10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 8
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 63,757 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.
Part of the engine, top portion closest to the firewall on the passenger side of the vehicle, caught on fire while I was driving on a city street near my residence in lancaster, ca. I noticed the smoke emitting from under the hood when I came to a stop at the stop light.
- Lancaster, CA, USA
I CONTACTED FORD IN 2011 BECAUSE MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AND EXPLODED. THEY WROTE ME A LETTER ASKING FOR RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. I HAD BOUGHT IT USED FROM REYNOLDS FORD IT HAD 1 OWNER. I DID HAVE IT FIXED BY PEOPLE NOT AT FORD AND OIL CHANGES NOT AT FORD. I BOUGTH A NEW CAR BUT THE FIRE WAS SCARY AND MY LIABILTY DOES NOT PAY FOR IT. I RECENTLY SAW ANOTHER CAR ON FACEBOOK IT LOOKED LIKE MY CAR IA SKED WHAT KIND OF CAR IS THAT THEY SAID A 2000 FORD TAURUS. I BLEIVE THAT THIS SHOULD OF BEEN RECALLED WHEN I TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO ME. I WAS LUCKY I JUMPED OUT RIGHT AWAY OR I WOULD HAVE BURNED AND THANK GOD I HAD NO CHILDREN WITH ME. I AM REPORTING THIS TO YOU. PLEASE LET ALL OTHER FORD TAURUS OWNERS KNOW MY CAR HAD JUST HIT 200,000 MILES. I HOPE NO ONE GETS HURT. FORD SHOULD HAVE THE RECORDS OF THE PICTURES I SENT TO THEM. I WAS NOT GOING VERY FAST ON A LOCAL STREET WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DASH BOARD I OULLED OVER FAST UNDID MY SEAT BELT AND GRAB MY PURSE AS SOON AS I DID THAT THE MOTOR EXPLODED AND WAS ON FIRE. WITNESS SAID THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY THE FIREMAN WERE THERE PRETTY FAST AND THEY BELIEVED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. IF I CAN HELP IN ANY WAY PLEASE LET ME KNOW AT [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Bettendorf, IA, USA
My 2000 Ford Taurus ses is having a problem with the radio and windshield wipers.when I start the car in the morning the radio is playing and the windshield wipers are working.as I am driving the car the radio suddenly turns off and the windshield wipers won't work.the radio and windshield wipers won't work for the rest of the day.the next morning when I start the car to go somewhere the radio and windshield wipers are working again.as before, while I am driving the radio goes off and the windshield wipers stop working again and they won't work for the rest of the day.
- Springfield, MO, USA
The car burnt to the ground out of no where.
- Forth Worth, TX, USA
Started to smell burned wires in car. Look under dash and smoke and wires where burned. Brake lights dont work. Reading online and other issue with this car and people where having same issue. When I called dealer they said theres nothing they can do because they are no more recalls on that. But I think this is a safety issue and can cause great danger.
- Hampton, VA, USA
The brake lights not actuate and not be able the shift out of park is.
- San Juan, PR, USA
The car burst into flames 30 minutes after it was parked. No one was in the car. The car was not running. The fire was under the hood. When the fire was seen the fire department was called. They arrived shortly and put out the fire. Everything under the hood, and up into the dash was burned and melted. The car was a total loss.
- Rexburg, ID, USA
I have a 2000 Ford Taurus wagon that my spring snapped and sitting on top of my tire. Read that there was a recall, however it is saying it would have had to happen before 2005. I feel it should still be covered by Ford and I am a single mother of 3 and my income is limited. Paying between $600 and $1500 to have repaired is not available to me.
- River Rouge, MI, USA
While I was driving with my 13 year old sister in the passenger seat, on the streets, on christmas eve, going about 40 mph, I started to smell something as if plastic was burning, I turned into a shopping center nearby, but with it being christmas eve, it was so many cars inside the small structured shopping center that when the car began to smoke, I was uncertain if it was my car smoking or someone next to me. I continued to drive to the next open parking space, this guy quickly ran up to my car and told me to and my sister to get out because as I was driving he saw fire balls coming from the under my car. At this point it was clear that it was my car smoking very badly, I turned off the ignition and the front of the car was quickly engulfed in flames with in seconds. We quickly jumped out leaving the keys in the ignition. We called the fire department and they were able to put out the fire but didn't determine a concrete cause besides an electrical problem. While I was driving no kind of warning lights came on. No check engine light, the thermostat did not read "overheat" or anything. I had liability on my car. It was a 2000 Ford Taurus, but the insurance company wouldn't pay for anything. If it wasn't for that guy that ran up to my car and told me and my sister to get out it could have been a lot worse because we didn't see any flames until I cut the car off.
- Detroit, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Taurus. The contact walked to the back of his home where the vehicle was located and noticed that the vehicle was on fire. He was able to extinguish the fire, but no one was injured during the incident. The fire department was called, examined the vehicle, and stated that the fire originated from the dashboard. The contact did not notice any differences in the vehicle beforehand and has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 100,000.
- East Fultonham, OH, USA
2000 Ford Taurus. Vehicle has constant electrical problems. From January 9th until today 02/26/06, car has broken down 4 times. Won't start. Almost $1,000 later and 4 aaa tows, the car won't start again.
- Shirley, NY, USA
September 5, 2005 my car started to smoke and when the hood was lifted there was a fire. Within seconds my car was engulfed in flames. It was reported that there was some sort of electrical problem.
- Conyers, GA, USA
2000 Ford Taurus. Driving at night, headlights and all running-park lights failed. Parked car and idled while trying different headlight switch positions. After about 15 minutes, lighting resumed normal operation. Dealer (of course) could find no problems nor cause of the failure. Factory customer support was contacted, and have yet to receive call-back.
- Bloomington, IN, USA
Took 2000 Ford Taurus to the mechanic for service, and they said new spark plugs were needed. Ford dealer replaced another part on the vehicle. Currently, when it gets up to 40-50 mph it lurches 2 0R 3 times.
- Martinez, GA, USA
The vehicle did not start. When the key was placed in the ignition and turned, there was no sound. If the car is driven for a long period of time, it will not start back up after being shut off.
- Patterson, LA, USA
While driving 55 mph, the vehicle stalled. The driver tried to restart the vehicle, but failed. The driver had the vehicle towed to the dealer for analysis. The mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem.
- Fort Worth, TX, USA
Upon starting vehicle intake manifold exploded. This was caused by the power control module not being calibrated enough at time of manufacturing.
- Taunton, MA, USA
Tail light is on all the time just like some one is stepping on the brake. Dealer notified. Consumer stated there is no warranty for this vehicle.
- Allegan, MI, USA
Consumer states on 3 occasions the gear shift would not engage leaving the consumer stranded, when the vehicle was taken in for repair, the dealer repaired the brake wire, the second time the gear shift would not engage the dealer replaced the brake lamp switch which was a recall part, which had shorted out, the third ocassion the brake lamp switch was replaced again, however the dealer could not explain why this was happening.
- Sonoma, CA, USA
- Bethel, NC, USA