1998 Ford Taurus

WHEN TURNING RIGHT AT A STREET CORNER IN THE RAIN THE POWER STEERING WILL MOMENTARILY FAIL. THE DRIVE BELT WILL MAKE A SLIGHT SQUEAL WHEN IT RE-ENGAGES. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS INADEQUAGE SPLASH SHIELDING INSIDE THE RIGHT HAND WHEEL WELL SUCH THAT WATER IS THROWN UP ON THE DRIVE BELT AND CRANKSHAFT PULLY BY THE COCKED WHEEL. THE DRIVE BELT IS RELATIVELY NEW BUT THE PROBLEM ALSO OCCURRED WITH THE OEM BELT.

PROBLEM: DOOR-AJAR WARNING LAMP ON; ALL DOORS CHECKED, INCLUDING TAILGATE; ALL ARE CLOSED FIRMLY (NOT SLAMMED SHUT). INTERIOR OVERHEAD LAMP AND UNDERDASH LIGHTS DO NOT GO OUT CONSISTENTLY AFTER THE ENGINE'S STARTED AND PUT INTO GEAR. APPEARS THAT RANDOM ORDER OF CHECK/RE-CLOSE DOORS; LOCK AND UNLOCK DOORS AND TAILGATE BY SMARTKEY OR MANUALLY; SET AND RELEASE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THERE'S NO CONSISTENT PATTERN TO GETTING THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. GERVAIS FORD SUGGESTS THAT IT'S ONE OF THE CONTACT SWITCHES, USUALLY THE DRIVER-SIDE, THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THIS, RATHER THAN A RELAY OR TIMER; BUT THAT THEY HAVE TO CATCH IT IN THE ACT TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE IT. REALLY AGGRAVATING TO HAVE TO PULL THE FUSE IN ORDER TO AVOID RUNNING DOWN THE BATTERY IN THE WINTER, UNTIL WE CAN GET IT TO GERVAIS'S SHOP. DT

ROTOR SERVICE ON FRONT END OF VEHICLE ONCE EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, HOWEVER UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TIRES SHAKING, CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT WHEELS WHEN TURNING, AND SQUEAKING NOISE IN REAR END WHEN BRAKING. THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER MAKE A BUZZING NOISE, THE BRAKES PULSATE. THE REAR RIGHT BRAKE AND ROTORS FAILED. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE MAKES A BUZZING NOISE WHEN START. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. THE DRIVER DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO BATTERY FAILURE. *YH

THE DOOR AJAR SWITCH STAYED ON PROHIBITING THE POWER LOCKS TO PERFORM AND KEEP THE DOME LIGHT ON. WHEN TRYING THE LOCK THE DOOR WITH THE POWER LOCK SWITCH ON THE DOOR CONSOLE, THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK AS THE DOOR AJAR SENSOR READ A DOOR WAS OPEN. WHEN DISCUSSING THIS WITH COASTAL FORD, THE REPAIR IS WAS NOT COVERED. I CONTACTED FORD AT (800)392-3673. I WAS TOLD BY ESSENCE, THE PROBLEM WITH NOT CONSIDERED A RECALL; THEREFORE, I AM NOT ENTITLED TO THE REIMBURSEMENT. I PAID COASTAL FORD $101.34 FOR THIS REPAIR. I SAW ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE COME IN WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT. I HAVE HEARD THE SAME COMPLAINT BY OTHER FORD OWNERS. PLEASE ADVISE IF THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE TO RECEIVING COMPENSATION. THANK YOU.*AK

THIS IS AN SE MODEL WITH A FACTORY INSTALLED SPOILER ON THE TRUNK. THE SPRINGS ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE TRUNK LID IN IT'S FULLY OPEN POSITION. THIS HAS HIT MYSELF AND MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY SEVERAL TIMES. HOW LONG BEFORE ONE OF MY KIDS GET SERIOUSLY HURT GETTING SOMETHING FROM THE TRUNK!! THE DEALER SAYS IT IS BECAUSE OF THE ADDED WEIGHT OF THE FACTORY INSTALLED SPOILER. THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NONSENSE. THE SERVICE REPORT STATED THAT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND!!*AK