Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 26 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.
The 25 most recent of 26, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE A FRAME SHEARED OFF AND LANDED ON TOP OF THE STEERING BOX, CAUSING STEERING LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE A FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 135,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING AN INSPECTION, THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME ON THE BASE WAS RUSTED, DEEMING THE VEHICLE AS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND NON-REPAIRABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,540. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ UPDATED 03/16/12
CLUNKING SOUND EMANATING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TOOK IN FOR OIL CHANGE, WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE ( SUB-FRAME ) WAS DANGEROUSLY ROTTED OUT. CRADLE REPLACED WITH ONE WITHOUT ROT. *TR
I OWN A 1997 FORD TAURUS WAGON. EMPHASIS ON WAGON. IT HAS THE SAME FRAME AS THE WINDSTAR VANS AND I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MY ENGINEER HUSBAND, WHO SPENT YEARS IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY, WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO DRIVE THE CAR AS, 'THE CAR IS GOING TO BREAK IN HALF WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.' I HAD IT TOWED TO OUR LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY VERIFIED THE SAME. I CALLED THE FORD RECALL DEPARTMENT IN DETROIT AFTER SEEING THE WINDSTAR RECALL ON THE LOCAL NEWS. FORD TOLD ME TO HAVE IT FIXED AND SAVE THE SLIP IN CASE A FEW YEARS FROM NOW IT WAS PART OF A RECALL I MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE REIMBURSED. THIS REPAIR IS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I AM ON CHEMO WITH A CO-PAY OF $3102.98 AND FIFTEEN DOSES TO GO. I CAN EITHER NOT LIVE AND BUY A CAR OR LIVE AND NOT HAVE A CAR. AFTER EXPLAINING THIS TO THE FORD REP I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT YOU. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS CORROSION PROBLEM AND I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR WHAT IS ALREADY A RECALL ISSUE. THE FORD CASE NUMBER IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
FORD HAS NOT INCLUDED THE 97 TAURUS WAGON-WE HAVE IN THE FRONT END ET. MOTOR CRADLE, FRAME FAILURE, IN THE RECALL, THEY HAVE YEARS BOTH SIDES. I HAVE LOST ALL TRADE IN VALUE ON THIS VEH. AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS, HAD IT NOT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY-- THE FRAME ON BOTH SIDES FAILED AND THE CAR CAN NOT BE DRIVEN, IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE OPEN ROAD IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER/ STEERING WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE-- THEY ARE GETTING AWAY WITH THIS, JUST BY LIMITING THE YEARS COVERED-- IT IS HAPPENING TO ALL TAURUS' WITH THE SAME FRONT FRAME PROB. IT HAS COST ME A VERY GOOD CAR WITH ONLY 80K MILES ON IT, AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A TRADE ON A NEW VEH. I STILL HAVE THE CAR IN MY YARD FOR INSPECTION, IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED,WHICH I DOUBT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET AN ATTORNEY TO FIGHT THIS, AND I THINK THERE ARE MANY OTHER USERS IN THE SAME BOAT- POSS. SOME OF THEM INJURED IN ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS, YOU HAVE MY E-MAIL IF ANOTHER QUESTIONS NEED CLARIFYING THANKS *TR
FRAME (MOTOR CRADLE) RUSTED RIGHT OFF BOTH SIDES AND LET THE FRONT END OF CAR DROP DOWN- PREVENTED STEERING VERY DANGEROUS-- HAPPENED IN DRIVE WAY LUCKILY. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A CLINKING SOUND THAT COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIRESTONE WERE THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED AND BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE IS NOW PARKED AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 3/9/2006 - *NM
DT: BRAKE LINE RUBBED THE BRACKET THAT THE SHIFTING ROD RUNS THROUGH, WHICH WORE A HOLE, AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL.*AK *NM *NM
WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS INSPECTING HIS VEHICLE, HE FOUND THE SUBFRAME HAS RUSTED OUT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. BOTH CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *NM
CLEAR COAT FINISH WAS BUBBLING AND PEALING OFF. *PH 1997 FORD TAURUS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BODY PAINT BUBBLING UP AND PEELING OFF. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE APPEARANCE OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE RUST THAT WILL DEVELOP ON VEHICLE IN THE SPOTS WHERE THE PAINT IS GONE.*MR
THE DASHBOARD IS SEPARATING IN LAYERS FROM THE FRAME OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE IS TSB 00203 CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, THE CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON. *AK
THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DID NOT SHUT COMPLETELY. *NLM
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES FROM BETWEEN 65 TO 45 MPH THERE IS A SERIOUS SHAKING FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO MOTION. THAT REALLY CONCERNS ME HAVING THREE SMALL CHILDREN. THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT ALSO DOESN'T SHUT OFF AS IT SHOULD.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM DISENGAGES. ALSO, DOME LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
INTERIOR MAP LIGHT IS ALSO THE DOME LIGHTS. CANNOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN. WHEN THE DOOR SENSOR BREAKS THE SENSORS THINKS THE DOOR IS OPEN. THIS IS HAZARDOUS AT NIGHT SINCE THERE IS GLARE COMING OFF THE WINDSHIELD. *AK
BOTTOM OF TRUNK LID RUSTING/PAINT BUBBLING/FORD NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY NORMAL SPEED POWER STEERING WILL KICK OUT SOMETIMES. ALSO, SEAT BELT LIGHT WILL COME ON AND OFF/ DOOR LIGHT WILL COME ON, AND SPEED CONTROL WILL COME ON. *AK
CONSUMER HEARD LOUD BUZZING NOISE WHEN TURNING, UPON INSPECTION THE THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS FULL OF RUST, TECHNICIAN INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSALVAGEABLE AND THAT IT HAD BEEN SUBMERGED IN WATER. NLM
WHILE DRIVING EITHER IN RAIN OR OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN , WATER WILL GET INTO THE SERPENTINE BELT, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING FOR ABOUT 30-60 SECONDS . THERE IS NO GUARD OR SHIELD TO PROTECT BELTS FROM GETTING WET. FORD CLAIMS THEY CANNOT FIX DEFECT. *AK *ML
#1 DOOR AJAR LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND DOME LIGHT ON EVEN THOUGH ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED. *AK
LOWER BUSHINGS, SPACERS, BOLTS.
VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A "POPPING" NOISE (SIMILAR TO KNUCKLES BEING CRACKED) EVERYTIME A LOW SPEED TURN TO EITHER SIDE WAS MADE. SOUND SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM DIRECTLY UNDER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. NOISE OCCURRED PREDOMINANTLY WHEN THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING OUT IN THE HOT SUN OR WHEN IT HAD BEEN RUNNING AND WAS HOT. WOULD NOT HAPPEN IN COOLNESS OF THE MORNING. TWO ATTEMPTS TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM BY A FORD DEALER RESULTED IN THEM HAVING NO IDEA WHAT WAS CAUSING IT. THE THIRD TIME A MECHANIC DROVE IT AND PINPOINTED THE "SUBFRAME INSULATORS". THEY ORDERED NEW ONES, INSTALLED THEM AND CHARGED ME FOR IT. NOW LESS THAN 2 WEEKS LATER, THE NOISE IS STARTING AGAIN. SAME LOCATION. I WAS TOLD TWICE BY THIS DEALERSHIP AND ANOTHER FORD DEALERSHIP, THAT THIS WEAR WAS NOT INDICATIVE OF BAD DRIVING HABITS OR DAMAGE AND THAT IT WAS NOT "A SAFETY ISSUE" IT IS HOWEVER, VERY ANNOYING AND UNNERVING TO HEAR THE SOUND NEARLY EVERYTIME THE CAR MAKES A SLOW SPEED 90 DEGREE TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT.
SUBFRAME MOUNTS WERE LOOSE AND DAMAGED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS. DEALER REPLACED THE MOUNTS ON MAY 19, 1999. *AK
VEHICLE TRAVELLING THROUGH SHALLOW WATER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TAKES ON WATER AND GETS ON BELTS, CAUSING ALTERNATOR AND POWER FAILURE, AFFECTING STEERING, BRAKES, AND ENGINE OPERATION. DEALER CONTACTED AND AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, NOTHING CAN BE DONE, REFERRED TO HOTLINE. *AK
PAINT PROBLEMS.
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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