2001 Ford Taurus Visibility Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD WAS SOAKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE SEALANT NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 205,000.

NHTSA ID

10551167

Incident

Oct 13, 2013

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A WATER LEAK IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE BLOWER MOTOR AND THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT SHE REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES, BUT IT FAILED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10416707

Incident

Jul 1, 2005

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE HEATING UNIT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,600.

NHTSA ID

10295869

Incident

Dec 1, 2006

Mileage

74,000 mi

THE WIPER SWITCH/MOTOR ON MY 2001 FORD TAURUS HAS FAILED. I FOUND OUT ONLINE THAT IT HAS BEEN UNDER RECALL FOR 2001 TAURUSES, HOWEVER WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER THEY REFUSED REPAIR. I CONTACTED FORD COMPANY, THEY SAY ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME IT'S NOT BEEN RECALLED. THE MAIN ARGUMENT: IT HAS 90K MILES, SO IT'S A COINCIDENT. IT'S INCREDIBLE HOW THEY DECEIVE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10281717

Incident

Jul 10, 2009

Mileage

91,400 mi

APPROX. MID-MAY 2008 NOTICED COOLANT SMELL IN CAR AND WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR INSIDE 2001 FORD TAURUS WAGON. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, AC BLOWER MOTOR ONLY WORKED ON HIGH. TOOK TO SHERWOOD FORD IN SALISBURY, MD END OF MAY 2008 FOR REPAIR. THEY REPLACED RESISTORS TO BLOWER MOTOR AND STATED PROBLEM WAS DUE TO CORROSION FROM WATER DAMAGE FROM LEAK IN WINDSHIELD/COWL. BLOWER WORKED FINE UNTIL AUGUST 18, 2008 STARTED WORKING ONLY ON HIGH AGAIN. TOOK BACK TO SHERWOOD FORD 8-25-08, THEY ARE CURRENTLY REPLACING RESISTORS AGAIN AND STATE THAT BLOWER MOTOR SHOULD BE REPLACED TOO BECAUSE IT IS NOT WORKING UP TO PAR DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. INTERNET SEARCH OF FORD TAURUS COWL LEAK REVEALS MANY OTHER PEOPLE OWNING FORD TAURUS/MERCURY SABLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND FORD WILL NOT ISSUE RECALL. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE BLOWER, IF IT GOES OUT ALTOGETHER THEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION COULD DEVELOP DUE TO INABILITY TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD OF FOG, ETC. REFERENCING COMPLAINT NUMBERS 10184014, 10189897, 10195320, 10205290. CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER ON 8-25-08 AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP WITH REPAIRS FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10239598

Incident

May 15, 2008

WATER LEAKS INTO THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD ON MY 2001 FORD TAURUS. IN RESEARCHING IT ON THE WEB I FOUND A LINK TO THIS SITE. IT JUST STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO. I FOUND ANOTHER COMPLAINT 10184014. THIS SITE SAID TO MENTION RECALL NUMBER 03V087000. AS WIDESPREAD AS THIS APPEARS TO BE I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD COVER THE DESIGN MISTAKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228606

Incident

Feb 10, 2008

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE THE BLOWER RESISTOR REPLACED IN HER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE AIR WOULD ONLY BE DISTRIBUTED IN HIGH AMOUNTS. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THE KNOB FAILED AGAIN AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEALER STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING IN THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE ENGINE, WHICH LED TO THE BLOWER RESISTOR FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CAN HEAR WATER ENTERING HER VEHICLE IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V087000 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD). SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,579.

NHTSA ID

10226398

Incident

Nov 15, 2007

Mileage

147,579 mi

THE MOTOR THAT RUNS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID STOPPED WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10217956

Incident

Jan 14, 2008

Mileage

80,560 mi

FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS LEAKING IN MY VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND HAVE BEEN THE ONLY DRIVER. EVERYTIME IT RAINS MY FLOOR HAS A PUDDLE OF WATER ON IT AND IT TAKES DAYS FOR IT TO DRY. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY FAN MOTOR BLOWER 4 TIMES AND I USE A TOWEL TO WIPE THE HUMIDITY OF THE WINDOW SINCE THE HEATER DOESN'T WORK WELL DUE TO ALL THE MOISTURE. I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND DECIDED TO REPORT IT HERE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10217037

Incident

Feb 5, 2008

MY 2001 FORD TAURUS HAS BEEN LEAKING WATER INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT RAINS AND IT ACTUALLY LEAVES A PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE FLOOR MAKING THE CARPET SMELL AND COLLECT MOLD. THIS IS TURN, THE WATER IS ALSO COLLECTING IN THE BLOWER MOTOR CASING AND FILLING UP CAUSING THE BLOWER MOTOR TO STOP WORKING. I USED TO BE ABLE TO BANG ON THE BLOWER MOTOR CASING TO HELP THE WATER LEAK OUT OF IT AND ONCE THE WATER DID LEAK OUT THE BLOWER MOTOR WOULD WORK, HOWEVER IT IS NOW WINTER TIME AND GETTING BELOW ZERO AT NIGHT, I WENT TO TAKE MY SON TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING AND THE BLOWER MOTOR WOULD NOT COME ON AT ALL, LEAVING US WITH NO HEAT IN THE VEHICLE AND ACTUALLY CAUSING A DRIVING HAZARD AS THE WINDOWS FOG UP AND FREEZE INSTANTLY, I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH MY SON IN THE CAR...THIS WAS VERY SCARY AND I WANT SOME ANSWERS AS TO WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED ON THESE CARS. I HAVE READ UP ON THIS AND THIS IS HAPPENING FOR YEARS WITH SEVERAL MAKES AND MODELS BUT MOSTLY ON THE FORD TAURUS'. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE BLOWER MOTOR AND FIND THE LEAK...BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10215469

Incident

Jan 19, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT HAD JUST REFILLED THE WASHER WINDOW FLUID AND PRESSED THE BUTTON FOR THE FLUID A SECOND TIME WHEN HE BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. BY THE TIME HE AND HIS DAUGHTER EXITED THE VEHICLE, FLAMES WERE RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V258000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER: MOTOR) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 124,004.

NHTSA ID

10213292

Incident

Dec 14, 2007

Mileage

124,004 mi

BLOWER OR RESISTOR FAILURE DUE TO LEAKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10206814

Incident

Aug 7, 2007

Mileage

147,000 mi

AIR CONDITIONING / HEATER BLOWER STOPPED WORKING. FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR WET WHEN IT RAINS. WILL NEED TO BE REPAIRED SOON WITH COLD WEATHER APPROACHING. EXPECTING $500+ REPAIR BILL. NHTSA HAS MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THIS ISSUE. IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON A 2001 FORD TAURUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10202724

Incident

Jun 1, 2007

Mileage

100,000 mi

PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEATER BLOWER MOTOR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10153114

Incident

Mar 10, 2006

Mileage

23,000 mi

WINDOWS WOULD FOG UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON! I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW & IT WAS NEVER IN A FLOOD. DEFROSTER BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED AT 21,000 MI HAD TO REPLACE RESISTORS STOPPED AT 54,000 REPLACED RESISTORS AGAIN.STOPPED AT 77,000 REPLACED RESISTORS ! DID NOT FIX PROBLEM ! TOOK CAR TO FORD DEALER THEY CHARGED $ 99.58 TO CHECK OUT NON WORKING BLOWER MOTOR.TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $453.00 TO REPLACE BLOWER MOTOR AND SEAL COWLING TO PREVENT WATER FROM COLLECTING IN THE BLOWER MOTOR!! I DID NOT HAVE THEM DO THE REPAIR. THE WATER COLLECTING IN THE BLOWER MOTOR IS WHAT WOULD CAUSE THE WINDOWS TO FOG UP !!! A BAD SAFTY HAZARD.THE NEW BLOWER MOTOR HAD A WATER DRAIN HOLE IN IT ,THAT THE OLD MOTOR DID NOT HAVE--THIS SHOWS FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS VERY HAZARDOUS WINDOW FOGGING PROBLEM !! AND COVERED IT UP. I HAVE THE OLD MOTOR WITH RUSTY WATER STAINS ON IT. IT WAS FULL OF WATER WHEN I REMOVED IT FROM THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10126991

Incident

Mar 4, 2002

Mileage

21,000 mi

1.NORMAL DRIVING , WINDOW STARTING TO FOG UP. TURN ON DEFROSTER. 2. INSTANTLY TOTAL LOSS OF VISABILITY BECAUSE OF WINDSHIELD BEING COVERED WITH HEAVEY FOG 3.NOTHING DONE, I THOUGHT I MUST HAVE HAD SOMETHING SET WRONG IN THE HEATER/ DEFROSTER BUTTONS. I PULLED OVER TRIED SEVERAL DIFFERENT SETTINGS AND WINDOW EVENTUALLY CLEARED. (THIS FOG WAS TO THE DEGREE THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE STARTED ON MY TRIP UNTIL I CLEARED THE WINDSHIELD IF IT HAD BEEN LIKE THAT WHEN I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE) I HAVE NEVR BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN OR ANY WAY TO PREVENT IT. IT IS HOWEVER VERY DANGEROUS . EVEN AFTER THE FOG HAS OCCURED, IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET IT TO CLEAR QUICKLY. IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS COLD OR VERY WARMED UP.I HAD TO PUT IN A SPEED BUT THIS IS TRULY IRRELEVANT.

NHTSA ID

10120047

Incident

Apr 13, 2002

Mileage

19,000 mi

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND GO OFF ON THEIR OWN. THE CONSUMER NOTICED AT THIS TIME THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT COME ON AT ALL. THE CONSUMER DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10113609

Incident

Mar 7, 2005

WE PURCHASED OUR 2001 TAURUS, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD FIX SEVERAL WRONGS, ONE INCLUDED THE HEATER. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO DO WHAT THEY PROMISED WE HAVE OUR 2 MONTH OLD $9000.00 PURCHASE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY UNABLE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF COLD WEATHER. WE WERE FIRST TOLD THE SWITCH WAS BAD, WE WERE THEN TOLD THE BLOWER WAS THE CULPRIT,. THE CAR WAS DROPPED OFF IN OUR DRIVE WAY BECAUSE, AS WE WERE TOLD, THE CAR COULD NOT SIT IN THE DEALERSHIP LONGER THAN SEVENTY TWO HOURS. THE HEATER WAS STILL NOT FIXED. I CALLED OUR ORIGINAL CONTACT PERSON, HE PICKED UP THE CAR AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD US THE CAR WAS DONE. I CALLED TO CONFIRM AND WAS TOLD THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT DOING ANY THING ELSE TO THE CAR AS THEY HAD PUT TOO MUCH MONEY INTO THE CAR ALREADY,MY WIFE WAS THEN TOLD, IF WE WANTED TO HAVE THE HEATER FIXED WE COULD HAVE IT DONE UNDER THE WARRANTY THAT WE HAD PURCHASED FOR $1750.00 AND PAY THE $100.00 DEDUCTIBLE, BECAUSE OF THE TIME CONSTRAINTS ON OUR WE OWE CONTRACT(THIS IS LIKE A PROMISE TO FIX) CONTRACT WHICH EXPIRED ON THE LAST DATE WE PICKED UP OUR NEW TO US FORD, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND TALKED TO THE MANAGER, THE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT THE RELAY WAS REPLACED, BUT THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM........ WHAT A BAD EXPERIENCE ON A 51,000 MILE VEHICLE. I'VE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS HOPING FOR A FAIR DEAL,NO HELP..I WAS REMINDED THAT MY VEHICLE IS A FORD AND ONLY PURCHASED AT A G.M. DEALER. I'VE CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. FORD HAS NO EXTENDED AVAILABLE. I'VE CONTACTED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY WE PURCHASED WARRANTY FROM AT THE DEALERSHIP, NO HELP, WHAT NOW *JB

NHTSA ID

10109813

Incident

Jan 30, 2005

Mileage

51,000 mi

WE'VE HAD MANY PROBLEM IN THE PAST YEAR. FIRST IN THE PEAK OF WINTER THE HEATER CORE HAD TO BE REPLACE. FOLLOWING A MONTH LATER WITH THE ENGINE MAKING A HORRIBLE RATTLING, WHEN THE CAR IN IN IDLE IT WOULD STOP ALL TOGETHER, THE CAR HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO A FORD DEALER...WHICH ESTIMATES THE COST TO BE $4700.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS AT 81000 MILES AND THOUGH WE PURCHASED THE ESP...IT IS 1800 MILES OVERDUE...SO THE COST WILL BE OURS TO FIX IT. I'VE NEVER HAD AN ENGINE DIE IN A CAR THAT IS 4 YEARS OLD. THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR THE PAST WEEK WHILE WE FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10108393

Incident

Jan 25, 2005

Mileage

81,000 mi

AIR CONDITION/HEATER FAN STOPPED WORKING. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN WATER LEAKAGE CAUSING MOTOR BLOWER FAILURE ALONG WITH RESISITOR FAILURE. THEY SITED TSB 04-15-3 IDENTIFYING TAURUSES BUILT BETWEEN 5-1-01 TO 12-15-03 OF HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND HOW TO CORRECT IT. IT COST ME OVER $500 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WHEN IT WAS A MANUFACTURED DEFECT. FORD CONSTOMER SERVICE SIMPLY STATED IT WASN'T A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM SO THERE WAS NO NEED TO RECALL IT OR COVER THE COST OF REPAIR. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ANY TIME YOU HAVE WATER MIXING WITH ELECTRICAL THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. GIVEN THE DEGREE OF CORROSION THE LEAK HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID

10088865

Incident

Aug 10, 2004

AS WITH MY 1992 TAURUS MY 2001 TAURUS HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH OR MOTOR.PRESENTLY NOT FIXED BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR IT. ALSO MY TRANS. SLIPS AND UP AND DOWN SHIFTS HARD IN AND OUT OF SECOND GEAR. ONCE AGAIN I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT .*AK

NHTSA ID

10088644

Incident

Sep 30, 2002

Mileage

35,000 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION SHOOK SINCE FEBRUARY, 2004. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD A PROBLEM, AND KEPT VEHICLE FOR 4 DAYS. WHEN CONSUMER RECEIVED VEHICLE BACK SHE WAS TOLD THAT THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER PISTON BECAUSE IT WAS STUCK. ALSO, HAD PROBLEMS WIT THE WINDOWS. THEY MADE A WEIRD NOISE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY JUST REALIGNED THE WINDOWS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10087627

Incident

Aug 10, 2004

THE DEFROSTER/AIR ON MY 2001 FORD TAURUS LX DOES NOT DEFOG MY WINDSHIELD MAKING IT HARD TO SEE WHEN THE WINDSHIELD GETS FOGGED UP.*AK

NHTSA ID

10061939

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALER/FORD MOTOR COMPANY RE: FOUL ODOR WHEN HEAT IS RUNNING. WAS TOLD THAT I PROBABLY HAD A HIGH SENSITIVITY TO ALLERGIES. COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING TO REPLACE BREAKS AT 15,000 MILES. HAD TO REPLACE OIL GASKET PAN TWICE WITHIN THE SAME YEAR. DEALERSHIP DID NOT FIND THIS UNUSUAL. CAR ACCELERATES WITHOUT WARNING SOMETIMES. THE MOTOR IS MAKING A RUSHING NOISE. WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE NORMAL SOUND OF THE MOTOR ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT START UNTIL SIX MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD. HAD TO TAKE CAR BACK TO REPLACE BACK/WARPED WINDSHIELD AFTER HAVING IT ONE DAY. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT EVEN ALLOW ME TO TRADE VEHICLE AND DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE FACT THAT TOO MANY THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG IN TOO SHORT A PERIOD OF TIME. PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 2002. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047653

Incident

Sep 12, 2003

Mileage

3,500 mi

WINDSHIELD POPPED OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO GLASS REPAIR SHOP FOR REPLACEMENT. *PH

NHTSA ID

10048418

Incident

Nov 20, 2003