1997 Ford Taurus

THE PROBLEMS WITH MY TAURUS ARE THE RESULT OF THE POORLY DESIGNED COOLING SYSTEM OF THE 1997 MODEL. A COOLING SYSTEM BYPASS KIT WAS INTRODUCED BY FORD. I AM TRYING FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT A RECALL WAS DONE. IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS, STARTING NOV. 1999, THREE FREEZE PLUGS HAVE BLOWN. THE FORD SERVICE MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS DUE TO THE ACID BUILD UP IN THE CORRODED COOLANT IN THE COOLING SYSTEM DUE TO THE POORLY DESIGNED COOLING SYSTEM. SO FAR THE HEAD FREEZE PLUGS, THE BLOCK FREEZE PLUGS, THE WATER PUMP, THE THERMOSTAT, AND THE OVERFLOW TANK HAVE BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE OF CORROSION AT A COST OF $800. AFTER THE LAST REPAIR OF THE BLOCK FREEZE PLUGS AND WATER PUMP, WITHIN 30 MILES OF DRIVING THE HEAD HAS EITHER CRACKED OR WARPED, OR THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN. I HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF $1211 TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR (IF NO HEAD CRACKS). I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS ENIVITABLE THAT THE TRANSMISSION FREEZE PLUG, RADIATOR, AND HEATER CORE WILL FAIL. THE ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE PROPER RUNNING CONDITION WOULD REQUIRE A REBUILD AND REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR AND HEATER CORE AT A COST OF $4500. FORD HAS BEEN APATHETIC ABOUT MY PROBLEMS. IN THIS SITE, I HAVE FOUND COMPLAINTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS DUE TO THE COOLING SYSTEM CORROSION. COMPLAINTS OF BLOWN HEADS AND LEAKING HEATER CORES. I FEEL FORD SHOULD REMEDY MY PROBLEM IN SOME WAY. PLEASE CONTACT ME I YOU CAN HELP ME. *AK

ENGINE COOLANT SYSTEM CORRODED EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BEEN FLUSHED JUST PREVIOUSLY, CAUSING A CYLINDER HEAD/HEAD GASKET TO CRACK REQUIRING $1,600 IS REPAIRS TO THE OWNER. VEHICLE IS NOT CURRENTLY UNDER A WARRANTY, SO OWNER IS HAVING TO PAY FOR REPAIRS THAT HE FEELS ARE THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. OWNER WAS ADVISED BY SERVICE ATTENDANT AT FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS JUST LIKE THIS WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. IF THE COOLANT SYSTEM IS NOT FLUSHED A CERTAIN WAY, WHICH THE OWNER HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING, THE PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED HERE WILL OCCUR. IF IT IS BAD ENOUGH, SERVICE TECHNICIAN INFORMED OWNER THAT IT MAY RESULT IN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. *AK

CONTACTED FORD SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM HAD TO HAVE MOTOR REPLACED DUNLAP FORD FROM BELLEFONTE WERE VERY RUDE. THEY DID AN UNSATISFACTORY JOB AND TOOK SEVERL WEEKS TO COMPLETE THE JOB. THEY INSTALLED A SMALLER ENGINE THAN ORIGINAL. I FEEL I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR AT LEAST A LITTLE OF THE COST OF 2500.00 . CONTACTED THE DEALER, WENT OUT OF BUSINESS, THE SALESPERSON NO LONGER WITH ANY FORD COMPANY IN THE VICINITY. IT WAS AN EXECUTIVE VEHICLE WHEN PURCHASED WITH 22,000 MILES. FIRST OF ALL THEY SAID IT ONLY HAD 12000 WHEN PICKED UP CAR IT ENDED UP WITH 22,000. THE SALES PERSON THEN STATED THAT IT HAD A 3 YEAR 60,000 MILE WARRANTY FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. WHEN CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS THEY SAID NO WAY.

ENGINE HAS STALLED AGAIN GOING THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE. THIS TIME AT 2MPH. I'VE ALREADY CHECKED RECALL, CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND THEIR ARE OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU OR I CAN DO. READING REPORTS NOT GETTING ME ANYWHERE. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. CAR CAN'T HANDLE ANY WATER ON ROAD AND DEALER CAN'T REMEDY. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS