FaultScore

FaultScore report

1997 Ford Taurus SHO problems

Owners have filed 25 complaints about the 1997 Ford Taurus SHO with NHTSA between 2002 and 2010. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 6 of 6 worst.

B

FaultScore 30/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Ford Taurus SHO.

How this is worked out

The numbers

25

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

76,260 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

6%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 56 vs 50 Severity 0 vs 50 Early failure 10 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 56
Against the median year of the Ford Taurus SHO. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 10
6% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 1997 compares with every other Ford Taurus SHO

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1997 Ford Taurus SHO

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 20 80.0%

Median failure at 74,500 miles

Suspension 2 8.0%

Median failure at 139,000 miles

Brakes 2 8.0%

Median failure at 110,000 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 1 4.0%

Exactly what failed

NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.

Engine 11 52.4%
Gasoline 4 19.0%
Hoses, Lines/Piping, AND Fittings 1 4.8%
Coil Springs 1 4.8%
Cooling System 1 4.8%
Rear 1 4.8%
Exhaust System 1 4.8%
Foundation Components 1 4.8%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

10,000 – 24,999 miles 1 5.9%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 1 5.9%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 6 35.3%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 4 23.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 5 29.4%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Jan 2002 peak 4 Jan 2010

Recalls on the 1997 Ford Taurus SHO

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

16E026000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598, Duralast MKD598, Stop Master ST598, UltraStop ULT598, UltraLife MX598 and MX765, BrakeBest MKD765, and Prostop Platinum PGD598. These brake pads, manufactured October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015 are intended for use on 2001-2007 Ford Taurus, 2001-2005 Mercury Sable, 1995-1999 Ford Taurus SHO, 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental, and 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII vehicles. The brake pad shim may shift out of position causing the shim to contact the brake disc resulting in damage to the disc.

Risk: A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 139,000 miles Weston, OH

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD SHO TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE WHEN THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND SHREDDED THE TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RECALL FOR THE 1998 TO 2001 FORD TAURUS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139000. UPDATED 02/02/10. *LJ UPDATED 02/05/10.

NHTSA complaint #10299626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 77,126 miles Chicago, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1997 FORD TAURUS SHO FORD (FMC) HAS ACKNOWLEDGED IN WRITING THAT THE PROBLEM IS MANUFACTURER RELATED, WHICH STEMS FROM THE YAMAHA MANUFACTURED ENGINE USED IN SHO MODELS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ROUGH IDLE AFTER 20 MINS. ON THE ROAD, SHAKE AGGRESSIVELY, THEN SHUT-OFF FOR DAYS AT A TIME IN UNPREDICTABILITY. AN AUTHORIZED FMC REPAIR CENTER (MLM) SPENT OVER 3-MOS, CONCURRENTLY, WORKING ON THE VEHICLE TO NO AVAIL. SEE 03/01. THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED IN THIS MANNER FROM 11/00 (MM/YY) THROUGH 04/03, AT WHICH TIME I WAS LEFT WITH NO OTHER FISCALLY-VIABLE OPTION BUT TO ARRANGE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO FMC- FMC WOULD TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY AND PLACE A 7YEAR "REPOSSESSION" STAIN ON WHAT USED TO BE A GREAT CREDIT SCORE. TIMELINE: BETWEEN 11/00 (MM/YY) AND 01/01, CONTINUED CALLS WERE PUT INTO FMC REGARDING MY "SHO" VEHICLE. THE CAR WOULD SHAKE AGGRESSIVELY, THEN SHUTDOWN IN MID-TRAVEL. 01/01: I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO MLM. AFTER DESCRIBING THE ISSUE, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $2,200 TO SERVICE THE PROBLEM(S). 03/01: THE ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE WERE SO SEVERE; MLM REQUESTED THAT FMC SEND OUT A "FIELD SERVICE ENGINEER" TO ASSIST THEM. AFTER A WEEK FMC ADMITTED, WHICH WAS DOCUMENTED BY MLM IN WRITING, THAT FMC HAS HAD "SIMILAR PROBLEMS" WITH "OTHER SHOS IN THE FIELD" AND HAD "NO POSITIVE FIX FOR THEM." THIS SUGGESTS THAT FMC KNEW OF THE SHO'S PROBLEMS AND HAVE PURPOSEFULLY FAILED/REJECTED TO AID THE VICTIMS AFFECTED. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, MY PASSENGERS AND I WOULD BE PLACED AT TRAGIC AND UNNECESSARY RISKS, AS THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT-DOWN W/O WARNING- LOCKING UP THE STEERING AND CAUSING ME TO ENGAGE IN "ERRATIC" (AT TIMES) AND "PRECAUTIONARY DRIVING MANEUVERS" WHILE ON PUBLIC ROADS IN ORDER TO REGAIN SOME CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SAFELY STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR HIGHWAY. THIS PROVES MALICIOUS INTENT AND DECEPTIVE PRACTICES PERPETRATED BY FMC. IT ALSO PROVES A FORMED PATTERN. WB

