NHTSA Complaint #10253037 — 2003 FORD TAURUS

WATER LEAK AT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, REPLACED BLOWER MOTOR, RESISTOR AND COWL, STILL LEAKS. REFERENCE RECALL 03V087000 AND MANY ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS, SPECIFICALLY 10184014. THERE WAS WATER LEAKING AT PASSENGER DASH AREA ON AND OFF SINCE 07. IT HADN'T LEAKED IN QUITE A WHILE SO I DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT. THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $250.00 TO FIX AND I WAS WAITING TO SEE IF IT KEPT UP OR GOT WORSE. THEN THE BLOWER QUIT WORKING. I SPENT $373.14 FOR A NEW BLOWER MOTOR, RESISTOR ASSY, WEATHERSTRIP, COWL PANEL AND SEALANT. ON THE 28TH OF DECEMBER, 2008 MY FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR WAS AGAIN, FULL OF WATER. NOTE, THIS HAD NOT HAPPENED FOR MANY MONTHS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED WITH THE NEW COWL PUT ON ON DECEMBER 9TH. I ASKED THE DEALER IF THE PREVIOUS WATER PROBLEM CAUSED THE BLOWER MOTOR TO GO BAD. HE SAID IT WAS HARD TO SAY. EVIDENTLY IT WAS "HARD TO SAY" BECAUSE IT SAYS RIGHT ON THE RECEIPT "WATER IN BLOWER CASE". I BOUGHT THE CAR IN OCTOBER OF 03 (AS A USED VEHICLE BUT STILL UNDER WARRANTY WITH ONLY 18,408 MILES ON IT) BUT WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM NOW. I HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE SAME DEALER SINCE APRIL 9TH, 04. CAN YOU TELL ME IF THE RECALL WAS IN EFFECT AT THIS TIME OR HOW LONG THE RECALL WAS IN EFFECT? THIS IS VERY DISCOURAGING. WHERE ARE THE ETHICS FROM FORD FOR TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM? MAYBE I SHOULD FILE FOR MY OWN "BAIL OUT", WITH THE AMOUNT OF WATER LEAKAGE I'VE HAD, I'LL PROBABLY NEED IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. JEANNE ACHESON *TR