760 of the 2,206 complaints about the 1993 Ford Taurus are about the engine — 34% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 78,050 miles.
760
Complaints
3
Crashes
21
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE COMES INSIDE MY CAR...MAKING IT HOTTER ON THE INSIDE THAN OUTSIDE..DRIVING IT YESTERDAY THE A/C FAN FROZE UP CAUSING IT TO SMOKE AND WAS UNDRIVABLE. JUST HAD IT IN FOR A MAJOR TUNE UP A WEEK AGO YET STILL THIS PROBLEMS OCCURS..
NHTSA complaint #10227978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TAURUS. ON MAY 30, 2007, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, WHICH LED TO THE VEHICLE BEING ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE LOT WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SUSTAINED DAMAGE AS WELL AS THE ITEMS THAT WERE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AND CAN OBTAIN A COPY OF THE SHERIFF'S REPORT. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 170,000.
NHTSA complaint #10194836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1993 HEAD GASKET WENT BAD WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES
NHTSA complaint #10192798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 1993 FORD TAURUS WITH 3.8L ENGINE WITH 63,890 MILES. TOTAL REPAIR $2008.12.
NHTSA complaint #10169571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING 1993 TAURUS ENGINE PROBLEMS. *TS
NHTSA complaint #10156216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEAD GASKET FAILED ON 1993 FORD TAURUS GL, 3.8L. THIS DEFECT IS PREVALENT IN THE MAJORITY OF AUTOMOBILES MANUFACTURED WITH THIS ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10143589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FORD TAURUS HEATER STARTED BLOWING COLD AIR AND A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE REAR EXHAUST PIPE WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. LIMP INTO DEALER WHO SAID THE HEAD GASKET IS SHOT WHICH IS COMMON ON THE 3.8L V6 ENGINES IN FORDS. MENTIONED TO THE DEALER THAT I ONLY HAD 63,890 MILES ON THE CAR AND HE SAID THAT'S WHEN THEY USUALLY START TO GO. PAID TOTAL OF $2008.12 FOR REPAIR INCLUDING NEW RADIATOR WHICH THEY SAID I NOW NEED AFTER PUTTING IT ALL BACK TOGETHER BECAUSE THE CAR WAS LEAKING COOLANT WHICH IT HAD NOT BEFORE I GOT CAR HOME AFTER BEING ALL FIXED AND IT WAS LEAKING COOLANT. RETURNED BACK TO FORD AND THEY FORGOT TO TIGHTEN A HOSE. I BELIEVE THE ORGINAL RADIATOR WAS FINE THE HOSE WAS NOT TIGHTENED ENOUGH IN THE FIRST PLACE.
NHTSA complaint #10104881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
NAR 03/03/2003. THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH EVENTUALLY HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALSO THE BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO LACK OF A SECOND GEAR. THE ENGINE WENT OUT IN NOV 1997 WHICH WAS LIKELY HEAD GASKET FAILURE. JAN 9, 2003 THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED AS A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET IN THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10009742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT. THREE YEARS LATER WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A HEAD GASKET BLOW OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10087867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN. 2 LOCAL DEALERS REFUSE TO COVER THE REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10068814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE GASKETS BLEW ONE YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT IT AND THE FORD DEALER REFUSES TO FIX IT EVEN THOUGH THEY RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM WITH FORD HEAD GASKETS. I PAID $4000 AND HAVE NO MONEY TO PAY FOR REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10068833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SUSPENSION FEELS SHAKY AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION. KEY LOCK IS FAULTY. I HAVE HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS AS YOU CAN SEE WITH HEAD GASKET AND TIMING COVER GASKET. ALSO I HAD TO REPLACE CIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER BUT AIR CONDITIONER NEVER WORKED.
NHTSA complaint #10069218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
SUSPENSION FEELS SHAKY AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION. KEY LOCK IS FAULTY. I HAVE HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS AS YOU CAN SEE WITH HEAD GASKET AND TIMING COVER GASKET. ALSO I HAD TO REPLACE CIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER BUT AIR CONDITIONER NEVER WORKED.
NHTSA complaint #10069218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEAD GASKET FAILURE RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint #10069286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
HEAD GASKET FAILURE RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint #10069286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OUR 1993 TAURUS WITH A 3.8L HEAD GASKETS BLEW. FIXED TWICE AND WASN'T COVERED BY RECALLS. (1994-95 TAURUS) A/C WENT OUT FOR UNKNOWN REASON. TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX. STILL NOT WORKING. WINDOW DIED IN WINTER. TOO EXPENSIVE AND POWER CUT FROM SWITCH
NHTSA complaint #10069485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEAD GASKET FAILURE FRONT RIGHT SPRING FRACTURE
NHTSA complaint #10069514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED. STEERING PINS REPLACED 4 DAYS AFTER MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED, THE CAR CATCHES ON FILE FROM AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. I DROVE THE CAR 1 TIME AFTER IT WAS OUT OF THE SHOP. 11 HOURS AFTER I DROVE IT, THE WHOLE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE FROM AN ELECTRICAL SHORT
NHTSA complaint #10070376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR WILL DRIVE WHEN TRANSMISSION FLUID GETS HOT & JUMP OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL.
NHTSA complaint #10070761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 1993 FORD TAURUS 3.0 V6. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE 3.8 V6'S WITH HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. AT JUST 71000 MILES I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM MY PARENTS, WHO BOUGHT IT NEW. MY FATHER IS A RETIRED NYC TRANSIT AUTHORITY MECHANIC, AND HE WAS METICULOUS ABOUT THE UPKEEP OF HIS VEHICLES. NOW I AM FACE WITH AN AUTOMOBILE THAT IS NOTHING MORE THAN A HUGE PAPERWEIGHT.OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IT SEEMS THAT I WAS JUST THROWING GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD. A COUPLE OF HUNDRED HERE, $700 FOR A COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE A/C SYSTEM, ETC. I DO NOT HAVE THE CASH TO SPEND APPROXIMATELY $1300 ON REPAIRS. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I WENT TO YOUR WEBSITE AND BROUGHT UP THE INFORMATION ON MY '93 TAURUS. THE AMOUNT OF TSB'S THAT AFFECT MY CAR ASOUNDED ME. I HAVE PAID FOR REPAIRS TO SOME, AND THOUGHT OTHERS WERE JUST AGE ISSUES. THESE TSB'S THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT MY AUTOMOBILE INCLUDED; 93-23-6,94-19-4,94-16-3,96-7-5,96-15-3,95-3-4,96-22-1,93-3-9,&95-19-1. AS I STATED, THIS CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN MY FAMILY. WHY HASN'T FORD TRIED TO CONTACT US ON ANY OF THESE ISSUES? ON ONE OF THESE TSB'S, WE DEVELOPED A LEAK IN A COOLING LINE. THE DEALERSHIP CHAGED US $360 FOR REPAIRS, WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED BY FORD, WE WERE ONLY REIMBUSED $60. FORD SAID THE DEALER SHOULD REIMBURSE US THE BALANCE, AND THE DEALER SAID THAT FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE US. GUESS WHAT, EXCEPT FOR THE $60, WE NEVER GOT REIMBUSED THE ADDITIONAL $300. I AM AT WITS END. MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM MY MOTHER A 5 YEARS AGO, WHEN OUR FAMILY STARTED TO GROW. OBVIOUSLY WITH JUST 71,000 MILES SHE DOES NOT DO A LOT OF DRIVING. SHOPPING AND WORK FOR HER ARE ALL WITHIN A 15 MILE RADIUS. BUT WITH THE LOSS OF A VEHICLE SHE HAS HAD TO REDUCE THE AMONT OF WORK SHE WOULD NORMALLY PUT IN BY 50%. IS THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE?
NHTSA complaint #10070825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE EMITTED WHITE SMOKE, STEAM AND LOTS OF COOLANT VIA TAIL PIPE.
NHTSA complaint #10062382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 1993, FORD, TAURUS WAS BLOWING SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST. CONSUMER INSISTED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS DOING THE SAME THING THAT THE MERCURY SABLE WAS DOING.
NHTSA complaint #10052286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BLOWN HEAD GASKET.
NHTSA complaint #10045354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT, AND THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. TSB 398-4-9 WAS FOUND IN REFERENCE TO 1998-1995 MODELS ARE PRONE TO FAILURE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. MR SCC
NHTSA complaint #10017339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEATER BLEW OUT COLD AIR - HAD TO HAVE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED ON 1993 FORD TAURUS. DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 20 MILES AND ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISE - HAD TO HAVE ROD BEARINGS REPLACED. I WAS TOLD BY FORD SERVICE MECHANIC THAT THERE ARE VERY COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THE 3.8 L ENGINES. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10010773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10011505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE HEAD GASKET FAILED TWICE AFTER 2,000 MILES, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10009917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.