1996 Ford Taurus Visibility Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD FROM AN UNKNOWN ENTRY SOURCE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE FAILURE WAS COMMON. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING THE MOLDING AND SEALANT FOR THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A COMPLAINT ON THE CONTACTS BEHALF AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,456 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,426.

NHTSA ID

10398597

Incident

Apr 2, 2011

Mileage

78,426 mi

MY 96 FORD TAURUS GL HAS THE FOLLOWING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, RADIO GOES OUT, SEAT BELT LIGHT FLASHES AND CLICKS, INTERMITTENT WIPERS FAIL, POWER WINDOWS FAIL, FINALLY POWER STEERING LOCKS UP,AND WHEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP, CAUSING SAFETY CONCERNS. IF PUT IN PARK EVERYTHING GOES BACK WORKING AS NORMAL. TOOK TO SHOP AND THEY SAY IT'S THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR AND THAT SEVERAL 96 TAURUS' THEY HAVE WORKED ON HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM....I AM WONDERING WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL PART IF THAT IS THE CASE...SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG! *NM

NHTSA ID

10183922

Incident

Feb 15, 2007

Mileage

155,752 mi

WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OUR HEATER CORE AND ENDED UP REPLACING IT. WE CONTINUALLY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR CALIPARS AND HAE REPLACED THEM TWICE AND REPAIRED THEM ONCE (THEY SEIZE). WE CURRENTLY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH PEELING PAINT ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR, AND WINDOW SEALS THAT WE HAVE NOT YET FIXED; ARE THERE ANY RECALLS FOR THESE PROBLEMS? A BODY SHOP TECHNICIAN TOLD US THAT IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAINTED ONCE; WE ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10071269

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

I HAVE A 96 FORD TAURUS (VIN [XXX]) I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE HEATER CORE REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THIS CAR SINCE I HAVE HAD IT, THE MOST RECENT TIMES BEING 6 MONTHS APART. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR (LABOR IS 675.00) I CALLED FORD TO COMPLAIN AND WAS TOLD NO RECALLS AND NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS. I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATER CORE AND A TSB HAD BEEN RELEASED ABOUT IT. I THINK FORD SHOULD HAVE TO REFUND ME THE MONEY I HAVE SPENT ON HAVING IT FIXED AND HAVE IT FIXED ACCORDING TO THE TSB ALSO! I HAVE HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND ALL OF THEM SEEM TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF TSB OUT ABOUT THEM, WHY IS FORD NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THESE KNOWN PROBLEMS?? *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10019134

Incident

May 19, 2003

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE GASKETS BLEWOUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMBER SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE. HAS HAD TO REPLACE HEATER CORE/ RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT.*AK

NHTSA ID

8017236

Incident

Aug 21, 2002

THIS FAILURE IS A SAFETY HAZARD. WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING AT RANDOM, THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS QUIT WORKING, AND THE SEAT BELT LIGHT COMES ON! THEY ALL APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO THIS MLP/TR SWITCH. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND 4 OTHER OCCURRENCES THAT WERE REPORTED. WHEN I CALL THE LOCAL FORD SERVICE GARAGE, THE SERVICE MANAGER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT MY PROBLEM WAS AND SOLD ME THE SENSOR SWITCH. HE WAS AWARE THAT THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING WHEN THESE SYMPTOMS OCCUR. I EXPERIENCED THE POWER STEERING FAILING ON A TURN AND HAD MUCH TROUBLE CONTROLLING THE CAR. I'M WORRIED THAT MY DAUGHTER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

762249

Incident

May 1, 2002

THE CONSUMER TURNED ON THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER AND COLD AIR ALONG WITH A MIST THAT FILLED THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND COVERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE PAPER NAPKINS TO CLEAR THE WINDOWS. THE HEATER CORE IS AN EXISTING PROBLEM THAT REOCCURS EVERY 3 MONTHS SINCE APRIL 2001. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. NLM COOLANT LEAK. DEALER REPLACED HEATER CORE 5 TIMES. RIGHT REAR WINDOW INOPERATIVE. DEALER REPLACED RIGHT REAR WINDOW MOTOR. SWITCH ON AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL HEAD FALLS OFF. DEALER RPELACED CRACKED CENTER CONTROL KNOB. SUNGLASS COMPARTMENT IN CENTER CONSOLE LID BROKE OFF. CONSOLE COMPARTMENT DOOR, HINGE PINS AND SPRING REPLACED. SQUEAK NOISE UNDER HOOD. REPLACED BELT TENSIONER AND IDLER PULLEY. *TT

