1999 Ford Taurus Sho Engine Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS SHO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND BLACK SMOKE ROSE FROM THE ENGINE. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED AND NEARLY CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE REAR ENDED. BEFORE HE REACHED THE FREEWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CALLED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 126,000.

NHTSA ID

10203947

Incident

Feb 19, 2002

Mileage

126,000 mi

THE REAR EXHAUST SPROCKET ON THE CAMSHAFT OF MY 1999 FORD TAURUS SHO CAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE VALVES TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE PISTONS. THIS IS NOT A RARE OCCURENCE EITHER. MANY CASES OF THIS ARE BEING DOCUMENTED ON A WEBSITE CALLED WWW.V8SHO.COM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10143080

Incident

Nov 3, 2005

Mileage

99,990 mi

EXPERIENCED A CAMSHAFT RELATED ENGINE FAILURE AT 70 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE OF A MAJOR INTERSTATE. VEHICLE HAD TO TAKE EMERGENCY ACTION TO CROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER WHILE THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND NO POWER ASSIST WAS AVAILABLE TO BRAKES OR STEERING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN OPERATING FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES OF CITY DRIVING AND 1 HOUR OF HIGHWAY SPEEDS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER SHOWED ME THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE EXACT SAME CONDITION REPORTED ON WWW.V8SHO.COM. THERE OVER 530 DOCUMENTED CASES OF CAMSHAFT TO SPROCKET SPLEEN FAILURES WHERE THE PISTONS THEN IMPACT STATIONARY VALVES AND DESTROY THE MOTOR. THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER RECOMMENDED I CONTACT FORD ENGINEERING TO ADVISE THEM OF THE FAILURE SINCE IT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A MAINTENANCE OR WEAR RELATED ISSUE. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A JUNK YARD MOTOR AT A COST OF OVER $6000 SINCE THE PISTONS AND VALVES HAD DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO SERVICE BULLETINS, CONTACT FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE NO NEW FACTORY ENGINES AVAILABLE AND 3RD PARTY MOTORS WERE TWICE THE BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THE CAR.*AK PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE SCOPE OF THIS PROBLEM AND REQUIRE THE MANUFACTURER TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS ENGINEERING FLAW. THIS FAILURE IS A CATASTROPHIC ONE THAT DESTROYS AN ENGINE AND IS CERTAINLY SOLVABLE IF ADDRESSED EARLY ENOUGH. MY FAMILY WAS MOST FORTUNATE THAT THIS PROBLEM DID NOT CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10118613

Incident

Apr 10, 2005

Mileage

66,985 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE PRODUCES A TICKING NOISE. DEALER STATES THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE IN MOTION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10116979

Incident

Mar 4, 2005

Mileage

89,515 mi

OIL PAN GASKET HAS SLIPPED OUT AT THE SAME SPOT,UNDER THE PULLEY. THERE IS NO BOLTS IN THE CURVE UNDER THE PULLEY, TO HOLD THE GASKET IN PLACE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10106397

Incident

Jan 11, 2002

Mileage

49,907 mi

IT IS A KNOWN FACT, TO FORD AND THEIR DEALERS, THAT THE 1996 THROUGH 1999 FORD TAURUS V8 SHO HAVE DEFECTIVE CAM SHAFTS. WHY HASN'T ANTHING BEEN DONE TO PROTECT THE DRIVING PUBLIC FROM THIS MENACE. GO TO THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE. *AK HTTP://AUTO.COM/INDUSTRY/TAURUS24_20021024.HTM MY SON WAS DRIVING A 1999 FORD TAURUS V8 SHO WHEN THE CAMSHAFT FAILED CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD HE WAS NOT HURT. THERE ARE HUNDREDS, MORE LIKELY THOUSANDS OF FORD TAURUS V8 SHO CARS WITH DANGEROUS CAMSHAFT DEFECTS.

NHTSA ID

10098265

Incident

Aug 8, 2004

Mileage

60 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HEARD A TICKING NOISE, THEN A BACKFIRE AND THE CAR DIED. THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT I NEED A NEW HEAD AND THAT IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO PUT IN A USED ENGINE. THEY SAY THAT THE REAR HEAD, ALL THE VALVES ARE STUCK OPEN, BUT THEY DIDN'T GO ANY FUTHER TO TELL ME WHY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10095813

Incident

Sep 27, 2004

Mileage

67,000 mi

I AM THE OWNER OF A 99 TAURUS SHO. VIN#[XXX]. I LEARNED ONLY RECENTLY OF THE CAM GEARS SPINNING FREELY AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. I AM FORKING OUT OVER FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS OF MY MONEY TO HAVE THE GEARS WELDED TO THE CAMS. WHILE I PERSONALLY HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY INJURIES THE POTENTIAL IS THERE. IMAGINE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON A BUSY INTERSTATE AND HAVING YOUR ENGINE FAIL. NO POWER STEERING NO BRAKES. IT COULD BE FATAL. THERE ARE NEARLY FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THIS AT WWW.V8SHO.COM. AND THE NUMBERS ARE RISING, BETWEEN 7- AND 12 PER MONTH. THESE ARE JUST THE ONES BEING REPORTED. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY MORE THERE ARE. WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN THE ENGINE DAMAGE IS CATASTROPHIC AND REPAIR BILLS ARE IN EXCESS OF THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS. PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS AND HELP. I UNDERSTAND A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT HAS BEEN FILED BECAUSE FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM NOR ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *AK UPDATED 07/25/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10093205

Incident

Sep 26, 2004

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FROZEN CAM SHAFT DUE TO FAULTY PRESS FIT CAM CONTAINER REPORTED ON 30% OF YAMAHA BUILT FORD TAURUS SHO V8 ENGINES (ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT) BUILT BETWEEN 1996 & 1999. * CB

NHTSA ID

10054397

Incident

Jan 4, 2004

Mileage

66,000 mi

I WAS MAKING A TURN FROM A MAIN STREET ONTO A SIDE ROAD WHEN MY ENGINE FAILED. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK MAKING THE SAME TURN. THE ENGINE FAILED BECAUSE THE TIMING GEAR ON ONE OF THE INTAKE CAMSHAFTS SHEARED OFF OF THE SHAFT. THIS DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1996-1999 FORD SHO'S.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026092

Incident

Jul 2, 2003

Mileage

78,267 mi

CAMSHAST SLIPPED AND CAUSED MOTOR DAMAGE. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT SO NO SAFETY ISSUE. HAVE READ THRU WWW.V8SHO.COM THIS IS A PROBLEM FORD DENIES AND THINK A RECALL IS IN ORDER. IT HAS HAPPENED TO PEOPLE WHILE DRIVING AND THEY LOST POWER STEERING AND BREAKING CAUSING A REAL SAFETY ISSUE

NHTSA ID

10000563

Incident

Dec 22, 2000

Mileage

49,680 mi