Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 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 27, in the owner's own words
ENTERED CARD IN THE MORNING AND THE FLOOR BOARD WAS INEXPLICABLY SOAKED. AFTER STARTING THE CAR, THE HEAT WAS WOULD ONLY WORK WHEN THE BLOWER WAS SET ON HIGH, THE FIRST THREE SETTINGS DIDN'T TURN ON AT ALL.
AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY, BRAKING TO STOP A RED LIGHT, THE CAR PROCEEDED TO SLOWLY ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. AFTER LETTING IT GO FOR A WHILE, IT TOPPED OUT AROUND 52MPH, AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS WORKING ON ITS OWN. I KEPT PRESSING OFF, BUT THAT WOULDN'T WORK. THE CAR STOPPED REVVING RPMS WHEN I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL.
WHEN DOOR CLOSED TEST LIGHT WITH MILEAGE WON'T SHOW???
MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V106000 (FORD RECALL NUMBER 04S12-MANUFACTURER'S REPORT DATE APRIL 5, 2004). YET, IT'S NOT FLAGGING MY VIN AS PART OF THE RECALL. THE BADGE ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR SHOWS THE CAR WAS BUILT 02/2004. IT'S BEEN DOING IT A LONG TIME OFF AND ON, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TILT STEERING WHEEL. THE GEARSHIFT WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK WITH YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. MY CAR SHOULD BE COVERED BY THIS RECALL. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP WITH THIS MATTER! *TR
THE WHOLE ENTIRE WIRES UNDER THE DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND ALMOST BLEW ME MY KIDS UP IN DALLAS TEXAS, HAD IT TOTAL AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE WHOLE COMPUTER SYSTEM BLEW THE WIRES OUT AND THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (50 - 60 MPH), THE CAR STALLS, ALL THE LIGHTS TURN OFF INCLUDING THE HAZARD FLASHERS. BRAKING AND STEERING THEN BECOME VERY DIFFICULT. I ALWAYS PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND ATTEMPT TO COAST TO A SAFE PARKING LOCATION. I AM ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES IMMEDIATELY, SOMETIMES AFTER PROLONGED PERIODS. SO FAR, THE STALL PROBLEM HAS NEVER OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT REST. SOMETIMES THE DOOR LOCKS WILL BRIEFLY "CHATTER" AS THE SOLENOIDS MYSTERIOUSLY ACTIVATE. THIS CAN OCCUR WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING. THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED IN JUNE 2015. THEN RECURRED RANDOMLY ONCE EVERY 2-3 WEEKS. RECENTLY, THE PROBLEM OCCURS 2-3 TIMES IN A DAY. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT PERSIST LONG ENOUGH TO BE DIAGNOSED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,938.
DROVE CAR ABOUT 4 MILES. NO PROBLEMS. WHEN PARKED IT WAS SMOKING REAL BAD UNDER HOOD THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIREMAN SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL. IT GAVE NO WARNING. AS I LOOKED ON THIS WEBSITE I HAVE SEEN THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN. MY CAR IS TOTALED AND I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE. NOW WHAT WILL FORD DO ABOUT THAT? I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THANK GOD I WASN'T.
I BOUGHT A CAR FROM TRI STAR AUTO BROKERS ([XXX]), WITH A TWO YEAR CONTRACT ($217/MONTH) TO PAY THE CAR OFF. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT LIKE CUSTOMERS TO PAY AT THE OFFICE, WE WERE TOLD TO SEND OUR PAYMENTS TO THE P.O. BOX GIVEN BY THEM: P.O. BOX 90252, PORTLAND, OR 97290. I SPOKE WITH [XXX], WHO HANDLES THE PAYMENTS THREE MONTHS AGO IN REGARDS TO THE BALANCE I OWE. ACCORDING TO HER, I HAD EITHER THIS LAST PAYMENT IN DECEMBER OR I MAY HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT DUE IN JANUARY THEN I'D BE ABLE TO RECEIVE MY TITLE. I WENT IN ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, TO SEE IF I COULD JUST PAY THE CAR OFF AND GET MY TITLE. HOWEVER, WHEN I GET THERE, I'M TOLD THE DEALERSHIP HAS NEW OWNERS, AND I NEEDED TO CONTACT THE DMV ON INFORMATION ON MY VEHICLE AND WHAT TO DO. I CALLED THE DMV AND WAS TOLD TO FILL THIS FORM OUT AND SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME SOON. IF ANY OTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT/HOW/WHERE TO SEND IT. I'D REALLY APPRECIATE THE HELP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000.
THE CAR JUMPS WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. YOU HAVE TO LEAVE PLENTY OF ROOM BETWEEN CARS OR IT WILL JUMP INTO A CAR. ALSO, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY SEVERAL TIMES. THE ALTERNATOR WAS 3 TIMES AND THE BATTERY 5 TIMES. ALL OF THE SUDDEN OUT CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT AND AFTER THAT IS WHEN THE JUMPING STARTED. HARD TO START AND IT JUMPS WHILE IDLING IN PARK AS WELL AS ALL OTHER GEARS. TRANSMISSION REPLACE 4 YEARS AGO. *JS
I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT ON MARCH 17, 2014 IN THE LATE EVENING. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS OR THE BRAKE AS I WAS TRYING TO LET MY CAR SLOW ITSELF DOWN WHEN I REALIZED MY CAR WAS NOT SLOWING; IT WAS SPEEDING UP. I LOOKED AT MY SPEEDOMETER AND I WAS CRUISING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AT 45 MPH. I THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES AND REALIZED THE RPM'S WERE STAYING ABOVE 2,500. AT THIS POINT I STARTED TO PANIC A LITTLE SINCE I FELT LIKE I WAS FIGHTING MY CAR AS IT WANTED TO ACCELERATE AND AS I WAS GETTING CLOSER TO LOTS OF PARKED CARS AND A BUILDING WHICH SCREAMED ACCIDENT. I DROVE IT AROUND THE PARKING LOT WITH THE BRAKES ON HARD AND I DECIDED TO PARK IT FAR AWAY FROM OTHER CARS. ONCE IN PARK THE CAR REVVED UP TO OVER 3,000 RPMS. AFTER IT DID THIS I DECIDED TO SHUT IT OFF. THINKING THAT MAYBE IT WOULD RESET ITSELF I TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT REVVED UP ONCE AGAIN PAST 3,000 RPMS. I DECIDED I SHOULDN'T DRIVE IT ANYMORE. THE NEXT DAY, MARCH 18TH, I HAD MY CAR TOWED AND TAKEN TO AN AUTO SHOP, WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE THAT BECAME DETACHED. THEY REATTACHED IT WHICH HOPEFULLY FIXES THE PROBLEM. WHEN I RETURNED HOME, I FOUND ONLINE THAT I WAS NOT ALONE OTHER TAURUSES WERE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND THAT A RECALL COULD BE POSSIBLE. I SEARCHED ON FORD'S WEBSITE AND NOTHING ON MY CAR HAD BEEN RECALLED. I AM SENDING A LETTER TO FORD TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOPEFULLY THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED BECAUSE I WOULD NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE OR TO ME AGAIN. *TR
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH SHE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT IT AND OBSERVED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WIRES WERE BURNT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE CIRCUIT WIRES ON THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ALSO BURNT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. RK
FAULTY GEM OR SMART JUNCTION BOX CAUSING ALL DOOR LOCKS AND TRUNK LID TO NOT PROPERLY WORK.ON OCCASION THE TRUNK WILL OPEN BY ITS SELF WHILE DRIVING. I CANNOT LOCK THE DOORS AND THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING AND AFTER THE CAR IS SHUT OFF. THIS HAS DRAINED MY BATTERY. DRIVING AT NIGHT IS VERY DISTRACTING WITH DOME LIGHT ON. I CANNOT TURN IT OFF AND WHEN I TOUCH THE COVER OF THE DOME LIGHT IT FEELS VERY HOT. I CANNOT TELL WHAT THE MILEAGE IS BECAUSE DASH FLASHES ALL DOORS AND TRUNK IS AJAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID A SCAN AND FOLLOWED SOME TYPE OF FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND FOUND THE CARS SMART JUNCTION BOX OR GEM MODULE WAS THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT CANNOT BE FIXED BECAUSE THE PART IS DISCONTINUED, OBSOLETE AND NOT MADE ANY MORE AND NO AFTERMARKET PART EXISTS. I INQUIRED ABOUT A PART POSSIBLY FROM ANOTHER CAR OF THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL. I WAS TOLD THAT WOULD NOT WORK BECAUSE THE SPECIFIC PART IN QUESTION WAS PROGRAMMED FOR MY CAR AND ITS COMPUTER. I TELEPHONED ANOTHER FORD DEALER AND SPOKE TO THE PARTS DEPT. I WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I WAS TOLD BY BOTH DEALERS THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM OTHER THAN PULLING THE INTERIOR BULB OUT. THIS BY FAR DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP. ANY INFORMATION OR GUIDANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. OWNER OF A 2004 FORD TAURUS SE MODEL. *TR
ON 12.02.2012, I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION; AT A RED LIGHT; THE LANE TO THE ENTRANCE TO THE FREEWAY; AT THAT MOMENT AND TIME I DID ACTIVATE THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER ELECTRICAL PUSH BUTTON SWITCH FOR THE VEHICLE REAR WINDOW. AS SOON AS THE SIGNAL LIGHT WAS GREEN; WITHIN APPROXIMATELY LESS THAN TWO MINUTES, I DROVE OFF AND ENTERED THE FREEWAY; UPON ENTERING THE FREEWAY AND IN THE SLOW LANE, I TURNED OFF THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER; IN APPROXIMATELY LESS THAN TWO OR THREE MINUTES WHILE IN MOTION/DRIVING; THERE WAS A LOUD BANG!. THE LOUD BANG, WAS A SOUND LIKE SOMETHING EXPLODED; I LOOKED INTO MY REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW THAT I COULD BARELY MAKE OUT WHAT WAS BEHIND ME/TRAFFIC. I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND FOUND THAT MY REAR WINDOW HAD SHATTERED/WAS BROKEN UP/CRACKED INTO PIECES, THE WINDOW DIDN'T COME APART; STAYED INTACT. THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER SYSTEM ELECTRICAL CONNECTION @ THE REAR WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE; THE CONNECTOR PLASTIC HOUSING WAS MELTED, BUT STAYED CONNECTED/INTACT. THE DRIVER SIDE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR DETACHED/CAME OFF THE REAR WINDOW; THE CONNECTOR PLASTIC HOUSING WAS COMPLETELY MELTED.
WHILE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND DID NOT GIVE WAY WHEN I HIT THE BREAKS. THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AT 40MPH, AND KEPT GOING TO 50 MPH, AND THEN AT 60 MPH I BEGAN TO PANIC. THE TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD I WAS TRAVELING ON WAS BUSY AND CARS WERE GOING IN AND OUT OF BUSINESSES. WHEN TRYING TO HIT THE BREAKS THE CAR SLIGHTLY JERKED AND DID NOT SLOW DOWN THE CAR. I WAS QUICKLY APPROACHING A LINE OF CARS WAITING AT A RED LIGHT AND THERE WAS NO BREAK DOWN LANE. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO MOVE INTO A SMALL PARKING AREA AND NEARLY HIT A STOREFRONT BY 3 FEET. I QUICKLY PUT THE CAR IN PARK, WHILE IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THINKING I WOULD RESET SOMETHING, I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND STARTED IT AGAIN. THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING AND CREATED A LOT OF SMOKE IN THE BACK. $500 TO FIX AT A FORD DEALERSHIP LATER AND I AM STILL ANXIOUS THAT THE SAME ISSUE WILL HAPPEN AGAIN BUT I WILL NOT BE SO LUCKY - WHAT IF IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY? WHEN A PEDESTRIAN WAS CROSSING THE ROAD? WHAT IF I HIT SOMEONE? FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PART - AND I WANT MY MONEY BACK! *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 FORD TAURUS, CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN SMOKING, PULLED OVER AND HOOD OF CAR COMPLETELY IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPT CAME AND PUT FIRE OUT. CAR IS TOTALED, INSURANCE ADVISED WAS ELECTRICAL FIRE. *TR
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT PROBLEM CODE P0430 NEEDS ECU REFLASH. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE TAIL LIGHTS, INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS, AND RADIO FAILED. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK WITHOUT SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. HE ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT MANAGED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH). THE RECALL PERTAINED TO THE 2003 MODELS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WOULD LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD WHENEVER IT RAINED. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE WIRES IN THE DASHBOARD TO BECOME WET AND PRODUCES AN ELECTRICAL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BLOWER CASE WAS AFFECTING THE MOTOR RESISTER. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS VEHICLE THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,800.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT TOUCHED A METAL PART OF THE EXTERIOR PART OF THE VEHICLE, STATIC ELECTRICITY WOULD DISCHARGE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE BUILD-UP OF ELECTRICITY CAUSED A STRONG, PAINFUL SPARK. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT WITHOUT RESOLUTIONS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. UPDATED 2/17/09 *CN UPDATED 02/19/09. *JB
WIRING IN DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. *TR
ON MAY 31, 2008 PURCHASED A 2004 FORD TAURUS. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER I NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. IT WAS READING 50 MPH BUT I WAS ACTUALLY GOING ON 40 MPH. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, WHICH IS NOT A FORD DEALER. THEY TESTED THE CAR AND SAID THE SPEED SENSOR WAS BAD. ORDERED 1 FROM A FORD DEALER WHICH TOOK A WEEK TO COME IN. WHEN THE SPEED SENSOR CAME IN AND WAS REPLACED IN THE CAR THE SPEEDOMETER STILL WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. THE DEALER CALL THE FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ONE WAS ORDERED ON JUNE 17, 2008. TOLD IT WOULD TAKE 2 WEEKS. I CALL FORD DIRECTLY AND HAD FORD LOOK INTO THIS. FORD SAID THEY WOULD EXPEDITE THE SPEEDOMETER FOR ME. THAT WAS ON JULY 15. FORD SAID THEY WOULD CALL ME ON JULY 22 TO LET ME KNOW WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD BE SHIPPED. JUST RECEIVED A CALL FROM FORD TO SAY THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD BE SHIPPED AUGUST 6, 2008. THE CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT HAS ONLY 29,500 MILES ON IT. FORD SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE SPEEDOMETER. I WANTED FORD TO TELL ME WHY IT TAKES SO LONG TO GET THE SPEEDOMETER IN. FORD WOULD GIVE ME AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. PUDDLE'S OF WATER ACCUMULATE ON THE FLOOR OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEN IT RAINS. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63639. UPDATED 06/04/08. *LJ UPDATED 06/04/08.
LONG AND OR HARD START, RECENTLY NO START. HAVE FOUND MANY TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS WITH SAME COMPLAINT. REPAIR SHOP HAS YET TO IDENTIFY PROBLEM. *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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