2001 Ford Taurus Powertrain (other) Problems

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that there was a slight hesitation upon shifting the transmission into drive. The contact stated that the gear selector seized, and the vehicle was no longer able to shift out of park. Additionally, the brake lights were no longer operable. No warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.

NHTSA ID

11654691

Incident

Mar 20, 2025

Mileage

55,000 mi

SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION ON THE DASH HAS BEEN OFF MEANING ... TO PUT IT IN DRIVE IT HAS TO SAY 1 ST. ON THE DASH REVERSE IS WHERE DRIVE IS OR D. ... YESTERDAY I CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND THERE WAS A HUGE THUNK AND I COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR HAD FROZE THEN AFTER MESSING WITH THE SHIFT ARM IT WENT THUNK AGAIN AND I GOT IT HOME BUT CANT DRIVE ANY FARTHER ..I ALSO HAVE HAD ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS SINCE I GOT IT ONE DASH LIGHTS INSIDE WONT WORK NEXT DAY BLINKER NEXT DAY RADIO NEXT DAY HEAD LIGHTS .... AND THE FRONT END THUNKS WHEN DRIVING AND IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE ROAD ...IT FEELS *TR

NHTSA ID

11389681

Incident

Jan 23, 2021

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. JOHN BLEAKLEY FORD INC (870 THORTON RD, LITHIA SPRINGS, GA 30122) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FORD MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID

11191618

Incident

Mar 18, 2019

Mileage

45,000 mi

TODAY, JUNE 24, 2017 AT ABOUT 1:00 PM, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A CITY STREET, WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN, TO TURN LEFT ONTO THE STATE HIGHWAY. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, SO I WAS NOT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL AT ALL. SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY ACTION ON MY PART, AND RAPIDLY STARTED INTO THE BUSY INTERSECTION. DESPITE MY VAIN ATTEMPTS TO STOP MY VEHICLE, BY PUSHING AS HARD IS POSSIBLE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET, IT DIDN'T DECREASE THE ACCELERATION AT ALL. BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN, I WASN'T ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. I COLLIDED WITH A VAN WHICH WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND GOING ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR THROUGH THE INTERSECTION ON THE GREEN LIGHT. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES (WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ONE OR BOTH VEHICLES BEING TOTALED), VERY FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO SUBSTANTIAL INJURIES TO THE WOMAN OR HER FOUR YOUNG CRYING CHILDREN IN THE OTHER VEHICLE, NOR TO ME. AFTER MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS OF DRIVING WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT, I WAS SHOCKED AND UPSET BY THIS, AND ALL THE PASSENGERS WERE TRAUMATIZED BY THE ACCIDENT. THE POLICE OFFICER DIDN'T GIVE ME A CITATION, ATTRIBUTING THE ACCIDENT TO A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. SEVERAL PEOPLE, INCLUDING YOUNG CHILDREN, COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED BY THIS AWFUL EXPERIENCE. THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED, AND I HOPE YOU WILL INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM, SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE WON'T BE BADLY INJURED OR LOSE THEIR LIVES IN THE FUTURE. AN ADDITIONAL ITEM I SHOULD MENTION IS THAT I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT THIS VEHICLE MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASIS.

NHTSA ID

11001184

Incident

Jun 24, 2017

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THE GEARS WOULD NOT SHIFT AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT, A MECHANIC, REACHED OUT TO THE DEALER TO PURCHASE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE REPAIR TO BE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID

10882801

Incident

Jun 25, 2016

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARS ON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SWITCH FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10779009

Incident

Sep 21, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 226,000.

NHTSA ID

10717203

Incident

May 16, 2015

Mileage

226,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE PLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10524333

Incident

Jun 21, 2013

Mileage

126,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THEY WERE IN A PARKING SPACE AND WHEN THEY TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR IT WOULD NOT MOVE. WHEN THEY WERE ABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE GEAR, THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO DID NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10521371

Incident

Jun 21, 2013

Mileage

130,000 mi

TRAVELING AT 45MPH SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE, RPM'S JUMPED YET NO RESPONSE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I CAN SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR AND THE VEHICLE ACTS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10499506

Incident

Feb 16, 2013

Mileage

120,205 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

CAR BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. AT THIS TIME THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE WORKING. FOUND A WORK AROUND ON THE INTERNET THAT WORKED. ALSO FOUND A RECALL (04S12) FOR SAME PROBLEM BUT MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED AND FORD WILL NOT FIX. HOWEVER, THEY DO NOT SELL THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH (WHICH IS MOST LIKELY THE PART I NEED) BY ITSELF ANYMORE. YOU MUST BUY A MORE EXPENSIVE KIT THAT INCLUDES THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. NOW MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE COMPLETELY OUT SO WE CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR. SEEMS IF FORD WON'T SELL JUST THE SWITCH THEN THEY ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MY CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION TO THE SHIFTING OUT OF PARK PROBLEM. I HAVE CALLED FORD TWICE BUT THEY BASICALLY SAY "SORRY YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL." AND REGARDING WHETHER THERE WERE A CRASH, IF MY DAUGHTER HAD KEPT DRIVING IT THERE MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE, AS BRAKE LIGHTS ARE PRETTY IMPORTANT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10440477

Incident

Sep 23, 2011

Mileage

86,000 mi

I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO SAY I AM 19 YEARS OLD AND A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO DOESN'T HAVE $2000 LAYING AROUND FOR A CRAPPY TRANSMISSION AND I'M VERY UPSET THAT I MADE SUCH A NAIVE PURCHASE. HERE'S THE STORY.. I BOUGHT IT FROM A PRIVATE SELLER WHOM TOLD ME SINCE HE HAD THE CAR HE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TWICE . SO I THOUGHT I HAD A GOOD RUNNING CAR WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION. TWO WEEKS LATER THE TRANSMISSION JUST GAVE UP ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE I WAS DOING 65-70 MPH THE MOMENTUM PUSHED THE CAR OF THE I10 TO A SAFE PLACE ON THE SHOULDER. I TURNED IT OFF AND STARTED IT BACK UP AND IT MOVED A COUPLE OF YARDS TO AN NEARBY GAS STATION WHERE IT SAT FOR HOURS. I TOOK IT TO COTTMANS TRANSMISSION AND A OLDER GUY WHO HAVE BEEN FIXING CARS FOR THE LONGEST TOLD ME"LOOK I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON CARS FOR A LONG TIME AND THESE TAURUS HAVE COMMON TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS" IM NOT PUTTING ANOTHER DIME INTO THIS CAR. THESE CARS ARE KNOWN FOR GETTING PEOPLE FIRED FROM WORK AND MESSING UP PEOPLE LIVES. I WAS PLANNING ON TAKING A VACATION IN MY CAR BUT I GUESS MY TRANSMISSION HIT THE ROAD BEFORE I DID. I'VE READ MANY MANY REPORTS ON BLOG SITE WHERE EVERY TAURUS OWNER TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT ON THEM. AND IT SEEMS THESE CARS GO OUT AT THE WRONG TIME. IT'S A [XXX] SHAME THAT SOME OF THE REPORTS I'VE READ SOME OF THE PEOPLE WAS IN LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS AT THE TIME OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES. IT'S GONNA TAKE SOMEBODY TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR DIE AS A RESULT OF THESE POORLY BUILT PIECE OF [XXX] FOR FORD TO GET UP OFF THEIR [XXX]. I SHOULD JUST WENT GOT THAT NEW MAXIMA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10436394

Incident

Nov 10, 2011

Mileage

87,000 mi

STARTING ENGINE WITH TRANSMISSION IN PARK; WON'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK, BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK. OCCURS DAILY. HAVE TO TURN ENGINE OFF, START, THEN PUT INTO GEAR, BUT BRAKE LIGHTS STILL DON'T USUALLY WORK. TRIED TO HAVE FORD DEALER REPAIR UNDER RECALL (04V10600 OR 04S12, RELATED TO 1S08?), BUT WAS TOLD BY DEALER & FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE IT DIDN'T APPLY TO MY VIN. PAID DEALER TO REPLACE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND WIRING. CONCERNED AS BOTH FAILURE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR & BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE HAVE LEFT THE DRIVER STRANDED & AT RISK OF AN ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE AND PROBABLY MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE, THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS RECALL. REPAIR COST 158.61. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231476

Incident

May 29, 2008

Mileage

64,200 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH COIL SPRINGS, A DAMAGED CV JOINT, A FAILED CONNECTOR ROD, AND A DAMAGED STRUT. THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE, AND DIDN'T KNOW IF THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER PER RECALL# 04V332000. THE CONTACT HAD THE FRONT BRAKE PADS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.*AK

NHTSA ID

10188805

Incident

Apr 13, 2007

Mileage

120,000 mi

AUOTMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH NO WARNING AND NO WARRANTY OR RECALL FROM FORD. CAR HAS 53000 MILES . DRIVING ALONG AT 30 MPH AND IT WAS LIKE THE CAR WAS PUT INTO NEUTRAL.COMPLETE TRANS FAILURE WITH NO WARNING NOT A SAFE THING TO HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY OR ANYWHERE ELSE FOR THAT FACT. I AM A DEVOTED FORD PERSON BUT AT THIS POINT ALSO VERY UPSET AND WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER BUYING ANOTHER BRAND .*AK

NHTSA ID

10108207

Incident

Jan 26, 2005

Mileage

53,000 mi

I BOUGHT A NEW FORD TAURUS IN 2001. THREE MONTHS AFTER MY PURCHASE, A VIBRATION BEGAN IN THE FRONT END. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND HAD REPAIRS. TO MY DISMAY, THE CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE AGAIN IN JANUARY 2002. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR REPAIRS AGAIN. APRIL 2002 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, SO MORE REPAIRS. THIS CONTINUED UNTIL I GAVE THE CAR BACK (JULY 2004) DUE TO THESE PROBLEMS AND MANY OTHERS. THE DEALERSHIP, SILSBEE FORD, SEEMED TO ONLY FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY,RESULTING IN ME RETURNING THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND AGAIN. I BELIEVE THERE WAS AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM THAT WAS OVERLOOKED AND I ASSUMED TAKING THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP THE PROBLEM WOULD HAVE BEEN FOUND AND PROPERLY FIXED. BY MAR 2003 APPR. 21,000 MILES ONE CV SHAFT AND AXLE SEAL REPLACED, ROD ASY REPLACED AT 38,000 MILES, AND BY JAN 2004 THE OTHER CV AXLE WAS REPLACED. THIS CAR HAS HAD THREE SETS OF TIRES BEFORE 60,000 MILES, NEW ROTORS AT APPR. 38,000 MILES. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED A NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE REPLACING. CONSUMERS NEED TO BE INFORMED OF MAKESHIFT REPAIRS DONE AT DEALERSHIPS. I TURNED IN MY CAR TO THE COMPANY BECAUSE IT WAS GETTING TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND OBVIOUSLY THE DEALERSHIP WASN'T COMPETENT ENOUGH TO FIND THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM. I HAVE TRIED MANY DIFFERENT AVENUES TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION AND THE FORD COMPANY KEEPS STATING THE WARRANTY IS OUT. I KNOW THIS BUT THE PROBLEM IS, MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME OR AT LEAST THE SECOND TIME IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS, WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. I BELIEVE MY FAMILY WAS ENDANGERED BECAUSE OF THE NEGLIGENCE OF THIS COMPANY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10086607

Incident

Dec 7, 2001

Mileage

11,138 mi

I HAVEN'T GOT REPAIR DONE YET. TRANSMISSON HAS ALWAY HAD A SLIGHT SLIP. IT TOTALLY SLIPPED OUT IN LOW GEAR THE OTHER DAY.

NHTSA ID

10069270

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

48,000 mi

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS PROPERLY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK. ONCE VEHICLE SHIFTS INTO PROPER GEAR, THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE PRESENT. DRIVER CHECKED UNDER VEHICLE, AND OIL WAS LEAKING. DEALER SAID TRANS AXLE WAS NOT LUBRICATING WHEEL AND DRIVESHAFT CAUSED THE NOISE. *AK

NHTSA ID

8008577

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WAS OFF. WHEN THEY CHECK UNDER THE VEHICLE THEIR WAS ALOT OF OIL AND GREASE.THE OIL FROM THE BOOT RIGHT FRONT DRIVE AXLE HAD LEAKED OUT. NLM

NHTSA ID

8008143

Incident

Mar 23, 2002