NHTSA complaint #10234823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,000 miles Ashkum, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CAM SPROCKET FAILURE. THIS LEAD TO THE ENGINE STOPPING AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES.

NHTSA complaint #10218143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Ashkum, IL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

REAR BRAKE LINE RUST THROUGH.

NHTSA complaint #10175795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 105,000 miles Marlton, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

1. DRIVING AT CITY TRAFFIC SPEEDS (25-30 MPH) IN PHILADELPHIA. CAR LOST POWER AND STALLED. UPON RESTART WOULD IMMEDIATELY STALL WHEN IDLE. 2. WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING, TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP 3. INFORMED BY FORD DEALER THAT THE CAMSHAFTS WERE BENT AND I NEEDED A REPLACEMENT ENGINE FOR $13,000.00.

NHTSA complaint #10138557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Garfield HTS, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THERE WAS A CHAIN LIKE TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, I AS A TECHNICIAN OBSERVED IT TO BE A CAMSHAFT GETTING READY TO FAIL, WHEN IT FAILED MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS DRIVING LUCKILY ON A SIDE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE HAD LOST ALL POWER AND MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER, NOW THE 1997 SHO JUST SITS B/C I CAN NOT AFFORD THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS! ESPECIALLY WITH A BABY ON THE WAY.

NHTSA complaint #10135334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,533 miles Selma, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON HAS BEEN ON FOR FEW MONTHS. CAR SEEMS TO RUN OK BUT CAN NOT GET CAR INSPECTED BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK THE CAR TO AUTO ZONE THEY DID A DIAGNOSIS AND SAID THERE WHERE TWO CODES THAT CAME UP AS A FAILURE. I READ ON YOUR WEB SITE THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL IN DEC. 2001 ON THE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM UPGRADE.

NHTSA complaint #10118353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 74,500 miles Moscow, TN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CAMSHAFT STRIPED OUT CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10110036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 94,440 miles THE Colony, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ON DECEMBER 21, 2004 MY 1997 FORD TAURUS SHO BEGAN MAKING A TICKING NOISE. TWO DAYS (AND ABOUT 20 MILES) LATER, THE LEFT EXHAUST CAMSHAFT SPROCKET FAILED, CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL AND NOT RESTART. AS A RESULT OF THE SPROCKET SLIPPING, THE NO. 5 CYLINDER'S PISTON WAS CRACKED DUE TO COMING IN CONTACT WITH AN OPEN VALVE (THIS IS AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE). 15,000 MILES AGO, THE LEFT INTAKE CAMSHAFT SPROCKET FAILED, RESULTING IN A $2900.00 REPAIR BILL FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP. UNABLE TO AFFORD THE COST OF SUCH A REPAIR AT THIS TIME (NOT TO MENTION UNWILLING TO DEAL WITH THE SAME FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT WANTED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS HARDLY EVER HAPPENS AND THAT I MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO CAUSE IT THE FIRST TIME), I OPTED TO ATTEMPT THE PROCEDURE MYSELF. AFTER FINDING AND REMOVING THE FAULTY CAMSHAFT, I THOUGHT MY PROBLEMS WERE SOLVED UNTIL I CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS. THE NO. 5 CYLINDER PLUG WAS COVERED IN OIL, WHICH MEANS THERE IS A BAD PISTON/RING, AND MOST LIKELY VALVES. I AM CONSIDERING MY OPTIONS TO REPAIR OR PART THE CAR OUT NOW. I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BY FORD DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT WILL ARISE WHEN THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ON A FREEWAY. THE LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A STALLED ENGINE COULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THROUGH TRAFFIC TO A "SAFE" SPOT ON THE SHOULDER. THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE AT WWW.V8SHO.COM (IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE SO MANY REGISTERED FAILURES WITHOUT THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF A PROBLEM BY FORD).

NHTSA complaint #10106350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,640 miles Navarre, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE QUIT RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN JUST AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT ON A BUSY 55MPH HIGHWAY. COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT FOR MY 17 YEAR OLD INEXPERIENCED DRIVER. PUSHED VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MY REPAIR SHOP. VEHICLE HAD JUST OVER 100,000 MILES. WAS TOLD VEHICLE WAS ONLY RUNNING ON 5 OF 8 CYLINDERS. AFTER EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSIS, IT WAS DETERMINED TO THAT THE ENGINE CAM GEAR BROKE LOOSE THAT OPENS UP THE VALVE TO THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER. MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE HEAD AND THE EXHAUST VALVES. SPENT ALMOST 3000.00 DOLLARS TO HAVE ALL REPAIRS MADE TO THE MOTOR. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT WHEN THE CAR ABRUPTLY SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. PLEASE HAVE FORD ISSUE A RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE CAMS WITHIN THE 3.4L V8 SHOWS BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY HURT.

NHTSA complaint #10065606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pompano Beach, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1997 FORD TAURUS SHO USED.AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND SOME DISTURBING NEWS THE CAM SPROCKETS ARE WILL MORE THAN LIKLEY FAIL AND JUST TO METION FORD NEW THIS AND SCREWD PEOPLE. *AK ANYWAYS THE OTHER DAY ABOUT 2 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR I HEARD A TICKING NOISE THAT YOUASLLY AND MORE THAN LIKLY MEENS YOUR CAM HAS ALREADY FAILED IT JUST HASNT SLIPPED YET WHEN IT SLIPS YOU HAVE ANYWHERE FROM 4,000 TO 6,000 IN ENGINE REPAIR'S NOW MINE HASNT SLIPPED AND HOPEFULY IT WHANT BUT IT HAS THE TICKING NOISE LIKE YOUR DRIVING A TICKING TIME BOMB AND YOU DONT KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO GO OFF.THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THIS IS I LOVE MY CAR AND I LOVE MY LIFE AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS WHEN THE MOTOR GOES YOU LOSE ALL YOUR POWER LIKE YOUR BRAKES,POWER STERRING NOW IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERN FOR HUMAN LIFE YOU WOULD ASK FOR A RECALL ON THIS AUTOMOBILE AND SAVE PEOPLE THE GREIF THAT FORD IS PUTTING US THROUGH AGAIN MY MOTOR IS STILL FUNCTIONAL THANK GOD BUT IT IS A TICKING TIME BOMB HOPEFULY WE WILL GET JUSTICE AND FORD WILL HAVE TO RECALL ALL FORD TAURUS SHO'S AND HOPEFULY IT WILL COST THEM SOME MONEY AND TROUBLE SINCE THATS WHAT THERE PUTTING US THROUGH NOT TO METION THE TRANS PROBLEMS THAT THEY ALSO KNEW ABOUT BUT I WANT GO INTO THAT OTHER THAN THEY SURGE CLUTCH GOES BAD 1ST-2ND GEAR ARE HARSH WHEN SHIFTING ALOT OF OTHER THINGS I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND CONCERN SINCERLY DAYNE A. GOMEZ

NHTSA complaint #10059079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,000 miles Ephrata, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

