147 of the 946 complaints about the 1991 Ford Taurus are about the engine — 16% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 85,118 miles.
147
Complaints
2
Crashes
4
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP A JERKING MOTION WAS PRODUCED. AS A RESULT, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. DEALER STATED MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED. A RECALL 98V323000 WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10075960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I CAN'T POSSIBLY REMEMBER THE DATES THESE THINGS HAPPENED. I PUT A NEW (USED) TRANSMISSION AND THIS ONE IS SLIPPING. I PUT MORE BRAKE PADS AND CALIPERS THAN YOU WOULD USE IN A LIFE TIME. THE SPRINGS ARE WEAK IN THE BACK, BUT TO EXSPENSIVE TO CHANGE. I PUT A NEW FUEL PUMP AND GAS TANK. I'VE PUT A NEW EGR VALVE, OXYGEN SENSOR, THROTTLE SENSOR, AIR TEMP SENSOR. I PUT A BLINKER SWITCH AND NEW STRUTS BECAUSE MINE BROKE. 3 OUT OF 4 OF MY DOORS WILL NOT OPEN BECAUSE OF THE HANDLES. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS I WROTE DOWN OR CAN REMEMBER. NOW IT WILL NOT START UNLESS I PUMP THE GAS(IT'S FUEL INJECTED) AND KEEP TURNING IT OVER AND OVER. THEN I'M NOT SURE IF IT WILL START AGAIN WHEN I SHUT IT OFF. THE FUEL PUMP IS WORKING I THINK, I CAN HEAR IT. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND THE PERSON PUT A 1989 MOTOR INTO A 1991 BODY. THESE THINGS STILL WENT WRONG WITH THE CAR EITHER WAY. I DID NOT CHECK ANY BELOW BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO CHECK.
NHTSA complaint #10071118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OEM 3.8 LITER V6 ENGINE FAILED, REQUIRING INSTALLTION OF RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINE AT COST OF $3608.47.
NHTSA complaint #10060512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HOME, HE TURNED A CORNER AND HEARD A SNAP. THEN, HOOD STARTED TO MOVE UP AND DOWN VIOLENTLY. CONSUMER MANAGED TO BRING VEHICLE HOME AND PARKED IT. THIS HAPPENED TODAY, AND HAS NOT YET HAD TIME TO GET A MECHANIC TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
NHTSA complaint #10037913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED AND THEN SHUT OFF. *JB THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT SHIFT. *CB
NHTSA complaint #10020249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR
NHTSA complaint #8022679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WOULD STALL FOR NO REASON.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8016107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FRONT MOTOR MOUNT HAS BROKEN TWICE HAVEN'T SEEN A RECALL ABOUT THIS YET IS THERE ONE THAT I HAVE OVER LOOKED PLZ CONTACT ME TO LET ME KNOW OF THE RECALL THAT MY CARS HAS I CALLED ONCE BEFORE N I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD NO RECALLS ON MY CAR YET I HAVE RECENTLY PRINTED OUT 6-7 THAT EFECT MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint #762297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT START . CONSUMER HAD A FRIEND PUT A FUEL PUMP IN, AND VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND THEY PUT A MULTI FUNCTION RELAY SWITCH IN, AND VEHICLE STARTED. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT UPON RECEIVING VEHICLE INERTIA SWITCH POPPED OUT. THIS BUTTON STOPPED FUEL SUPPLY FROM GOING THROUGHT CAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #896876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3.8L ENGINE IS NOTORIOUS FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURE/FORD DENIES ANY PROBLEMS WITH 3.8L ENGINES.
