NHTSA Complaint #723306 — 1994 FORD TAURUS

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 35 MPH, I NOTICED THE COOLANT TEMPERAURE HAD SHOT UP TO THE RED ZONE. AS SOON AS THIS HAPPENED, IT IMMEDIATELY WENT BACK DOWN TO THE MIDRANGE OF THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND STAYED THERE FOR APPROX. 10 MILES. I CHECKED THE ANTI-FREEZE AT A GAS STATION AND IT SEEMED TO BE FULL. I PARKED THE CAR AND LET IT COOL FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS. I BEGAN MY DRIVE HOME AND THE TEMP. STAYED IN THE MIDRANGE OF THE GAUGE FOR ABOUT 20 MILES AND THEN SHOT UP TO THE RED ZONE. IT HOVERED THERE ABOUT 1 MINUTE AND THEN SHOT BACK DOWN TO THE MID RANGE. I PARKED THE VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE. THE NEXT MORNING, I STARTED IT UP AND DROVE ABOUT 1/4 MILE AND WHITE SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM THE TAILPIPE. THE SMOKE SMELLED LIKE ANTI-FREEZE. I RETURNED HOME AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. PREVIOUSLY, FORD HAD SENT ME A LETTER DETAILING THE DEFECT AND OFFERING A WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 100,000 MILES. HOWEVER, I WAS ALREADY PAST 100,000 MILES WHEN THEY SENT THE LETTER. CAN THEY BE FORCED TO COVER SOME OR ALL OF THE COST OF REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET? THE CAR FAILED ONLY TWO MONTHS AFTER I MADE THE LAST PAYMENT TO FORD CREDIT CORPORATION. CAN YOU HELP ME?*AK