NHTSA Complaint #717714 — 1995 FORD TAURUS

I HAVE HAD 3 SPEEDOMETERS FAIL WITHIN 60,000 MILES OVER A 2 YEAR TIME PERIOD. THE NEEDLE ON THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS OR BOUNCES BACK AND FORTH, THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 32,000 MILES AND I BELIEVE IT WAS FEBRUARY OF 1998. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY AT THAT TIME. THE SECOND TIME IT FAILED WAS AT ABOUT 55,000 MILES IN SEPT. OF 1998. BECAUSE MY DAILY COMMUTE IS SO LONG, I WAS WELL OVER THE 12,000 MILE WARRENTY ON THE REPLACEMENT PART, EVEN THOUGH IT HAD ONLY BEEN 6 MONTHS. I DID NOT HAVE THE PART REPLACED UNTIL JANUARY OR FEBRUARY BECAUSE OF THE COST. AT THE TIME I HAD THE SPEEDOMETER REPLACED I WAS AT 60,000 MILES. AT THAT TIME I PLEADED WITH FORD TO EXTEND THE MILAGE LIMIT ON THE PART BECAUSE I JUST KNEW THE THING WOULDN'T LAST A YEAR. THEY REFUSED, OF COURSE, AND INSIST THEY HAVE HAD NO REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. NONE OF THE DEALERSHIPS I HAVE DEALTH WITH ON THIS ARE WILLING TO HELP EITHER. AS EXPECTED, I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER IN NOVEMBER OF 1999, ABOUT 7 MONTHS AFTER THE LAST REPLACEMENT. BECAUSE THE CAR WAS AT 81,000 MILES I COULDN'T GET ANYONE TO EVEN DISCUSS IT WITH ME. I HAVE SINCE FOUND INFORMATION - VIA THE WEB - THAT SUGGESTS THERE HAS BEEN AS SERVICE BULLUTIN ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM. *AK