24 of the
1,100 complaints about the 1999 Ford Taurus are about the
lighting — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
55,000 miles.
THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE HAD CONDENSATION INSIDE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. WITH TORRENTIAL RAINS TWO WEEKS AGO, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT TOOK ON AN INCH AND A HALF OF WATER INSIDE THE COVER, AND THE DRIVER SIDE HAD INCREASED CONDENSATION TO OBSCURE THE WHOLE COVER. THE CAR IS COMMONLY PARKED OUTSIDE MY APARTMENT (URBAN AREA) WHEN NOT IN USE. DATES ARE APPROXIMATE, AND I'VE PUT THE CAR IN THE AAA SHOP TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED (BIG EXPENSE, AS THE CAR'S OLD ENOUGH TO VOTE!)
NHTSA complaint #11376296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesHarvard, IL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DAY TIME RUNNING HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #10785375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Troy, MI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM AND THE VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED EVERY TIME THEY WERE TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E012000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTNING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10678920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilkes Barre, PA
INTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
Whittier, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS SEEM VERY DIM. WE NOTICE THE PLASTIC LENS OVER THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE YELLOWING AND PROBABLY BLOCKING THE LIGHT OUTPUT.
NHTSA complaint #10250531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,000 milesBellevue, WA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HIGH-MOUNTED BRAKE LAMP COVER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10244398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesKing George, VAFire
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE ACTIVATED THE HEADLIGHTS SO THAT HE COULD SEE MORE CLEARLY. WHEN HE DIMMED THE HEADLIGHTS, THE VEHICLE STOPPED SMOKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. REMAILED EVOQ 10/15/07
NHTSA complaint #10198370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15,000 milesFreeport, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS BLINK INTERMITTENTLY, DAY AND NIGHT. SHE COULD DRIVE 20 MILES AND THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BLINK FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR MINUTES BEFORE DIMMING. THE FORD DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR FIVE DAYS AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. SHE STATED THAT THE FAILURE IS EMBARRASSING BECAUSE IT GIVES MIXED SIGNALS TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 29,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 02-01-08.
NHTSA complaint #10191027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesBedford, PA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD THAT SHE HAD TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED. THE HEADLIGHTS HAD OXIDIZED AND PREVENTED THE PROPER AMOUNT OF LIGHT FROM SHINING THROUGH. THE PURCHASE DATE OF THE VEHICLE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000. UPDATED 06/13/07
NHTSA complaint #10190939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,000 milesBath, PA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMNS OF THE 1997-1999 FORD TAURUS' HAVE BEEN FAILING. THIS SWITCH CONTROLS BOTH TURN SIGNALS AND HAZAARD LIGHTS. TO DATE WE HAVE HAD NO INJURY OR INCIDENT DUE TO THIS FAILURE BUT HAVE SEEN AROUND 15 TO 20 VEHICLES WITHIN OUR FLEET FAIL OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS WHEN TESTING THE HAZAARD LIGHTS BEFORE GOING OUT ON THE ROAD. PARTS WERE REPLACED BY OUR CONTRACTED REPAIR FACILITY AND THE PARTS DISPOSED OF.
NHTSA complaint #10078631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Carrollton, MD
INTERIOR LIGHTING
THE INTERIOR LIGHT CONTINUES TO REMAIN ON AND THE DASH READOUT INDICATES THAT THERE IS A DOOR OPEN WHEN THERE ACTUALLY ISN'T. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT LOCK AS LONG AS THE CAR BELIEVES THERE IS AN UNLOCKED DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #10063858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,842 milesElwood, IN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING.*JB. THE BLOWER MOTOR ALSO FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10007317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
INTERIOR LIGHTING
THE INTERIOR LIGHT CONTINUES TO REMAIN ON AND THE DASH READOUT INDICATES THAT THERE IS A DOOR OPEN WHEN THERE ACTUALLY ISN'T. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT LOCK AS LONG AS THE CAR BELIEVES THERE IS AN UNLOCKED DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #10000087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fullerton, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
I WANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE NEW, ULTRA BRIGHT LIGHTS ON OTHER CARS. THEY BLIND ME AT NIGHT AND I FEEL THAT THEY ARE VERY UNSAFE.
