THE ENGINE STOPS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING, CUTTING OUT THE POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING AND MAKING MY FRONT-HEAVY FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAR VERY VERY HARD TO STEER AND VERY VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE ENGINE STOPS UNEXPECTEDLY OFTEN, WITHOUT WARNING. I THOUGHT THIS WAS TIED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT CHANGING THE SWITCH AND WIRING DID NOT HELP. AT THE SAME TIME OF THIS PROBLEM, THE IGNITION SWITCH STOPPED TURNING ON THE STARTER, BUT WILL LET THE ENGINE RUN.
NHTSA complaint #10611084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR VIBRATES TERRIBLY FROM THE FRONT END SINCE NEW. ALL NINE TIMES I TOOK IN DURING THE FIRST YEAR, WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND DID NOT MENTION MY WARRANTY, AND I WAS GIVEN A $10,000 ESTIMATE TO REPAIR. FORD STILL REFUSED TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. IT TURNS OUT THE FRONT AXLES ARE DEFECTIVE AND NOT MADE BALANCED. REPLACING THEM AFTER THEY DESTROYED THE FRONT CV JOINTS SOLVED THE PROBLEM, BUT FORD GOT AWAY WITH A RIP OFF AND I SUFFERED FOR SIX YEARS AND 60,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10611090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I READ YOUR COMPLAINT PAGE, HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 91 AND I HAVE ALL THE SAME PROBS, 1 PERSON SAID HE HAD 2 INCHES OF WATER IN THE CAR, TRY 6. THE PAINT WASNT RIGHT FROM DAY 1. THE CV JOINTS/AXELS WENT BAD AFTER 2 YEARS AND IVE GOT BY TILL NOW BUT THE RATTLE IS ANNOYING. THE EXHAUST SYS ALSO RATTLES. FRONT TIRES GO YEARLY. AIR CONDITIONER NEVER HAS BLOWN COLD. AND THE DOOR ON THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT IS TO HEAVY FOR THE LATCH, I RIDE 6 MNTHS OF EVERY YEAR WITH AN OPEN GLOVE COMPARTMENT.THE HATCHBACK LEAKS, AND THE PAINT WELL, WHO KNOWS WHERE THEY GOT THAT BLEND. THE CAR ALWAYS RUNS COLD WHICH CAUSES THE ROUGH IDLE AND START AND 14 INCH WHEELS WERENT SUFFICIENT FOR A CAR THAT BIG. I WILL SAY THAT FORD BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO GET THE ITEMS FIXED I JUST CANT LEAVE IT THERE BI-WEEKLY.THEY DID REPAINT IT TWICE AND HONORED THE SEATBELT RECALL THIS YEAR, 2003.THE CAR NOW HAS 200,000 MILES AND HAS NEVER FAILED SMOG OR SPENT ONE DAY ON A TOW TRUCK OR IN A SHOP BECAUSE IT WOULDNT START. ITS BEEN A LONG NOISY AND EXTREMELY HOT RIDE, AND I HOPE THEY LEARNED AFTER THOSE BAD YEARS. BUT JUST RECENTLY I ASKED A MECHANIC ON HIS OPINION IF I SHOULD BUY A TAURUS. HE POINTED TO A CAR IN THE BACK OF HIS SHOP AND SAID THAT CAR IS PAYING FOR HIS SONS COLLEGE. 6TH TIME THIS YEAR HES HAD IT AND HE STRONGLY ADVISED ME TO NEVER PURCHASE A FORD CAR. ALL THE PROBS WITH THE PROBE ARE SAME WITH THE TAURUS. I MIGHT GET 50000 MORE MILES BUT DOUBT IT. BUT I DONT THINK THEY TRIED TO CHEAT ME, FORD WORKED WITH ME FROM THE DAY I SAT IN THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STILL ARE.
NHTSA complaint #10069753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: MY 1995 FORD PROBE HAS HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS INCLUDING ONE OF THE MOST RECENT - HAVING TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION'S HAVE NOW OWNED THE CAR FOR 20,000 MILES OR 3 1/2 YEARS AND HAVE SPENT OVER FOUR AND A HALF THOUSAND DOLLARS ON "PRE-MATURE" PROBLEMS. THE AMOUNT DOES NOT INCLUDE GENERAL SERVICES. THE CAR HAS NOW REACHED 87,000 MILES. ONE DOES NOT EXPECT A CAR WITH SO LITTLE MILEAGE TO HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS. IF I WAS ABLE TO AFFORD A NEW CAR I WOULD SEND MY FORD PROBE TO THE SCRAP YARD, I WOULD NOT WANT A STRANGER TO SUFFER CAR PROBLEMS AS I HAVE. BUT BEING A FULL TIME STUDENT WHO PAYS HER OWN WAY I CAN LITTLE AFFORD SUCH COSTS AS NEW TRANSMISSIONS A NEW CAR. I WAS NOT SURPRISED TO FIND IN MY RESEARCH ON-LINE THAT MANY PROBE OWNERS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THEIR CARS. CONVERSATIONS WITH MECHANICS; WHICH HAVE BEEN MANY, HAVE FOLLOWED THE SAME PATTERN, "ITS A FORD WITH MAZDA PARTS,GET RID OF IT, EVERYBODY HAS PROBLEMS WITH FORD CARS, THEIR TERRIBLE CARS." AFTER MANY EXPERT OPINIONS MY QUESTION TO YOU IS," WHY?" I LOOK AFTER MY CAR,(I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM A DEALER WHO ACQUIRED THE CAR FROM MY FRIEND) I NOW KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT CARS! WHY ARE SUCH PROBLEMATIC CARS ALLOWED TO BE SOLD? WHY ARE CARS WITH SO LITTLE MILEAGE CAUSING SO MUCH HAVIC IN PEOPLES LIVES? THIS IS A QUESTION THAT MUST BE INVESTIGATED AND CORPORATIONS MUST BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR SO MUCH GRIEVE. IT IS NOT FAIR ON THE CONSUMER AND AS A GOVERNMENT BODY I IMPLORE THAT YOU PLEASE TAKE A SERIOUS AND COMPASSIONATE NOTE OF MY COMPLAINT AND COMPLAINT FROM OTHER OWNERS. IT IS NOT FAIR. IT IS NOT FAIR THAT PEOPLE HAVE NO VOICE AND NO ONE CARES TO LISTEN. MASS RE- OCCURRENCE OF CAR PROBLEMS IS AN ISSUE THAT MUST BE LOOKED INTO. MY WINDOWS RATTLE TOO - A NOISY PROBE GIFT THAT IRRITATES PROBE OWNERS. I WOULD GREET A RESPONSE HAPPILY IN THE MIST OF THE REALM OF CAR DARKNESS, FAITHFULLY, SATCHYA FARIAS.
NHTSA complaint #10054391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP FOR ABOUT 2-3 SECOND ON RANDOM OCCASIONS DURING NORMAL AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DURING PARKING LOT MANUVERS, THE STEERING FEELS "HEAVY".
NHTSA complaint #761086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK BUT WHEN THEY ARE TURNED OFF, THEY STOP IN A VERTICAL POSITIONS IN THE DRIVER'S VIEWING AREA. THE POWER STEERING HOSE COST ME OVER $200 TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS BUILT INTO THE FIREWALL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN APART IN ORDER TO GET TO THE HOSE.
NHTSA complaint #743059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND YOU GO TO MAKE A LANGE CHANGE TO THE RIGHT OR TAKE AN EXIT RAMP. SOME TIMES THE STERRING WHEEL WON'T MOVE WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN IT TO THE LEFT(ACTS LIKE THE STEERING FREEZES). AFTER SUFFICIENT FORCE YOU CAN FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT,THEN THE STEERING RESPONDS AND EVERY THING IS ALL RIGHT UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU HAVE TO REACT QUICKLY ESPECIALLY IF TAKING AN OFF RAMP OR FIND YOURSELF COLLIDING WITH THE SOUND WALL. THIS IS SOMETHING I DO NOT ENJOY THAT THOUGHT AT ALL. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFTEY MATTER AND ONE OF THESE DAYS SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT DRIVE PROBES AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO TALKED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEIR RESPONCE WAS SINCE THE WARRENTY HAS EXPIRED THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. ALSO SEARCHED YOUR DATA BASE OF RECALLS AND S/B'S AND FOUND NOTHING THAT PERTAINS TO THIS SITUATION. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN HELP US WITH THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP.
NHTSA complaint #725148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AT 50,000 LOST STEERING CONTROL AT 50 MPH. FELT LIKE I HAD LOST POWER ASSIST. HAD TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE ON A HIGHWAY EXIT. STEERING RETURNED AFTER STOPPING AND FORCING THE WHEEL BACK A FORTH. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NO RECALLS AND WOULD NOT REPAIR. PREVIOUSLY BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPERS FROZE CLOSED. THIS OCCURRED AT 38,000 MILES. I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE REFERRING TO THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #723291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NOTE: I REPORTED THIS ONCE ALREADY ABOUT 2-3 YEARS AGO...A SEARCH OF THE DATABASE INDICATES SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS PROBLEM, BUT THERE HASN'T BEEN AN INQUIRY YET- WHY NOT?? BASED ON MY RESEARCH, THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A FAULTY FORD VARIABLE-ASSIST POWER STEERING PUMP- AT HIGH RPMS, IT MAKES STEERING MORE STIFF.. IT FAILS TO LOOSEN WHEN SLOWING DOWN (E.G. COMING OFF AN EXIT AFTER TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS). SEARCHING THE WEB FINDS MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS. PEOPLE HAVE SAID IT IS FIXED BY REPLACING THE STEERING PUMP, BUT THIS IS A $600 PART!
NHTSA complaint #723454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT IT. THEY SAY THAT NO WARRANTY FOR THIS EVENTHOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS. I TALKED TO FORD DEALER IN KENT WASHINGTON, SCAFF FORD. MANAJOR VINCE STRONG. I DISCCUSED ABOUT CLUNKING NOISE FROM RACK AND PINION BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT MANUFACTURER'S PROCESS. HE JUST SAY NO WARRANTY FOR THIS. I FOUND MANY COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IT CAUSE BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE OF STEERING FAILURE AND CALIPER SEIZE.
NHTSA complaint #717726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN TRAVELING AND UPON MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO ONE SIDE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #855282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AT 4,000 RPM OR HIGHER POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED TO OPERATE UNTIL IT WAS ALLOWED TO COOL DOWN; THEN IT FUNCIONED NORMALLY UNTIL REVVED ABOVE 4,000 RPM AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #715106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR STALLS EVERY DAY AT LEAST TWICE. I PROCEED TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE RPM'S DROP TO ZERO AND THE CAR STALLS. WHEN THE HEAT OR AC IS BEING USED THE RPM'S ARE BOOSTED UP TO 1000 AND THE PROBLEM IS TEMPORARILY FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #714870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW AND TURN IN A CURVE, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN, AND AT THE LAST MINUTE IT LOOSENED DRASTICALLY, CAUSING ME TO OVERCOMPENSATE. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 20 TIMES AND NOTHING HAS BEEN FOUND WRONG ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. IT HAPPENS AT MOST ANY SPEED, AND WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF A PERSON WAS CAUGHT UNAWARES, WAS WEAK AND COULDN'T COMPLETE THE TURN ETC.
NHTSA complaint #710874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.