Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1990 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
HEATER CORE LEAKS. THIS PART HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 5 YEARS OF TIME. IT IS A CHEAPLY MADE PART AND PROBABLY THE MOST PROFITABLE FORD MAKES. LABOR IS 10 HOURS TO REPLACE THE PART. APPLIES TO ALL TAURUS'. *NLM
PROBLEM OF GLARE FROM ONCOMING CARS AT NIGHT. PROBLEM MAINLY WITH SUVS AND PICKUPS AND OTHER HIGH FIXED LIGHTS. *AK
THIS CAR HAS HAD A LOT OF WORK DONE TO IT.IT NEVER WORKS RIGHT. IT HAS HAD OVERHEATING PROBLEMS,THERE HAS BEEN OVER 5000.00 PUT TOWARDS IT TO FIX &IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING.I HAVE TAKEN IT TO OVER 5 MECHANICS IN THE PAST 7 MONTHS ALSO THE HEATER HAS NEVER WORKED THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT SEVERAL TIMES TO FIX. I THINK THIS CAR IS A LEMON!!!!!!!!!I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A FORD AGAIN. THE MONEY I HAVE SPENT ON THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED AS A DOWN PAYMENT ON ANOTHER ONE.DEFINATELY A LEMON. *AK
TRANSMISSION CAN'T TAKE HILLS, TRANSMISSION HAS TO BARE DOWN GOING UP HILL, AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS AROUND MAIN SEAL. THIS WILL BLEED TRANSMISSION DRY. CONSUMER HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION COMPANY, AND HAD IT REBUILT AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. THEN 6 MONTHS LATER, TRANMISSION FLUID IS LEAKING OUT AGAIN.*AK CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A LOSS OF HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER. WINDHSHIELD WIPERS WORK POORLY. DRIVER SEATBELT IS DEFECTIVE. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. *SLC
WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEMSELVES OFF IN THE UP POSITION. HAVE TO PUSH ON WIPERS WHILE TURNING THE WIPERS ON AND OFF TO GET THEM TO LIE DOWN IN THE PROPER POSITION.
I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE JAN 1994; IT HAD 78,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IN THE LAST YEAR I HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH NO RESOLUTION. FRONT CENTER SEAT BELT BUCKLE BUTTON REMAINS DEPRESSED AND WILL NOT RETURN TO THE TOP POSITION MAKING IT UNUSEABLE AS A RESTRAINT. TAILGATE LATCH HAS BROKEN OFF DEEP INSIDE THE DOOR AND WILL NO LONGER LATCH. CATALYTIC CONVERTER "RAM'S HORN" BURNED OUT IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR; STARTED ENGINE AND BARELY AVOIDED SERIOUS ENGINE FIRE AS RESULT OF CONVERTER FAILURE. CAR SURGES WHEN IDLING, CAUSING IT TO LUNGE BACK AND FORTH SO HARD IT IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FAILED; WINSHIELD WIPERS STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHEN USING INTERMITTENT WIPE; A YEAR AGO WIPER MOTOR BURNED OUT AND WAS REPLACED. HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION WORKED ON THREE TIMES IN THREE YEARS. LED INDICATOR ON STEREO BURNED OUT 1 YEAR AFTER CAR WAS PURCHASED. ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED-ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONTINUOUS DESPITE $3,000.00 + IN ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THEM. ALSO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE RADIATOR, AS WELL AS BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TRANSAXLES ON FRONT OF VEHICLE IN AUGUST 1999. FREEZE PLUGS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. CAR CURRENTLY "STORED" IN MY DRIVEWAY, AS I CANNOT AFFORD TO PUT ANY MORE $ INTO USELESS REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT RETURN TO RESTING POSITION. WOULD STOP IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD. HAVE NOT TURNED VEHICLE OFF. WOULD HAVE TO FORCE TO RESTING POSITION & THEN TURN VEHICLE OFF. HAS BEEN TO DEALER EACH TIME FOR PROBLEM. INFORMED BY MECHANIC WIPERS NOT WORTH EXPENSE OF REPAIRING. *AK
WE READ IN THE PAPER THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN REPORTED TO THE NHSTA. THE WIPERS MOTOR IN THIS VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE INTERMITENT WIPER DOES NOT WORK.
