NHTSA Complaint #10062415 — 1994 FORD TAURUS

1994 FORD TAURUS 3.8 L ...HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 69,000 MILES, WARRANTY RECALL AND ENGINE REPLACED APPROX JUNE 2000. NOW AT 130,000 MILES, 60,000 MILES AND 3-1/2 YEARS ON THE NEW ENGINE, I AGAIN HAVE A CRACKED HG, THIS TIME WITH COMBUSTION GASES IN THE COOLANT. FORD TELLS ME THE NEW ENGINE HAD A 12 MONTH, 12,000 MILE WARRANTY JUST LIKE ALL FORD PARTS. BUT THIS IS NOT A STARTER OR ALTERNATOR, THIS IS THE ENTIRE ENGINE, THE BULK OF THE VALUE OF THE CAR. I CAN'T BE SURE IF THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE HAD THE NEW IMPROVED GASKET AND LONGER BOLTS, OR IF IT WAS OFF THE SHELF 3.8 WITH ADMITTEDLY FAULTY GASKET. GASES FORCE COOLANT OUT THE OVERFLOW. THE CAR OVERHEATS VERY RAPIDLY, THE NEEDLE CAN MOVE FROM "NORMAL" TO RED LINE IN 10 SECONDS AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT IT OFF. I SPEND MORE TIME LOOKING AT THE TEMP GAUGE THAN THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME, AND OFTEN I HAVE TO PULL OVER WITH VERY LITTLE NOTICE, ON THE FREEWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I THINK YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET MORE THAN 60,000 MILES AND 3-1/2 YEARS ON A FORD MOTOR COMPANY ENGINE. I CAN'T EVEN SELL OR TRADE THIS CAR IN, IT'S VALUE HAS DROPPED TO NOTHING. *NM