NHTSA Complaint #10782172 — 2010 FORD TAURUS

OIL IN PTU UNIT ON AWD 2010 FORD TAURUS SHO VEHICLE GETS OVERWORKED AND OVER EXPANDS AND LEAKS OUT OF THE TOP OF THE VENT CAP. THE OIL DRIPS DOWN ONTO THE EXHAUST AND BURNS OFF. THE BURNING OIL FUMES ARE THEN SUCKED INTO THE CABIN VIA THE HVAC SYSTEM. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE FUMES FROM ENTERING THE VEHICLE CABIN IS TO HAVE THE HVAC ON RECIRCULATE. FORD CLAIMS THAT THE PTU HAS A LIFETIME OIL IN IT AND THAT IT SHOULD ONLY BE REPLACED IF CONTAMINATED. MANY CONSUMERS ARE REPORTING THAT THEY ARE PUMPING THE OIL OUT AND REPLACING IT WITH FRESH OIL IN 25K TO 35K INTERVALS. MY VEHICLE HAS 100,000 MILES ON IT AND 1 PTU WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE AND THE REPLACEMENT PTU IS EXHIBITING THE SAME ISSUES AS BEFORE WHEN THE 1ST PTU FAILED. THE INHALATION HAZARD OF BURNING OIL FUMES NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS IT POSES A SERIOUS HEALTH RISK TO OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE.