The plastic overflow bottle from the radiator keeps failing. I have replaced it 3 times in the past 4 years, was told at parts store they sell about 5 a month between the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable, it is getting costly and Ford has no answer.

- Orlando, FL, USA

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Taurus. The contact noticed a strong gasoline smell and noticed gasoline on the ground under the vehicle. The mechanic stated that three failures were present: The fuel tank, a coolant leak, and brake line corrosion. There were no warning indicators prior to the failures. The vehicle was repaired. The contact would like Ford to reimburse him for the cost of the repairs, but they refused. The failure mileage was 123,100 and current mileage was 123,900. Updated 04/02/08.

- Dover, NH, USA

Vehicle has a major problem with cooling and heating system. Five months after purchase the heater became defective. At this time the vehicle was under warranty for consumer absorbed not cost. The failure occurred six times over the past years. The episode became more unsafe and extremely inconvenient. On July 26,2003 the defective radiator sprung a leak. Consumer stated Ford should recall the vehicle and should be given another vehicle at a big discount price in 1999.

- Brownwood, TX, USA

1997 Ford Taurus - 3.0L V6 OHV type U tensioner puller seized up while driving on highway - result: Serpentine belt sheared off the tension pulley assembly. Pulley and belt needed to be replaced, engine overheated due to water pump not running because no belt was operating the pump due to the tensioner pulley seizing. Mechanics stated that they have to replace this item on the 3.0 L V6 engine and subsequent damage to other items within the engine compartment on 4 to 5 cars per week. (the brake shop - centerville, in).

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

The engine coolant reservoir over flowed.

- Pleasant Prairie, WI, USA

We were driving on the freeway when the car began to lose power. We were close to an off ramp, and exited. At that time, the temperature gauge started to climb, and the engine stopped. We had the car towed to a garage near our home. An engine core plug had failed, the resultant lose caused the engine to overheat, and damage the head gasket. We had to replace the engine for $3900. I have contacted Ford Motor Company, but they state that there is no recall for this engine problem, so I am sueing them in small claims court.

- Seattle, WA, USA

Driving down freeway, car overheated, then stalled, then wouldnt start. The engine was blown, head gasket blown and there was water in the oil. Have extended warranty thru universal and they are not honoring warranty. Was never informed on the cooling recall.

- Des Moines, IA, USA

The coolant is leaking from underneath the vehicle. The engine has rusted and the water pump is warped. The dealership is aware of the problem.

- Davis, CA, USA

The car slams into 1st gear from 2nd when slowing down, also when you put the car in reverse from the parked position, and sometimes from park to drive. The coolant resevior looks as though someone filled it with mud.

- Newalla, OK, USA

Engine coolant turned brown and supposedly corrosive due to so-called poorly designed cooling system. This caused my timing cover to begin leaking and my head gasket and engine to fail while on our family vaction in seattle. I have noticed numberous other complaints regarding this problem in your files and was wondering if there is any recourse that can be taken. I am looking at a bill of approximately $4,0000 to replace the engine. Please suggest any action that I can take to recover all or part of this cost from the manufacturer.

- Hawley, MN, USA

Engine coolant turned brown and supposedly corrosive due to so-called poorly designed cooling system. This caused my timing cover to begin leaking and my head gasket and engine to fail while on our family vaction in seattle. I have noticed numberous other complaints regarding this problem in your files and was wondering if there is any recourse that can be taken. I am looking at a bill of approximately $4,0000 to replace the engine. Please suggest any action that I can take to recover all or part of this cost from the manufacturer.

- Hawley, MN, USA

Coolant is leaking onto motor. Dealer has inspected and repaired vehicle; however, problem has reoccurred. Please provide additional information.

- Galloway Twnshp, NJ, USA

While traveling on highway and without prior warning vehicle was leaking anti freeze from underneath the hood. Dealership was aware of problem. Dealer found freeze plug had rusted out, dealer stated that this condition was a defect, manufacturer denies any claim.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Memphis, TN, USA

Ford provided a no-charge service program, number 98B23 to owners of 1996 and 1997 Taurus and Sable vehicles equipped with a 3.0L engine. The purpose was to check the cooleng system and install a coolant by-pass kit. This program was eligible through February 28, 1999, regardless of mileage. Only first owners were contacted. My daughter as 2nd owner was not. She gave me the car in June,2001 and neither one of us had an inkling of the coolant problem. My car engine blew with no warning. We are lucky to survive the incident. Ford doesn't want to hear about the incident. All they can say it's out of warranty. This is a potentially dangerous problem with this vehicle. I think it should be investigated. The public should be aware of the design flaw so they could take care of it before it causes a serious accident. I would like to be contacted to hear from you if anything can be done about this.thanks.

- Groveland, CA, USA

We were driving on a busy freeway when the engine failed and completely stopped. We had no prior knowledge that the car had a cooling system problem. My daughter gave me the car so I would have a "safe" vehicle to drive. She owned it for the 3 years prior. Bought when it was a year old. Was never notified of a recall or adjustment for the cooling system by a kit provided by the Ford company.the Ford co. Has an extended warranty to 100000 miles on their Ford Taurus 3.8 engine but not this 3.0L although the same problem exists, blown head gaskets, cracked heads, etc. Would appreciate some help. This at least my 4th form I filled out trying to get an answer from you. Can I expect one or am I just blowing in the wind? lillian C. carson.

- Groveland, CA, USA

No summary listed for abover vehicle.

- Groveland, CA, USA

While traveling at about 65 mph vehicle made a funny noise, and temperature gauge went above high. Consumer pulled over, and had vehicle towed.

- Boerne, TX, USA

Check engine went on and engine stopped accelerating, reservoir emptied, dealer says out of warranty.

- Olathe, KS, USA

The car had about 35,000 miles on it when purdhased it, factory warranty was carried over to us as the new owners. Soon after the sale of the car to us, Ford came out with a brown coolant recall, which ran until September 1999. All owners of these 1997 Taurus were supposed to be notified of the recall by mail. If notified car owners brought their cars in during this time period, the Ford dealers would correct the problem at no cost to the owner. Ford Motor Company never informed us of this recall. It was not until she brought the car into North bay Ford (in santa cruz, ca) to repair a cracked coolant holding tank on July 19, 2000, that she was told of the required recall work need on her Ford Taurus, but the work was no longer covered under a warranty payment program and the cost was now the ownerS problem and there was nothing the Ford dealer could do about it. At this time we paid the bill, which was over $500. The brown coolant recall program was required because of a design error in the routing of the cooling system hoses into and out of the dash heater coil and the proximity of the hoses around the engine exhaust manifold. The result was that this problem caused the coolant to turn into brown mud from excessive rusting of the engine block. We never experienced any over heating problems with the car until the coolant tank began leaking. Now, because of the excessive rust in the coolant, a galvanic reaction develops with freeze plugs in the engine block. The dealer insisted on changing the plugs, but he only changed 2 of the 4 plugs. The job also included a complete engine flushing to remove all the old rusty coolant. On July 7, 2001, brown coolant began running out onto the ground for the second time which required another $500 to repair. Ford motors will not do anything to cover the cost of there engineering error.

- Santa Cruz, CA, USA