Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
58
Latest Oct 3, 2008
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 1,557 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1993 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 58 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.
Owner reports naming driver-assistance
The 25 most recent of 58, in the owner's own words
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THROUGH THE TOLL PLAZA, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT EXITED OFF THE INTERSTATE AND APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT THIRTY SECONDS LATER. SHE NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CABLE TO THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS STUCK. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD NEVER USED THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED HER TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, IT WAS ALREADY BEING REPAIRED BY HER MECHANIC. THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS STUCK WHICH CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO SATY OPEN. UPDATED 11/19/08. *JB
NHTSA ID
10244315
Incident
Sep 24, 2008
Mileage
86,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jun 4, 2008
THERE ARE ALOT OF RECALLS ON MY CAR AND NO ONE WILL HELP ME. *TR
NHTSA ID
10229979
Incident
Jun 4, 2008
Mileage
42,988 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 14, 2004
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE ACCELERATES. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK IN THE LAST 5 MONTHS THE CONSUMER HAS HAD 2 NEAR ACCIDENT IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE FORD DEALER OFFERED NO INFORMATION THAT WAS HELPFUL, THEREFORE THE CONSUMER CONTACTED A SERVICE STATION WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR. *NM
NHTSA ID
10073898
Incident
May 13, 2004
Mileage
54,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Mar 8, 2004
THE HORN NOR THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS WORKED IN THE STEERING WHEEL HUB. *PH CONSUMER FELT THAT THERE'S NO NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT ONCE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SUCH AN INCONVENIENCE ON HIS BEHALF. AFTER TEN MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM E-BAY, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR FACILITY TO HAVE STEERING CONTROLS FIXED. MECHANIC CALLED CONSUMER AND WAS INFORMED THAT AIR BAG HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM STEERING WHEEL HUB AND REPLACED WITH FOAM TO SIMULATE THE SHAPE OF THE AIR BAG. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO HAVE AIR BAG INSTALLED INTO STEERING WHEEL HUB ALONG WITH THE REPAIRS ON HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL. CONSUMER NOW ASKING IF IT'S AGAINST FLORIDA OR FEDERAL LAW TO SELL A CAR WITH THE AIR BAG EITHER UNIONIZATION OR INOPERATIVE AND NOT INFORM THE BUYER. *LA
NHTSA ID
10062882
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Nov 12, 2003
Fire reported1 injury reported
CHUCK'S CLEAN & USED CARS OF PEMBROKE SOLD ME A 1993 FORD TAURUS VIN [XXX] WITH A KNOWN RECALL ON IT. THERE WAS A FIRE WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ID
10046770
Incident
Nov 10, 2003
Mileage
188,632 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 10, 2003
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *JB
NHTSA ID
10015597
Incident
Apr 7, 2003
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 26, 2002
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER NOTICED THAT CRUISE CONTROL/ HORN AND AIRBAG WERE NOT OPERABLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ID
8014913
Incident
Jun 1, 2002
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 25, 2002
SPEED CONTROL STOPPED WORKING, VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*JB
NHTSA ID
8014782
Incident
Jul 1, 2002
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jul 25, 2002
HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THEN CAME BACK ON. RECALL WAS DONE 2 YEARS AGO, DEALER REPLACED THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH.*JB CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL, THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOX WAS REPLACED, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS NOT WORKED FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS.*JB
NHTSA ID
8014779
Incident
Jul 5, 2002
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 18, 2002
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE BEGAN TO REV UP TO FULL RPMS. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL VEHICLE OVER.*AK
NHTSA ID
8012024
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 23, 2002
THERE IS A HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ID
8008343
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Nov 30, 2001
I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH ALMOST EVERYTHING POSSIBLE ON THIS CAR. THE HEAD GASKET FAILED WITH NO WARNING, NO OVERHEATING - CAR WOULD NOT START, HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER WHO INFORMED THAT HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. HEAD GASKET FAILED AGAIN 7 MONTHS LATER. HAD TROUBLE WITH SURGING, RACING ENGINE FROM ABOUT 25000 MILES, DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. FINALLY, REPLACED SPEED SENSOR WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY, AND IT FAILED AGAIN 4 MONTHS LATER. HAVE HAD TIE RODS AND BALL JOINTS REPLACED, MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED TWICE, BRAKE PROBLEMS STARTING AT 24,000 MILES. THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR CAME APART WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. THE COOLING FAN IS NOW STICKING, WHICH STARTED AT 65000 MILES.MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THIS PART IS NOTORIOUS FOR GOING BAD, AND THAT SO MANY HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACE, THE PRICE OF THE PART HAS GONE DOWN. I FEEL THE 1993 3.8L TAURUS MODELS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, AS WELL AS THE COOLING FANS, AND I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. THIS CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE, HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED, AND SHOULD NOT BE COSTING ME SO MUCH TO DRIVE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT, DUE TO THESE PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR ANY ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER.*AK
