1993 Ford Taurus

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  WHEN DRIVING AT 70 MPH NOTICED VEHICLE STALLING, AND THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. ALSO, TRANSMISSION GOES INTO ANOTHER GEAR. *AK

• 12/30/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE HEAD GASKETS FAILED, CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT ALSO CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO FAIL CAUSING ALMOST $1300 IN REPAIRS FORD WOULD NOT HELP EVEN THOUGH IT HAS A SERVICE BULLITIN ON THIS PROBLEM. HEAD GASKETS SHOULD NOT FAIL EVER. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS CAR AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL. *AK

• 12/30/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  BOTH ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE RACED AND WENT THROUGH THE HOOD. *AK

• 12/29/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  3.8 LT. ENGINES W/ AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ARE VERY FAILURE PRONE, FORD HAS A REAL PROBLEM AND SHOULD MAKE IT RIGHT WITH ALL THE PEOPLE THAT GOT SCREWED BY THESE CARS. *AK

• 12/29/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VISIBILITY

  HEAD GASKETS BLOWED OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3,000. MILES, WATER KEPT A CHECK ON WAS DRIVING HOME ON INTERSTATE WITH 2 YEAR OLD CHILD WHEN MOTOR STARTED RUNNING HOT, PULLED OVER COOLED OFF, CHECKED WATER IT EAS FINE, DROVE ON, WHEN GOT HOME WAS HOT AGAIN. THEY HAVE RECALLED 94 AND UP MOTORS SAME AS MINE, MAKES IT VERY QUESTIONABLE AS TO WHY 93 WAS NOT RECALLED. SPENT $2,000. DOLLARS TO FIX EVERYTHING. (LOTS OF MONEY TO SOME PEOPLE). OTHER PROBLEM IS SWITCH THAT TURNS WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON AND OFF, WORKS SOME TIMES, SOMETIMES DOESN'T. WILL COST OVER 200. DOLLARS TO FIX (KIND OF HIGH) , BUT HAS TO BE FIXED TO KEEP FROM WRECKING.

• 12/29/1998· SUSPENSION

  CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH DEALER HONORING MFR. RECALL # 98S-15/ 98M-02 : FORD/ FRONT COIL SPRINGS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RAN OUT OF PARTS AND HAS THEM ON ORDER. DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD BE IN, AND THEY HAVE LOTS OTHER CONSUMERS BEFORE HER, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO GIVE CONSUMER AN APPROXIMATE TIME FOR REPAIRS. *AK

• 12/29/1998· SUSPENSION

  WHEN DRIVING AND MAKING A TURN TO THE RIGHT OR MAKING A TURN TO THE LEFT, THERE IS A LOUD POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHENEVER CONSUMER MAKES A TURN. *AK

• 12/29/1995· AIR BAGSCrash

  NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS AIR BAG IN FRONT END COLLISION, CAUSING INJURIES. *DSH

• 12/28/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING CAR OVERHEATS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, CONSUMER HAS TO PULL OVER SO ENGINE WON'T LOCK UP,. THERE IS RECALL 97V019000 ON ENGINE FAN OVERHEATING, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

• 12/28/1998· STEERING

  RACK AND PINION STEERING BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING, REASON UNKNOWN . VEHICLE ONLY HAD 61,000 MILES OF WEAR. BELEIVED THIS CONDITION WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

• 12/28/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  REAR MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE ON TWO OCCASIONS, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 12/28/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES FAILED TWICE. *AK

• 12/28/1994· AIR BAGSCrash

  AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE COMPLETLY DURING AN ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURY DUE TO CHEMICALS IN AIR BAG CANNISTER FAILING TO BURN COMPLETLY. *AW

• 12/27/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  COOLANT IS LEAKING THROUGH THE GASKET. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK *YC

• 12/27/1996· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  HIT A BUMP AND THE HIGHLIGHTS CUT OFF, TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE PARKING LIGHTS CAME ON, TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND TURNED THEM BACK ON FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO WORK CORRECTLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

• 12/27/1995· WHEELS

  NOISE COMING FROM WHEEL AREA. *SD

• 12/26/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKET FAILURE. COOLANT TEMPERATURE FULL HOT, THEN COOLS, THEN FULL HOT, ETC. *AK

