1994 Ford Taurus Electrical Problems

CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR FIVE DAYS WITHOUT USE. ABOUT 9:00AM I MOVED THE CAR AND PARKED IT IN THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM OF ANY KIND. ABOUT 45 MIN. LATER I WAS ALERTED TO THE SOUND OF A CAR HORN AND FOUND THE FORDS HORN WAS HONKING. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR TO ATTEMPT TO PULL THE LEVER TO OPEN THE HOOD THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE CAR AND A SMALL FLAME ON THE LEFT LOWER CORNER OF THE CASH. I WENT TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PHONED 911, WAS GONE MAYBE 30 SECONDS AND WHEN I RETURNED THE DASH WAS FULLY AFLAME. I THEN DRAGGED MY HOSE OUT AND BY THE TIME @45 SECONDS LATER I GOT THE WATER ON, THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WAS FULLY ENGULFED. AFTER ABOUT 7 MIN. OF ME PUTTING WATER ON THE FIRE AND IT ABOUT 90% OUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP AND FINISHED PUTTING IT OUT. THE ONLY PROBLEMS THE CAR HAD BEFORE WAS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS HAD QUIT WORKING FROM THE DOOR IN JULY BUT STILL WORKED FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO THE FUSE THAT FED THE RADIO AMONG OTHER THINGS HAD BLOWN BUT WHEN REPLACED WITH THE SAME 15AMP FUSE ALL HAD BEEN OK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10435303

Incident

Nov 7, 2011

Mileage

120,000 mi

DT: CONTACT STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD THE CHARACTERISTICALLY OF A FORD RECALL, BUT IT WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE SAFETY DEFECT WAS THE ELECTRICAL HOUSING CAN FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO SPARK, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, INCLUDING RADIATOR ELECTRICAL MOTOR, ENGINE COOLING FAN MODULE, AND CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. SHE WAS NOT ALERTED OF ANY OF THESE RECALLS, AND SHE PAID FOR REPAIRS FOR ALL OF THEM OUT OF POCKET. ONCE SHE CONTACTED FORD, SHE WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE OUT OF DATE AND SHE COULD NOT BE REIMBURSED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10141272

Incident

Oct 26, 2005

Mileage

157,000 mi

DT: THE VEHICLE BEGAN PERFORMING POORLY THEN STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE POLICE ARRIVED BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. *AK *NM THE VEHICLE WAS ACTING SLUGGISH PRIOR TO THE FIRE

NHTSA ID

10125882

Incident

Jun 19, 2005

THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY HOT AND SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RE-START FOR AT LEAST 15-20 MINUTES. ALSO WHEN THE VEHICLE IDLED TOO LONG IT SHUT OFF. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT AT ONE TIME THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION MODULE, WHICH MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF. *JB

NHTSA ID

10083343

Incident

Jul 20, 2004

MY CAR STALLS OR JUST STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, IT WILL GO FROM 60MPH TO 0MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 20 TIMES. I TOOK IT TO PEFFLEY FORD FOR REPAIRS, THEY CHARGED ME $669.36 AND 6 DAYS LATER MY CAR CUT OUT ON ME AGAIN AND THEY TOWED IT TO THEIR SHOP. THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT MY CAR WITHOUT ME PAYING MORE MONEY FOR REPAIRS AND THE TOW TRUCK. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON REPAIRS FOR MY CAR AND I FEAR FOR MY LIFE EVERY TIME I GET INTO THAT CAR. I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL CUT OUT AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR. I FOUND OUT THAT 8 PEOPLE OWNED THAT CAR BEFORE ME, WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, THE SALESPERSON SAID THAT IT WOULD BE SAFE FOR MY TWO YOUNG GIRLS TO RIDE IN HE WAS WRONG. I HAVE ALL OF MY SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION AND WILL SEND COPIES TO YOU. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE ONE OR ALL OF MY FAMILY END UP INJURED OR DEAD. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE, KAREN JUDKINS.

