NHTSA Complaint #10359253 — 2002 FORD TAURUS

I OWN A 2002 FORD TAURUS SES, IT HAS 69,400 MILES. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW, IT IS GARAGED 90% OF THE TIME. A COUPLE YEARS AGO I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER CARPET WAS SOAK AND WET, AND I NEVER THOUGHT ANYTHING OF IT, I ASSUMED THAT MAYBE WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, I HAD CRACKEDTHE WINDOW OPEN AND RAIN GOT INSIDE ON PASSENGER CARPET. IN MARCH OF 2010, I HAD A HOUSE SITTER, WHILE I WENT ON VACATION. I MOVED MY CAR OUTSIDE, SO THAT SHE COULD USE MY GARAGE. THE CAR SAT OUTSIDE FOR 3 WEEKS, THE NORTHEAST HAD TORRENTIAL RAINS EVERYDAY, AND AREA FLOODING ON STREETS. I HAD COME HOME FROM VACATION, DROVE MY CAR AND HEARD A NOISE CLANKING UNDER DASHBOARD. I TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC, HE SAID IT WAS MY HEATER. I HAD MY HUSBAND REMOVE AND REPLACE WITH A NEW ONE. WHEN MY HUSBAND TOOK THE OLD HEATER OUT, IT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED WITH WATER STILL ON IT. I THOUGHT MAYBE HOUSESITTER HAD TAKEN MY CAR OUT AND SHE LEFT A WINDOW OPEN.NOW IT IS OCTOBER, I AM ATTENDING DRIVING INSTRUCTOR SCHOOL, AND MY TEACHER GAVE ME WEBSITE FOR RECALLS. I DECIDED TO CHECK TO SEE IF ANY RECALLS, AND FIND THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON MY YEAR MAKE AND MODEL, FOR HEATERS SHORTENING OUT ,I NOW HAVE NO A/C AND DON'T KNOW WHY ALONG WITH WET CARPETS ON PASSENGER SIDE L. I PRINTED OUT RECALL 03V-087000 AND TOOK TO FORD TODAY, THEY STATE THAT MY VIN HAS NO CAMPAIGN MESSAGE FOR A RECALL. RECALL#03V-087000 IS FOR CERTAIN 2002-2003 TAURUS AND SABLES. WHAT IS BEING DONE WITH THE REST OF VIN # THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND ARE NOT INCLUDED. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE MY CAR IN RAIN AND GET OTHER COMPONENTS SHORT OUT, OR POSSIBLE FIRE, AND KEEP GETTING THE CARPET WET, BECAUSE IT WILL CAUSE MOLD TO GROW UNDERNEATH. ALL CARS IN THIS YEAR MAKE MODEL SHOULD BE RECALLED IF ALL ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I DID NOT SAVE THE OLD HEATER, BECAUSE AT THE TIME I THOUGHT MAYBE RAIN HAD GOT IN THRU THE WINDOW. PLEASE HELP, I LOVE MY CAR AND IT IS OTHERWISE A GOOD RUNNING CAR. *TR