Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 107 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 107, in the owner's own words
THE CAR HAS HAD YRANSMISSION REBUILT LAST YEAR AND IM STILL MAKING PAYMEMTS ON THE CAR. THEN 4MONTHS AGO I HAD THE SPEED SENSOR REPLACED RAN GOOD UNTIL DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY WHEN IT STARTING ACTING THE SAME WAY IT WAS BEFORE I GOT IT FIXED SO I JMOW ITS THE SPEED SENSOR AGAIN HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO FIX THIS CRAP BEFORE IT GETS RECALLED OR BEFORE SPMEONE GETS INTO AN ACCIDENT OR DIES
FRONT SPRING COIL IS BROKEN
ONE OF THE REAR BRAKE LINES RUPTURED CAUSING GRADUAL BUT COMPLETE LOSS OF NORMAL BRAKING. LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF IN TO A PARKING AREA JUST AS BRAKES QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY. CAUSE OF RUPTURE APPEARS TO BE RUST. RUPTURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT LOCATION. NO PRIOR WARNING. *TR
HIT THE BRAKES HARD WHEN THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED SOFTNESS IN THE PEDAL VASTLY DEVELOPING INTO 98 % LOSS OF BRAKING CAPACITY. AFTERWARDS, NOTICED LEAK IN ONE OF BRAKE LINES RUNNING ALONG THE LEFT SIDE UNDERBODY ABOUT MIDWAY. APPROXIMATELY 4-6 MONTHS LATER THE SAME SCENARIO REPEATED ITSELF WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER BRAKELINE RUNNING ALONG THE LEFT SIDE. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE REAR BRAKELINE CONNECTING THE PROPORTIONING VALVE WITH THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE HOSE SPRUNG A LEAK RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITIES. ALL OF THESE LINES RUPTURED DUE TO RUST AND OR CORROSION. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT A LOW SPEED, DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I BRAKE TO STOP AND AT THAT TIME THE CAR SURGED AND ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. I PRESSED THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD AND THE SPEED WOULD NOT DECELERATE. I SUFFERED A LARGE HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED 54 STAPLES TO CLOSE THE WOUND. I SPENT OVER A WEEK IN THE HOSPITAL, INCLUDING AN ICU STAY. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND IS CAUSING INJURIES AND POSSIBLE DEATHS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LINE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CRUISE TO A STOP SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE BRAKE LINE WAS REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BOARD, AND I COULD NOT STOP SO I CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND IT IN TURN CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. *TR
A 51 POINT INSPECTION DONE ON A 1999 FORD TAURUS I PURCHASED THAT HAD THE FOLLOWING SAFETY ISSUES: CRACKED BRAKES, LOOSE PINION ROD, TRANSMISSION, STEERING WHEEL OFF CENTER TO NAME A FEW ITEMS. REQUIRED A FLUSHING, OIL, ETC. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE MOST OF THESE ITEMS REPAIRED OR REPLACED. SOME OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, BUT I ALSO HAVE DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT MY COMPLAINT. I HAVE NOT HAD THE TRANSMISSION FIXED DUE TO FUNDS. THESE ITEMS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD HAVE CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING IN A SMALL TOWN I EXPERIENCED A LOSS IN BRAKING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THEN HAD IT TRANSPORTED TO A GARAGE. THEY FOUND THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD FAILED. AND WAS LEAKING FLUID. THIS CAUSED FAILURE OF THE FRONT BRAKES. ON FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM THEY FOUND THAT THEIR WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE LEADING TO THE REAR BRAKES. THIS LEAK WAS CAUSED BY EXTERNAL CORROSION OF THE LINE. I THOUGHT THAT THESE LINES WERE STAINLESS STEEL, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE CORRODED DUE TO SALT ON THE ROADWAY. IF THE LINES ARE NOT MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL, THEY SHOULD BE. THE FAILURE OF THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE LEAK IN THE LINE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, BUT DID NOT BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED. I LOST THE COMPLETE STOPPING POWER OF THE CAR. *TR
I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A CAR DEALER. SINCE I PURCHASE MY BOLTS TO THE BACK BRAKES CAME OUT. FRONT END IS MAKING NOISES ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. BACK WINDOW IS READY TO BREAK OFF MISSING PASSENGER SIDE HINGE TO HOLD THE WINDOW IN PLACE. BRAKES SQUEAL. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY FOR EXAMPLE THE POWER DOORS DO NOT UNLOCK, THE POWER SEAT DOES NOT ADJUST WHEN YOU PUSH THE BUTTON, THE TRUNK CAN NOT BE OPENED WITH THE KEY, THE DOORS HAVE TO BE UNLOCK MANUALLY. *TR