WHEN YOU TURN THE WIPERS OFF, WITH THE IGNITION ON OR OFF, THEY STICK STRAIGHT UP INSTEAD OF DOWN UNDER HOOD. SEVERAL DEALERS TOLD ME THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD. I BEG TO DIFFER IT BLOCKS VISION AND IS NO DOUBT A HAZZARD. SEVERAL TECHS DENIED EVER HEARING OF PROBLEM, SOME ADMITTED IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE SEEN FOUR OTHER CARS WITH WIPERS UP, THREE HAVE BEEN TAURUSES, SO I KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM.I HAVE READ SEVERAL NEWS PAPER ARTICLES ON FORD AND GM WIPER PROBLEMS SO I FEEL A RECALL IS WARRANTED AND I SHOULD GET MY $168 BACK. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HAS NOT CAUSED ANY ACCIDENTS YET?
SINCE MID 1997, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL REGULARLY. THEY USUALLY WORK, BUT OCCATIONALLY, THEY WILL STOP, OR SLOW DOWN TO AN UNUSABLE SPEED. SOMETIMES THIS CAN BE FIXED BY TURNING THEM OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. SOMETIMES THIS DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I NOTIFIED FORD OF THE PROBLEM, AND THEY SAID THEY WILL NOT PAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I BELIVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAN STOP UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING IN STORMY WEATHER. THIS CAUSES SUDDEN LOSS OF VISIBILITY.
FUEL INJECTION- CAR STALLS, WON'T ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. WIPERS- STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD, VISIBILITY HAMPERED. WHEELS- MAKING A SQUEEKING NOISE, WHEN INSPECTED FOUND LARGE CRACKS. OWNERS MANUAL WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE CAR. MOTOR MOUNTS KEEP BREAKING. SPARE WHEEL/TIRE THAT CAME WITH VEHICLE WAS RUSTED, PARTS OF THE JACK MISSING. POWER STEERING FLUID PUMP WAS CRACKED/LEAKING, HAD TO BE REPLACED. AIRCONDITIONER COMPRESSOR DID NOT WORK, BELT CONNECTED TO THE ALTERNATOR WOULD NOT MOVE, SO CAR WOULD NOT START. BRAKE CYLINDER LEAKING FLUID ONTO BRAKES. HOOD WILL NOT STAY UP.
HEATER CORE FAILED CAUSING SMOKE. MJS
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THE MODULE WENT OUT. ALSO WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD BE FLASHING. *AK
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. *YC
WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME APART AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENTIRE REAR WINDOW OF THE STATION WAGON SUDDENLY SHATTERED, ALTHOUGH NOTHING HAD HIT THE CAR. THE WINDOW LITERALLY EXPLODED INTO MANY TINY PIECES, WHICH SCATTERED ALL OVER THE CAR INSIDE. OUR BABY WAS IN THE BACK SEAT, BUT LUCKILY NO GLASS HIT HIM. THE WINDOW WAS ENTIRELY DESTROYED. OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS SOME DEFECT WITH THE REAR WINDOW WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 55MPH, THE REAR WINDOW OF THE CAR SUDDENLY SHATTERED AND EXPLODED SMALL PIECES OF GLASS ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE REAR OF THE CAR, WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS IMPACT OR OBJECT HITTING THE CAR. A CHILD WAS IN THE REAR SEAT NEAR THE AREA OF THE SHATTERED GLASS, BUT LUCKILY WAS NOT INJURED. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THE GLASS SHATTERING, NOTHING HIT THE CAR TO BREAK THE GLASS. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECT OF SOME TYPE IN THE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD.
I AM NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED TO MY COMMENT SO I WILL STATE THEM AGAIN. THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS CUT ON AND OFF WHILE IN OPERATION. YOU MUST CONTINUE TO TAP THE TURN SIGNAL OR TURN THE CONTROL TO KEEP THEM RUNNING. WHAT I FIND DISTURBING IS THAT I HAVE HAD TO DRIVE TWO OTHER FORD TRUCKS A 1993 F-150 AND A 1991 FORD RANGER AND THEY BOTH DO THE SAME THING. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM MY DAD AND HE TELLS ME IT HAS ALWAYS DONE IT. THE OTHER TWO WHERE BOUGHT USED BUT HAVE ALWAYS DONE IT. IF YOU NEED THE VIN OF THE TAURUS OR F-150 I CAN GET THEM. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS INFORMATION
HEATER CORE MALFUNCTIONED 3 TIMES. *AK
WORN TIE ROD END, CAUSED POOR ALIGNMENT AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR.
'CHECK ENGINE' WARNING LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY.
VEHICLES REAR MIRROR FELL OFF WINDSHIELD. *AK
WHEN CAR IS ON THERE IS SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTILATION. TT
WINDSHEILD WIPER MOTOR/HARNESS/GOVENOR FAILED DURING COLD/WET WEATHER, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *SKD
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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