2001 Ford Taurus Engine Problems

The vehicle failed recall

NHTSA ID

11580825

Incident

Jan 14, 2024

WHILE DRIVING AT A 50MILES PER HOUR SPEED ON BRONX RIVER PARKWAY NEW YORK THE THEFT LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD CUTTING OFF ALL THE ELECTRICITY AND SHUTTING OFF THE CAR FORCING ME TO GO ON THE ROAD SHOULDER. FORTUNATELY WAS NO ACCIDENT BUT IT WAS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. SINCE THEN THIS SITUATION HAPPEN 4 TO 5 TIMES MORE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10596836

Incident

Jun 5, 2014

Mileage

73,000 mi

EXTENSIVE CORROSION ON THE ENGINE CRADLE MAY IMPACT ITS STRUCTURE AND FAILURE CAN IMPACT SUSPENSION AND STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10578392

Incident

Apr 1, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ID

10553315

Incident

Dec 31, 2012

Mileage

49,000 mi

LEAKING COOLANT FROM THE FIREWALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536485

Incident

Aug 11, 2013

Mileage

175,000 mi

THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR STALL AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WHILE DRIVING. THIS INCIDENT HAPPEN TWICE TODAY AGAIN, WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10522968

Incident

Jun 12, 2013

Mileage

160,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD TAURUS ONTO A FREEWAY AND GOT UP TO 45 MPH AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. I ATTEMPTED TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD AND THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING. PRESSING THE BRAKE WOULD NOT MAKE THE CAR STOP. I WAS NOT USING CRUISE CONTROL. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK, THE CAR WAS STILL REVVING UP, SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND CONTINUED DRIVING AND THE CAR EXHIBITED THE SAME CONDITIONS AS BEFORE. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AND WAS ABOUT TO GET TO AN INTERSECTION THAT HAD A STOP SIGN. I REALIZED THAT EVEN AFTER PRESSING DOWN ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD, THE CAR WAS NOT GOING TO STOP SO I PROCEEDED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AGAIN AND QUICKLY PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF. I LEFT THE CAR THERE AND WALKED TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION AND TOWED THE CAR HOME. I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING ANYMORE AND IT IS A MIRACLE THAT I DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10483979

Incident

Nov 10, 2012

Mileage

136,484 mi

MY FORD TAURUS 1ST BROKE DOWN ON THE INTERSTATE. I WAS ON MY WAY TAKING MY KIDS TO CHUCK E. CHEESE. IT RAN HOT OUT OF THE BLUE. AFTER THAT I GOT IT TOWED, I DID REPLACE THE MOTOR, HAD THE TRANSMISSION WORKED ON, REPLACE MANY SENSORS, REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER, REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, THE SENSOR OF THE AIR CONDITION. I HAVE REPLACED ALMOST EVERYTHING ON THAT CAR FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT IT IN 07 UNTIL 2010. AND ITS STILL NOT RUNNING. ITS PARKED THEY ARE SAYING ITS SOMETHING WITH THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY IN THAT PIECE OF JUNK FORD. I FEEL THEY SHOULD FIX THE TRANSMISSION THIS TIME AND GIVE ME SOME OF MONEY BACK FOR ALL THE REPAIRS. AND FOR THE RECORD MY DATES ARE ESTIMATED BECAUSE I JUST PARKED AND IT AND STOP KEEPING UP WITH IT. JUST PLAIN OLE GOT TIRED. THAT CAR TOOK ME BROKE. I FINALLY HAD TO BOW DOWN AND GO GET ANOTHER 1 WITH PAYMENTS AS LAST RESORT. FOR ME AND MY 2 LITTLE GIRLS 1 OF THEM WHOM IS DISABLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10482153

Incident

Sep 1, 2008

Mileage

101,000 mi

I READ AN ARTICLE TODAY CONCERNING THE US IS INVESTIGATING FORD TAURUSES FOR STUCK THROTTLES, MODEL YEARS 2005-2006. PLEASE CONSIDER EXPANDING THE INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE THE 2001 MODEL YEAR. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED FROM A FORD DEALER IN 2004 (APPROX) AND HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM OF THE CAR ENGINE SPEEDING-UP WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE ARTICLE IS LOCATED AT: HTTP://MONEY.CNN.COM/2012/03/12/AUTOS/FORD_TAURUS_INVESTIGATION/INDEX.HTM?SOURCE=CNN_BIN AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS, THE FORD DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR IS STILL DOING IT TODAY. THE WARRANTY COMPANY, BACK IN 2004/2005, SAID THEY WERE GOING TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO THE NHTSA, BUT I AM NOT SURE IF THEY EVER DID. THANK-YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10451199