NHTSA ID

10002723

Incident

Oct 16, 2001

NO SUMMARY. DT

NHTSA ID

769583

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

765025

Incident

Jul 29, 2002

VEHICLE WILL SHUTDOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THERE IS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8012489

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING LONG DISTANCE, VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55-65 MPH. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A REPAIR SHOP AND A DEALER. NEITHER COULD DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATES. OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATES. *SLC

NHTSA ID

8009858

Incident

Mar 24, 2002

CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON SINCE PURCHASE/ AUTO REPAIR SAID MAIN HEAD/GASKET COMMON FAILURE - FORD SHOULD ASSIST WITH COSTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

756780

Incident

Aug 1, 2001

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH TURNED 360 DEGREES WHEN TURNING THE KEY. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

899244

Incident

Nov 1, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

897860

THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES OVER THE LAST MONTH. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. SCANNER SHOWS NO CODES. TODAY IT HAPPENED IN MIDDLE LANE OF HIGHWAY WITH A TRACTOR TRAILER ON MY BUMPER. THE CAR JUST CUTS OUT WITH NO WARNING, AND WILL USUALL RESTART BEFORE I COAST TO A STOP.*AK

NHTSA ID

750350

Incident

Aug 13, 2001

ENGINE DIED IN TRAFFIC LANE ON A WINDING MOUNTAIN ROAD, LUCKILY, WE WERE NOT STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

748699

Incident

Jul 2, 2001

AFTER REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE CYLINDER BROKE IN HALF MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISN'T WORKING. NOBODY CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

746596

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN RECALL IN CALIFORNIA WHERE VEHICLE WILL STALL DUE TO TFI IGNITION MODULE. HOWEVER, THIS RECALL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN OTHER STATES. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

887829

Incident

May 7, 2001

IGNITION JUST CUT RIGHT OFF WITH NO PRIOR WARNING.*AK

NHTSA ID

883411

Incident

Mar 19, 2001

MY FAMILY AND I WERE ON OUR WAY TO COLORADO LAST MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AND WE LIVE IN NEBRASKA. AS WE GOT CLOSER TO THE DENVER REGION WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR STALLING. IT WAS A VERY HOT DAY AND I WAS RUNNING THE A/C ALSO. SO EVENTUALLY IT WOULD COOL AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR BUT WOULD ONLY RUN FOR A 10-15 MILES FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD. IT DID GET WORSE THE CLOSED WE GOT TO THE HIGHER ALTITUDE PARTS OF DENVER. THE TRIP WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT IF THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURED. I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR HERE WHERE I LIVE BUT I AM AFFRAID TO DRIVE IT OUT OF STATE AGAIN AND I BOUGHT THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE HIGH QUALITY OF STANDARDS IT HAS SET. PLEASE HELP ME IN ANY WAY TO FIX THE ISSUE. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID

742406

Incident

May 30, 2000

CONSUMER IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AS BEING WITH IGNITION MODULE AND VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

882502

Incident

Feb 15, 2001

CONSUMER COULD TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT ALL ELECTRICAL POWER STAY ON, INCLUDING LIGHTS JUST LIKE KEY WILL BE IN PLACE. *AK

NHTSA ID

881053

Incident

Feb 21, 2001

CERTAIN LIGHTS AND FUSES WOULD GO OUT ON VEHICLE, BECAUSE OF TAILGATE DOOR OPENING/CLOSING, AND WIRES MAKING CONTACT WITH METAL, AND WHEN THEY ARE ALL FUSED TOGETHER IT CAN CAUSE A FIRE.*AK WIRING HARNESS WAS NOT INSULATED AND MAKES CONTACT WITH METAL AND BURNS. *YH

NHTSA ID

880101

Incident

Jan 8, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 70 MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE SPEED. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, HAD TO TURN OFF VEHICLE TO GET BACK TO REGULAR SPEED. THIS COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, AND HAPPENS WORSE IN SUMMER . CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

879738

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

CONSUMER WENT OUT TO START VEHICLE. PUT KEY INTO IGNITION AND STARTED VEHICLE TO CHARGE. HE TOOK KEY OUT OF VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WITHOUT KEY INSIDE OF IGNITION.*AK

NHTSA ID

877940

Incident

Dec 1, 2000

VEHICLE CUTS OFF MAINLY IN SUMMER WHEN AIR CONDITIONING IS ON. INTERMITTENTLY WITH COOLER WEATHER VEHICLE ALSO CUTS OFF. VERY HAZARDOUS IN FAST TRAFFIC. MECHANICS TRIED TO REPLACE VARIOUS PARTS, BUT COULDN'T FIND A REMEDY.*AK

NHTSA ID

875891

Incident

Jun 1, 1998

IGNITION FAILURE IS STILL CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL, THE MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES, NEW PLUGS AND WIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, AND THE INJECTORS HAVE BEEN CLEANED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

556994

Incident

Apr 1, 1999