ON MORNING OF JUNE 13, 2003 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00 AM, I STARTED MY CAR. THE CAR STARTED BUT MADE A CLICKING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE BAY. I LOOKED TO SEE THE PROBLEM AND DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC FOR HIS INSPECTION. AT FIRST CHANCE OF INSPECTION ON JUNE 19TH THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE THE ENGINE AND I WOULD BE BETTER OF TO TAKE TO A FORD DEALER. I THAT TIME DROVE THE CAR TO PLACE OF PURCHASE, WHITMOYER FORD. ON FRIDAY THE 20TH, I WAS INFORMED MY WHITMOYER FORDS SERVICE (DAVE) THAT THE CAMSHAFT HAD SLIPPED AND HAD CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. ON JUNE 23RD I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY SERVICE (800-241-3673) AND ADVISED THEM OF THE PROBLEM. THE FORD MOTOR SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOOK MY INFORMATION AND PROCEEDED TO READ ME A RESPONSE ALONG THE LINE: THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THUS NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED IN REPAIRING OF THE CAR. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE SUPERVISOR AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUPERVISOR GUIDELINES WERE NOT ANY DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE PROVIDED. I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO THE SUPERVISOR ALTHOUGH I HAVE GOTTEN VOICE MAILS WITHOUT ANY NUMBER TO CALL. I HAVE RESEARCH MORE ON MY PROBLEM AT HTTP://WW2.V8SHO.COM/SHO/CHANGES.HTML AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THEY ALONE HAVE 268 CAMSHAFT FAILURES LIKE MINE LISTED. FROM WHAT I CAN DETERMINE THAT FORD MOTOR CO. HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE 1997 AND HAS NOT ADMITTED TO THE PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO COVER FOR THE COST OF REPAIR OF ALL 4 CAMS IN THE ENGINE. THE BILL COULD BE AS GREAT AS $10,000 PER OCCURRENCE IF NOT REPAIRED AND PREVENTATIVE WORK PERFORMED. AS OF JUNE 25, 2003 FORD ZONE REP HAS NOT RETURNED PHONE CALLS OF WHITMOYER FORD. THE FOLLOWING WEB SITE HAS PDF FILES WHERE FORD HAS OFFERED, SOME ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE PA ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE, TO A CONSUMER BUT STILL FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10023769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 69,000 miles Petersburg, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

A TICKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR WAS IN IDLE. I TALKED TO A FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAMSHAFT PROBLEM WAS AFFECTING MY CAR. I WAS QUOTED AROUND $6000.00 FOR THE REPAIRS. I DID SOM RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE SECONDARY DRIVE GEARS FOR THE CAMSHAFTS WERE THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #10016927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 37,000 miles West Lafayette, IN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT SOME 50 1996 THROUGH 1999 TAURUS SHO'S HAVE HAD CAM FAILURES. THE RANGE IN MILEAGE VARIES FROM LOW MILES TO HIGH MILES. A GOOD NUMBER OF THE UNDER 100K MILES. SINCE THESE CAMS COST $1000 EACH AND 4 IS NEEDED AND IN MOST CASES PISTONS ARE ALSO REQUIRED. ALL OF US WHO BELONG TO THE WWW.V8SHO.COM LIST ARE WORRIED ABOUT FOUR CARS HAVING CAM FAILURES. FORD HAS IN AT LEAST ONE INSTANCE PAID FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR BILL IN CAR THAT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT HAS LEFT THE REST OF US HUNG OUT TO DRY. *AK DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS-----758682.

NHTSA complaint #10006464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,800 miles Canandaigua, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ON AUGUST 18, 2002 I HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO A CAMSHAFT SPROCKET FAILURE. A WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.V8SHO.COM SHOWS 241 FAILURES THAT THEY CAN DOCUMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10013946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 73,000 miles Birmingham, AL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

1997 FORD SHO TAURAS. THIS CAR QUIT ON MY WIFE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE,NO POWER NO WHERE.THERE WAS CARS SLIDING,HONKING HORN ETC.TO KEEP FROM HITTING OR CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO HER.I WASN,T CONCERN ABOUT THE CAR,BUT SHE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT.THIS ISSUE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COSTLY.SOMEONE NEEDS TO STEP IN AND TAKE THESE CARS OFF THE HIGHWAY,BEFORE ITS TO LATE.MY CAR IS SITTING IN THE GARAGE DRIPPING OIL EVERY WHERE.COST TO MUCH TO FIX TO MUCH TO SELL.JUST HAVE LITTLE OVER 70000 MILES.IF ANYONE NEEDS A CAR TO LOOK AT I,VE GOT ONE.

NHTSA complaint #10007815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,260 miles Blaine, MN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

I HAD A CAM FAILURE ON MY 97 FORD TAURUS SHO, BAD DESIGN ON THE ENGINE LED TO THE FAILURE

NHTSA complaint #10005786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 64,000 miles Broken Arrow, OK

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 1997 FORD TAURUS V8 SHO IN 2000. WE HAD MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES PERFORMED ON A REGULAR BASIS AND NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER, 2002. (THE TOTAL MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS APPROXIMATELY 64,000 MILES). IN LATE DECEMBER, 2002, THE CAR STARTED TICKING VERY LOUDLY SO WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC ON JANUARY 3, 2003, WHO WASN'T SURE WHY THE CAR WAS TICKING BUT HE PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE AND FLUSHED THE ENGINE. ON SUNDAY EVENING, JANUARY 5, 2003, I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE ENGINE JUST DIED. IT LOCKED UP AS IF IT WERE OUT OF GAS AND I HAD TO MANUALLY STEER IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONCE THE CAR WAS INSPECTED BY OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE PROBLEMS ARE DUE TO A CAM SPROCKET FAILURE. IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THERE ARE MANY OF THESE FAILURES ON 1996-1999 FORD TAURUS SHO'S. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ENGINES BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT IN A ROAD ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10000760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,950 miles NEW Freedom, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAVE A 1997 FORD TAURUS SHO, I STARTED HEARING A TAPING IN MY ENGINE, I ASKED A MACHANIC FRIEND ABOUT IT, HE TOLD ME THAT HE READ ABOUT THE CAM SHAFT IN THE SHO'S FROM 1996 - 1999 GOING BAD, I TOOK MY SHO TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY DETERMIND IT WAS THE CAMSHAFT HAD GONE BAD. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND THERE IS A WRITE UP ABOUT THE ISSUE.I TALKED TO FORD MOTOR CO CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HADN'T HAD ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO WARRENT A RECALL, THAT I SHOULD SAVE MY RECIEPTS AND IF THEY HAVE A RECALL THEY WOULD REFUND MY MONEY. IF IT IS A KNOWN FAULT IN THE ENGINE WHY HASN'T FORD CHECKED INTO IT? I LIKED MY FORD SHO, AND WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT FOR A LONG TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10000610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Evans, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

MY CAR HAD A MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE AT 48500 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT I HAD MULIPLE CAM FAILURES CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THIS ISSUE IS VERY SERIOUS DUE TO THE SUDDEN NATURE OF THE FAILURE AND THE OTHER COMPONANTS THAT NO LONGER FUNCTION PROPERLY ONCE THE ENGINE IS DEAD. DT

NHTSA complaint #770365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa FE, NM

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #762579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hewytown, AL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO TRAVEL. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND TECHNICIAN STATED ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT CAUSED THE OIL PUMP TO NOT TAKE PRESSURE. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE, REAR END, AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #8002462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hewytown, AL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO TRAVEL. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND TECHNICIAN STATED ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT CAUSED THE OIL PUMP TO NOT TAKE PRESSURE. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE, REAR END, AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #8002462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hewytown, AL

SUSPENSION:REAR

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO TRAVEL. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND TECHNICIAN STATED ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT CAUSED THE OIL PUMP TO NOT TAKE PRESSURE. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE, REAR END, AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #8002462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hewytown, AL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO TRAVEL. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND TECHNICIAN STATED ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT CAUSED THE OIL PUMP TO NOT TAKE PRESSURE. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE, REAR END, AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #8002462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.