1999 Ford Taurus brake problems

SERVICE BRAKES

THE CAR HAS HAD YRANSMISSION REBUILT LAST YEAR AND IM STILL MAKING PAYMEMTS ON THE CAR. THEN 4MONTHS AGO I HAD THE SPEED SENSOR REPLACED RAN GOOD UNTIL DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY WHEN IT STARTING ACTING THE SAME WAY IT WAS BEFORE I GOT IT FIXED SO I JMOW ITS THE SPEED SENSOR AGAIN HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO FIX THIS CRAP BEFORE IT GETS RECALLED OR BEFORE SPMEONE GETS INTO AN ACCIDENT OR DIES

NHTSA complaint #11010626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

FRONT SPRING COIL IS BROKEN

NHTSA complaint #10839400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

ONE OF THE REAR BRAKE LINES RUPTURED CAUSING GRADUAL BUT COMPLETE LOSS OF NORMAL BRAKING. LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF IN TO A PARKING AREA JUST AS BRAKES QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY. CAUSE OF RUPTURE APPEARS TO BE RUST. RUPTURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT LOCATION. NO PRIOR WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #10536401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

HIT THE BRAKES HARD WHEN THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED SOFTNESS IN THE PEDAL VASTLY DEVELOPING INTO 98 % LOSS OF BRAKING CAPACITY. AFTERWARDS, NOTICED LEAK IN ONE OF BRAKE LINES RUNNING ALONG THE LEFT SIDE UNDERBODY ABOUT MIDWAY. APPROXIMATELY 4-6 MONTHS LATER THE SAME SCENARIO REPEATED ITSELF WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER BRAKELINE RUNNING ALONG THE LEFT SIDE. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE REAR BRAKELINE CONNECTING THE PROPORTIONING VALVE WITH THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE HOSE SPRUNG A LEAK RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITIES. ALL OF THESE LINES RUPTURED DUE TO RUST AND OR CORROSION.

NHTSA complaint #10535577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LINE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CRUISE TO A STOP SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE BRAKE LINE WAS REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

NHTSA complaint #10457780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

A 51 POINT INSPECTION DONE ON A 1999 FORD TAURUS I PURCHASED THAT HAD THE FOLLOWING SAFETY ISSUES: CRACKED BRAKES, LOOSE PINION ROD, TRANSMISSION, STEERING WHEEL OFF CENTER TO NAME A FEW ITEMS. REQUIRED A FLUSHING, OIL, ETC. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE MOST OF THESE ITEMS REPAIRED OR REPLACED. SOME OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, BUT I ALSO HAVE DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT MY COMPLAINT. I HAVE NOT HAD THE TRANSMISSION FIXED DUE TO FUNDS. THESE ITEMS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD HAVE CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10345044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE DRIVING IN A SMALL TOWN I EXPERIENCED A LOSS IN BRAKING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THEN HAD IT TRANSPORTED TO A GARAGE. THEY FOUND THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD FAILED. AND WAS LEAKING FLUID. THIS CAUSED FAILURE OF THE FRONT BRAKES. ON FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM THEY FOUND THAT THEIR WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE LEADING TO THE REAR BRAKES. THIS LEAK WAS CAUSED BY EXTERNAL CORROSION OF THE LINE. I THOUGHT THAT THESE LINES WERE STAINLESS STEEL, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE CORRODED DUE TO SALT ON THE ROADWAY. IF THE LINES ARE NOT MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL, THEY SHOULD BE. THE FAILURE OF THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE LEAK IN THE LINE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, BUT DID NOT BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED. I LOST THE COMPLETE STOPPING POWER OF THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10294977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A CAR DEALER. SINCE I PURCHASE MY BOLTS TO THE BACK BRAKES CAME OUT. FRONT END IS MAKING NOISES ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. BACK WINDOW IS READY TO BREAK OFF MISSING PASSENGER SIDE HINGE TO HOLD THE WINDOW IN PLACE. BRAKES SQUEAL. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY FOR EXAMPLE THE POWER DOORS DO NOT UNLOCK, THE POWER SEAT DOES NOT ADJUST WHEN YOU PUSH THE BUTTON, THE TRUNK CAN NOT BE OPENED WITH THE KEY, THE DOORS HAVE TO BE UNLOCK MANUALLY.

NHTSA complaint #10289514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE: HAVING WORKED ON CARS FOR 40+ YEARS AND OWNED MANY VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS, IT WAS A SURPRISE TO SUFFER TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT EVER HAVING THE BRAKE LIGHT INDICATE A FAILURE. FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, ALL MY VEHICLES HAD A PRIMARY AND SECONDARY BRAKE CIRCUIT WITH A PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL SWITCH THAT WOULD LATCH AND LIGHT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS A PARTIAL BRAKE FAILURE WAS CAUGHT BY THE WARNING LIGHT. MASTER CYLINDER REPLACEMENT WAS PERFORMED QUICKLY AS DRIVING WITH ONE CIRCUIT IS DANGEROUS. THE 1999 FORD TAURUS HAS NO BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL SWITCH, NO KIDDING! IF ONE DOES NOT MAKE PANIC STOPS AS A REGULAR PART OF DRIVING, IT IS EASIER THAN ONE WOULD THINK TO HAVE A PARTIAL FAILURE GO UNDETECTED (DESPITE THAT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN EXTRA PEDAL TRAVEL). WHEN THE SECOND CIRCUIT FAILS THE RESULT IS TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE, THE SAME TYPE OF THINKING AS THE FORD PINTO FUEL TANK. FORGET THE CUP HOLDER, SPEND THE MONEY ON THE SAFETY SWITCH!!! I SHUDDER TO THINK OF PEOPLE SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THIS MISSING SWITCH.

NHTSA complaint #10280341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

LOSS OF BRAKING DUE TO REAR BRAKE LINES CORRODING AND RESULTING FLUID LOSS. AN INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD TAURUSES OF THIS ERA. FAILURE OCCURRED NEAR THE REAR OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR. CAR IS AWAITING REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10279818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 FORD TAURUS TO WORK ON APRIL 16TH OF THIS YEAR, I NOTICED WHAT APPEARED TO BE LIGHT COLORED SMOKE COMING OFF MY TAILPIPE AS I SAT AT A STOPLIGHT. AT THE NEXT STOPLIGHT, THE SMOKE WAS MORE INTENSE. AT THE SAME TIME, I NOTICED MY BRAKES SEEMED SPONGY. WHEN I GOT TO WORK, I CHECKED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR AND DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID WAS POURING OVER THE EXHAUST PIPE, JUST BEFORE THE MUFFLER AND WAS BURNING OFF. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AT A LOCAL FORD DEALER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES LEADING BACK TO THE DRUMS IN THE REAR WERE SEVERELY CORRODED JUST IN FRONT OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE. ONE LINE HAD BURST OPEN AND THE SECOND HAD A CRACK IN IT. THIS OCCURRED SIMULTANEOUSLY. BOTH SYSTEMS WERE COMPROMISED AT THE SAME TIME. HAD I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT, I WOULD HAVE LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID AND BEEN LEFT WITH NO BRAKING CAPABILITY WHATSOEVER. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED SIMILAR CORROSION JUST BELOW THE MASTER CYLINDER NEAR THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL, ALTHOUGH THAT HAD NOT BEEN BREACHED. THE CAR IS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD AND HAD 65,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED EXCLUSIVELY AT THE FORD DEALER (WESTFIELD FORD IN COUNTRYSIDE ILLINOIS). I TRADED THE CAR IN ON A NEW MODEL THAT DAY. AFTER CHECKING THE INTERNET, I BECAME AWARE OF NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME EXACT COMPLAINT. ALTHOUGH I NO LONGER OWN THE CAR, I AM CONCERNED THIS PROBLEM WILL SURFACE WITH THE THOUSANDS OF TAURUS VEHICLE CURRENTLY ON THE ROAD. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR WITH OUR TWO CHILDREN IN IT, SHE WOULD HAVE NEVER NOTICED WHAT WAS HAPPENING UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. THIS IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER CARE ON 4/20/09 AND MET COMPLETE INDIFFERENCE. I WAS TOLD MY COMPLAINT WOULD GO ON FILE AND TO HAVE A NICE DAY. IF THESE BRAKE LINES WERE MADE WITH SOME TYPE OF DEFECTIVE STEEL AND THERE ARE MORE MODELS OUT THERE LIKE MINE, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY START RUPTURING AND CAUSING ACCIDENTS WITH INJURIES OR DEATH OCCURRING.