NHTSA complaint #745824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
VEHICLE BEGAN TO LEAK ANTI-FREEZE INTO MANIFOLD CAUSING VEHICLE TO SMOKE VEHICLE HAS A 3.8 LITER ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #888541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CAR STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER REPLACED PLUG WIRES, CAP & ROTOR, FUEL & AIR FILTERS, AND FUEL PUMP. TYPICALLY DOESN'T PRESENT COMPUTER FAILURE CODES. QUITS AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IN CITY TRAFFIC, WHEN COLD OR WARM. SOMETIMES RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY, OFTEN WON'T START FOR HOURS, OR UNTIL NEXT DAY. DEALER IS OUT OF SUGGESTIONS, AND I'M AT WIT'S END. VEHICLE UNSAFE/UNUSABLE IN THIS CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #742783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #742303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AFTER SHIFTING GEARS COULD FEEL A CLUMP ON VEHICLE. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP WHERE THEY FOUND THAT FRONT AND REAR MOTOR MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE RUBBER HAD GONE BAD IN ENGINE MOUNTS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #882140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD SERIOUS DEFECTS WITH THE 3.8 LITER HEAD GASKETS AND THE AXODE TRANSMISSION, CONSUMER HAS FILED A CLAIM IN THE SMALL CLAIMS COURT. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #555463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FRONT BRAKES AND BACK BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THE FAILED, VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP. ROTORS/CALIPERS/ DRUMS SHOE PADS WERE DEFECTIVE. ALSO, RADIATOR/ OIL PAN, AND STEERING POWER ASSIST: HOSE: FLUID WERE LEAKING. AND DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THEM.
NHTSA complaint #878876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
FRONT BRAKES AND BACK BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THE FAILED, VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP. ROTORS/CALIPERS/ DRUMS SHOE PADS WERE DEFECTIVE. ALSO, RADIATOR/ OIL PAN, AND STEERING POWER ASSIST: HOSE: FLUID WERE LEAKING. AND DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THEM.
NHTSA complaint #878876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. THIS CAUSED THERMOSTAT TO BURN OUT. ALSO, HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. SMOKE WOULD BE COMING FROM TAIL PIPE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED THAT ENGINE & HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #875634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. THIS CAUSED THERMOSTAT TO BURN OUT. ALSO, HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. SMOKE WOULD BE COMING FROM TAIL PIPE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED THAT ENGINE & HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #875634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING , MOSTLY IN THE SUMMER . MECHANIC HAS SERVICED VECHICLE , CHANGED STARTER, BUT DEFECT STILL OCCURS.
NHTSA complaint #873572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BLOWN HEAD ENGINE GASKET. ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 150,000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #873604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FRONT AND REAR MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #784670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #721639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FORD CLAIMS NOTHING WRONG WITH 3.8 L HEAD GASKETS AND IT IS OK TO SELL JUNK!
NHTSA complaint #720311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE 3.8 LITER FORD ENGINE IS FOR PREMATURE HEADGASKET FAILURE. I CONTACTED FORD IN WRITING ASKING TO BE REIMBURSED BUT THAT WAS REJECTED.
NHTSA complaint #720324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FORD KNOWS THIS TO BE A PRODUCT FAILURE ON THEIR 3.8L ENGINES....THEY ARE REFUNDING 93/94/95 MODELS FOR GASKET REPLACEMENT AND OR TOTAL ENGINE REPAIRS. BECAUSE THIS IS A RETIRED PERSON THAT PUT FEW MILES ON THE CAR ANNUALLY THE EST. GASKET FAILURE FORD SAYS AT 65,000 MILES WAS NOT REACHED UNTIL NOW. BUT THE CAR HAD KNOWN PRODUCT FAILURE !
NHTSA complaint #720031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ON MY 3.8L ENGINE, WHICH FORD HAS HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, WHICH I BELIEVE LED TO BOTH MY ENGINE FREEZING UP AND A RAPID BREAKDOWN OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, ENDING IN A REPAIR BILL CLOSE TO $1,800.
NHTSA complaint #719624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
ON MY 3.8L ENGINE, WHICH FORD HAS HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, WHICH I BELIEVE LED TO BOTH MY ENGINE FREEZING UP AND A RAPID BREAKDOWN OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, ENDING IN A REPAIR BILL CLOSE TO $1,800.
NHTSA complaint #719624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL PAN GASKET FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #550008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
EGO SENSOR AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #550008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.