91 of the 542 complaints about the 1990 Ford Taurus are about the engine — 17% of everything reported for this model year.
91
Complaints
0
Crashes
6
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE COMPONENTS FELL ONTO THE STEERING MECHANISM, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO STEER. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED.
NHTSA complaint #10044978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CAR STALLS, THE POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES ARE LOST, ALMOST CAUSING SEVERAL ACCIDENTS.
NHTSA complaint #566083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLS WHILE IDLING AND WHILE IN MOTION, AFTER VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, IT WOULD RESTART. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #564025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC SINCE 50,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #9006148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLS WHILE IDLING AND WHILE IN MOTION, AFTER VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, IT WOULD RESTART. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #564025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THIS CAR HAS HAD A LOT OF WORK DONE TO IT.IT NEVER WORKS RIGHT. IT HAS HAD OVERHEATING PROBLEMS,THERE HAS BEEN OVER 5000.00 PUT TOWARDS IT TO FIX &IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING.I HAVE TAKEN IT TO OVER 5 MECHANICS IN THE PAST 7 MONTHS ALSO THE HEATER HAS NEVER WORKED THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT SEVERAL TIMES TO FIX. I THINK THIS CAR IS A LEMON!!!!!!!!!I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A FORD AGAIN. THE MONEY I HAVE SPENT ON THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED AS A DOWN PAYMENT ON ANOTHER ONE.DEFINATELY A LEMON.
NHTSA complaint #757390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, IT STALLED, AND EVERYTHING CUT OFF. NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES SO FAR.*AK
NHTSA complaint #896025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS ON HIGHWAY AND WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP. ENGINE CHECK AND BATTERY LIGHTS COME ON AS A WARNING SIGNS. VEHICLE LOSES ALL STEERING AND BRAKES WHEN IT STALLS. MANUFACTURER IS DOING NOTHING AT THIS TIME TO REMEDY SITUATION. *AK CONSUMER STATES BATTERY WAS CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION, HOWEVER BOTH THE BATTERY AND ENGINE LIGHTS STILL ILLUMINATE, CONSUMER HAS SPENT OVER 1000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS, AND VEHICLE STILL IS NOT REMEDIED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #894602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
TRANSMISSION CAN'T TAKE HILLS, TRANSMISSION HAS TO BARE DOWN GOING UP HILL, AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS AROUND MAIN SEAL. THIS WILL BLEED TRANSMISSION DRY. CONSUMER HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION COMPANY, AND HAD IT REBUILT AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. THEN 6 MONTHS LATER, TRANMISSION FLUID IS LEAKING OUT AGAIN.*AK CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A LOSS OF HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER. WINDHSHIELD WIPERS WORK POORLY. DRIVER SEATBELT IS DEFECTIVE. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #882232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET FAILED AND ALLOWED COOLANT INTO CYLINDER #4 WHICH RESULTED IN OVERHEATING, TIMING COVER ERRODED CAUSING THE CRANKCASE COOLANT TO BECOME COMTAMINATED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #559153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
THE EGR SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #558432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS, THE FOLLOWING WERE REPLACED/REPAIRED: RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, ENGINE MOUNTS, VALVE COVER GASKETS, AND THERMOSTAT, THERE WAS ALSO AN OIL LEAK AND ANTIFREEZE LEAK, THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ALSO ILLUMINATED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #558432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING ON A HOT DAY ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO STOP VEHICLE, AND LET ENGINE COOL OFF. THEN, RESTART VEHICLE AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #878517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FORD HAS FAILED TO FIX HEAD GASKET PROPERLY AFTER FAILURE OF ORIGINAL COMPONENT. THIS COMPONENT SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE RECALL APPLICABLE TO OTHER FORD 3.8 L ENGINES.
NHTSA complaint #736910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
ON NOVEMBER 20, 1998, I HAD WORK DONE ON MY CAR AT SHEEHY FORD COSTING $1100. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR DIED WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. KEN REED AT SHEEHY FORD SAID IT WOULD COST $3000 4000 TO REPAIR AN ENGINE BEARING PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND AND I HAD SPENT $4000 FOR CAR REPAIRS IN 1998-ON 2/23 WATERPUMP REPLACEMENT, INSPECTION OF FUEL SYSTEM HOSES AND TUBES, ON 3/18 FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT, 6/12 NEW PFE SENSOR, 8/13 REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR AND REGULATOR,COOLING FAN AND FUSIBLE LINK , 8/14 REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND INTERGRATED CONTROL MODULE, 11/11 OIL CHANGE AND MULTIPOINT INSPECTION AND ON 11/20/98 ANOTHER OIL CHANGE AS WELL AS GASKETS, SEALS, HOSES THERMOSTAT ON THIS DATE. SHEEHY FORD REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR PART OF THE MONIES SPENT ON 11/20 OR PROVIDE FREE WORK ON OUR OTHER CAR A FORD EXPLORER IN LIEU OF CASH. I CONTACTED MONTGOMERY COUNTY DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, AND THEN, THE STATE OF MARYLAND CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION. SHEEHY FORD REFUSED TO ARBITRATE AND NEITHER DIVISION COULD PROVE SHEEHY WAS AT FAULT. I HAD INITIALLY CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS REFERRED TO MY DEALER. AFTER DEALING WITH THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICES , I WROTE A LETTER TO JAC NASSER, CEO OF FORD. ABOUT 6 WEEKS LATER IN MARCH 1999, I DID GET A CALL FROM A FORD REP WHO REFUSED COMPENSATION BECAUSE I HAD DONATED THE CAR JANUARY 31, 1999 SINCE IT WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AUTOMATION INC. ON 1/25/99 AND WAS TOLD THE CAR NEEDED NO LESS THAN A CRANK KIT, ESTIMATE $12-15,000. I BELIEVE THAT WHATEVER SHEEHY FORD DID TO MY CAR ON 11/20/98 CAUSED BY CAR TO STOP RUNNING FOREVER ON 11/21. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TO A CAR WITH 65,510 MILES THAT WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. HAS AN ENGINE BEARING PROBLEM HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE?