NHTSA complaint #10266992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT'S WIFE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT PLACED BRAKE FLUID INTO THE BRAKE RESERVOIR AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IN WHICH IT EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AGAIN. HE INSPECTED THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. IN ADDITION, ALL THE FLUID HE ADDED LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V075000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,456 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,445.

NHTSA complaint #10228169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASED. THE CONTACT NOTICED RUST ON THE REAR BRAKE LINE AS WELL AS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING. AS OF SEPTEMBER 5, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 119,000.

NHTSA complaint #10201899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. SHE HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 118,000. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED. UPDATED

NHTSA complaint #10198873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

MY 1999 FORD TAURUS BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND FELL INTO PIECES. THIS METAL LINE SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE METAL ALLOY IN THIS LINE IS AT FAULT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED OR WARRANTY DUE TO THE SEVERELY DANGEROUS OUTCOME. MY 16 YEAR OLD PULLED THE CAR INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE LINE LITERALLY BLEW AND ALL OF THE FLUID BLEW OUT. IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR ANY OTHER TIME WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE THERE IS NO PEDAL BRAKING AT ALL!

NHTSA complaint #10196796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING HIGH. THIS CONFIRMED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, THE HIGH IDLE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10184454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

WE HAD A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ON OUR 1999 FORD TAURUS, WE DROVE OUT OF OUR DRIVE WAY GOING TO THE MAIL BOX AND WHEN WE HIT THE BRAKES THE BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AS THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP. IF WE HAD BEEN GOING FASTER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE BRAKE LINE TO THE BACK BRAKES SPLIT AND LEAKED ALL THE FLUID WHICH LED TO THE FAILURE, ARE THESE CARS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A BACK UP SYSTEMS?

NHTSA complaint #10182252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

MY WIFE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ON MY 99 TAURUS WAGON (46K MILES). SHE WAS STARTING OUT OF HER PARKING SPACE SO THERE WAS NO COLLISION. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AS THIS VEHICLE HAS A DUAL DIAGONAL SYSTEM FOR SAFETY. UNFORTUNATELY THE DIAGONAL PART IS WHAT DID IT IN AS THE TWO LINES RUNNING TO THE REAR WHEELS WERE RUN TOGETHER AND BOTH ROTTED OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY.

NHTSA complaint #10179280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

MY WIFE WAS PULLING UP TO PICK UP FOR HER PRESCRIPTION WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE IT FAILED. STEEL BRAKE LINE FAILURE. 18 FOOT OF STEEL BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10174120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

CONSUMER FELT A POP IN THE BRAKES ON HIS 1999 FORD TAURUS. UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND THE PASSENGER SIDE ALSO NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *KB

NHTSA complaint #10168003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

TOTAL BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT MEDIUM SPEED, AND PRESSED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AT THE CURVE. TO MY HORROR THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN ALL THE WAY WITHOUT SLOWING THE CAR AT ALL. THERE WAS NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT. THE BRAKES CAME BACK BRIEFLY AFTER PRESSING A FEW TIMES, BUT WENT OFF AGAIN AT THE NEXT STOP LIGHT. THE CAR RAN THROUGH A RED LIGHT, BUT FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO CROSS TRAFFIC. I PULLED OVER SLOWING IT DOWN AND PUT IT INTO PARK. WE GOT THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST BRAKES REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC HAS INFORMED US THAT THE CAUSE IS AN "INTERNAL LEAK IN THE MASTER CYLINDER".

NHTSA complaint #10159043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

ON DEC. 14, 2005, WITH 60,001 MILES, THE VEHICLES SERVICE (HYDRAULIC) BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. FULLERTON FORD OF SOMERVILLE, NJ EVALUATED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT A BADLY RUSTED STEEL BRAKE FLUID TUBE (WHICH FEEDS FLUID TO THE REAR BRAKES) HAD RUPTURED. GIVEN THE CARS LOW MILEAGE, RELATIVELY YOUNG AGE AND THE FACT THAT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE COULD LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT, I FEEL IT INDICATES SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS USED IN THE CARS MANUFACTURE AND SHOULD REQUIRE A RECALL AND PARTS REPLACEMENT AT FORD'S EXPENSE.

