1997 Ford Taurus headlight problems

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

A PROGRESSIVE DETERIORATION OF THE FRONT HEADLIGHT LENS. HEADLIGHT LENS IS SO FOGGY THAT VISIBILITY IS POOR ENOUGH THAT IT MUST BE REPLACED. FORD SAYS THE DETERIORATION IS DUE TO AUTOMATIC CAR WASH SOAP. HOWEVER, CAR WAS HAND WASHED. THE APPROXIMATE COST FOR PARTS ALONE IS $500 AS THE LENS IS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY. CARS IN THE JUNK YARD ALSO HAVE SAME CONDITION.

NHTSA complaint #10234203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

HEADLIGHT FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY LIGHT SWITCH.

NHTSA complaint #10170450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

DT: CONSUMER OWNS A FORD TAURUS. THE HEADLIGHT LENS WAS NOT CLEAR, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. THE CLOUDINESS HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE IN THE LAST 5 YEARS. HAD TO BUY 2 NEW SEALED HEADLIGHTS.*AK

NHTSA complaint #10132131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

RANDOM CHANGES IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SPEED, REGARDLESS OF SETTING. HAZARD SIGNALS FAILED OR ONLY ONE SIDE FLASHING. TURN SIGNAL FAILURE (OF EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR CONSOLE LIGHTS). FAILURE OF INTERIOR LIGHTING TO TURN OFF AFTER DOORS CLOSED. FAILURE OF POWER WINDOWS (ALL FOUR). SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESULTING IN REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF GEM MODULE. TURN SIGNAL/WIPER CONTROLS REPLACED. GEM MODULE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10086455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

RANDOM CHANGES IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SPEED, REGARDLESS OF SETTING. HAZARD SIGNALS FAILED OR ONLY ONE SIDE FLASHING. TURN SIGNAL FAILURE (OF EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR CONSOLE LIGHTS). FAILURE OF INTERIOR LIGHTING TO TURN OFF AFTER DOORS CLOSED. FAILURE OF POWER WINDOWS (ALL FOUR). SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESULTING IN REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF GEM MODULE. TURN SIGNAL/WIPER CONTROLS REPLACED. GEM MODULE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10086455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

WHILE DRIVING IT WAS HARD TO SHIFT GEARS/STEER THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK. *AK THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS INTERMITTENT, THE RADIO WOULD GO OFF WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. THE PROBLEM WOULD START WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, REVERSE, OR NEUTRAL. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF WITHOUT CAUSE. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10087207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL DISPLAY THE "DOOR AJAR" WARNING ICON AND THE DOME LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXITING AND SECURING THE VEHICLE, THE DOME LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON FOR AN INDEFINATE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT CAN CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION FOR A WEEK-AT-A-TIME AND NOT HAVE A RECURRENCE FOR UP TO A MONTH. DEALER TOLD ME THAT UNLESS I COULD LOCALIZE THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE, THEY COULD NOT BEGIN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10065867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

DRIVER SEATBELT STATUS, DOOR SHUT STATUS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SEATBELT LIGHT IS ON EVEN WHEN WEARING SEATBELT, AND "DOOR OPEN" LIGHT, INTERIOR LIGHT STAY ON EVEN WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED.

NHTSA complaint #10004913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES FROM BETWEEN 65 TO 45 MPH THERE IS A SERIOUS SHAKING FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO MOTION. THAT REALLY CONCERNS ME HAVING THREE SMALL CHILDREN. THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT ALSO DOESN'T SHUT OFF AS IT SHOULD.

NHTSA complaint #762972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO CONSTANTLY WIGGLE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO KEEP HEADLIGHTS ON. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #8005986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

DOME LIGHT STAYS ULUMINATED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. POWER STEERING GOES IN AND OUT, CAUSING IT TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO STEER. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #8005471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM DISENGAGES. ALSO, DOME LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8002023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

HEADLIGHTS WOULDN'T GO OFF AT ALL. THE ONLY WAY WAS FOR TO LIFT HOOD UP AND DISCONNECT BATTERY TO CABLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #899108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

DOME LIGHT REMAINS ON ONCE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF OR WHEN DOORS ARE CLOSED.ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOWS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #895681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THERE ARE NO LIGHTS AT ALL IN OR OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. LIGHTS IN FRONT WENT OUT FIRST, AND THEN THIRD LIGHTS WENT OUT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #885807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

SWITCH IN DOOR TO ADVISE IF DOOR IS OPEN STAYS ON. WHEN THIS OCCURS, IT CAUSES FOR DOME LIGHTS TO COME ON. CONSUMER HAS HAD REPAIRS ON VEHICLE ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR.

NHTSA complaint #882954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

FALSE LIGHT SHOWING OPEN DOOR WILL NOT GO OFF, THEREFORE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT SHUT OFF/EVEN WHEN CAR IS OFF.

NHTSA complaint #739020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WHICH MAY CAUSE VISIBLE PROBLEM, AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE INTERIOR LIGHTS TWICE. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #877889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

WHEN SUN HITS VEHICLE OR EVEN WHEN TEMPERATURE IS HOT AT NIGHT, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND DOOR AJAR LIGHT COME ON. LIGHTS STAY ON FOR AN HOUR OR MORE BEFORE GOING OUT. THIS CAUSES POOR DRIVER'S VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #872851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

THE DOME LIGHT AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. YH

NHTSA complaint #782051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON DUE TO THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT BEING ON IT ONLY HAPPENS AFTER NOON WHEN TH CAR IS PARKED IN THE SUN LIGHT AND AFRAID TO CAUSE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE DRIVERS UNDERDASH LIGHT BEING SO BRIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #724354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

DOOR AJAR LIGHT ON DASH STAYS ON. SOMETIMES OCASIONALLY IT GOES OFF, INTERIOR LIGHTS WON'T GO OFF BECAUSE OF IT, RESULTING IN A DEAD BATTERY, BACK WINDOW DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. THE DEALER THINKS I'M CRAZY CAUSE WHENEVER I TAKE IT IN TO BE REPAIRED THE LIGHTS ARE ALL OFF. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A RELAY SWITCH AND THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT AND IT STILL IS BROKEN.

NHTSA complaint #722131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THE HEADLIGHT BEZEL IS DISCOLORED. THERE APPEARS TO BE A FOG INSIDE THE BEZEL. THE DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER STATES "SOMETHING" MUST HAVE BEEN SPRAYED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BEZEL. I WAS TOLD THAT SOME OF THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE A GASKET LEAK AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION REGAURDING THIS PROBLEM?

NHTSA complaint #722333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

#1 DOOR AJAR LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND DOME LIGHT ON EVEN THOUGH ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED.

NHTSA complaint #721882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

WHILE DRIVING ON I95 DURING A RAINSTORM, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHEN I ACTIVATED MY LEFT DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL. VISIBILITY SUDDENLY BECAME ZERO AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED A SERIOUS CRASH. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO RESTORE PARTIAL USE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BY SWITCHING ON MY HIGH-BEAM HEADLIGHTS. I TRIED THIS PROCEDURE BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS AS WELL AS THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS ARE ALL CONTROLLED BY THE SAME HANDLE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT INSIDE THE STALK THAT HOUSES THE WIRING FOR THESE CONTROLS. I HAVE RARELY USED THIS CAR IN THE RAIN ( THERE HAS BEEN A VIRTUAL DROUGHT IN MY AREA) AND THIS IS THE FIRST REAL WORKOUT OF THE WIPERS.

NHTSA complaint #711228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

WHILE DRIVING ON I95 DURING A RAINSTORM, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHEN I ACTIVATED MY LEFT DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL. VISIBILITY SUDDENLY BECAME ZERO AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED A SERIOUS CRASH. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO RESTORE PARTIAL USE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BY SWITCHING ON MY HIGH-BEAM HEADLIGHTS. I TRIED THIS PROCEDURE BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS AS WELL AS THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS ARE ALL CONTROLLED BY THE SAME HANDLE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT INSIDE THE STALK THAT HOUSES THE WIRING FOR THESE CONTROLS. I HAVE RARELY USED THIS CAR IN THE RAIN ( THERE HAS BEEN A VIRTUAL DROUGHT IN MY AREA) AND THIS IS THE FIRST REAL WORKOUT OF THE WIPERS.

NHTSA complaint #711228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

DASHBOARD SHOWS DOORS ARE OPEN, AND INTERIOR LIGHT WILL STAY ON. DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #859743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

1. WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT ALWAYS OPERATE AT THE RATE SELECTED. THEY OPERATE AT A LOWER RATE THAN SELECTED. 2. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LIGHT SWITCH DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT REMAIN LOCKED DURING THIS SWITCH FAILURE WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND/OR THE ENGINE RUNNING.

NHTSA complaint #719525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

#1 DOOR AJAR SWITCH,LIGHT IN DASH STAYS ON AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON WHILE DRIVING. #2 WINDOW DID NOT WORK AT ALL, REPAIRED BY DEALER, #3 WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP, TOOK TO DEALER, TOLD TO TAKE DOOR APART AND BEAT ON MOTOR, WAS ABLE TO GET WINDOW UP.

NHTSA complaint #719211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT LOCK AND DOORS OPEN. WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER EXITING VEHICLE. ALSO, THE INSIDE DOME LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. FAILURES BECAME INCREASINGLY WORSE. *AK

NHTSA complaint #857303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.