NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
20 reportsClear category filter165,000 miles · Nov 5, 2016
Engine
I HAVE SEEN MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE. THE WRENCH SYMBOL LIGHTS UP ON DASH WHEN DRIVING AND ENGINE REVS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL, LOW GAS MILEAGE SYMBOL LIGHTS UP AND INSTEAD OF SAYING HOW MANY GALLONS UNTIL EMPTY, THERE ARE JUST 3 DOTS ( ---). I PULL OVER, TURN CAR OFF AND PUTTING IT IN PARK OR ANY GEAR, IT…
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I HAVE SEEN MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE. THE WRENCH SYMBOL LIGHTS UP ON DASH WHEN DRIVING AND ENGINE REVS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL, LOW GAS MILEAGE SYMBOL LIGHTS UP AND INSTEAD OF SAYING HOW MANY GALLONS UNTIL EMPTY, THERE ARE JUST 3 DOTS ( ---). I PULL OVER, TURN CAR OFF AND PUTTING IT IN PARK OR ANY GEAR, IT JERKS AND IS LOUD. IT SEEMS AS IF EVERYTHING ON THE CAR IS JUST SHUTTING DOWN, YET STILL WORKING. THE WRENCH SYMBOL HAPPENS MORE OFTEN, AND ALL THE OTHER SYMBOLS ARE ONLY SOMETIMES. I JUST SPENT $1000 ON THE TRANSMISSION GETTING REPAIRED SO IT SHOULDNT BE THAT. IT ALSO SAYS " TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR FAULT" WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE CAR IS VERY JERKY AND JERKS FORWARD. DOESNT SEEM VERY SAFE. AFTER PULLING OVER AND TURNING THE CAR OFF, IT SEEMS OK IF I LET IT SIT FOR 10 MINUTES OR SO. SOMETIMES, NOT ALL THE TIME THOUGH. I NEVER KNOW.
NHTSA ODI #10924444
178,516 miles · Sep 30, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM SENT EXCESSIVE ENERGY TO THE COIL PACK CAUSING IT TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAG…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM SENT EXCESSIVE ENERGY TO THE COIL PACK CAUSING IT TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,516.
NHTSA ODI #10778681
96,000 miles · Jun 9, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineCrash
WAITING AT A FLASHING RED ARROW TO TURN LEFT. TRAFFIC CLEARED, I ACCELERATED, GOT BARELY INTO INTERSECTION, CAR CHOKED, WOULD BARELY MOVE. SEMI TRUCK PUT UP HUGE PLUMES OF BLUE SMOKE FROM TIRES BURNING ON DRY PAVEMENT. TRUCK BARELY STOPPED BEFORE T-BONE IN MY DRIVERS DOOR. CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. COIL PACK ON CYLI…
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WAITING AT A FLASHING RED ARROW TO TURN LEFT. TRAFFIC CLEARED, I ACCELERATED, GOT BARELY INTO INTERSECTION, CAR CHOKED, WOULD BARELY MOVE. SEMI TRUCK PUT UP HUGE PLUMES OF BLUE SMOKE FROM TIRES BURNING ON DRY PAVEMENT. TRUCK BARELY STOPPED BEFORE T-BONE IN MY DRIVERS DOOR. CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. COIL PACK ON CYLINDER #2 BURNED OUT, ALSO BURNING OUT PCM COMPUTER ON BOARD. REPAIRED AND REPLACED BOTH. CYLINDER #2 COIL PACK BURNED OUT 2 MORE TIMES SINCE. CYLINDER #4 COIL PACK BURNED OUT ONCE SINCE. PCM COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE MORE SINCE ORIGINAL INCIDENT. FORD HAS HAD A TECH BULLETIN OUT SINCE 04/2011 ON THIS PROBLEM. THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITH NO PRIOR WARNING IS GOING TO GET PEOPLE KILLED. I WOULD NOT BE WRITING THIS RIGHT NOW, IF THE SEMI WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING A LITTLE FASTER, OR WOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE CLOSER. GOOGLED PROBLEM...VERY, VERY COMMON, AND MOSTLY ON CYLINDER #2. FORD MOTOR COMPANY UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING. SPOKE BY PHONE 06/09/2015
NHTSA ODI #10724304
58,000 miles · Oct 18, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed ControlCrash
2008 FORD TAURUS. PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WITH FOOT ON BRAKE...ALL OF SUDDEN THE ENGINE ACCELERATES RAPIDLY AND I PROCEED TO HIT THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE. THE NEXT DAY WAS JUST SITTING AT STOPLIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE ENGINE FOR NO REASON ACCELERATES TO OVER 4000 RPM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10648612
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine
2008 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STALLING PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED EIGHT TIMES, SINCE HE PURCHASED IT NEW IN APRIL OF 2009. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING, WITHOUT A CODE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10609374
30,000 miles · Nov 21, 2013
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
NHTSA ODI #10553153
138,400 miles · Oct 21, 2013
EngineVehicle Speed Control
STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, SUDDENLY ENGINE SURGED, RACING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF. I STAYED ON THE BRAKE, THEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK, IT CONTINUED TO SURGE. MOVED IT BACK TO DRIVE AND WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE SURGING STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE ON WITHOUT INCIDENT. MY MECHANIC CHECKED THE VEHICLE OUT WITHOUT FINDING ANY…
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STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, SUDDENLY ENGINE SURGED, RACING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF. I STAYED ON THE BRAKE, THEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK, IT CONTINUED TO SURGE. MOVED IT BACK TO DRIVE AND WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE SURGING STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE ON WITHOUT INCIDENT. MY MECHANIC CHECKED THE VEHICLE OUT WITHOUT FINDING ANYTHING. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER. THEY WENT OVER IT, TOOK IT OUT ON THE ROAD FOR A TEST, NOTHING SHOWED. MY CONCERN IF IT SHOULD OCCUR WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10548676
85,000 miles · Aug 14, 2013
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AS THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BUT DID …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AS THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10535344
41,000 miles · Jul 30, 2013
EnginePower Train
AT A COMPLETE STOP, CAR LURCHED FORWARD AT FULL THROTTLE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN FOR THIS PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID NO CODES WERE STORED AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CONCERN. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10532730
33,000 miles · Aug 29, 2012
EnginePower Train
AT A COMPLETE STOP, AND WAITING TO TURN, ENGINE REVVED UP AND LURCHED FORWARD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. (UNINTENDED ACCELERATION). FOOT WAS ON BRAKE AT THE TIME. THIS OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN AN HOUR ON THE SAME DAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10472986
NHTSA investigations
1PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking
Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve
ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO