1997 Ford Taurus Powertrain (other) 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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS JUMPSTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10652038

Incident

Oct 15, 2013

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND THE RPMS INCREASED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION HEAD GASKET AND FILTER. THE TRANSMISSION HEAD GASKET AND FILTER WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO SLIP AND THE RPMS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,777.

NHTSA ID

10399804

Incident

Dec 1, 2010

Mileage

136,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CONSUMER'S 1997 FORD TAURUS FAILED. *BF THE GEARS AND BEARINGS WERE EATEN UP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10113315

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

Mileage

72,000 mi

THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A NOISE WHEN I TURN RIGHT AT TIMES. I HAVEN?T HAD IT FIXED YET. SOMETIMES MY WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS FRONT WON?T ROLL DOWN. IT HASN?T BEEN FIXED. THE CAR WOULDN?T GO FORWARD WHEN YOU HAD TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN FIXED. THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON HAD TO BE CHANGED. I COULDN?T DRIVE IT FURTHER AS IT WOULDN?T GO FORWARD AFTER I STOPPED.

NHTSA ID

10071138

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

Mileage

32,000 mi

WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION THREE TIMES SINCE WE HAVE HAD THE CAR. IT FIRST WENT OUT FOUR MONTHS AFTER WE GOT THE CAR. WE GOT THIS CAR IN MAY OF 2001 FROM UGLY DUCKLING CAR SALES NOW KNOWN AS DRIVETIME. THIS CAR IS DEFINITELY A LEMON. I THINK IT HAS BEEN IN SOME MAJOR ACCIDENTS....

NHTSA ID

10070181

Incident

May 15, 2000

I AM SENDING A COPY OF A LETTER I SENT TO VARIOUS NEWS STATIONS AND AGENCIES. IT?S IN REGARD TO A PROBLEM THAT AROSE CONCERNING MY FORD CAR. I PURCHASED A 1997 FORD TAURUS IN MARCH 1997 FROM SPRINGFIELD FORD IN DELAWARE COUNTY. THE CAR CAME WITH A 3-YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY. IN MARCH OF 2000 I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THREE MORE YEARS AT THE COST OF $1,000. IN JULY 2000, WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE OVERHAULED. IF I "DIDN'T" PURCHASE THE WARRANTY IT WOULD HAVE COST ME IN EXCESS OF $2,000. WELL, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT ON 3-31-03. ON 5-21-03 THE TRANSMISSION WENT AGAIN. IT IS GOING TO COST $2,800 TO REPLACE. THE CAR IS SIX YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THEN 50,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL CERTIFIED MECHANICS THAT ALL AGREE THAT THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPEN. EITHER FORD CO. HAS A BAD TRANSMISSION FOR THIS TYPE TAURUS OR THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD H.Q. THEY HADN?T HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. AND SPRINGFIELD FORD SAID THERE?S NOTHING THEY CAN DO, EVEN AFTER I MENTIONED WE HAVE BOUGHT THREE CARS IN SIX YEARS FROM THEM, IT REALLY DIDN'T MATTER. IN CONCLUSION, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I HAVE FIVE KIDS AT HOME AND REALLY DON?T HAVE $2,800 LYING AROUND. IF THIS IS THE WAY ONE OF AMERICA?S BIGGEST CORPORATIONS STANDS BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS, WELL NOW I KNOW WHY PEOPLE ARE BUYING IMPORTED CARS AND FROM NOW ON MYSELF AND MY FAMILY WILL BE ONE OF THEM. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, ANY HELP OR FEEDBACK YOU COULD GIVE ME A CALL WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. SINCERELY, [XXX] PHONE # HOME- [XXX]\T# WORK- [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10070098

Incident

Jul 15, 2000

Mileage

26,000 mi

RIGHT REAR WINDOW WON'T ALWAYS CLOSE AFTER OPENING. TRANSMISSION SLIPS DURING LOW SPEED STARTS THROUGH INTERSECTION OR PARKING LOT. FEELS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL. THEN WHEN TRANSMISSION ENGAGES, IT SUDDENLY LURCHES CHIRPPING THE TIRES.

NHTSA ID

10069433

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

Mileage

44,200 mi

TRANSMISSION GOING OUT AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE, SERPENTINE BELT FAILURE,CAM SENSOR & FALSE DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT, & MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SWITCH IN STEERING COLUMN

NHTSA ID

10069325

Incident

Nov 15, 2002

CRACKED FORWARD PISTON IN TRANS. I HAVE A`97,,,WASN`T THAT PROBLEM FIXED?

NHTSA ID

10068794

Incident

Mar 15, 2002

Mileage

7,200 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

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN JOLT WHEN A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN WAS MADE. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID

10011646

Incident

Jan 25, 2003

AIR CONDITION UNIT SEALED NOW LEAKING AGAIN THE CV JOINTS WENT OUT AND THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP (MARTY'S AUTO DISCOUNT AT 13 AND HARRIS AVE) WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE REPAIRS SAID THE LOWER ARM CONTROL AND THE AXLE WERE IN UNSAFE CONDITION TO DRIVE . THE CAR IS STILL NOT RIGHT , THE DEALER WANTS ME TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND I WANT TO TRADE THE CAR FOR SOMETHING ELSE .I BELIEVE THERE ARE MORE PROMBLEMS COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

NHTSA ID

766702

Incident

Aug 10, 2002

4TH GEAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE. O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHED REPEATEDLY. THOUGH CAR WAS SERVICED ONE MONTH PREVIOUSLY AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS NOT BURNED, TRANSMISSION DISINTEGRATED PLANETARY GEARS. METAL CHUNKS AND BURNED FLUID FOUND WHEN EXAMINED AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. OBVIOUSLY ANOTHER 3.8L/FORD TRANSMISSION DEFECT FAILURE AS IS WELL DOCUMENTED. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT OF THE REPAIR COSTS BUT THUS FAR HAS REFUSED. WHEN IS ANYONE GOING TO FINALLY HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ONGOING PROBLEM IN TAURUSES THROUGHOUT THE 90'S?. *AK

NHTSA ID

763651

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FROM A STOP WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. CHECKED FOR CORRECT GEAR PLACEMENT. DEPRESSED GAS PEDAL, AND TACHOMETER WENT OVER, BUT VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING.VEHICLE COULD BE REVERSED BUT NOT FORWARDED. TOOK TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A USED ONE.*AK

NHTSA ID

879199

Incident

Nov 28, 2000

VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE & WOULDN'T STAY RUNNING. WIRES FOR FUEL PUMP HAD RUBBED AGAINST FLEX HOSE, CAUSING IT TO EXPOSE THE WIRES & SHORT OUT. DEALER COLD DO NOTHING BECAUSE NO RECALL. *AK ALSO THE CV JOINTS FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION PAN CRACKED. THE BRAKES VIBRATED CAUSING THE STEERING TO VIBRATE TERREBLY. THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER SAYS, MUST BE DEFECTIVE. *YH

NHTSA ID

875474

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

555771

Incident

Jun 26, 2000

BEARINGS FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID

554948

Incident

Mar 8, 2000

WHEN TRAVELING DRIVESHAFT BROKE, CAUSING POOR STEERING CONTROL. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON THE DASH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

855715

WHEN APPLYING THE GAS THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE. THE DRIVER HAS TO KEEP FOOT ON GAS PEDAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE JUMPS FORWARD. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. IN MARCH OF 1999 VEHICLE ACTED UP AGAIN. BROUGHT IT TO DEALER, CLAIMED TRANSAXLE FAILED. TALKED TO OTHERS WHO CLAIMED THAT VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED PINION GEAR. CALLED DEALER SEVERAZL TIMES. BUT DEALER HAS NOT RESPONDED. *AK

NHTSA ID

852165

Incident

Oct 13, 1999

TIRE ON REAR SIDE OF VEHICLE WAS SPLIT, CAUSING A ROUGH RIDE. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO, COMPLAINING THAT SPEEDODOMETER WAS DEFECTIVE, IT DIDN'T SHOW HOW FAST VEHICLE WAS GOING. *AK

NHTSA ID

851665

Incident

Oct 25, 1999

REQUESTED DEALERSHIP TO CHECK TRANSMISSION AT TIME OF PURCHASE, FELT THAT THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY, WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG.

NHTSA ID

711723

Incident

Sep 5, 1999

VEHICLE STALLS ALMOST RESULTING IN COLLISION. HOWEVER, THE SENSOR & TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TO PREVENT FAILURE, HOWEVER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES. *YC

NHTSA ID

548383

Incident

Aug 3, 1999

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH T RIGHT FRONT BEARING. WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD WINDING NOISE. IT USUALLY STARTS AT ABOUT 40MPH. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

833076

Incident

Dec 6, 1998

THE TRANSMISSION BUCKS AND SLAMS WHEN SHIFTING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID

538712