62 of the
154 complaints filed about the Ford Taurus SHO
are about the engine —
40% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1996.
ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 MY GIRLFRIEND AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN SOUTH SHORE DR. IN THE TOWN OF DELAVAN IN WALWORTH COUNTY WISCONSIN AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30AM & 12:30PM. WE WERE TRAVELING EAST TO WEST WHERE WE APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN AT THE CORNER OF COUNTY ROAD O SOUTH AND SOUTH SHORE DR. TENNESSA WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND READY TO TURN LEFT ON TO COUNTY ROAD O SOUTH. WE WERE ABOUT A MILE FROM OUR DESTINATION WHICH WAS MY MOTHERS HOUSE. UPON STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGN I THOUGHT I HEARD A FUNNY NOISE AND FELT SOMETHING UNDER MY FEET BUT DISMISSED IT AS NOTHING BUT AS SOON AS TENNESSA WENT TO MAKE THE TURN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND TOOK OFF TOWARDS THE EAST SIDE OF THE ROAD HEADING TOWARDS THE DITCH AND HITTING A TREE. A PASSERSBY, JOGGER SAW THE ACCIDENT AND CALLED THE POLICE. WE EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM, WE COLLECTED OUR THINGS OUT OF THE CAR AND THE OFFICER GAVE US A RIDE UP THE ROAD TO MY MOTHERS HOME, WE THEN WAITED FOR THE TOWING SERVICE TO GET IT OUT AND TOW IT TO MY MOTHERS HOUSE WHERE IT SITS TODAY. AFTER INVESTIGATING THE CAR AT MY MOTHERS HOUSE I DETERMINED THAT THE FRAME FAILED AT THAT MOMENT CAUSING THE VEHICLES THROTTLE CABLE TO STICK, AND THE POWER STEERING UNIT TO FAIL ALONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO FAIL. I TOOK PICTURES OF THE MOTOR AND FRONT END OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE, AND A PIECE OF THE VEHICLE THAT ALSO HAD FAILED AND BROKE OFF. THE MOTOR OBVIOUSLY SUNK AS THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MOTOR FACING THE FIREWALL IS ALL TILTED BACK TOWARDS THE FIREWALL SQUEEZING ANY PART THAT MAY BE BETWEEN THE MOTOR AND THE FIREWALL. I HAVE BEEN UNDERNEATH THIS VEHICLE MANY TIMES AND SAW NOTHING TO RAISE A RED FLAG AND NOT TO DRIVE IT. I EVEN HAD A TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN THIS VEHICLE AND MY MECHANIC HAD SEEN NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.
NHTSA complaint #10638211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
96 TAURUS SHO V8 3.4L CAMSHAFT FAILURE. I HAVE KEPT MY CAR IN PERFECT SHAPE WITH TUNE UP AND ALL. IT IS IN MINT CONDITION AND HAS NO RUST. I HAVE NICE EXHAUST SYSTEM PUT ON BY A MECHANIC AND ALSO A COLD AIR INTAKE PUT ON AND A NEW TRANS IN JULY NOW WITH ONLY 3000 MILES ON IT.. I HEARD TICKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OUT OF NO WHERE. I DON'T BEAT ON MY CAR AND HAVE READ THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER EITHER WAY IF YOU BEAT ON IT OR NOT THE CAM FAILURE CAN STILL HAPPEN. SO I HEARD THE TICKING SO I DROVE IT HOME FROM WORK TO PARK IT BECAUSE I FIGURED IT WAS THE CAMS. SO I WAS GOING TO GET IT WELDED THE NEXT DAY AND 5 MIN FROM MY HOUSE THE CAR SHUT OFF AND SO I PULLED THE VALVE COVERS AND SURE ENOUGH IT WAS THE BACK CAM NEAR THE FIRE WALL THAT HAD SLIPPED. I DON'T THINK ITS RIGHT THAT ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED AND IN SUCH GREAT CONDITION. ALSO DON'T THINK ITS RIGHT THAT US CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS BECAUSE FORD DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT TO FIX THE PROBLEM NOW IM OUT OF A CAR. I WANT ACTION DONE ABOUT THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10362481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE FAILURE AS A RESULT OF CAMSHAFT GEAR