Incident

May 4, 2004

Mileage

65,000 mi

APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO, I WAS HAVING MECHANIC PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD IT INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. THE EGR VALVE AND EGR SENSOR WAS REPLACED. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I WAS NOT ABLE TO HAVE IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC AGAIN. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, I NOTICED THAT WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE, THERE WAS AN INSTANTANEOUS SMELL OF EXHAUST IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE WINDOWS WERE ALL IN THE CLOSED POSITION. I WAS REQUIRED TO DRIVE WITH MY WINDOWS DOWN FOR A FEW DAYS UNTIL I COULD HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE EGR SENSOR HAD MELTED DUE TO THE EGR VALVE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE VACUUM LINE FROM THE EGR VALVE TO THE EGR SENSOR HAD ALSO MELTED. DURING THE FEW DAYS THAT I HAD TO DRIVE IT, I SUFFERED FROM EXTREME HEADACHES, NAUSEA, AND LIGHTHEADEDNESS FROM THE EXHAUST COMING INTO THE CAR. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO FIRE, THERE WAS A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT CAUSING THE SENSOR TO MELT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10398669

Incident

Apr 27, 2011

Mileage

96,000 mi

MY 2001 FORD TAURUS ENGINE STOPS WORKING AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IT STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS. THIS CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ESP ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE STARTS ON ITS OWN AFTER A FEW HOURS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10328807

Incident

Apr 14, 2010

Mileage

89,000 mi

REAR COIL SPRINGS AND HEAD GASKET I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE THE HEAD GASKET FROM THE CHOICES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10325616

Incident

Feb 21, 2010

Mileage

74,328 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THERE WAS NO SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BUT THE TEMPERATURE DIAL DROPPED QUICKLY. WITHIN MINUTES, THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. SHE ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL OFF AND IT WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT ALL OF THE FLUIDS WERE FINE; HOWEVER, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE HEADS WERE MADE OF ALUMINUM AND WHEN THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, THEY WARPED AND CRACKED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE ENTIRE MOTOR TO BE REPLACED. DURING THE ENTIRE ORDEAL, THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED 08/31/09 *BF UPDATED 09/03/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10279606

Incident

Apr 1, 2008

Mileage

80,000 mi

DROVE HOME FROM WORK. WAS INSIDE MY HOME ABOUT 10 MINUTES. HEARD A LOUD NOISE WENT OUT SIDE AND MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. FIRE MEN PUT IT OUT AND SAID IT PROBABLY STARTED UP IN THE DASH AREA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242174

Incident

Sep 11, 2008

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF LOSE POWER STEERING ABILITY. THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TO A STOP AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. DURING THE FIRST FEW FAILURES, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WALK HOME. SHE SENT HER HUSBAND TO CHECK THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED UP NORMALLY. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, IT WOULD TAKE HOURS TO DAYS BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED. TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS HAVE PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY BOTH STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE BOX INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE BY THE LOAN COMPANY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOAN COMPANY AND THEY INFORMED HER TO CALL THEIR TECHNICIAN. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT WAS NOT THE BOX, EVEN THOUGH IT HAD NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED. HE ALSO REFUSED TO REPLACE THE BOX UNLESS THE CONTACT PAID $80 FOR THE INSPECTION SERVICE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,500.

NHTSA ID

10237816

Incident

Jun 14, 2008

Mileage

96,000 mi

I AM A OWNER OF A 2001 FORD TAURUS WHICH I BOUGHT USED AND HAVE OWNED IT NOW FOR 2 YEARS. IT IS THE FIRST FORD I HAVE OWNED IN OVER 20 YEARS. SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT, IT HAS NOT GIVEN ME TOO MANY PROBLEMS, JUST THE BASIC BREAK DOWNS LIKE, BATTERIES, BRAKES ,SEIZED A/C COMPRESSOR,COOLANT EXPANSION TANK CRACKED, ECT. THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO BREAK. BUT WHAT HAS REALLY UPSET ME IS HOW I HAVE READ ABOUT THE COIL SPRINGS BREAKING ON THE TAURUS AND CAUSING POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME BUT AFTER ARRIVING HOME TODAY I NOTICED A SMALL PIECE OF METAL UNDER MY 01 TAURUS AND AFTER FURTHER OBSERVATION I FOUND IT TO BE A PIECE OF MY REAR COIL SPRING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE. I AM A 40+ YEAR OLD MALE WHO HAS HAD MANY MAKES AND MODELS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD OR HEARD OF COIL SPRINGS BREAKING AS THEY DO ON THE FORD TAURUS. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BY FORD AND NOT THE CONSUMER. SO I CAN ONLY EXPECT THAT THE REST OF THE SPRINGS ARE FAULTY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE I HAVE ANY FURTHER DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE FORD COMPANY DOES NOT CARE ABOUT CRAFTMANSHIP OR THE CONSUMERS SAFETY. SO CHANGE YOUR SLOGAN " HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY" TO " YOUR RIDING ON FAULTY COIL SPRINGS". THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED FREE OF CHARGE TO ALL FORD TAURUS OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219849

Incident

Mar 2, 2008

Mileage

147,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. THE WEATHER WAS 90 DEGREES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AFTER SEVERAL HOURS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10200206

Incident

Jul 1, 2007

Mileage

98,000 mi

WATER LEAK CAUSED BLOWER MOTOR & RESISTOR TO SHORT. $475 + TAX TO REPRIT. INTERNET SEARCH YIELDS MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND OCCURRENCES. SILENT RECALL BY FORD THAT IS REPAIRED AT NO COST WHILE CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, WHEN CAR OUT OF WARRANTY, CONSUMER RESPONSIBLE FOR COST OF REPAIRING THIS DEFECT. REFERENCE FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS TSB 04-15-3 AND TSB 03-15-6. *TR

NHTSA ID

10196908

Incident

Jun 15, 2007

REPEATED EXPENSIVE REPAIRS REQUIRED TO REPLACE BLOWER MOTOR CONTROL AND BLOWER FAN DUE TO LEAK IN RH COWLING. HAD TO INSTALL BRAIN HAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10191846

Incident

May 14, 2007

Mileage

79,377 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON IN OCTOBER 2005 AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A FAILURE OF EGR SENSOR; LIGHT TURNED OFF WHEN I ADDED MORE COOLANT TO THE RESERVOIR, WHICH WAS EMPTY BUT NOT GENERATING A HEATING MESSAGE. LIGHT TURNED BACK ON AFTER NEXT GAS FILL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10188462

Incident

Apr 20, 2007

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYED LIT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS OFF. THE FORD DEALER REPLACED THE STOP LAMP SWITCH HARNESS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECALL#04V106000 WAS ISSUED FOR THE SAME FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IT DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR INVOICE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 66,000. *AK UPDATE 4/23/07*TR THE TENSIONER AND BELT WAS REPLACED

NHTSA ID

10185335

Incident

Mar 11, 2007

Mileage

66,000 mi

TL* -THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS SES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH OR FASTER AND GOT WORSE THE VEHICLE REACHED 60 MPH. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND HAS NOT TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE EMISSIONS CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO TURN ON, BUT THAT SHE SHOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE FOR THREE YEARS NOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO, SHE GOT A JUMP START, AND HAD NO PROBLEM AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY IN A REPAIR SHOP, AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK, AND THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO HAVE THE RADIATOR FLUSHED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 94600.*AK UPDATED 04/09/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184542

Incident

Mar 8, 2007

Mileage

94,600 mi

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BEFORE THE ENGINE STALLED HE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. OTHER THAN THIS LIGHT THERE WERE NO OTHER WARNINGS INDICATIONS THAT THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO STALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE. AFTER WAITING FIVE OR TEN MINUTES THE VEHICLE STARTED AGAIN. BUT AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10138088

Incident

Sep 29, 2005

Mileage

5,600 mi

WENT OUT OF TOWN FOR THE DAY, CAR STARTING MAKING NOISES. NOISES SEEM TO BE INTERMEDIATE, WE CUT OUR TRIP SHORT AND DROVE HOME. IT IS IN THE AREA OF 100 MILES HOME. WHEN WE GOT HOME I PARKED IT TILL NEXT DAY AND HAD SOMEONE LOOK AT IT. THEY SAID A BOLT EITHER FELL OUT OR BROKE AND MY HUB ASSEMPLY WAS FALLING APART. AT THAT POINT THEY ALSO TELL ME I WAS LUCKY THAT THE PULLEY DIDN'T FREEZE UP ON ME BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE LOST ALL POWER. AT 65 MPH COMING HOME WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I CALLED MY FORD DEALER AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT I GET IT TO A FORD DEALER HERE AND LET THEM LOOK AT IT. I HAD IT TOWED THE NEXT DAY AND THEY VERIIFIED THE SAME INFORMATION. THEY SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE A/C COMPRESSOR, CLUTCH, PULLEY AND A COIL. I DID SPEAK TO FORD AND THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO THINK THAT THEY SHOULD ASSIT IN ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. MY BIGGEST THING IS THAT THE CAR WAS FALLING APART WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT WAS NOT DUE FROM NEGLECT OR AN ACCIDENT. THEIR LACK OF CONCERN WAS DISTURBING. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED IT AS OF YET BUT WHEN I DO I WILL KEEP THE OLD PARTS.

NHTSA ID

10133736

Incident

Jul 31, 2005

Mileage

77,200 mi

WHILE OPERATING MY 2001 FORD TAURUS SES, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITH NO WARNING (LOW COOLANT LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE). I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE INTERSTATE WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY UNDER NO POWER. UPON INSPECTING THE ENGINE, FOUND SEVERAL CRACKS IN THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW (PLASTIC) RESERVOIR. WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE RUNNING AGAIN AFTER ADDING COOLANT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME, BUT OVERHEATED ON THE WAY 3 TIMES. I ORDERED A NEW RESERVOIR FROM FORD FOR $103.00 AND WILL INSTALL IT MYSELF ONCE IT ARRIVES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10130389

Incident

Jul 22, 2005

Mileage

51,980 mi