• 12/26/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 78,000. OUR MECHANIC TOLD US THIS SEEMS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM ON 1993 AND 1994 3.8 L FORD TAURUS ENGINES. SEVERAL PEOPLE WE KNOW HAVE STATED THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS ENGINE. THIS LEADS US TO BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. WHEN WE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, WE WERE INFORMED NO RECALL OR EXTENDED SERVICE IS AVAIALABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM EVENTHOUGH THEY SAID IT IS NOT UNCOMMON. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF DID TELL US IT IS UNUSUAL FOR A HEAD GASKET TO GO AT 78,000. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF ALSO TOLD US THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM OF 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES ONLY APPLIES TO 1995 VERSIONS OF THE 3.8 L ENGINE. OUR SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT OF THE RACK AND PINION. THE FRONT OF END OF THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND WERE EVENTUALLY COVERED UNDER A RECALL. HOWEVER, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT STRUTS, BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS, AND RACK AND PINION ON SEPERATE OCCASSIONS THROUGH 1998 (THE VEHICLE HAD ROUGHLY 65,000 MILES AT THIS TIME). WHILE WE WERE IN FOR THE LAST RECALL ON THE VEHICLE, THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT ALSO TOLD US OUR ENGINE MOUNTS WERE RUSTING OUT AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT APPEARS THAT THE 1993 FORD TAURUS HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DURABILITY OF THE FRONT END COMPONTS. *AK

• 12/23/2000· TIRES

  A FEW DAYS AGO I DISCOVERED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE APPEARED TO BE LOW ON AIR. I HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED ON 8/25/2000 WITH GOODYEAR AMERICAN EAGLE P205/65R15 AT WAL-MART IN BAYTOWN, TEXAS. THE TIRES WERE DUE FOR ROTATION AND BALANCE, SO I HAD WAL-MART IN BAYTOWN, TEXAS PERFORM THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND CHECK THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE FOR A LEAK. AFTER THE MECHANIC REMOVED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE FROM THE RIM HE DISCOVERED A CRACK ON THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE TIRE. THE CRACK RAN PERPENDICULAR TO THE DIRECTION OF TREAD. THE CRACK RAN ACROSS THE TREAD AREA AND UP INTO BOTH SIDEWALLS. THE CRACK WAS NOT VISIBLE ON THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF THE TIRE. I LOOKED AT THE TIRE AND THERE APPEARED TO BE A SLIGHT MOLD INDENTATION IN THE CRACK AREA. I CONTACTED GOODYEAR'S CONSUMER INFORMATION SERVICE AND PROVIDED THEM WITH THE SAME INFORMATION. THEY ACCEPTED THE INFORMATION BUT ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS A WAL-MART PROBLEM. WAL-MART REPLACED THE TIRE IN QUESTION AT NO EXPENSE. I VISITED WAL-MART YESTERDAY 12/23/2000, AND SPOKE TO THE STORE MANAGER AND MECHANIC. THEY AGREED TO CHECK THE REMAINING THREE TIRES FOR PROBLEMS NEXT WEEK. THE MECHANIC WAS GOING TO TRY TO LOCATE THE TIRE THAT WAS REMOVED AND STORE IT FOR EXAMINATION. THE INTERIOR TIRE DAMAGE WAS VERY UNUSUAL. I'M NOT ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY TIRES, BUT ALSO THE SAFETY OF OTHER PEOPLES TIRES. IT MAY BE A GOOD IDEA TO TRY TO GET HOLD OF THIS TIRE FOR EXAMINATION. PLEASE CONTACT ME, IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. *AK (TIRESIZE: P205/65R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/65R15 )

• 12/23/2000· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  1ST REPAIR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, NEW PART LASTED UNDER 2 YEARS, NEXT REPLACEMENT WAS JUST UNDER $ 400 AND IT WAS WOBBLY, BUT COULDN'T BE ADJUSTED ANY BETTER. NEW CABLES WERE PUT IN, THE 2ND TIME, THE THIRD TIME, A USED CABLE WORKED BETTER THAN A NEW ONE. ALSO WE HAD OUR MECH. INSTALL A USED SPEEDOMETER, AS THE COST WAS PROHIBITIVE, AND THE DEALER WASN'T ABLE TO FULLY CORRECT THE PROBLEM ANYWAY. HOW CAN A CAR EAT SPEEDOMETERS ANYWAY? THE TICKING SOUND WAS SO IRRITATING, AND THE NEEDLE WAVERD SO MUCH YOU COULDN'T TELL YOUR SPEED. THAT IS UNSAFE, AND UNREASONABLE.

• 12/23/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  FRONT MOTOR MOUNT FAILED SUMMER OF 1998. REPLACED. ON 11/24/98, FRONT MOTOR MOUNT BOLT CAME OUT AND REAR MOUNT FAILED. TOTAL FAILURE OCCURED WHEN CAR WAS SHIFTED TO REVERSE AT A FULL STOP. (LARGE CLUNK OF CAR). WHEN CAR WAS PUT INTO FORWARD, CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY!!!! LARGE JERK OF CAR AS IT WENT INTO GEAR. I PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO A PLACE WHERE I COULD TURN OFF HIGHWAY. PUT INTO FORWARD AGAIN TO GET OFF ROAD...ANOTHER CLUNCK. STEAM OUT OF ENGINE...NO POWER AT ALL NOW (THROTTLE DID NOTHING). FRONT MOTOR MOUNT BOLT GONE, REAR MOUNT BROKEN, TOP RADIATOR HOSE PULLED OFF ENGINE, POWER STEERING PUMP DAMAGED (HAD TO BE REPLACED), HOOD DENTED. THROTTLE CABLE DISCONNECTED, THROTTLE ASSEMBLY BENT (CAUSE OF ACCELERATION). TWO FORD DEALERS AND ONE INDEPENDANT REPAIRMAN TELL ME THIS IS NORMAL FOR TAURUSES. YET FORD SAY IT ISN'T DEFECTIVE. THEY SAY I'M LUCKY TO HAVE GOTTEN 68,000 MILES, MOST FAIL BEFORE 60K. THE UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION VERY EASILY COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAR REACHED APPROX. 35 MPH BEFORE I PUT INTO NEUTRAL.

• 12/22/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TWO MOTOR OR ENGINE MOUNTS ARE BROKEN. DEALER CONFIRMED THIS WHEN VEH. IN THEIR SHOP. RECALLS WERE MADE ON FORDS MOTOR MOUNTS OR OTHER YEARS, AND SO ARE THESE MOTOR / ENGINE MOUNTS DIFFERENT THAT THE RECALLED PARTS?*AK

• 12/22/1998· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE TRANMISSION FAILED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO GET SOMEONE TO PUSH THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THE COSNUMER LOST ALL POWER. DEALER HAS TO REBUILT THE TRANMISSION. *AK

• 12/22/1997· VISIBILITY

  WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE IN ANY INTERMITTENT POSITION, THEY STOP, AND DO NOT COME BACK ON UNTIL RIGHT OR LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS USED.

• 12/22/1997· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  HEAD LIGHTS, INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION, EXTERIOR PARKING LAMPS, AND REAR MARKER LAMPS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY.

• 12/22/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CRUISE CONTROL CABLE STUCK IN WIDE OPEN THROTTLE. *AK

• 12/21/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  FORD WILL NOT FIX THE 93 TAURUS. ONLY 94 AND UP TAURUS EVEN THOUGHT THE DEFECT IS THE SAME.

• 12/21/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ENGINE DIED/ LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. PUTS CAR IN NEUTRAL, IT ALLOWED IT TO RESTART. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. CONTACTED DEALER. HAS BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE, BUT NOT ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 12/21/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  FLYWHEEL ASSEMBLY AND FRONT COVER GASKETS FAILED. *SLC

• 12/21/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE GASKET WARPED - DEFECTIVE. CAUSED CAR TO OVERHEAT BY LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE.

• 12/21/1998· SUSPENSION

  CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE MAKES A CRACKING AND CRUNCHING SOUND AROUND THE FRONT TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. ASSOCIATED WITH RECALL NUMBER 98V094000.*AK

• 12/20/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I TALKED TO FORD OF CANADA OVER 2 YEARS AGO ABOUT THE OIL PAN RUSTING BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HEARD OF AN OIL PAN RUSTING. FORD MOTOR COMPANY DID NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. NOW THE OIL PAN HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND IT IS COSTING ME ABOUT $ 500.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. TWO YEARS AGO IS WHEN MY 3.8L HEAD GASKET STORY BEGAN. FORD MOTOR COMPANY DID NOT HELP ME AT THE TIME WHEN I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEN IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR I FOUND OUT THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS EXTENDED BENFITS TO 1994 AND NEWER FORD TAURUS OWNERS. WHILE I AM HAPPY THAT THOSE OWNERS ARE GETTING HELP THAT STILL LEAVES ME OUT IN THE COLD. I TALKED TO FORD IN JUNE ABOUT THE EXTENDED BENFITS AND WAS TOLD TO FAX IN MY RECEIPTS FOR THE HEAD GASKET REPAIRS FOR THEM TO JUDGE IF I WOULD GET REIMBURSED. I DID NOT GET REIMBURSED AND FROM WHAT I CAN FIND OUT NO 1993 OWNERS OF FORD TAURUS 3.8L DID GET ANY HELP FROM FORD. I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY COMPLAINTS FORD HAS HAD ABOUT OIL PANS RUSTING AND LEAKING BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THEY DROPPED THE PRICE ON REPLACEMENT OIL PANS BACAUSE OF THE VOLUME OF SALES.*AK

• 12/19/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKETS FAILED REQUIRING ENGINE REPAIR TO INCLUDE HEAD GASKETS AND VALVE COVER GASKETS AS WELL AS COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH AND TUNE-UP. FORD STATES NO PROGRAM FOR ASSISTANCE THOUGH ON 94-95 MODELS A RECALL PROGRAM IS OFFERED.

• 12/18/2000· SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN

  WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED OR MOVED FROM DRIVE OR REVERSE IT MAKES A VERY LOUD NOISE ALSO, STEERING ALIGNMENT GOES OUT ALOT. NO OTHER SIGNS OF PROBLEM. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED. *AK

• 12/18/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL, VEHICLE ENDED UP GOING OFF THE ROAD AND INTO THE BUSHES WHERE THERE WERE LOGS ON THE GROUND, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *SLC

• 12/18/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. WILL RESTART IN 10 MIN. FUEL PUMP REPLACED X2, PUMP RELAY X1. DEALER NO HELP. *AK

• 12/18/1997· SUSPENSION

  TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION WHILE THERE WAS INFORMED THAT BOTHFRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE CRACKED & NEEDED REPLACEMENT BEFORE VEHICLE COULD PASS INSPECTION. *AK

• 12/18/1994· VISIBILITY

  NOISY HEATER/BLOWER FAN DUE TO DEFECTIVE MOTOR.

• 12/17/2003· STRUCTURE

  CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT, AND TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT LEFT SIDE FRAME WHERE THE COIL SPRING WAS LOCATED CRACKED. *AK

• 12/17/2001· STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATED SHE AND DAUGHTER WERE TRAPPED INT HE VEHICLE, CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE STEERING LOCKED UP.*SLC

• 12/17/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATOR. WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

• 12/17/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE FOR NO REASON. THE REAR MOTOR MOUNTS HAD ALSO FAILED. ALSO, THE RADIATOR HOSE WAS RIPPED AWAY. *AK

• 12/17/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS DETERIORATED, WATER GOT INTO THE ENGINE & IT STARTED TO SPLATTER & STALL OUT. *AK

• 12/16/1999· VISIBILITY

  EA99023; WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS. DEALER CORRECTED PROBLEM. *YC

• 12/16/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WE UNDERSTAND THAT FORD HAS BEEN RECALLING THEIR TAURUSES DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THEIR MOTOR HEADS CRACKING. OUR HEADS CRACKED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND TO CRACK THE MOTOR BLOCK. WE NOW HAVE TO BUY A NEW MOTOR. EVEN THOUGH FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, THEY ARE ONLY RECALLING THE 1994S AND 1995. IF FORD KNOWS THAT THE 1993S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY WON'T THEY HELP US. WE CONTACTED THEM AND THEY SAID FLAT OUT "NO."

• 12/16/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  VEHICLE SURGES.

• 12/16/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STARTER AND THE WIRING FROM THE STARTER, CAUGHT ON FIRE. REPLACED STARTER AND WIRING. *AK

• 12/15/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  TRANNY AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AT 96,000 MILES

• 12/15/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKET FAILED. *AK

• 12/15/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE HEAD GASKETS AND MOTOR MOUNTS REQUIRED REPAIR, DUE TO THESE FAILURES THE ANTI FREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE DUE TO LEAKING. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENGINE BEING DEFECTIVE TO EXPERIENCE THESE FAILURES PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE REACHING 20,000. *MJS