NHTSA Complaint #719836 — 1997 FORD TAURUS

THE PROBLEMS WITH MY TAURUS ARE THE RESULT OF THE POORLY DESIGNED COOLING SYSTEM OF THE 1997 MODEL. A COOLING SYSTEM BYPASS KIT WAS INTRODUCED BY FORD. I AM TRYING FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT A RECALL WAS DONE. IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS, STARTING NOV. 1999, THREE FREEZE PLUGS HAVE BLOWN. THE FORD SERVICE MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS DUE TO THE ACID BUILD UP IN THE CORRODED COOLANT IN THE COOLING SYSTEM DUE TO THE POORLY DESIGNED COOLING SYSTEM. SO FAR THE HEAD FREEZE PLUGS, THE BLOCK FREEZE PLUGS, THE WATER PUMP, THE THERMOSTAT, AND THE OVERFLOW TANK HAVE BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE OF CORROSION AT A COST OF $800. AFTER THE LAST REPAIR OF THE BLOCK FREEZE PLUGS AND WATER PUMP, WITHIN 30 MILES OF DRIVING THE HEAD HAS EITHER CRACKED OR WARPED, OR THE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN. I HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF $1211 TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR (IF NO HEAD CRACKS). I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS ENIVITABLE THAT THE TRANSMISSION FREEZE PLUG, RADIATOR, AND HEATER CORE WILL FAIL. THE ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE PROPER RUNNING CONDITION WOULD REQUIRE A REBUILD AND REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR AND HEATER CORE AT A COST OF $4500. FORD HAS BEEN APATHETIC ABOUT MY PROBLEMS. IN THIS SITE, I HAVE FOUND COMPLAINTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS DUE TO THE COOLING SYSTEM CORROSION. COMPLAINTS OF BLOWN HEADS AND LEAKING HEATER CORES. I FEEL FORD SHOULD REMEDY MY PROBLEM IN SOME WAY. PLEASE CONTACT ME I YOU CAN HELP ME. *AK