NHTSA complaint #10145455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY SHE PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION. THE MAIN BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS BEING REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10141626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

DT: THE BRAKE LINES TUBING RUSTED FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE BRAKE LINE FAILED AND THE CONSUMER LOST BRAKING ABILITY. HAD TO TAKE A SECTION OUT. TALKED TO DEALER, THEY SAID NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 26, 2005. WAS PULLING IT INTO THE SHED CHANGED THE OIL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *AK THE TUBE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED (F8DZ-2C287/AA, F6DZ-2L568/AA, F8DZ-26569/AA). THE CONSUMER HAD THE FACTORY PARTS REPLACED TO PREVENT FURTHER FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STILL HAS THE OLD PART IN HIS POSSESSION.

NHTSA complaint #10135047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

DT: THE CONTACT HAS A 1999 FORD TAURUS AND HAS HAD CONSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT NEW. SHE HAS BEEN COMPLAINING FOR THE LAST 48,000 MILES FOR THE SAME THINGS. MOST RECENTLY LAST WEEK SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A LEAK IN THE MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH THEY REPAIRED. . THEY CLEANED THE HUBS. SHE HAD TO PUSH THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. THEY REPLACED BRAKE BOOSTER, MACHINED ROTORS, AND PUT NEW BRAKE PADS ON. AT 1,700 MILES HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A NOISE SHE FROM THE BRAKES. THEY CLEANED THE HUBS. AT 22,466 BRAKES AND SERPENTINE BELT WERE CHECKED. THEY PUT A NEW SERPENTINE BELT ON AT 22,500 MILES. ALSO, HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. 4 MULTIFUNCTION SWITCHES WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, A HEAD LAMP CONTROL SWITCH WAS REPLACED AT 17,000 MILE, AND A NEW RADIO PUT IN.*AK THE A/C HAD ALO BEE WORKED ON TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #10132429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD IN A 1999 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED WITH NO WARNING AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. FORTUNATELY, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP WITH NO DAMAGE AND SAFELY EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN (USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE) TO THE DEALER WHO SUBSEQUENTLY DETERMINED THAT THE STEEL TUBING OF THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING THE FAILURE. HAVING NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A FAILURE IN THREE DECADES OF BEING INVOLVED WITH AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR IN A NORTHERN CLIMATE WITH SALTED ROADS, AND IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THIS VEHICLE SPENT ONLY A FEW YEARS IN A NORTHERN CLIMATE PRIOR TO MOVING TO A SNOW-FREE AREA, CONSUMER REQUESTED AND WAS GIVEN THE FAILED BRAKE LINES AS EVIDENCE (STILL AVAILABLE). REPLACING THE BRAKE LINES COST OVER $100 IN PARTS AND SUPPLIES AND OVER $360 IN LABOR, FOR A TOTAL BILL OF $471.18. A SUBSEQUENT SEARCH OF THE NHTSA DATABASE REVEALED OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TAURUS (SEE ODI #10117988 AND #10124628) WITH NO INVESTIGATION INITIATED BY EITHER FORD OR NHTSA. EVIDENTLY INVESTIGATIONS DO NOT HAPPEN UNLESS THERE IS A FIRE, DEATH, INJURY, ETC., AND THESE COMPLAINTS INVOLVED: A TAURUS THAT HAD ALREADY EXITED A HIGHWAY; ONE IN A MCDONALD'S DRIVE-THRU; AND THIS ONE ON AN ISOLATED ROAD. IT SEEMS INCREDIBLE THAT NO ACTION IS TAKEN ON SUCH AN OBVIOUS MATERIAL DESIGN DEFECT THAT CAN RESULT IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKING WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET THE NHTSA'S ATTENTION?

NHTSA complaint #10125649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT

I HAVE A 1999 FORD TAURUS I HAVE THE ANTI-BREAK SYSTEM (ABS). I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 5 YEARS AND NEVER MADE ANY NOISE UNTIL THE PAST WEEK. I BROUGHT IT INTO FORD GARAGE AND THEY SAID IT IS COMMON AND DON'T WORRY. WHILE DRIVING I FEEL PULSATION AND VIBRATION WHILE BREAKING. WHEN I DO GO SPEED ABOVE 10MPH IT STOPS. IF I STOP AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND START AGAIN IT AGAIN VIBRATES AND PULSATES. IT IT SCARY BECAUSE YOU FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. THEY TELL ME IT IS COMMON AND IN THE MANUAL. IF IT DID THIS WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR OR ANYONE THIS MODEL I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD OF SOLD A CAR. I FEEL FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE AWARE OF IT.

NHTSA complaint #10122052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.