1994 Ford Taurus

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

• 12/31/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,TIRES

  AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND PULLS TO THE LEFT. ALSO, THE TIRE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IS WEARING. *AK

• 12/30/1997· POWER TRAIN

  CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO DRIVE IT WOULD HESITATE. WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETLY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

• 12/29/2001· POWER TRAIN

  THIS FORD TAURUS HAS A DEFECTIVE ALUMINUM SHIFT PISTON AND PREVENTS OPERATION OF VEHICLE AFTER STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT AND YOU WANT TO CONTINUE FORWARD VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD VERY VERY SLOWLY AND CREATES A HAZARD IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION, WITH CHILDREN IN VEHICLE THIS IS A DANGEROUS SCENARIO, VEHICLE THEN PROCEEDED FORWARD AND RESUMED GOING THRU THE OTHER GEARS NO PROBLEM. WE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT FORD TAURUS' ARE NOTED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND FELT THAT THE DEALER SHIP SHOULD HAVE WARNED US, CHILDREN MAY HAVE BEEN INJURED. I PUT ONLY 6473 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND AM A COLLEGE STUDENT ON THE DEAN'S LIST AND HONOR SOCIETY AND NEED VEHCILE TO ATTEND COLLEGE TO RECEIVE MY ENGINEERING DEGREE. I DO NOT HAVE $1706. + $360. THAT CROFT FORD INC. WANTS TO INSTALL A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. HOW CAN I PAY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE SAFETY ISSUE? HOW CAN I BE SURE THAT THE REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE A STEEL SHIFT PISTON AND NOT THE ALUMINUM? THESE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR SAFETY REASONS. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL SETTING IN AN INTERSECTION AND HAVING CARS COMING AT YOU? I HAVE HEARD THAT THE PISTON HEATS UP AND BREAKS AND A RING? BREAKS. IS THIS THE DEFECT?*AK

• 12/29/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. *AK

• 12/29/1999· VISIBILITY

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

• 12/29/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT

  THE MAIN FAILURE THAT I'M INTERESTED IN REPORTING IS THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM (FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET). I HAVE ADDED THE 3 FAILURES OF THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM SINCE I FEEL ONE OF THESE FAILURES MAY HAVE CAUSED THE ALREADY DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET TO BECOME EVEN MORE PRONE TO FAILURE. 1ST A/C FAILURE IN MARCH 98 WAS FOR ACCUMULATOR HOSE HAD A HOLE IN IT. 2ND A/C FAILURE IN MAY99 COIL-PULLEY-CLUTCH ASSY HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN JULY 99 ALL THE HOSES INCLUDING HEATER HOSE AND THE MANIFOLD-INTAKE LOWER WERE REPLACED. WHEN I DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM THIS REPAIR A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE CAME THRU THE VENTS INTO THE CAR AND THERE WAS A STRANGE ODOR. I CALLED THE GARAGE AND REPORTED THIS THEY SAID, " SOME OF THE ANTIFREEZE MUST HAVE GOT ONTO THE ENGINE AND NOT TO WORRY". FIFTEEN DAYS LATER ON 16JULY19 THE SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF THE VENTS AGAIN. THIS IS THE 3RD A/C WHICH WAS FOR A CORE HEATER ASSY. I THINK THAT THIS CAUSE A OVERHEATING OF THE ENGINE AND FURTHER DAMAGED THE ALREADY DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS (TO BE FAR THIS IS ONLY A GUESS ON MY PART SINCE THE TEMP. INDICATOR NEVER GOT IN THE RED AREA. ALSO I SHOULD MENTION THAT THE DAY AFTER ALL THE HOSES WERE CHANGED I HAD TO RETURN THE CAR SINCE THERE WAS ANTIFREEZE ON MY GARAGE FLOOR CAUSE MY A CLAMP NOT BEING INSTALL CORRECTLY. THE ON 14DEC99 THE CAR STARTED OVERHEATING, I CHECKED THE OVERFLOW ANTIFREEZE AREA ADDED ANTIFREEZE AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY DID A PRESSURE TEST AND FOUND A BAD HOSE AND REPLACED IT. ON 21DEC99 ENGINE OVERHEATING AGAIN. PUT MORE ANTIFREEZE IN TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. FIRST THEY CALLED AND SAID""IT WAS THE THERMOSTAT." THEN THE NEXT DAY THEY SAID, "BLOWN HEAD GASKET". I THINK ALL THIS OVERHEADING DIDN'T HELP THE HEAD GASKET BUT I REALLY THINK FOLD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND MADE TO REPLACE THESE HEAD GASKETS FREE EVEN THOUGH THE EXTENDED WARRENTY PERIOD ON THE RECALL HAS PASSED. THE RECALL WAS NOT CLEARLY WITTEN.

