NHTSA Complaint #723108 — 1995 FORD TAURUS

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN FLUCTUATING BACK AND FORTH. I STOPPED THE CAR AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND THE CAR TO BE OVERHEATING. VEHICLE WAS ALLOWED TO COOL DOWN AND COOLANT WAS ADDED. CONTINUED ON TO DESTINATION WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. VECHILE WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALER IN ARKANSAS TO PINPOINT PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED.DUE TO PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8L ENGINE, FORD WOULD FIX AT NO CHARGE. REPAIR TOOK OVER A WEEK RESULTING IN MYSELF AND FAMILY HAVING TO RETURN TO FLORIDA BY OTHER MEANS AND HAVING TO RETURN TO ARKANSAS THE FOLLOWING WEEK TO PICK UP MY CAR. DESPITE THIS PROBLEM BEING COVERED UNDER AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY" FORD OFFORED NO ASSISTANCE FOR THE INCONVIENCE/EXPENSE WE WENT THROUGH, EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW WE WERE FROM OUT OF STATE AND THE VEHICLE WAS PROMISED TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE WE HAD TO RETURN TO FLORIDA. A SUBSEQUENT COMPLAINT WAS FILED TO LANDERS FORD IN LITTLE ROCK, AR AND TO THE DIRECTOR OF FORD'S VEHICLE SERVICE AND PROGRAMS DEPT. BOTH LETTERS WERE UNANSWERED/IGNORED. VEHICLE CI AGAIN LOSING COOLANT (5/24/2000) AND WILL BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER IN DOTHAN. *AK