4.0
definitely annoying- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 29,641 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Transmission started slipping. Took it to dealer who couldn't look at it for 2 days. Drove across the street to have another shop run it on their computer. After turning car back on, it would not shift into any gear or move. Had to have it towed to another shop. When they took the transmission pan off found broken chunks of metal. Had to have a complete transmission rebuild to the cost of $2600. Always kept our Dodge products to 190,000 miles with no major problems. After bought this card heard Ford Taurus often has tranny problems. Won't buy another Ford. Nlm
- Kaysville, UT, USA
I bought the 1998 Ford Taurus used but in good shape, at 70,000 the complete exhaust system failed the dealer fixed it but 5 more thousand miles and it would have cost over $1000 dollars.on July 31 2002 the car had a complete transmission failure including all the components that connect it to the engine.I take very good car of my cars because I live in a rural area with the nearest city of any size 45 miles away.the miles might sound like alot but they are all easy highway miles.I contacted the local dealer but they said it was out of waranty and said it would cost over $3500 to fix, I had it worked on in a shop in reno nv and they informed me that the damage was not normal wear and tear and they work on hundreds of transmissions on Ford car. After doing some research it is a ongoing problem with many Ford's with the 3.0L and 3.8L V-6 engines.it seems wrong for a relatively new car that I am still paying on to have this king of major problem and Ford need's to come clean that thier is a major design flaw. P.S I am also having problems with my 2001 Ford winstar's transmission too
- Portola, CA, USA
While pressing the cruise-control "on" button, the vehicle immediately lost forward drive power and went into neutral. The speedometer also registered "zero mph" eventhough I was proceeding with forward motion. After I safely guided the vehicle out of traffic flow I tried to re-engage the transmission but could not. I pressed the cruise control "off" button and then tried to reengage the transmission into drive at which time it did engage. The transmission at that point engaged but did not perform in a normal or safe pattern! if this situation occured in a more dynamic traffic area I am afraid of what the possibility for an accident could have been. I took the vehicle to a dealer and was told that the problem was a (vss) vehicle speed sensor. Due to the low mileage on the vehicle I am concerned about this condition. When it occurs, driveability is seriously impaired! thank you for your attention to this matter.
- Dartmouth, MA, USA
Rotor service on front end of vehicle once every year for the last two years. Dealer has been notified, however unable to remedy the problem. The consumer experienced tires shaking, clunking noise in front wheels when turning, and squeaking noise in rear end when braking. The heater and defroster make a buzzing noise, the brakes pulsate. The rear right brake and rotors failed. The service engine soon light came on. Engine makes a buzzing noise when start. The vehicle is not shift correctly. The driver door does not close properly. The vehicle would not start due to battery failure.
- Slatington, PA, USA
Transmission will not change gears while driving and could cause an accident. Cause unknown. Dealer notified. When the shifting cable broke, the vehicle became inoperative.
- Mcmillan, MI, USA
Transmission was not shifting smoothly, engine check light came on, Ford dealership determined it was low transmission pressure error code. They removed the transmission, found it had failed and replaced it. The extended warranty covered most, not all, of the cost, but a transmission should not shell out after only 49,000 miles on a well-maintained car. I don't think the Ford engineers have a good matchup of computer and transmission here, it seems to search for gears too often and hesitate during downshifts. I especially hate the way the computer kicks up the idle to simulate a free-wheel sprag that better automatics use. This causes the car to coast up to dangerous speeds on long downhill stretches - I have had the cruise set under 60, but the car hit 80 without any help from me - this is on hills that no other car I drive gain more than 5 miles-an-hour.
- Camp Hill, PA, USA
Engine lights come on and stay on all day. Had vehicle diagnosed by several dealers, and they all concluded that there was a problem with transmission.
- Memphis, TN, USA
Bolts holding automatic transmisson is rubbing against power steering return alignment hose. If there is too much friction it could cause a potential fire. Deaeler has been notified.
- Sterling Heights, MI, USA
Transmission blew a seal and the fluid poured out of vehicle. Engine light kept coming on. Vehicle bucked when changing gears. Dealer stated vehicle was repaired. Vehicle still bucks and the light still comes on. Transmission slips and hesitates.
- Branford, CT, USA
While driving 50 mph the vehicle started slowing down. Transmission had failed without prior warning. Dealer determined there were metal pieces in the pan.
- Turlock, CA, USA
I puchase this program car with 19,089, it came with the original factory of 36/36,000 mi. Warranty. I also purchased an extended warranty of 72 months of 60,000 miles. About 500 miles after I first pickup my car the transmission started slipping, I took it to the dealership and they found nothing wrong with it when they put it on their computer. Then they tried to move it. The transmission had completely burned up, and had to be rebuilt. The next time the transmission started having trouble, was on Aug 28, 2001, at 55,000 miles. The car started experiencing periods where it wouldn't engage, had extended shifts, or shift harshly. When I took it to the local Ford dealership, I was told that the transmission need to be replaced, this is 36,311 miles after the first transmission was replaced. When I asked Ford are they going to extend this warranty beyond the 12/12000 they told me there is no need. I check another website www.autosafety.org and found out that geartrain meltdown, and cracks in the foward clutch piston, has plague Ford Taurus's since 1986.
- Apo Ae, AK, USA
Engine will not shift into high gear sometimes. Car will hesitate when shifting and sometimes the gear selecter says it is in gear but car will not move.
- Lansing, MI, USA
When this car is running more than 40minutes, the engine "bucks"/jerks/hesitates and is not responsive--as if it would stall but never does, 'though the dash "trouble" lights blink for 1/2 second each time. This was repeated 2-3 times at each of 5 seprate incidents. I had the engine checked with a scanner at my regular mechanic's place and the transmission checked at a reliable transmissions specialist. Nothing found. Various road tests could not reproduce this experience. I did replace the fuel filter. Other incidents occurred 6/21 about 15-min. Later after being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic for 20 minutes on a 55-60mph route I always use. The 3rd incident was 7/6, accelerating after a full-stop intersection. 4th&5th were on 7/8 when driving @25-30mph, but driving for a while. I do notice after driving 15-20 minutes regularly, the automatic shift @between 35-40mph hesitates. I have been keeping my highest speeds down to 60mph or less, and usually driving no more than 1/2hr. Each trip. I'm afraid to take a long trip for fear the car will hesitate, lose power, or slow down in heavy expressway traffic. I am concerned for my safety.
- Owings Mills, MD, USA
Vehicle has no compression braking, it freewheels on downhill grades by as much as 25mph. This is very dangerous and will lead to premature brake replacement.
- Vermilion, OH, USA
Vehicle is put into park gear engine will rev up to 3500 - 4000 rpms. Only way to stop this is to turn vehicle off. Also, when traveling down road at any given speed after he taking foot off accelerator, vehicle will accelerate suddenly. Brakes have to be pressed to slow vehicle down, happens randomly as well. Please provide any additional information/attachments.
- Florence, MS, USA
The forward clutch piston went out causing vehicle not to move into gear once stopped.
- Baltimore, MD, USA
No summary listed for above vehicle.
- Horn Lake, MS, USA
While driving in rain windshield wipers stopped working. Took vehicle to dealer who informed consumer that windshield wiper motor needed to be replaced. Part not available due to Ford changing design, trying to get part. Transmission failed.
- Hempsted, NY, USA
Transmission does not shift smoothly / jerks forward when placed in park / skips gears.
- Westland, MI, USA
- Portola, CA, USA