• 12/28/2000· STRUCTURE,SEATS

  FUSE FAILURE FROM SEAT CAUSES LOSS OF FUNCTION TO POWER LOCKS ON THE SAME CIRCUIT. *AK

• 12/28/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  TIMING COVER GASKET LEAKING COOLANT. DEALER EVALUATED HEAD GASKET UNDER OWNER TRANSMISSION; FOUND COOLANT LEAK. FORD AND DEALER WON'T OTIFICATION. REPORTED OIL & TRANSMISSION LEAKS, SAID HEAD GASKET OK. ANOTTHER GARAGE FIXED OIL/REPAIR AS PART OF ENGINE COOLING PROBLEMS WITH 3.8L ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM.*AK

• 12/28/1998· POWER TRAIN

  THE TRANSMISSSION WAS RECALLED ON THE 1991 - RECALL # 94M84 - LISTED AS IRRATIC TRANSMISSION OPERATION - THE 1994 MODEL HAS THE SAME FAILURE. FORD REFUSES TO RECALL THE YEAR. THE ONLY RECALL THEY SHOW ON THIS YEAR WAS IN 1997 FOR A HOSE AND IT WAS CONSTRAINED BY TIME & MILEAGE. MECHANICS EVERYWHERE ARE AWARE OF ALL THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON THE FORD TAURUS OF ANY YEAR. PLEASE CALL ME WITH ANY HELP YOU MAY HAVE. AS A MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY WITH 3 KIDS WE CAN NOT AFFORD THE $1500 (MIN.) + IT WILL COST TO PAY FOR THIS. ESPECIALLY SINCE WE STILL HAVE A BANK NOTE ON THE CAR FOR 2 MORE YEARS. THIS IS A CONCERN FOR MANY PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION. IS IT FAIR FOR A COMPANY & MECHANICS TO KNOW OF THESE PROBLEMS BUT STILL CONTINUE TO CHARGE & NOT RECALL. PLEASE HELP THE AVERAGE AMERICAN

• 12/28/1998· POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HESITATES TO SWITCH GEARS, AND AT TIMES LUNGES FORWARD. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 12/28/1998· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHEN DRIVING THE HEADLIGHT'S WILL COME ON AND GO OUT,CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. CONSUMER WILL NOT TO HAVE A GOOD VIEW WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, HEADLIGHT'S GET DIM. *AK

• 12/27/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  VEHICLE HAS SLOSHING FROM FUEL TANK ACTS LIKE REAR SUSPENSION IS LOOSE.

• 12/27/1994· VISIBILITY

  REARVIEW MIRROR DISCONNECTED FROM WINDSHIELD DUE TO GLUE FAILURE. *AK

• 12/24/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE VEHICLE IS OVER HEATING DUE TO ANTIFREEZE GETTING INTO THE OIL. CONSUMER STATES' TOOK TO FORD AND THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR, AND THE PROBLEM WAS STILL OCCURRING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS AND THE OVER HEATING STOPPED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

• 12/24/1998· POWER TRAIN

  WHENEVER DRIVING TRANSMISSION WOULD SKIP & MAKE LOUD BANGING NOISES. VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE & WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE GEARS. TOOK TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, SAID THAT THE ALUMINUM PISTON IS DEFECTIVE AND CAN LEAD TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK *ML

• 12/24/1998· POWER TRAIN

  SPEEDODMETER IS MAKING A FRYING NOISE

• 12/23/1998· SUSPENSION

  CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH COIL SPRING OR SHOCK ASBORERS. MFR. RECALL WAS DONE CONCERNING EITHER PROBLEM. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER ANY RECALL. CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT EXISTS UNDR RECALL, AND MANUFACTURER DOES NOT ACCEPT.*AK

• 12/23/1998· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. VEHICLE STARTED MOVING AT 5 MPH, AND THERE WAS LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. *AK

• 12/23/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS, SUCH AS LOSING POWER, AND THERE IS A CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IT FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE IS ABOUT TO FALL OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/22/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING BECAUSE THE ENGINE BLEW A HEAD GASKET. THE ORIGINAL ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED IN DEC OF 1997 WITH 55,000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 12/22/1998· STRUCTURE

  BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME WHICH SUPPORT THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSSION HAVE DETACHED DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 12/22/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  ABS FAILED AND WHEELS LOCKED.

• 12/22/1997· SEAT BELTS

  PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FRAYED AND FELL OFF.

• 12/21/2006· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  DURING A PANIC STOP IN MY 1994 FORD TAURUS SHO I EXPERIENCED A HYDRAULIC FAILURE IN MY BRAKES. THIS WAS DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINES. I CAME WITHIN 6 INCHES OF REAR ENDING ANOTHER CAR. I REPLACED BRAKE LINES FROM THE AREA WHERE IT WAS SOUND BACK TO THE REAR BRAKES. THE FORWARD LINES PROBABLY SHOULD ALSO BE REPLACED. *JB

• 12/21/2001· POWER TRAIN

  ALL TRANMISSION FOR THAT YEAR ARE BAD WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE.

• 12/21/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE HEAD GASKET AND GASKET COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALMOST CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AT 66,000 MILES. *AK

• 12/21/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAPPENS ELSEWHERE, BUT THIS HAPPENED TO ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXPRESSWAY IN CHARLOTTE, NC IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. CAR JUST QUIT RUNNING, COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THANKS. *AK

• 12/20/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  FORDS RECALL OF THEIR 3.8 V6 MOTOR IS A TRAVESTY THAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT! THEY KNEW THE MOTOR WAS BAD, PUT OUT A RECALL WITH A MILEAGE LIMIT (100,000), BUT THEN ALSO A TIME LIMIT (7 YEARS)! HOW ABOUT A CAR THAT IS NOT DRIVEN THE 100K, AND GETS THE PROBLEM? THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT IF ONE GOES 100K, THEN THEY GOT SOME VALUE OUT OF IT! THEREFORE FORD DID THEIR JOB! BUT WHEN ONE PAYS GOOD MONEY FOR THEIR SCREW UP, AND THE PROBLEM HAPPENS, AND DID NOT DO 100K, THEN THE PURCHASER DID NOT GET SOME VALUE OUT OF IT! FORD SHOULD STICK TO THE 100K, AND NOT THE TIME LIMIT! THE SOB'S HAVE ONCE AGAIN, GOTTEN AWAY WITH A LAZYASS DESIGN, AND WERE ABLE TO THROW A LAME EXCUSE AND GET AWAY WITH IT! I'D LIKE TO KNOW, WHO AND HOW TO SUE! SOME HAVE HAD SUCCESS, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW THEY DID! *JB

• 12/20/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING AND CONSTANTLY LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE AND OIL. CAUSE OF LEAK UNKNOWN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE RADIATOR BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THEN THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND THE OVER HEATING STOPPED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

• 12/19/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THERE'S NO HEAT. *AK

• 12/18/2001· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IT JUST SET ON FIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE, THE SPEAKERS ON THE DOOR UP TO THE DASHBOARD WHERE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS LOCATED.FIRE DEPT. SAID IT WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT.*AK

• 12/17/1999· POWER TRAIN

  THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE TRANSMISSION HAS GIVEN US PROBLEMS, THE FIRST TIME WAS SEPT 1998 AND THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON WAS CRACKED AND REPLACED AT THAT TIME APPROX 23000 MILES AGO. *AK

• 12/17/1997· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

• 12/16/2005· SUSPENSION

  DT: THE CONTACT STATES VEHICLE VIBRATED. SHE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND RUBBED ON THE TIRES. THE COIL SPRINGS AND TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE STRUTS AND STRUT PLATES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB

• 12/16/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  MY WIRE GOT INTO THE CAR IN OUR DRIVEWAY, STARTED THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY PUT IT INTO "DRIVE". THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO ITS MAXIMUM RPMS, FRONT WHEELS SPUN ON ASPHALT DRIVE, FINALLY GRIPPED THE DRIVE AND SHOT DOWN THE DRIVE AT ABOUT 50MPH. SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR..NO BRAKES. THE CAR HIT OUR FIREWOOD STACK AND PUSHED THE WOOD IN FRONT OF THE CAR UNTIL THE FRONT WHEELS CAME OFF THE GROUND, THEN HIT A TREE AT THE END OF THE DRIVE. THE ENGINE STOPPED, SHE TURNED OFF THE KEY AND EXITED THE CAR. I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR EARLIER IN THE DAY AND COULD NOT GET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO ACTIVATE. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THIS EVENT! *AK

• 12/16/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKET FAIURE. *AK

• 12/14/1998· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILED TO OPERATE WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS IS ALSO MFR. DEFECT FOR VEHICLE WITH ONLY 76000 MILES OF WEAR. DEALER NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

• 12/13/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CAR WAS HAVING SLIGHT AND PERIODIC ROUGH IDLE, MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT WITH HAD GASKET FAILURE. TWO DAYS LATER THE SAME MECHANIC HAS STATED THAT THE WHOLE ENGINE IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT, DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. NO PROBLEMS WERE NOTICED. HAVE CONTACTED FORD & THE DEALER, BOTH HAVE ADMITTED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT THAT THE WARRANTY EXTENSION THAT WAS OFFERED HAS EXPIRED. I DO NOT RECALL RECEIVING ANY NOTICE FOR THIS DEFECT, NOR DID MY CAR HAVE PROBLEMS DURING THE RECALL PERIOD. I HAVE SURVEYED THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH SAME 3.8 HEAD GASKET FAILURES AND FORD IS REFUSING TO RECALL OR REPLACE THEM. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE I CAN TALK TO PRIOR TO VISITING THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND A LAWYER ? *AK

• 12/13/1996· EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY

  WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN EXPERIENCED WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH FAILURE, JUST STOPPED WORKING, ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY WIPERS FAILWHEN USING TURN SIGNALS, NOT FIXED. *AK *SLC

• 12/12/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUME RWAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN SHE APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT. VEHICLE CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GARAGE, AND MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

• 12/12/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE EXPERIENCES STALLING DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION MODULE, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A MODULE BECAUSE IT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN ST. LOUIS. *SLC

• 12/12/1996· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION PLANETARY GEAR FAILURE. *AK

• 12/11/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  FORD AT FIRST DENIED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADGASKET ASSEMBLY OF THE ENGINE. I CALLED THEM LATER AFTER I FOUND OUT THEY HAD A "SECRET" RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM WE HAD. THEY SAID THERE MIGHT BE A PROGRAM FOR THAT PART, BUT ONLY IF IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED AT A DEALERSHIP. WE USED A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THUS THEY DENIED COVERAGE TO US. *AK

• 12/11/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  SAME PROBLEM EXISTS WITH MY 1995 WINDSTAR, VIN# [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

• 12/10/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  DUE TO THE LOCATION AND DESIGN OF THE FUEL LINE PLASTIC LINE IS PUSHED AGAINST THE FLOORBOARD AND SIDE PANEL WELD, THE WELD IS BENT, CAUSING A FUEL LEAKAGE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 12/10/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE DRIVING CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING GAS PEDAL TO TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR. ALSO, BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE , PLACE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 12/09/2000· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. CONTACTED REPAIR SHOP THEY STATED THAT IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING A LOT TO THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF VEHICLE

• 12/08/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CRUISE CONTROL HAS NOT WORKED FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. WAS QUOTED $65 JUST TO LOOK AT IT. *AK

• 12/07/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  VIBRATION IN FRONT END WHEN BRAKING,RESURFACED ROTORS TO REPAIR. YH

• 12/07/1999· POWER TRAIN

  SPEEDOMETER FAILED AND REPLACED ON 5/98, REPLACEMENT FAILED. MJS