Consumer Safety Complaints

Incident date: Dec 1, 1998

THIS VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT OF RECALL FOR THROTTLE LINK CABLE. IGNITION/PLUG CABLES ALSO FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER CABLE THAT FAILED FAILED BECAUSE OF A LINK. THIS LEADS TO A QUESTION ABOUT THE OVERALL FITNESS OF CABLES THAT FORD IS USING ON THIS VEHICLE. I'VE NEVER BEFORE HEARD OF A NON-TRAUMATIC FAILURE OF A SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER CABLE AT UNDER 100,000 MILES. I AM... Read more

Incident date: Jun 21, 1998

SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY. IT ONLY WORKS WHEN DRIVING UNDER 40 MPH. ALSO,THERE IS LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE . *AK

SPEEDOMETER IS INOPERABLE, IT DOES NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT SPEEDS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Incident date: Dec 4, 1998

DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS WRONG PARTS BEING SENT FOR REPAIR; AS OF 2/3/1998 ODOMETER STILL NOT REPAIRED. *AK

Incident date: Jun 24, 1996

SPEEDOMETER IS FAULTY WHEN YOU REACH 55-65 MPH. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE CAR HITS BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE ODOMETER WILL GO OUT WITH OUT WARNING DUE TO THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Incident date: Dec 30, 1998

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE SPEEDOMETER ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED. ONCE AT 66,539 MILES ON MARCH 19, 1998 AND AGAIN AT 82600 MILES ON DECEMBER, 30 1998. THIS FAILURE CAUSES THE SPEEDOMETER TO GIVE FLUCTUATING READINGS. *AK

Incident date: Apr 4, 1998

SPEEDOMETER PROBLEMS; OWNER HAS A FLEET OF VEHICLES IN WHICH THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT DRIVING SPEED. PLEASE LIST OTHER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS. *AK

Incident date: Nov 30, 1998

ODOMETER/SPEEDOMETER ARE INOPERATIVE , NEVER BEEN TO THE DEALER . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Incident date: Feb 23, 1998

I HAVE HAD SPEEDOMETER PROBLEMS TWICE SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS CAR. WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER HITS 50MPH, THE NEEDLE STARTS TO BOUNCE ALL AROUND THE SCALE, AND THE SPEEDOMETER MAKES A BUZZING NOISE. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND HAD THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD REPLACED. SIX MONTHS LATER, SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THIS TIME THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR SINCE THEY CLAIM I EXCEE... Read more

Incident date: Apr 1, 1998

POSSIBLE ODOMETER FRAUD.

Incident date: Nov 21, 1998

THE PART IS THE SPEEDOMETER WHICH HAS REPLACEMENT PART F682.17255.CB SUPPLIED BY THE FIRM ELECTRA-SOUND, INC., WEST PALMA, OHIO. ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART IS $54.00 DIAGNOSTIC; $166.66 FOR THE REPLACEMENT SPEEDOMETER; $65.00 FOR LABOR. PROBLEM: THE ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER BEGAN BEING "JITTERY" AT 20,000 MILES. AT 40,000 MILES, THE SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES WILDLY AT SPEEDS OF 40 MP... Read more

Incident date: Jan 19, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO COOLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.

Incident date: Jan 19, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO COOLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.

Incident date: Jan 19, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO COOLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.

Incident date: Jan 4, 1997

WHENEVER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 65MPH & ABOVE, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD JUMP AROUND. WOULD NOT GIVE CORRECT SPEED. IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN WEATHER IS COLD, OUTSIDE & INSIDE. HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK

Incident date: Nov 27, 1997

ODOMETER FRAUD.

Incident date: Jun 29, 1998

ODOMETER FRAUD.

Incident date: Jan 15, 1999

SPEEDOMETER IS FAILING. AT RANDOM SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER WILL GO TO 90 MPH (PINNED). IF AND WHEN I GET THIS FIXED, IT WILL BE THE 4TH SPEEDOMETER IN THIS VEHICLE. FAILURE HAS REPEATEDLY BEEN AT 22,000 MILE INTERVALS. FORD REPLACED THE FIRST 2 UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS CHRONIC AND SAFETY RELATED DEFECT THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE FOUND A PERMANENT FIX FOR BY NOW. D... Read more

Incident date: Oct 13, 1997

DRIVETRAIN FAILURE.

Incident date: Oct 13, 1997

DRIVETRAIN FAILURE.

Incident date: Jan 12, 1997

FAILED TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSED VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. AFTER TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPAIRED ALL VEHICLE LIGHTING CEASED, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR, AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ERRATIC. SPEEDOMETER READ 75-80 MPH WHEN VEHICLE WAS ACTUALLY GOING 20-25 MPH.

Incident date: Apr 1, 1998

LOUD NOISE COMING FROM 4WHEEL DRIVE SHAFT,TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS INFORMED WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSITION CASE. DEALER THEN TOLD US THAT IT WAS DEFECTED FROM THE START AND TRIED TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT. WAS INFORMED CAR WASN'T SAFE TO BE DRIVING AND THE PART IS ON "BACKORDER". IT HAS BEEN 3 WEEKS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING AN UNSAFE CAR AND THEY REFUSE TO GIVE US A LOANER OR TELL US ANYTHING ... Read more

Incident date: Sep 1, 1996

SPEEDOMETER FAILED.

Incident date: Feb 1, 1997

DISC BRAKES ARE WARPING FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP WITHIN THE ABS BRAKES. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED THE DESIGN OF CAR HAS SMALL BRAKES. REPAIR WORK DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS ARE FILLING UP WITH WATER WHEN RAINING, COULD CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS/SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Incident date: Dec 16, 1997

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT NIGHT, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM WENT OUT, CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. COULD NOT READ DASHBOARD PANEL DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE. ALSO, THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK. NOT SHOWING CORRECT SPEED/ BELTS ARE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. *AK

THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE ONLY WAY TO TELL IT'S MALFUNCTIONING IS TO KNOCK ON THE GLASS OF THE SPEEDOMETER OR TO LET OFF THE GAS. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK

Incident date: Oct 20, 1998

THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD DOESN'T READ THE CORRECT SPEED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION DEPENDS ON THE SPEEDOMETER TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY IN ORDER FOR IT TO SHIFT CORRECTLY. I AM ALSO AWARE OF AT LEAST ONE OTHER PERSON WHO HAS THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD BY A MAJOR DISTRIBUTOR THAT THIS PART IS COMMONLYREPLACED ON THIS MODEL AS WELL AS ON ... Read more

Incident date: Feb 18, 1997

TRANSMISSION FAILED. OWNER SUSPECTS THE "O" RING TO BE THE FAILED PART.

Incident date: Feb 18, 1997

TRANSMISSION FAILED. OWNER SUSPECTS THE "O" RING TO BE THE FAILED PART.

Incident date: Feb 18, 1997

TRANSMISSION FAILED. OWNER SUSPECTS THE "O" RING TO BE THE FAILED PART.

SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER FAILED.

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED ON THREE OCCASIONS.

Incident date: Nov 30, 1998

THE SERVICE AND PARTS DEPATMENT OF APPLE FORD, COLUMBIA, MARYLAND REPORTS TO ME THAT THEY'RE SEEING A PATTERN OF FAILED SPEEDOMETER HEADS ON WINDSTARS. CURRENTLY, 7 OR 8 ARE BACK-ORDERED AT THAT DEALERSHIP ALONE. THE SERVICE MANAGER REPORTS THAT A SIMILAR PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH 1995 TAURUS'S. WHILE NOT DIRECTLY A SAFETY DEFECT, IF CONSUMERS ARE GOING TO BE MADE TO REPAIR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MAN... Read more

Incident date: Jan 1, 1999

AT 70-75 MPH, HITTING BUMPS WILL MAKE THE SPEEDO NEEDLE DROP TO 85 AND CONTINUE TO READ 10-15MPH FASTER THEN THE ACTUAL VEHICLE SPEED. WILL RETURN TO NORMAL AFTER A MINUTE OR SO, UNTIL THE NEXT BUMP. THIS IS THE SECOND SPEEDO TO FAIL ON THIS. VEHICLE

Incident date: Jan 9, 1999

THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER FAILED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER CHIP. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE FAILS

Incident date: May 1, 1997

THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED AT 25345 MILES COVERED UNDER THE 45,000 EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND IS FAILING AGAIN WHEN IT REACHED 53500 MILES. IT SWAYS BACK AND FORTH ONCE THE SPEED IS OVER 50MPH AND IS VERY NOISY. THERE IS ALSO A LOUD RATTLING NOISE (JUST LIKE A SHORT CIRCUITING SOUND) COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WHILE THE SPEEDOMETER SWAYS. MOST OF THE TIME THE NEEDLE STAYS AT OVER 85MPH EVEN IF... Read more

ODOMETER FAILED.

Incident date: Dec 13, 1996

ODOMETER FAILED.

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER FAILED.

THE TACHOMETER SKIPPS OVER 2,000 RPM FOR A FEEW SECONDS WHILE THE CAR CONTINUED MOVING WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE SURGING.

Incident date: Oct 1, 1997

SPEEDOMETER HEAD FAILED AT ~40K MI, ERRATIC AND INACCURATE SPEED INDICATED. IDENTICAL FAILURE OF REPLACEMENT HEAD 14 MONTHS LATER AT ~54K MILES.

Incident date: Aug 7, 1997

TRANSMISSION REBUILT BY AMOCO SAID ALMOST ALL PARTS WERE "CHEWED UP" NOW 1 YR LATER SLIPS GOING INTO 1ST AND HAS NO REVERSE THE HEAD HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES AND HAS GONE AGAIN SPPEDOMETER STAYS ON 0

SPEEDODMETER IS MAKING A FRYING NOISE

Incident date: Dec 19, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED, NOT READING THE RMPS PROPERLY AND MAKING A BUZZING NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Incident date: Jun 1, 1998

THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE CAR WAS REPLACED AT 50000 MILES BECAUSE IT JUMPED AROUND AND MADE A RATTLING NOISE. NOW THE REPLACEMENT SPEEDOMETER IS DOING THE SAME THING. THE SPEED AT WHICH THE PROBLEM STARTS IS NOW DOWN TO 40 MPH. THE NEEDLE JUMPS ALL OVER A RANGE OF ABOUT 15 MPH ABOVE AND BELOW THE ACTUAL SPEED, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW HOW FAST I AM DRIVING. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER TAURUS OWN... Read more

Incident date: Mar 12, 1995

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK PROPERLY, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES DON'T WORK. AFTER THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START UP BECAUSE THE DRIVER SIDE BATTERY SHORTED OUT AND THE VEHICLE DIED OUT, CAUSING THE STARTER TO OVERHEAT AND BURN OUT WHICH RESULTED IN THE... Read more

Incident date: Oct 30, 1998

SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER DOES NOT OPERATE. THE DEALER MOVED AND IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

Incident date: Apr 4, 1998

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AFTER 45MPH, SPEEDOMETER BOUNCED AROUND. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Incident date: Sep 9, 1998

WHEN HITTING A REAL BAD BUMP OR THE METAL EXPANSION JOINT IN THE ROAD, THE SPEEDODMETER NEEDLE JUMPS UP TO ITS MAXIMUM READING, WHICH IS 85 MPH. THE NEEDLE DOES NOT GO BACK DOWN UNTIL THE DRIVER LETS OFF THE ACCELERATOR, AND SLOWS THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE SPEEDODOMETER WAS REPLACED IN JUNE OF 97 FOR THE SAME REASON. THE PROBLEM HAS REAPPEARED. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER ... Read more