NHTSA Complaint #11014102 — 2003 FORD TAURUS

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTER WILL NOT WORK; SPECIFICALLY THE VEHICLE STAYS "LOCKED" IN THE PARK SETTING. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND REQUIRES ME TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF OR ATTEMPT TO "RE-SET" THE BRAKE BY APPLYING THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES. ADDITIONALLY, AT TIMES THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN LIT AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PLACED IN PART AND TURNED OFF WITH THE DRIVER LOCKING THE VEHICLE AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINING LIT HAS CAUSED THE BATTERY TO COMPLETELY DISCHARGE. TO OFFSET THIS I'VE HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE FOR THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS TO PREVENT THE BATTERY FROM DISCHARGING. I DID HAVE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINE THE ISSUE AND THE MECHANIC NOTED THE VEHICLE RECALL FOR A 2003 FORD TAURUS FOR THIS FAULT. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A LOT IDENTIFIED AS IMPACTED BY THE VEHICLE RECALL. SPECIFICALLY THE VIN FROM MY 2003 FORD TAURUS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THIS FAULT FIRST OCCURRED WHEN I WAS STATIONED IN JAPAN (2004 - 2007) SOMETIME IN MAY OF 2004 WHEN THE BATTERY DISCHARGED TO THE POINT THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY; I COULDN'T JUMP START THE VEHICLE WITH THE ORIGINAL BATTERY STILL IN THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME WAS 3,000 MILES. AS OF TODAY (AUGUST 10, 2017) THE MILEAGE ON THE 2003 FORD TAURUS HAS REACHED 104,000. REQUEST NHTSA REVIEW THE RECORDS FOR POSSIBLE INCLUSION OF THE LOT FOR MY VEHICLE FOR INCLUSION IN THIS RECALL. ADDITIONALLY, WISH NHTSA TO CONSIDER INCLUDING THE LOT OF MY VEHICLE FOR INCLUSION IN RECALL 03V087000 REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED THE CABIN AIR FILTER AND THE BRAKE COMPONENTS SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, SO THE RECALLS ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES ARE NOT APPLICABLE DUE TO REGULAR MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY.