NHTSA Complaint #10179473 — 2002 FORD TAURUS

IN AUGUST 2006 VAPORS FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER OF MY 2002 FORD TAURUS ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT VENTS AND IT STOPPED COOLING SHORTLY THEREAFTER. I WENT IN TO THE LANDERS-MCCLARTY FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR SHOULD NOT EVER NEED FREON AND THAT IT MAY BE A CHEAP OR EXPENSIVE REPAIR JOB AND I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE CAR OVERNIGHT. I COULD NOT LEAVE IT. SINCE SUMMER WAS ALMOST OVER, I DID NOT USE OF THE AIR CONDITIONER ANYMORE. IN RETROSPECT, THE CAR FELT VERY VERY HOT AS IF EXTRA HEAT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHENEVER I HAD USED THE AC PRIOR TO ITS FAILURE. THAT FORD DEALERSHIP CLOSED. IN THE LATE FALL, I STARTED USING MY DEFOGGER/HEATER AND NOTICED AN ENERGY DRAIN ON THE ENGINE. THE HEATER WORKS. THE PROBLEM: STRANGE FUMES ENTER THE CAR THROUGH THE VENTS. AFTER SHIFTING THE CAR INTO PARK WITH THE HEATER ON AND THE ENGINE IDLING, IT SHUT ITSELF OFF. I STARTED THE ENGINE BACK UP AND IT SHUT ITSELF OFF AGAIN. I TURNED THE HEATER TO THE OFF POSITION AND STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN AND THE ENGINE STAYED ON. I TURNED THE HEATER BACK ON AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR IT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT TYPE OF PROBLEM BEFORE. THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH I HAD PURCHASED EXPIRED NOV. 7, 2006, THE WEEK BEFORE I TOOK IT IN. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO PAY $80 JUST FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM IN ADDITION TO WHATEVER IT WOULD COST TO FIX IT. THE SHOP WAS VERY BUSY AND I WAS ASKED TO LEAVE THE CAR, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE IT IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION. I DO NOT USE TO HEATER AT ALL. *NM