SPINNING ON CAM. DURING NORMAL DRIVING ENGINE STOPPED IN ROADWAY,REQUIRING TOW OFF ROADWAY TO REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE AUTO IS A 1996 FORD TAURUS SHO 3.4 V8 .AFTER STUDYING THIS PROBLEM I FIND THIS CAM FAILURE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO MANY AND COULD BE PREVENTED BY WELDING THE CAM SPROCKET TO THE CAMSHAFT. THE REPAIR TO THIS ENGINE IS VERY EXPENSIVE,AND I THOUGHT NHSTA SHOULD BE AWARE OF MY FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10239116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
I HAVE A1996 FORD TAURUS SHO V-8,IT JUST TURNED 80,000 MILES AND HAS HAD ALL REGULAR SERVICE AND NOW THE CAMSHAFT GEAR HAS FAILED ON THE CAMSHAFT AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE!I WORK AT A FORD DEALER AND SEE THIS ENGINE FAILURE OFTEN. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS COMMON ON THE V-8 SHO ENGINE AROUND 75,000-85,000 MILES AND SOMETIMES THERE IS A TICKING NOISE THAT IS CONSIDERED A WARNING SIGN TOO GET REPAIRS BUT THERE WAS NOT ANY WARNING FROM MY ENGINE. I HAVE DONE ALL KINDS OF RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE LAWSUITS AND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND BLOGS DEVOTED TO THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT I DON,T HAVE ANY INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR ASSISTANCE ON THESE VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS THAT ARE DEFINITELY DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW AND I HAVE 18 FORD TECHNICIANS THAT ARE FACTORY TRAINED TOO BACK THIS UP!I DID NOT BUY THIS VEHICLE NEW SO I CAN,T SAY IT WAS NEVER ABUSED BUT AFTER PARTIALLY DISASSEMBLING THE ENGINE SO FAR IT IS CLEAR THAT IT WAS VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND CARED FOR (IT LOOKS BRAND NEW INSIDE)THERE IS ZERO SLUDGE AND CAMS AND FOLLOWERS ARE SPOTLESS. I WILL NEED TO PULL THE REAR HEAD AND SEND TO MACHINE SHOP FOR EXHAUST VALVE REPLACEMENT AND DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH DAMAGE MAYBE GUIDES AS WELL. I AM VERY CURIOUS AS TOO HOW MANY OF THESE ENGINE FAILURES ARE ALWAYS ONLY THE REAR HEAD EXHAUST CAMSHAFT BECAUSE SO FAR ALL I HAVE SEEN IS THE REAR EXHAUST CAMSHAFT GEAR FAILURE AND THAT IS A F- IN MY GRADE BOOK!
NHTSA complaint #10228062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS SHO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND BLACK SMOKE ROSE FROM THE ENGINE. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED AND NEARLY CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE REAR ENDED. BEFORE HE REACHED THE FREEWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CALLED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 126,000.
NHTSA complaint #10203947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORDS RECALL OF THEIR 3.8 V6 MOTOR IS A TRAVESTY THAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT! THEY KNEW THE MOTOR WAS BAD, PUT OUT A RECALL WITH A MILEAGE LIMIT (100,000), BUT THEN ALSO A TIME LIMIT (7 YEARS)! HOW ABOUT A CAR THAT IS NOT DRIVEN THE 100K, AND GETS THE PROBLEM? THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT IF ONE GOES 100K, THEN THEY GOT SOME VALUE OUT OF IT! THEREFORE FORD DID THEIR JOB! BUT WHEN ONE PAYS GOOD MONEY FOR THEIR SCREW UP, AND THE PROBLEM HAPPENS, AND DID NOT DO 100K, THEN THE PURCHASER DID NOT GET SOME VALUE OUT OF IT! FORD SHOULD STICK TO THE 100K, AND NOT THE TIME LIMIT! THE SOB'S HAVE ONCE AGAIN, GOTTEN AWAY WITH A LAZYASS DESIGN, AND WERE ABLE TO THROW A LAME EXCUSE AND GET AWAY WITH IT! I'D LIKE TO KNOW, WHO AND HOW TO SUE! SOME HAVE HAD SUCCESS, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW THEY DID!
NHTSA complaint #10145697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE REAR EXHAUST SPROCKET ON THE CAMSHAFT OF MY 1999 FORD TAURUS SHO CAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE VALVES TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE PISTONS. THIS IS NOT A RARE OCCURENCE EITHER. MANY CASES OF THIS ARE BEING DOCUMENTED ON A WEBSITE CALLED WWW.V8SHO.COM.
NHTSA complaint #10143080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
BRAKE LINE CORROSION AND SEPARATION CAUSING FAILURE OF THE BRAKES. RESULTING IN ALSO FRONT SWAY AND LINK BAR DAMAGE. NO BRAKES. FRONT SWAY BARS BREAK WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED A CERTAIN DEGREE. FRONT MIDDLE OF HOOD ON ALL TAURUS SEEM TO LOSE THE PAINT DO TO ROCK OR DEBRIS BEING ABLE TO BOUNCE ON THE BUMPER AND HIT CENTER. I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST 50 TAURUS'S MISSING PAINT IN THE SAME AREA. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT REMAINS ON AFTER FOUR TRIPS TO A CERTIFIED FORD DEALER. WATER HOLDING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT WILL CRACK UNDER EXTREME OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10135744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
EXPERIENCED A CAMSHAFT RELATED ENGINE FAILURE AT 70 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE OF A MAJOR INTERSTATE. VEHICLE HAD TO TAKE EMERGENCY ACTION TO CROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER WHILE THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND NO POWER ASSIST WAS AVAILABLE TO BRAKES OR STEERING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN OPERATING FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES OF CITY DRIVING AND 1 HOUR OF HIGHWAY SPEEDS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER SHOWED ME THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE EXACT SAME CONDITION REPORTED ON WWW.V8SHO.COM. THERE OVER 530 DOCUMENTED CASES OF CAMSHAFT TO SPROCKET SPLEEN FAILURES WHERE THE PISTONS THEN IMPACT STATIONARY VALVES AND DESTROY THE MOTOR. THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER RECOMMENDED I CONTACT FORD ENGINEERING TO ADVISE THEM OF THE FAILURE SINCE IT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A MAINTENANCE OR WEAR RELATED ISSUE. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A JUNK YARD MOTOR AT A COST OF OVER $6000 SINCE THE PISTONS AND VALVES HAD DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO SERVICE BULLETINS, CONTACT FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE NO NEW FACTORY ENGINES AVAILABLE AND 3RD PARTY MOTORS WERE TWICE THE BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THE CAR.*AK PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE SCOPE OF THIS PROBLEM AND REQUIRE THE MANUFACTURER TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS ENGINEERING FLAW. THIS FAILURE IS A CATASTROPHIC ONE THAT DESTROYS AN ENGINE AND IS CERTAINLY SOLVABLE IF ADDRESSED EARLY ENOUGH. MY FAMILY WAS MOST FORTUNATE THAT THIS PROBLEM DID NOT CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10118613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE PRODUCES A TICKING NOISE. DEALER STATES THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE IN MOTION.
NHTSA complaint #10116979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN REAR END COLLISIONS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, TIMING BELT, AND SOME WIRES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. CONSUMER WAS RESTRAINED FROM DRIVING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE.
NHTSA complaint #10113837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN REAR END COLLISIONS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, TIMING BELT, AND SOME WIRES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. CONSUMER WAS RESTRAINED FROM DRIVING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE.
NHTSA complaint #10113837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.