NHTSA ID

8006460

Incident

May 9, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

754660

Incident

Nov 16, 2001

HEATER CORE BROKE OR RUPTURED AND ANTIFREEZE CAME OUT OF THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT PUT A GREASY FILM ON WINDOWS LIKE FOG OR STEAM. HEATER WILL NOT WORK. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND DEALER COULDN'T CONTINUE TO FIX VEHICLE BECAUS E WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

898143

Incident

Oct 15, 2001

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY OPERATING IN LOW SPEED MODE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID

886079

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

FREEZE PLUGS BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING AT 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE HWY; TEMP GAUGE WITHIN NORMAL RANGE AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL ENGINE DIED. REQUIRED HEAD GASKET JOB AS WELL AS REPAIR OF FREEZE PLUGS. TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING CORNERS ON WET STREETS. WINDSHIELD FOGS OVER COMPLETELY WHEN DEFROST/DEFOG IS TURNED ON BEFORE IT CLEARS. TEMPORARY LOSS OF VISION THROUGH WINDSHIELD RESULTING IN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS...

NHTSA ID

743794

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

743736

I BROUGHT MY CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHEN I NOTICED ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY. DUE TO COMPLETE CORROSION OF COOLANT SYSTEM, THIS RESULTED IN THE REPLACEMENT OF FREEZE PLUGS, WATER PUMP, RADIATOR, HEAD GASKETS, THERMOSTAT AND HEATER CORE. I WILL HAVE TO BRING IT BACK IN APRIL FOR ANOTHER RADIATOR FLUSHING. I LATER LEARNED FROM A RADIO TALK SHOW THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE COOLANT SYSTEM FOR THIS AUTO. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD, THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SENT, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED IT AND IT EXPIRED AUGUST 1999. FORD OR THE DEALER REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE RECALL HAS BEEN FIXED BY MY REPAIRS OR NOT AND WILL THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. FORD HAS ALSO REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR ANY OF THE COSTS. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE

NHTSA ID

739767

Incident

Dec 4, 2000

CONSUMER STATES BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *YD

NHTSA ID

563958

WHEN DEFROSTER IS TURED ON, A MIST OF STICKY FUMES DEVELOPE AT THE BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD. THIS MIST HAS CAUSED CONSUMER TO HAVE HEADACHE AND STOMACH PROBLEMS. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

873275

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL ONLY WORK ON HIGH SPEED SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. SOMETIMES LEFT TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WILL NOT STAY DOWN OR EVEN HOLD DOWN TO USE THE TURN SIGNAL. *AK

NHTSA ID

725536

THE PROBLEMS WITH MY TAURUS DATES BACK TO A RECALL CONCERNING THE COOLING SYSTEM IN 1997. SINCE THEN, I'VE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PREMATURE PROBLEMS WITH VARYING PARTS OF THE COOLING SYSTEM INCLUDING A FAILED THERMOSTAT, HEATER CORE, GASKET, AND RADIATOR. I'VE CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY REFUSE TO OFFER ANY ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ID

722751

MY WINDSHIELD HAS DEVELOPED A HAZE BETWEEN THE LAMENATION AND GLASS, AS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE THE WINDOW. THIS CONDITION MAKES THE VIEW SEVERELY BLURRED WHEN ONCOMING HEADLIGHTS AND/OR SUN IS INVOLVED. IT IS MUCH LIKE SHINING LIGHT THROUGH A PRISM. GLASS ON A VEHICLE SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE, AND NOT GO BAD. THIS CREATES A SERIOUS VISUAL HAZARD. I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS WARRANTS AN INVESTIGATION TO PROVIDE CONSUMERS LIKE MYSELF SOME SORT OF REPLACEMENT/RECALL OPTION. FURTHER, IF A WINDSHIELD CANNOT WITHSTAND THE TEST OF TIME, I HAVE LOST FAITH IN ITS INTEGRITY DURING AN ACCIDENT. TO SAY THE LEAST, FORD HAS PRODUCED A "LEMON" PRODUCT, AS AGAIN...GLASS SHOULD NOT GO BAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