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE: HAVING WORKED ON CARS FOR 40+ YEARS AND OWNED MANY VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS, IT WAS A SURPRISE TO SUFFER TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT EVER HAVING THE BRAKE LIGHT INDICATE A FAILURE. FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, ALL MY VEHICLES HAD A PRIMARY AND SECONDARY BRAKE CIRCUIT WITH A PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL SWITCH THAT WOULD LATCH AND LIGHT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS A PARTIAL BRAKE FAILURE WAS CAUGHT BY THE WARNING LIGHT. MASTER CYLINDER REPLACEMENT WAS PERFORMED QUICKLY AS DRIVING WITH ONE CIRCUIT IS DANGEROUS. THE 1999 FORD TAURUS HAS NO BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL SWITCH, NO KIDDING! IF ONE DOES NOT MAKE PANIC STOPS AS A REGULAR PART OF DRIVING, IT IS EASIER THAN ONE WOULD THINK TO HAVE A PARTIAL FAILURE GO UNDETECTED (DESPITE THAT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN EXTRA PEDAL TRAVEL). WHEN THE SECOND CIRCUIT FAILS THE RESULT IS TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE, THE SAME TYPE OF THINKING AS THE FORD PINTO FUEL TANK. FORGET THE CUP HOLDER, SPEND THE MONEY ON THE SAFETY SWITCH!!! I SHUDDER TO THINK OF PEOPLE SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THIS MISSING SWITCH. *TR
LOSS OF BRAKING DUE TO REAR BRAKE LINES CORRODING AND RESULTING FLUID LOSS. AN INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD TAURUSES OF THIS ERA. FAILURE OCCURRED NEAR THE REAR OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR. CAR IS AWAITING REPAIR. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 FORD TAURUS TO WORK ON APRIL 16TH OF THIS YEAR, I NOTICED WHAT APPEARED TO BE LIGHT COLORED SMOKE COMING OFF MY TAILPIPE AS I SAT AT A STOPLIGHT. AT THE NEXT STOPLIGHT, THE SMOKE WAS MORE INTENSE. AT THE SAME TIME, I NOTICED MY BRAKES SEEMED SPONGY. WHEN I GOT TO WORK, I CHECKED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR AND DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID WAS POURING OVER THE EXHAUST PIPE, JUST BEFORE THE MUFFLER AND WAS BURNING OFF. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AT A LOCAL FORD DEALER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES LEADING BACK TO THE DRUMS IN THE REAR WERE SEVERELY CORRODED JUST IN FRONT OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE. ONE LINE HAD BURST OPEN AND THE SECOND HAD A CRACK IN IT. THIS OCCURRED SIMULTANEOUSLY. BOTH SYSTEMS WERE COMPROMISED AT THE SAME TIME. HAD I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT, I WOULD HAVE LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID AND BEEN LEFT WITH NO BRAKING CAPABILITY WHATSOEVER. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED SIMILAR CORROSION JUST BELOW THE MASTER CYLINDER NEAR THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL, ALTHOUGH THAT HAD NOT BEEN BREACHED. THE CAR IS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD AND HAD 65,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED EXCLUSIVELY AT THE FORD DEALER (WESTFIELD FORD IN COUNTRYSIDE ILLINOIS). I TRADED THE CAR IN ON A NEW MODEL THAT DAY. AFTER CHECKING THE INTERNET, I BECAME AWARE OF NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME EXACT COMPLAINT. ALTHOUGH I NO LONGER OWN THE CAR, I AM CONCERNED THIS PROBLEM WILL SURFACE WITH THE THOUSANDS OF TAURUS VEHICLE CURRENTLY ON THE ROAD. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR WITH OUR TWO CHILDREN IN IT, SHE WOULD HAVE NEVER NOTICED WHAT WAS HAPPENING UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. THIS IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER CARE ON 4/20/09 AND MET COMPLETE INDIFFERENCE. I WAS TOLD MY COMPLAINT WOULD GO ON FILE AND TO HAVE A NICE DAY. IF THESE BRAKE LINES WERE MADE WITH SOME TYPE OF DEFECTIVE STEEL AND THERE ARE MORE MODELS OUT THERE LIKE MINE, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY START RUPTURING AND CAUSING ACCIDENTS WITH INJURIES OR DEATH OCCURRING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. ON MAY 29, 2008, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING AND BURNED THE PAVEMENT IN THE CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO GARAGE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO BE BRAKE LINE CORROSION. THE GARAGE REPAIRED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINES. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT; HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE $285.12 REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,529 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 31,869. UPDATED 7/3/08 *CN THE CORROSION WAS CAUSED BY WATER BEING TRAPPED BY A PLASTIC GUIDE THAT HELD THE BRAKE LINES TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT'S WIFE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT PLACED BRAKE FLUID INTO THE BRAKE RESERVOIR AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IN WHICH IT EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AGAIN. HE INSPECTED THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. IN ADDITION, ALL THE FLUID HE ADDED LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V075000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,456 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,445.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASED. THE CONTACT NOTICED RUST ON THE REAR BRAKE LINE AS WELL AS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING. AS OF SEPTEMBER 5, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 119,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. SHE HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 118,000. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED. UPDATED
MY 1999 FORD TAURUS BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND FELL INTO PIECES. THIS METAL LINE SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE METAL ALLOY IN THIS LINE IS AT FAULT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED OR WARRANTY DUE TO THE SEVERELY DANGEROUS OUTCOME. MY 16 YEAR OLD PULLED THE CAR INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE LINE LITERALLY BLEW AND ALL OF THE FLUID BLEW OUT. IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR ANY OTHER TIME WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE THERE IS NO PEDAL BRAKING AT ALL! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING HIGH. THIS CONFIRMED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, THE HIGH IDLE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 MILES. *AK
WE HAD A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ON OUR 1999 FORD TAURUS, WE DROVE OUT OF OUR DRIVE WAY GOING TO THE MAIL BOX AND WHEN WE HIT THE BRAKES THE BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AS THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP. IF WE HAD BEEN GOING FASTER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE BRAKE LINE TO THE BACK BRAKES SPLIT AND LEAKED ALL THE FLUID WHICH LED TO THE FAILURE, ARE THESE CARS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A BACK UP SYSTEMS?*JB
MY WIFE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ON MY 99 TAURUS WAGON (46K MILES). SHE WAS STARTING OUT OF HER PARKING SPACE SO THERE WAS NO COLLISION. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AS THIS VEHICLE HAS A DUAL DIAGONAL SYSTEM FOR SAFETY. UNFORTUNATELY THE DIAGONAL PART IS WHAT DID IT IN AS THE TWO LINES RUNNING TO THE REAR WHEELS WERE RUN TOGETHER AND BOTH ROTTED OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY. *NM
MY WIFE WAS PULLING UP TO PICK UP FOR HER PRESCRIPTION WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE IT FAILED. STEEL BRAKE LINE FAILURE. 18 FOOT OF STEEL BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. *JB
CONSUMER FELT A POP IN THE BRAKES ON HIS 1999 FORD TAURUS. UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND THE PASSENGER SIDE ALSO NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *KB *JB
TOTAL BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT MEDIUM SPEED, AND PRESSED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AT THE CURVE. TO MY HORROR THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN ALL THE WAY WITHOUT SLOWING THE CAR AT ALL. THERE WAS NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT. THE BRAKES CAME BACK BRIEFLY AFTER PRESSING A FEW TIMES, BUT WENT OFF AGAIN AT THE NEXT STOP LIGHT. THE CAR RAN THROUGH A RED LIGHT, BUT FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO CROSS TRAFFIC. I PULLED OVER SLOWING IT DOWN AND PUT IT INTO PARK. WE GOT THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST BRAKES REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC HAS INFORMED US THAT THE CAUSE IS AN "INTERNAL LEAK IN THE MASTER CYLINDER". *JB
ON DEC. 14, 2005, WITH 60,001 MILES, THE VEHICLES SERVICE (HYDRAULIC) BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. FULLERTON FORD OF SOMERVILLE, NJ EVALUATED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT A BADLY RUSTED STEEL BRAKE FLUID TUBE (WHICH FEEDS FLUID TO THE REAR BRAKES) HAD RUPTURED. GIVEN THE CARS LOW MILEAGE, RELATIVELY YOUNG AGE AND THE FACT THAT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE COULD LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT, I FEEL IT INDICATES SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS USED IN THE CARS MANUFACTURE AND SHOULD REQUIRE A RECALL AND PARTS REPLACEMENT AT FORD'S EXPENSE. *JB
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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