178 of the
2,206 complaints about the 1993 Ford Taurus are about the
electrical system — 8% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
64,815 miles.
I BOUGHT MY 1993 FORD TAURUS 3 MONTHS AGO..IT HAS 59K ON IT...ONE WEEK AFTER BUYING IT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON..WHEN I APPROACHED THE DEALERSHIP THERE COMMENT WAS.."WELL THINGS GO WRONG DAILY WITH USED CARS..I DRIVE THE CAR FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THEN THE LIGHT WILL COME ON. I HAVE CHANGED ALL THE SENSORS..HAD A TUNE UP..RADIATOR FLUSH..JUST TO MENTION A FEW THINGS...HAD NEW MOTOR MOUNTS PUT IN TOO..ALL OF WHICH HAS COST ME WELL OVER 700.00...I CALLED FORD WHEN I NOTICED THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL IN WHICH I WAS INFORMED THEY WOULDN'T DO A THING..I CAN ONLY DRIVE THIS CAR FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME BEFORE THE ENGINE STARTS SMELLING HOT..THOUGH WITH THE NEW THERMOSTAT IT NEVER REGISTERS ITS OVER HEATING..TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HAD A COMPUTER CHECK DONE..BUT WOULDN'T U KNOW LIGHT WOULDN'T COME ON SINCE IT WAS JUST SITTING. SEEMS IT ONLY COMES ON WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD..AGAIN TOLD THE DEALERSHIP...THEY KEEP SAYING MUST BE A CENSOR..WHICH SEEMS TO ME THEY KNEW THIS WHEN THE CAR WAS SOLD TO ME..YET DIDN'T DISCLOSE THAT PART..WHEN I PURCHASED IT. I WAS SOLD A LEMON..AND FORD WILL NOT HONOR THERE RECALLS ON IT..SO SEEMS IM DOOMED..IM ON DISABILITY AND CANT AFFORD ALL THESE REPAIRS BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE..
NHTSA complaint #10236203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 42,988 milesLorida, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE ARE ALOT OF RECALLS ON MY CAR AND NO ONE WILL HELP ME.
NHTSA complaint #10229979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesGlenolden, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TAURUS. THE VEHICLE RECEIVEDE RECALL REGARDING THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO DIM FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HAD THE SAME FAILURE, BUT FORD STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 130,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #10188946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Olympia, WAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
I RECENTLY READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT SPONTANEOUS FIRES IN FORD MODELS ON CNN. I USED TO HAVE A FORD TAURUS WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE. LUCKILY WE PUT IT OUT BEFORE IT GOT VERY LARGE BUT THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS BURNT AND IT WAS UNREPAIRABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10125574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coushatta, LAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 6-8 HOURS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED.
NHTSA complaint #10115711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pecatonica, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS CONCERNING LEAKING HEAD GASKETS. *BF THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE WHICH INCLUDE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, COOLING FAN, IGNITION WIRING, COIL SPRING FAILURE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, ALTERNATOR, HEAD GASKET AND MUFFLER. WHILE RESEARCHING THE VEHICLE ON NHTSA SITE THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED SEVERAL RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE RELATED THE FAILURES HIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED.
NHTSA complaint #10097379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Chester, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRE HARNESS, STEERING COLUMN COVERS, TURN SIGNAL/WIPER SWITCH WERE REPLACED. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10057183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELK Grove Village, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN NOR THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS WORKED IN THE STEERING WHEEL HUB. *PH CONSUMER FELT THAT THERE'S NO NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT ONCE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SUCH AN INCONVENIENCE ON HIS BEHALF. AFTER TEN MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM E-BAY, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR FACILITY TO HAVE STEERING CONTROLS FIXED. MECHANIC CALLED CONSUMER AND WAS INFORMED THAT AIR BAG HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM STEERING WHEEL HUB AND REPLACED WITH FOAM TO SIMULATE THE SHAPE OF THE AIR BAG. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO HAVE AIR BAG INSTALLED INTO STEERING WHEEL HUB ALONG WITH THE REPAIRS ON HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL. CONSUMER NOW ASKING IF IT'S AGAINST FLORIDA OR FEDERAL LAW TO SELL A CAR WITH THE AIR BAG EITHER UNIONIZATION OR INOPERATIVE AND NOT INFORM THE BUYER.
NHTSA complaint #10062882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 188,632 milesPembroke, NCFire1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CHUCK'S CLEAN & USED CARS OF PEMBROKE SOLD ME A 1993 FORD TAURUS VIN [XXX] WITH A KNOWN RECALL ON IT. THERE WAS A FIRE WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10046770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Etlan, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE REAR PASSENGER POWER DOOR UNLOCKED WHICH CAUSED THE DOOR TO OPEN WHEN A TURN WAS MADE.
NHTSA complaint #10012115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Belmont, WI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE ONLY OWNED IT FOR A YEAR AND 1/2, AND HAVE ALREADY PUT MORE MONEY IN TO IT THAN I WILL EVER GET OUT OF IT. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS CAR TO ANYONE! I WENT THROUGH IN A FOUR WEEK SPAN HAVING THE BRAKES GO OUT, THE MUFFLER FELL OFF. THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW, THE WATER PUMP BROKE AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT. I HATE THIS CAR!! DT
NHTSA complaint #769468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Providence, RI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. PLEASEA PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8020228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vader, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER NOTICED THAT CRUISE CONTROL/ HORN AND AIRBAG WERE NOT OPERABLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8014913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grand Tire, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THEN CAME BACK ON. RECALL WAS DONE 2 YEARS AGO, DEALER REPLACED THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH.*JB CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL, THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOX WAS REPLACED, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS NOT WORKED FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #8014779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sanger, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED AGAIN. *AK CONSUMER HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THE PAN PLUG LEFT UNDONE CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE OIL, THE RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO OVER TORQUE BOLTS WHICH BURSTED AROUND THE CORE, THE ENGINE IS KNOCKING AND THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO LACK OF OIL. CONSUMER HAS LOST TRUST IN THE DEALERSHIP. HEAD LIGHTS FAILED, LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE WIPERS WERE NOISY, DEALER REPLACED THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND WIPER MOTOR. THERE IS A POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING, THERE IS A RUBBING NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT ON TURNS AND WHEN BACKING UP. THE AIR CONDITIONER IS NOT BLOWING COLD AIR, SHRATER VALVE AND A/C REFRIGERANT WAS REPLACED. THE KEY SWITCH FAILED. THE FAULTY ANTENNA MOTOR FAILED. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. TIE ROD WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #8010926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Anacortes, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY, MOSTLY BELOW 50 MPH. DEALER CANNOT FIND A CAUSE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER 12 MILES DRIVE, THE ENGINE BLEW AND A WHITE WHIPPED CRAM LIKE SUBSTANCE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS ALSO AT IDLE AND IT WAS HARD TO START DUE TO INTEGRATED CONTROL MODULE RELAY FAILURE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BECAUSE O2 SENSOR WAS DAMAGED FROM COOLANT CONTAMINATION. THE VEHICLE SMELLS OF COOLANT DUE TO RADIATOR LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #8010568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huntington, CT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
VEHICLE STALLED AT 30 MPH, AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR A FEW HOURS. DEALER REPLACED CONTROL MODULE.
NHTSA complaint #8008623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gallatin, TN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #757397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Walpole, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLS, VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN VEHICLE STALLED THE STEERING WENT DEAD.
NHTSA complaint #8002760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Spencer, WVFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATED SHE AND DAUGHTER WERE TRAPPED INT HE VEHICLE, CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE STEERING LOCKED UP.*SLC
NHTSA complaint #8000796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tarzana, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD GASKETS ARE GOING BAD AGAIN, VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY AND COOLANT FLUID WAS IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, HAD GASKETS REPLACED TWO YEARS AGO, CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK. CONSUMER STATED AFTER DEALER REPLACED GASKETS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, RADIATOR FAILED, IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR, PCV FAILED, FUEL INJECTOR SEAL, IGNITION MODULE, STARTER MOTOR, AND EXHAUST GAS RECALCULATION (EGR) FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #8000700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Spencer, WVFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. ALSO, POWER DOOR LOCKS BECAME INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASH AND STEERING COLUMN, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND WINDOWS WOULD NOT WORK.
NHTSA complaint #899471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Colts Neck, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
HEADLIGHTS GO OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, WARNING SIGNAL SOUNDS EVEN WHEN NO LIGHTS ARE LEFT ON AND KEYS ARE OUT OF IGNITION, LEADING TO THE THOUGHT OF A SHORT IN THE IGNITION.
NHTSA complaint #754041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilson, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
VEHICLE PARKED. WAS TRYING TO JUMP START VEHICLE WITH A JUMPER KIT FROM K MART WHEN BATTERY EXPLODED IN OWNER'S FACE. CRACKED BATTERY HOUSING.*AK THE VEHICLE HEAD LITHTS BLINK OFF.
NHTSA complaint #896769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilson, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE PARKED. WAS TRYING TO JUMP START VEHICLE WITH A JUMPER KIT FROM K MART WHEN BATTERY EXPLODED IN OWNER'S FACE. CRACKED BATTERY HOUSING.*AK THE VEHICLE HEAD LITHTS BLINK OFF.
NHTSA complaint #896769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenbelt, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY 1993 TAURUS STARTED STALLING OUT IN JUNE 2000 CAUSIN ME TO LOSE THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WHILE DRIVING. IT FIRST STARTED WITH THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" COMING ON AND THEN CUTTING OFF ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH. IT CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED/ANYTIME ON CITY STREETS, HIGHWAYS AND AT STOP SIGNS. IT WON'T START FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER IT STALLS OUT. I HAVE EVEN CHANGED FUEL AT DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS THINKING IT WAS WATER OR TRASH IN THE LINE BUT THE PROBEM DIDN'T GO AWAY. I HAVE HAD FUEL PRESSURE TESSTS, THROTTLE BODY WORK, FUEL INJECTION SERVICE DONE SEVERAL TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. BEEN TO OTHER MECHANIC SHOPS AND DIAGNOSTIC TEST RUN AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP OR THE TRANSMISSION OR NO PROBLEM FOUND. ONE OF THE MECHANCIS TOLD ME IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS THE IGNITION MODULE AND SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO A DEALER. IN AUGUST 2001, I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND HAD THE FUEL INJECTION SERVICE DONE, VALVES REPLACED AND WAS TOLD THAT WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM BUT IT DIDN'T. THE CAR WAS SLUGGISH WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND IT IS STILL SLUGGISH ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO EXCELERATE. AUGUST 2001 HAD A NEW FUEL PUMP PUT ON AND 2 DAYS AFTER THAT THE CAR STALLED OUT AGAIN. SINCE THE NEW FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN IN PLACE THE CAR HAS STALLED 5 TIMES IN TRAFFIC. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED AT HAVING TO PAY FOR UNNECESSARY REPAIRS AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CLOSE CALLS FOR A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. PLEASE HAVE THIS VEHICLE RECALLED BEFORE A FATALITY OCCURS. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN MY OWN CAR AS LONG AS THIS PROBLEM EXISTS.
NHTSA complaint #751505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Earlville, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
FOR THE PAST YEAR MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING. AT FIRST IT STARTED IN THE WINTER OF 2000 OCCASIONALLY, BUT WHEN THE SPRING HIT. IT WAS STALLING ALL THE TIME. I HAVE TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC WHO HAS REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE, FUEL PUMP ( TWICE ). CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER AND MY VEHICLE IS STILL STALLING. I HAVE NOTICED AN ARTICLE UNDER USATODAY.COM WHEREBY JUDGE BALLACHEY HAS ORDERED FORD TO REPLACE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES IN CALIFORNIA. COULD THIS BE MY PROLEM? IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLS ON THE HIGHWAY..PLEASE RESPOND TO ADVISE.
NHTSA complaint #750722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Evergreen, CO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. WILL RESTART IN 10 MIN. FUEL PUMP REPLACED X2, PUMP RELAY X1. DEALER NO HELP.
NHTSA complaint #737933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Barrington, RIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY FOR 2 HOURS A FIRE IGNITED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #892274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ballwin, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND GOES OFF SEVERAL TIMES, THE VEHICLE IDLES ERRATICALLY AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING DUE TO INTEMITTENT FAILURE OF THE IGNITION CONTROL ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIX THE VEHICLE BECAUSE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER WANTS INVESTIGATION REGARDING PARTS SHORTAGE. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT).
NHTSA complaint #561606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.