NHTSA Complaint #716751 — 1994 FORD TAURUS

SUDDEN FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET WHICH ALSO CAUSED FAILURES OF BOTH O2 SENSORS, TIMING COVER GASKET, RADIATOR, AND WATER PUMP. THE HEAD GASKET CAUSED A SUDDEN FAILURE WHICH LEFT MY FAMILY AND I STRANDED FOR A SHORT TIME ON THE SIDE OF INTERSTATE 75 SOUTH OF CORBIN, KY (VERY DANGEROUS PLACE FOR A BREAKDOWN). THE INITIAL HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSED A MASSIVE LEAKAGE OF COOLANT THROUGH THE CYLINDERS AND OUT THE EXHAUST WHICH CAUSED BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS TO FAIL (ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON). IN ADDITION, HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND ALSO OPENED UP THE COOLING SYSTEM TO BEING POUNDED BY THE PRESSURE OF THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER (FAILED GASKET OPENED UP AN ABNORMAL PATH BETWEEN COMBUSTION CYLINDERS AND COOLING SYSTEM) - THIS RESULTED IN COOLING LEAKAGE FAILURE IN THE RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, AND TIMING COVER GASKET. THESE ARE EXPENSIVE FAILURES THAT APPEAR TO BE VERY COMMON TO FORD'S 3.8L V6 ENGINE (HEAD GASKET FAILURES) WHICH IS ALSO USED IN THEIR SABLE, WINDSTAR, CONTINENTAL, AND MUSTANG. FORD IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY FAILURE AND YET IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT NHTSA'S OWN SITE SHOWS OVER 150 FAILURES FOR THE WINDSTAR ALONE (SAME ENGINE). FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE - IT WAS CERTAINLY A SAFETY RELATED FAILURE IN MY CASE. *AK