle to no avail. Vehicle was taken to dearlership where consumer was told there was nothing wrong.

- Mound, MN, USA

Consumer was taking vehicle to dealer for recall 97V019000 repairs on engine coolant fan. Also, while changing defective component mechanic was aware that engine head gasket was defective. Because vehicle was over the 7-year warranty manufacturer was not reliable for component.

- Edwardsville, IL, USA

This is a major problem with Ford and this motor if anything this should be a safety problem think of your family driving down the road and the gaskets let go not a pretty site think safety for everybody S sake.

- West Roxbury, MA, USA

This car has had head gasket replaced at 56,000 under recall #00M09. According to the outside repair shop that I've taken my car to for the past 2 years, the engine failure is due to the crankshaft not being properly flushed when the head gasket was repaired causing lower end damage to the engine. Huntington beach Ford denies any responsibility. If the engine failure is not a result of head gasket failure, it must be a defective engine because I have taken impecable care of this car and have all service records.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

While driving, head gasket blewout, and antifreeze leaked into exhaust system. Consumer will collaborate with dealer regarding repairs since vehicle is still under 7 year warranty.

- Dover, DE, USA

Another 1995 Ford Taurus, 3.8L engine blows a head gasket, missed the so called extended warranty by 3 months, what a shame, a minimum of 1,200 to 1,500 dollars, oh well. Another poor sucker paying for Ford engineering. Am I just unlucky or does Ford have it figured out when this engine is going to blow? well I'm furious that I have to take a second loan to repair this car, the first loan was to buy this car.

- Woodbury, NJ, USA

The head gasket failed, causing an oil leak in the intake.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

While driving head gasket blewout. Contacted dealer.

- Waldwick, NJ, USA

While driving at 25mph motor mounts cracked, causing vehicle to shift, and resulting in engine and transmission dropping.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA