1997 Ford Taurus

DEAR GENERAL, ON 6/17/00, I PURCHASE A USED VEHICLE FROM GERMAIN BIG LOT, NAPLES, FLORIDA. THE VEHICLE PURCHASED WAS A 1997 FORD TAURUS GL, VIN# [XXX]. ON THE DATE OF PURCHASED, DURING MY TEST DRIVE, I QUESTION THE SALESWOMAN ABOUT THE FEEL OF THE BRAKES. HER REPLY WAS THAT I WAS USED TO DISC BRAKES AND THAT THE TAURUS HAD ANTI LOCK BRAKES AND I WOULD GET USED TO THE FEEL. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY WOULD PULSATE AND THE CAR WOULD EXPERIENCE SOME VIBRATION. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN GOOD FAITH AND UNDER THE ASSUMPTION I WOULD GET USED TO IT. THE SALES PERSON ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR HAD JUST LESS THAN 25,000 MILES AND THAT IT HAD FACTORY WARRANTY UP TO 36,000. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

BOUGHT 97 FORD TAURUS USED. NOTICED BROWN COOLANT AFTER PURCHASE (MAR 00). CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING IN SUMMER, RESULTING IN BLOWN HEAD GASKET REQUIRING EXTENSIVE ENGINE WORK. RADIATOR WAS DETERMINED TO BE BAD, REQUIRED REPLACEMENT TO TUNE OF $2300 FOR TOTAL REPAIR. HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT RECALL OF PRODUCT HAS BEEN OUT (98B23) DUE TO FAULTY COOLING SYSTEM AND A COOLING SYSTEM BYPASS KIT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED (WAS NOT). AFTER WORK WAS DONE, ENGINE OVERHEATED AGAIN TWO WEEKS LATER (1 AUG 2000). I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, AND FORD HAS NOT BEEN ANY HELP AT ALL; THE DEALERSHIP JUST WANTS MY MONEY AND MORE COSTLY REPAIRS. *AKY

ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 35,000 MILES REPLACED BY A FACTORY REBUILT DEALER TRANNY. SECOND TRANNY FAILED AT 43000, DEALER STATED THAT NO FACTORY REBUILTS WERE AVAILABLE. REBULT TRANSMISSION INHOUSE. BOTH TRANSMISSIONS FAILED DUE TO SHIFTING FROM 1 TO NEUTRAL. AFTER THE REPAIR OF THE SECOND TRANSMISSION THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE BY ITSELF . STARTING FROM A STOP , PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE CAR SHIFTS FROM 1 TO 2 ND TO 3RD , IF I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDEL THE CAR CONTINUES TO GAIN SPEED AND THE TACH NEEDLE DOES NOT DROP DOWN BUT CONTINUES TO STAY IN THE 2 TO 3 THOUSAND RPM RANGE, IT I PUT THE TRANNY IN NEUTRAL THE TACH NEED JUMPS UP TO 3,000 RPMS. *AK

ENGINE COOLANT SYSTEM CORRODED TURNING BROWN. CHANGED COOLANT, RADIATOR ASSY - REMMOVED, EXPANSION COOLANT REMOVED - REPLACED AT 27473 MILES AND RECENTLY CHANGED COOLANT AT 33322, STILL CORRODING. FAILURE WITH POWER TRAN, GEAR CHANGE PROBLEM, OVERHUALED POWER TRAN AT 33290. RECEIVED BAD SERVICE AT GALPIN FORD. GALPIN FORD DID NOT HONERD MY WARRANTY, HAD TO CALL FORD TO ENFORCE THE WARRANTY. GALPIN FORD REFUSED TO FIXED THE COOLANT PROBLEM, GALPIN FORD LEFT OFF THE CAP ON THE RADIATOR , WHILE I WAS DRIVING NOTICE IT AND DID REPORT TO GALPIN FORD. *AK