NHTSA Complaint #10086164 — 2000 FORD TAURUS

IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE OR INFORMATION THAT MIGHT HELP TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION BELOW, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD CONTACT ME. I STARTED MY 2000 FORD TAURUS WITH 56,000 MILES TO GO TO WORK ON JULY 29TH, AND AS SOON AS I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY, A LOUD EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD OCCURRED. IT WAS LIKE A BOMB GOING OFF, THE MOTOR BECAME LOUD AND STARTED REVVING. THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD HAD EXPLODED DUE TO THE PCM (POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE) HAVING THE WRONG FLASH (A SOFTWARE PROBLEM PROGRAMMED AT THE FACTORY). THE PCM CAUSED A BACKFIRE OUT THE TOP OF THE MOTOR. FORD DEALERS WERE SUPPOSE TO CORRECT THIS IN APRIL/ MAY OF 2000 . I PURCHASED MY CAR IN JULY 2000 AFTER THEY WERE ALL SUPPOSE TO BE FIXED. THE FORD DEALER HAS COME DOWN FROM $500 TO $250 TO FIX MY CAR, BUT REFUSES TO TO FIX IT FREE. WE ARE NOW AT A STALEMATE UNLESS I AGREE TO PAY FOR THE MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. AS OF TODAY 8/4/04 THE CAR IS STILL NOT FIXED. I ALSO HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE. *AK