722725

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

WHEN TURNING ON DEFROSTER ,ALL FRONT WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELD WILL FOG UP LASTING ABOUT 2- 3 MINTUES CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THIS IS A NORMAL DUE TO PLASTIC COMPONENTS IN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

860481

HEATER CORE ONLY LASTS 12-13 MONTHS, DEALER CAN NOT FIND PROB WITH ABS BRAKES.. *AK

NHTSA ID

718451

Incident

Dec 10, 1999

I RETURNED THIS CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL BEGAN CLICKING WHENEVER I TRIED USING THEM. THE REPAIR DEPT. TOLD ME THAT WAS NORMAL FOR THE TAURUS AND THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. NOW, I AM LIMITED TO ONLY SEVERAL SETTINGS WHERE THE WIPERS WILL ACTUALLY FUNCTION. THAT HAS NEVER BEEN A "NORMAL" FEATURE ON ANY OF MY OTHER VEHICLES. I FEEL FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS FAILURE BEFORE I DON'T HAVE ANY WIPER CAPABILITIES AND SOMEONE IS EITHER INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID

713114

Incident

Nov 11, 1996

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING WHILE IN OPERATING MODE, OR SPEED WOULD CHANGE FROM HIGH TO LOW INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND NOTHING WOULD BE DONE UNLESS CONSUMER PICKS UP THE EXPENSES. *AK

NHTSA ID

850221

RAIN ON 10/04/99 TURNED WIPERS ON TO 4 TO 6 SECONDS WIPE---STARTED TO RAIN HARDER MOVED WIPERS TO LOW SETTING--STARTING WIPING EVERY 10 TO 12 SECS---HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD WIPERS STARTED TO WORK LIKE THEY SHOULD--HIT ANOTHER BUMP--WIPERS WENT BACK TO SLOW SPEED---THEN STOPPED...HAD TO USE HIGH SPEED TO GET THE WIPERS TO WORK

NHTSA ID

712857

Incident

Oct 4, 1999

DEFROST FAILED AND HAD VERY POOR VISIBILITY WHEN WINDOWS FOGGED ALMOST CAUSING WRECK

NHTSA ID

712564

Incident

Sep 26, 1999

THE MAJOR PROBLEM WAS ENGINE OVERHEATING, BROWN COOLANT,LOSS OF HEATER. FORD REPEATED FLUSHED OUT THE HEATER CORE,REPLACED THE COOLLANT, FLUSHED OUT ENGINE, RADIATOR. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR OF THIS THEY FINALLY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH ANOTHER ENGINE, A REBUILT ONE OF COURSE. THEY CONTINUED TO HAVE TO FLUSH OUT THE BROWN COOLANT. NOW THE HEATER DOES NOT WORK AGAIN. THEY SAY THAT SINCE MY WARRANTY IS UP I MUST PAY FOR THE HEATER CORE EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW IT WAS GOING BAD AND THAT THEY HAD TWO RECALLS ON BROWN COOLANT PROBLEMS. THEY SAY THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH ENGINES IF THEY PERFORMED THE RECALL. THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE HEATER CORE ACCORDING TO THE RECALL NOTICE 98-B23 AND 98B23-S1 BUT DID NOT. THEY REPLACED THE STEERING RACK THREE TIMES TO GET RID OF THE NOISE WHEN TURNING. THEN THEY REPLACED THE SPINDLES WHICH THE ENDS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SEALED AT THE FACTORY BUT WERE NOT. THEY GROUND DOWN THE ROTORS SEVERAL TIMES TO KEEP THE CAR FROM VIBRATING AND REPLACED THEM ONCE. THEY REPLACED THE DOOR LOCK WHICH WOULDN'T ALLOW YOU TO OPEN THE CAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THEN REPLACED THE HOOD LATCH SO YOU COULD GET UNDER THE HOOD. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE AC KNOB TWICE SINCE THE PLASTIC INSIDE KEEPS BREAKING. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A PIECE OF JUNK SINCE I GOT IT AND CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY WITH THE COOLENT AND THE HEATER SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

711595

Incident

Nov 6, 1997