NHTSA complaint #735355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ON NOVEMBER 20, 1998, I HAD WORK DONE ON MY CAR AT SHEEHY FORD COSTING $1100. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR DIED WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. KEN REED AT SHEEHY FORD SAID IT WOULD COST $3000 4000 TO REPAIR AN ENGINE BEARING PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND AND I HAD SPENT $4000 FOR CAR REPAIRS IN 1998-ON 2/23 WATERPUMP REPLACEMENT, INSPECTION OF FUEL SYSTEM HOSES AND TUBES, ON 3/18 FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT, 6/12 NEW PFE SENSOR, 8/13 REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR AND REGULATOR,COOLING FAN AND FUSIBLE LINK , 8/14 REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND INTERGRATED CONTROL MODULE, 11/11 OIL CHANGE AND MULTIPOINT INSPECTION AND ON 11/20/98 ANOTHER OIL CHANGE AS WELL AS GASKETS, SEALS, HOSES THERMOSTAT ON THIS DATE. SHEEHY FORD REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR PART OF THE MONIES SPENT ON 11/20 OR PROVIDE FREE WORK ON OUR OTHER CAR A FORD EXPLORER IN LIEU OF CASH. I CONTACTED MONTGOMERY COUNTY DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, AND THEN, THE STATE OF MARYLAND CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION. SHEEHY FORD REFUSED TO ARBITRATE AND NEITHER DIVISION COULD PROVE SHEEHY WAS AT FAULT. I HAD INITIALLY CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS REFERRED TO MY DEALER. AFTER DEALING WITH THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICES , I WROTE A LETTER TO JAC NASSER, CEO OF FORD. ABOUT 6 WEEKS LATER IN MARCH 1999, I DID GET A CALL FROM A FORD REP WHO REFUSED COMPENSATION BECAUSE I HAD DONATED THE CAR JANUARY 31, 1999 SINCE IT WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AUTOMATION INC. ON 1/25/99 AND WAS TOLD THE CAR NEEDED NO LESS THAN A CRANK KIT, ESTIMATE $12-15,000. I BELIEVE THAT WHATEVER SHEEHY FORD DID TO MY CAR ON 11/20/98 CAUSED BY CAR TO STOP RUNNING FOREVER ON 11/21. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TO A CAR WITH 65,510 MILES THAT WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. HAS AN ENGINE BEARING PROBLEM HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE?
NHTSA complaint #735355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ON TWO OCCASIONS THE ENGINE MOUNTS FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MOVE UP WHEN ACCELERATING AND UPWARD WHEN IN REVERSE.
NHTSA complaint #783636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THIS IS THE 3RD HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN 2 1/2 YEARS OF THIS TYPE ENGINE!
NHTSA complaint #733960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MOTOR KEEPS SHUTTING OFF
NHTSA complaint #731805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DIDN'T PASS EMISSION TEST. CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES ENTERED VEHICLE AND CONSUMER GOT SICK.
NHTSA complaint #870423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DIDN'T PASS EMISSION TEST. CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES ENTERED VEHICLE AND CONSUMER GOT SICK.
NHTSA complaint #870423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FRONT ENGINE MOUNT FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #552590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE MAIN BEARING IN ENGINE FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #552590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
EXHAUST SYSTEM FAULTY. NLM
NHTSA complaint #783867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
EXHAUST SYSTEM FAULTY. NLM
NHTSA complaint #783867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE TRANSMISSION HAS EXTENDED SHIFTS EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IT RECENTLY BEGAN DOWNSHIFTING HARD, AND UPSHIFTS VERY QUICKLY, SOMETIMES ROUGHLY UNDER MODERATE ACCELERATION. THE MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE SINCE PURCHASE IN 1996.
NHTSA complaint #724494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #723954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE SENSOR CAME ON/OFF, AND VEHICLE CUT OFF. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS TIMING CHAIN. THEN, ANOTHER MECHANIC SAID IT WAS HEAD GASKET.
NHTSA complaint #858741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE SENSOR CAME ON/OFF, AND VEHICLE CUT OFF. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS TIMING CHAIN. THEN, ANOTHER MECHANIC SAID IT WAS HEAD GASKET.
NHTSA complaint #858741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
FORD NOT RESPONDING. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY.
NHTSA complaint #719041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.