NHTSA complaint #757090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Princeton, MA
INTERIOR LIGHTING
LIGHTS WILL COME ON, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, DOOR LIGHT AND DOME LIGHT COME ON. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #899183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Troutville, VA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS CONTINUALLY DIM WHEN BRAKING, WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING CUTS ON, AND DURING TURNS. LIGHTING IS MINIMAL AT THESE TIMES AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. THE CAR HAS DONE THIS SINCE INITIAL PURCHASE AND CONTINUES TODAY. THIS IS THE SECOND TAURUS WE HAVE OWNED WITH THIS PROBLEM. ONE DEALER TOLD US THAT IT WAS OUR IMAGINATION AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #748374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ferndale, MI1 injured
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I BOUGHT A HITCH COVER LIGHT ,THAT PERMANENTLY BLOCK'S THE VIEW OF THE VITAL VISUAL SAFETY INSPECTION TRAILER HITCH RECEIVER , INSTALLED LOCKING PIN , EMERGENCY TOW CHAIN'S, AND 7 PRONG. ELECT. AND BALL MOUNT STABILITY. THIS UNIVERSAL VEHICLE PRODUCT IS CALLED: WHITE NIGHT REVERSE LIGHT SYSTEM. PATENT NAME: SUPPLEMENTAL REVERSE LIGHT ISSUED JULY 27,2000 VIEWABLE AT WWW.CRUISERSTAINLESS.COM . BOUGHT FOR $75.00 . THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS: THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENT FEATURES FOR THIS LARGE HITCH RECEIVER COVER NOT COVERED BY THE PATENT. THIS PRODUCT PERMANENTLY BLOCKS THE VITAL VIEW OF THE HICH PIN, EMERGENCY TOW CHAIN AND STRUCTURAL STABILITY OF THE OEM STANDARDIZED - BEST SELLING AFTERMARKET TRAILER HITCH RECEIVER. MY ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THIS PRODUCT THAT BLOCKED THE HITCH RECEIVER VIEW DURING TOWING DID NOT TAKE PLACE. THE OWNER OF THIS PRODUCT IS ROGER BYERS. IF THEY CONTINUE TO SELL THIS PRODUCT THAT COVERS THE HITCH WITH NO VIEW OF HITCH RECEIVER INSTALLED ACCESSORIES MORE LOSS OF TOWING TRAILERS, LIVES AND SAFETY INSPECTIONS OF THE HITCH RECEIVER DURING TOWING WILL CONTINUE. PLEASE STOP THEM FROM HURTING OTHERS. (DOT NUMBER: 12.201 TIRESIZE: 11)
NHTSA complaint #746025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Spring, MD
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHT ON ROAD TO BE ABLE TO SEE ROAD LINES/MARKINGS. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT HEADLIGHT AIMING MEETS REQUIREMENTS. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #888694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sammamish, WA
INTERIOR LIGHTING
AT NIGHT DASHLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON, COULD NOT SEE WHAT GEAR IT WAS IN. THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL, THEN DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #886221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winchester, TN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHILE DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON THEY WILL ONLY FOCUS TO THE FRONT. BUT, WHEN TRY TO MAKE A TURN HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT ILUMINATE. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO SEE WHERE HE IS DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #884688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westland, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHILE DRIVING COULD STEP ON THE BRAKES AND HEADLIGHTS WILL DIM EACH TIME CONSUMER WOULD STEP ON THE BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #861787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gilbert, SC
INTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE LOADING THE TRUNK, THE LIGHT BULB WAS ON. WHEN CONSUMER CLOSED TRUNK THE LIGHT BULB BURNED PART OF THE LUGGAGE, BULB WAS NOT PROTECTED. OWNER CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLITY THAT THE BULB COULD START A FIRE. *AK
NHTSA complaint #859351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plattsburg, MO
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEAD LIGHTS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. YH
NHTSA complaint #609967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.