NHTSA ID
755120
Incident
Mar 4, 1996
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 22, 2001
CAR WAS IN PARK, BUT STILL RUNNING. THEN, IT ALL OF A SUDDEN TOOK OFF . *AK
NHTSA ID
878685
Incident
Jan 19, 2001
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 18, 2000
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
NHTSA ID
558498
Incident
Oct 31, 2000
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Nov 24, 2000
WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL HESITATE LIKE IT WANTS TO SWITCH GEARS. ALSO, SURGES FORWARD. TOOK TO VEHICLE PERSONAL MECHANIC. HE CLEANED CONNECTIONS, AND VEHICLE RAN FINE FOR YEAR. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN. *AK
NHTSA ID
875459
Incident
Nov 7, 1998
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 23, 2000
DURING IDLE SITUATIONS (IN ANY GEAR), ENGINE WILL IDLE VERY HIGH AND SOMETIME ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY. GUNNING ENGINE DOES NOT EFFECT IT. TURNING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING USUALLY RESETS IDLE TO NORMAL LEVEL.*AK
NHTSA ID
734956
Incident
Oct 5, 2000
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical+1 more
Filed Oct 12, 2000
IGNITION IS INOPERATIVE. KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION & DOESN'T LINE UP CORRECTLY. THIS MAKES IT VERY EASY TO STEALTHE VEHICLE. VEHICLE'S AIR BAG & HORN ARE NOT WORKING RELATING TO THIS. DEALER HAS NEVER TRIED TO FIND A REMEDY FOR THE PROBLEM.*AK CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AS WELL. STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. *YH
NHTSA ID
872889
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 21, 2000
WHEN THROTTLE LOCKED OPEN I JUMPED A CURB WITH MY FOOT APPLIED TO BRAKE AND CUTTING OFF IGNITION I GOT STOPPED ABOUT 3 FEET FROM A BUILDING
NHTSA ID
728614
Incident
Aug 10, 2000
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 26, 2000
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY TROUBLE-PRONE CAR. CRUISE CONTROL WOULD STICK ON ACCELERATE AND COULD NOT BE DISABLED WITHOUT TURNING OF THE IGNITION. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER COSLTY REPAIRS ABOUT WHICH WE COMPLAINED TO FORD WITH NO REMEDIES OFFERED. THIS COMPLAINT REGARDS THE HEAD GASKETS ON OUR 1993 FORD TAURUS WHICH FAILED AT 93600 MILES. IT COST $1319 TO REPAIR (DATE: 3-16-98). THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THIS IS COMMON IN THE 3.8L EINGINE. WE KNOW THAT FORD HAS PARTIALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND HAS EXTENDED WARRANTIES BACK TO THE 1994 MODELS, BUT THE PROBLEM EXTENDS TO EARLIER MODEL YEARS.
NHTSA ID
724595
Incident
Mar 16, 1998
Driver assistanceEngineTransmission
Filed Jun 9, 2000
VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING WHEN TRYING TO START UP. CAR RUMBLES WHEN IT FINALLY DOES START. MAKES A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. AFTER I START UP AFTER A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, I BARELY TOUCH THE GAS AND ITS OFF IN A FLASH. WHEN I AM ON THE FREEWAY AND TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELARATOR, IT CONTINUES AT THE SAME SPEED FOR 5 MINUTES. I CHECKED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND IT WAS OFF. THE ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.*AK
NHTSA ID
723788
Incident
Jun 8, 2000
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed May 29, 2000
IN JANUARY 1998 I NOTICED WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS STAYING IN THE RED ZONE NEAR THE H. I TOOK IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THE NEXT MORNING AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WAS AROUND $1100. ON SATURDAY 05/27/2000 WHEN DRIVING AWAY FROM A PARKING LOT I NOTICED THE CAR WAS IDLING VERY ROUGH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS PEGGED AT THE H, AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT THE TAILPIPE. I PARKED THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP NEAR MY HOME. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN AGAIN. THE REPAIR BILL IS POSSIBLY GOING TO BE BETWEEN $1100 - $1500. BOTH INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1993 TAURUS 3.8 V6 ENGINE. I HAVE ALSO BROWSED YOUR COMPLAINTS SECTION OF YOUR WEBSITE AND FOUND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE NATIONAL FORD OFFICE IN THE MORNING TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE THEY CAN OFFER. IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM I FEEL LIKE FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND/OR REIMBURSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY SPENT MONEY ON REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ID
723320
Incident
May 27, 2000
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 1, 2000
THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT START UNTIL 10 MINUTES LATER BECAUSE OF IRC MODULE FAILURE. YH
NHTSA ID
784385
Incident
Aug 1, 1999
Driver assistanceVisibility
Filed Aug 16, 1999
SPEED CONTROL WILL DISENGAGE ON IT'S OWN OR WILL NOT ENGAGE AT ALL, AT ANY NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED. WINDSHIELD WIPER, INTERMITTENT CONTROL FAILS TO WORK AT MOST SETTINGS AND WILL USUALLY ONLY WORK AT HIGHEST INTERMITTENT SETTING. SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT WORK ON ANY SETTING, INCLUDING LOW SPEED OR HIGH SPEED. IF YOU CYCLE IT OFF AND ON, OR WIGGLE THE LEVEL, IT MAY RESUME WORKING, BUT ONLY AT HIGHEST INTERMITTENT SETTING, OR THE LOW AND HIGH SETTINGS. FAILURES OCCURS MUST OFTEN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED, OR THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER/DIMMER SWITCH IS OPERATED. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IN MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN OR SNOW, AND WHEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. TO SAY THE LEAST, MY WIFE HAS SCREAMED MORE THAN ONE TIME.
NHTSA ID
710040
Incident
Aug 25, 1998
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Aug 12, 1999
ENGINE HESITATION AND STALLING CONTINUALLY, REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY AIR SENSOR DID NOT RECTIFY ENGINE PROBLEMS. MJS
NHTSA ID
547935
Incident
Jun 10, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 9, 1999
ACCELERATOR CABLE FAILED. YH
NHTSA ID
547788
Incident
Jun 8, 1999
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own