1994 Ford TAURUS: complaints, problems and recalls

VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING AND CONSTANTLY LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE AND OIL. CAUSE OF LEAK UNKNOWN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE RADIATOR BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THEN THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND THE OVER HEATING STOPPED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001341 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE IS OVER HEATING DUE TO ANTIFREEZE GETTING INTO THE OIL. CONSUMER STATES' TOOK TO FORD AND THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR, AND THE PROBLEM WAS STILL OCCURRING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS AND THE OVER HEATING STOPPED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001448 at NHTSA ↗

MY CAR STALLS OR JUST STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, IT WILL GO FROM 60MPH TO 0MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 20 TIMES. I TOOK IT TO PEFFLEY FORD FOR REPAIRS, THEY CHARGED ME $669.36 AND 6 DAYS LATER MY CAR CUT OUT ON ME AGAIN AND THEY TOWED IT TO THEIR SHOP. THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT MY CAR WITHOUT ME PAYING MORE MONEY FOR REPAIRS AND THE TOW TRUCK. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON REPAIRS FOR MY CAR AND I FEAR FOR MY LIFE EVERY TIME I GET INTO THAT CAR. I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL CUT OUT AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR. I FOUND OUT …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002723 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004195 at NHTSA ↗

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.*JB. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007071 at NHTSA ↗

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007478 at NHTSA ↗

FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS ON A 1994 FORD TAURUS WITH THE 3.8L V-6 MOTOR WITH ONLY 28,396 MILES (ORIGINAL) ON THE ODOMETER

Owner-reported narrative. 28,396 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007771 at NHTSA ↗

FRONT HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT FUNCTION AFTER REPLACING HEADLIGHT SWITCH. WORKED FOR 15 MINUTES AND THEN SHUT OFF. FUSES CHECKED OK OTHER TROUBLESHOOTING CHECKS DID NOT REMEDY SITUATION. NOTED 2 BURNED PLUG HOLES IN WIRING HARNESS AT SWITCH. VEHICLE MODEL AND YEAR IS ON A RECALL FROM FORD FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. TOLD BY FORD SERVICE TECH THAT MY VEHICLE (VIN# [XXX]) WAS NOT IN RECALL. ALSO REAR LIGHT OVER HATCH HAS LEAKED SINCE NEW AND CAUSED LIGHT TO SHORT OUT. NOTICED MANY OTHER 94 WAGONS WITH SAME PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO …

Owner-reported narrative. 137,719 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007980 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1997-02-25 (February 25, 1997)

THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.

Reported: 1997-02-26 (February 26, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WATER CAN ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT COULD FREEZE WITHIN A LOW AREA OF THE CABLE ROUTING WHEN EXPOSED TO A LONG TERM COLD SOAK AT TEMPERATURES AT LEAST SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.

Consequence: DRIVER CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED USING THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.

Reported: 1998-01-21 (January 21, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS.

Consequence: LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION CAN AFFECT A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE ROADWAY AND REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT INCORPORATES A CRICUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND WIRING, IF NEEDED.

Reported: 1998-12-16 (December 16, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.

Consequence: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.