1997 Ford Taurus Electrical Problems

ON 4/3/2015 MY MOTHER IN LAW PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AFTER A 10 MILE TRIP TO TOWN. UPON PULLING IN THE DRIVEWAY THE CAR STARTED ON FIRE IMMEDIATELY, AT FIRST SHE THOUGHT THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING (WHITE SMOKE) THEN REALIZED THE CAR WAS ACTUALLY ON FIRE (BLACK SMOKE). SHE HAD TO BE HELPED BY AN IDAHO POWER EMPLOYEE WHO WAS DRIVING BY. A TOTAL OF TWO 15LB FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND GARDEN HOSE WERE USED TO KEEP THE FIRE AT BAY UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THE CAR WAS DESTROYED FROM THE DASH PANEL FORWARD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED AT THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX LOCATED BY THE MASTER CYLINDER ON THE FIREWALL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE CAUSE AS AN "ELECTRICAL FIRE", UP UNTIL THE FIRE THE CAR HAD NO KNOWN ELECTRICAL OR MAJOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAD NO MODIFICATIONS AND WAS COMPLETELY STOCK. NO INSURANCE CLAIM WAS FILED AS I ONLY CARRIED LIABILITY COVERAGE ON THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10703759

Incident

Apr 3, 2015

Mileage

127,700 mi

MY DOOR SWITCHES IN MY 97 FORD TAURUS NEED REPLACED AGAIN. I HAD ALL 4 REPLACED 3 YEARS AGO AND THEY KEEP LEAVING THE DOME LIGHT ON AGAIN. HAVING THE DOME LIGHT ON AT NIGHT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SEE. I KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING OR HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10275371

Incident

Jun 14, 2009

EVERY TIME I PUT IT IN REVERSE, MY RADIO GOES OUT, MY PL, PS, AND PW STOP WORKING. IF I DRIVE LONGER THAN 5 - 10 MILES, THE LIGHTS AND ALL ELECTRICAL START BLINKING AND THE PS GOES ON AND OFF. I ALMOST HIT A CAR ALONG SIDE OF ME THE 1ST TIME IT HAPPENED, I ONLY DROVE IT OUT OF TOWN ONE TIME AFTER THAT, NOW I DON'T DRIVE IT OUT OF TOWN AT ALL. EVEN IN TOWN IF I'M DRIVING ALL OVER, IT DOES IT. I TRIED TALKING TO FORD CORP. AND THEY BLEW ME OFF, EVEN THOUGH I TOLD THEM NOBODY KNOWS WHAT IT IS. HELP!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10224712

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

Mileage

114,500 mi

MY CAR HAS A ELECTRICAL PROB OR SOMETHING IT MAKES MY STEERING HARD AND WON'T LET WINDOWS ROLL DOWN AND MAKES ALL LIGHTS IN FLASH. HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO SEVERAL GARAGES AND THEY CAN SEE WHAT'S WRONG. BUT DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSES IT. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. I NEED HELP FIGURING OUT WHAT THIS IS SO I CAN GET IT FIXED!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10224132

Incident

Apr 10, 2008

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENT FAILURE; FIRST BEGAN WHEN PLACING SHIFT LEVER INTO REVERSE GEAR, THEN LATER OCCURRED ALSO IN FORWARD DRIVE GEARS. SUSPECT ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC PROBLEM SINCE RADIO SPEAKERS ALSO GO SILENT AND POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE WHEN THIS OCCURS. ALL OTHER FUSES WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER IS NOT YET CONTACTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10204505

Incident

Sep 30, 2007

Mileage

142,000 mi

THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE THE DATE BELOW BUT THIS TIME I DECIDED TO MAKE A COMPLAINT AFTER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WHEN THERE IS A LOT OF WATER AND YOU TURN RIGHT, MY CAR TURNS OFF, THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN IT MAKES THIS SQUEALING NOISE. AND THEN IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP. I HAD THIS CHECKED OUT BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND WRONG WITH MY FORD 97 TAURUS. I'VE DRIVEN THROUGH A LOT OF WATER GOING FORWARD IN THE CAR AND IT DOESN'T TURN OFF OR MAKE ANY NOISE, JUST WHEN TURNING RIGHT. I NEVER NOTICED IT WHEN TURNING LEFT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151496

Incident

Feb 25, 2006

Mileage

79,985 mi

OVERHEAD DOME LIGHT SHORTED OUT, REPAIRED SHORT, $110.00. THREE MONTHS LATER THE ALARM SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING, REPLACED ALARM SYSTEM WITH 2005, AND REPLACED COMPLETE WIRING HARNESS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10145971

Incident

May 7, 2005

Mileage

85,000 mi

INTERIOR LIGHTING WILL NOT TURN OFF, THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AS IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED MORE THAN ONCE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10143260

Incident

Jun 23, 2005

Mileage

96,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING IT WAS HARD TO SHIFT GEARS/STEER THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK. *AK THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS INTERMITTENT, THE RADIO WOULD GO OFF WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. THE PROBLEM WOULD START WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, REVERSE, OR NEUTRAL. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF WITHOUT CAUSE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10087207

Incident

Apr 22, 2004

Mileage

13,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. *AK THE CHECK ENGINE SOON HAD ALSO COME ON. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, BOTH AT DIFFERENT TIMES. *SC

NHTSA ID

10071708

Incident

Apr 5, 2004

Mileage

27,000 mi

IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED. AS A RESULT, THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10071844

Incident

Apr 29, 2004

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL DISPLAY THE "DOOR AJAR" WARNING ICON AND THE DOME LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXITING AND SECURING THE VEHICLE, THE DOME LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON FOR AN INDEFINATE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT CAN CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION FOR A WEEK-AT-A-TIME AND NOT HAVE A RECURRENCE FOR UP TO A MONTH. DEALER TOLD ME THAT UNLESS I COULD LOCALIZE THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE, THEY COULD NOT BEGIN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10065867

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

Mileage

40,000 mi

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF...TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED AND REPAIRED AND IS NOW NEEDING REPAIR AGAIN...TIRES FROM NORMAL WEAR...BRAKES FROM NORMAL WEAR...

NHTSA ID

10068718

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

63,941 mi

LTR FM M.L. MOODY (TX) RE DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN IN A 1997 FORD TAURUS, REQUESTS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION . *MR THE RED LIGHT HAD COME ON THE DASH WHICH HAD INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE OWNER OF THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THE STEERING LOCKED UP FOUR TIMES. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE MECHANICAL ERROR. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10052015

DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN IN A 1997 FORD TAURUS. REQUEST A DEFECT INVESTIGATION. *PH PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE RED LIGHT HAD COME ON THE DASH WHICH INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE PREVIOUS OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FOUR INCIDENTS OF STEERING LOCK UP. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10051638

THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP WIRES ARCHED WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. *PH

NHTSA ID

10040187

Incident

Sep 16, 2003

Mileage

76,340 mi

HEADLIGHTS FAIL WITHOUT WARNING HEADLIGHT PLUG MELTS FROM OVERHEATING AND ELECTRICAL CONTACT IS LOST CAUSING LIGHTS TO GO OUT

NHTSA ID

10039600

Incident

Jun 20, 2002

Mileage

130,000 mi

THE TURN SIGNALS AND FLASHERS WERE INOPERATIVE. *AK THE DEALER FOUND BOTH FUSES PULLED AND FLASHERS DISCONNECTED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10030188

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE MECHANIC STATED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS ROUTED IN A WAY WERE IT CAUSED FRICTION AND WORE OUT THE INSTALLATION WHICH CAUSED THE WIRES TO BE EXPOSED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10018293

Incident

Apr 24, 2002

Mileage

98,000 mi

THE VEHICLES INTERIOR LIGHTS AND DOOR AJAR CHIME CAME ON AND STAYED ON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10015916

Mileage

65,000 mi

ALL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, HI-LOW BEAMS AND RUNNING LIGHTS WORK! ALL PANEL LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WORK. TURNING SIGNALS & EMERGENCY FLASHERS DO NOT WORK AT ALL! IT IS AS THOUGH THE WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN WERE DISCONNECTED FROM BOTH THE TURNING STICK (SWITCH) AND THE EMERGENCY SWITCH? CHECKED EVERY FUSE IN FUSE BOX UNDER HOOD AND THEY ALL LOOK OK. ASSUME NO BULB PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE WAS AND IS NO FAST BLINK... IT SEEMS LIKE THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED DURING AN ALL DAY RAIN STORM...VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS CAME ABOUT BECAUSE I ASSUMED DIRECTIONAL WERE STILL WORKING DURING SEVERAL TURNS...THEN SOMEONE ALMOST HIT ME WHEN I WAS CHANGING LANES....I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A DUMB DRIVER TILL IT HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES....THEN I NOTICED NO TURN SIGNALS...VERY SCARY (VIN: [XXX])! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10013700

Incident

Mar 28, 2003

Mileage

68,000 mi

RE: 1997 TAURUS 3.0 VULCAN - FROST PLUG CORROSION AND HEAD GASKET BLOWN!. *AK

NHTSA ID

767516

Incident

Sep 18, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER PUTTING KEYS INTO THE IGNITION TO START VEHICLE, KEYS GOT STUCK AS A RESULT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKING UP. CONTACTED DEALER. HAD PART REPLACED DEALER UNABLE TO REMOVE KEYS.*JB

NHTSA ID

8017993

Incident

Aug 25, 2002

ALL'S WELL IN PARK AND NEUTRAL, BUT WHEN IN REVERSE OR DRIVE, THE RADIO QUITS, INTERMITTENT WIPERS FAIL, WINDOWS WON'T WORK, LOSS OF ABOUT 75% OF POWER STEERING. PUT IT IN NUETRAL AND ALL IS WELL. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR. I FOUND 10 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME FAILURE IN A 96 OR 97 FORD TAURUS.

NHTSA ID

763445

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS IN REVERSE & DRIVE, RADIO GOES OFF, POWER ASSIST GOES OFF AT ANYTIME. VERY DANGEROUS. SOUNDS LIKE A REACCURING PROBLEM BASED ON REPORTS I HAVE SEEN. ELECTRICAL OF SOME SORT.

NHTSA ID

761711

Incident

May 1, 2002