NHTSA Complaint #748836 — 1998 FORD TAURUS

WHEN THIS CAR IS RUNNING MORE THAN 40MINUTES, THE ENGINE "BUCKS"/JERKS/HESITATES AND IS NOT RESPONSIVE--AS IF IT WOULD STALL BUT NEVER DOES, 'THOUGH THE DASH "TROUBLE" LIGHTS BLINK FOR 1/2 SECOND EACH TIME. THIS WAS REPEATED 2-3 TIMES AT EACH OF 5 SEPRATE INCIDENTS. I HAD THE ENGINE CHECKED WITH A SCANNER AT MY REGULAR MECHANIC'S PLACE AND THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED AT A RELIABLE TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALIST. NOTHING FOUND. VARIOUS ROAD TESTS COULD NOT REPRODUCE THIS EXPERIENCE. I DID REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER. OTHER INCIDENTS OCCURRED 6/21 ABOUT 15-MIN. LATER AFTER BEING STUCK IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC FOR 20 MINUTES ON A 55-60MPH ROUTE I ALWAYS USE. THE 3RD INCIDENT WAS 7/6, ACCELERATING AFTER A FULL-STOP INTERSECTION. 4TH&5TH WERE ON 7/8 WHEN DRIVING @25-30MPH, BUT DRIVING FOR A WHILE. I DO NOTICE AFTER DRIVING 15-20 MINUTES REGULARLY, THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT @BETWEEN 35-40MPH HESITATES. I HAVE BEEN KEEPING MY HIGHEST SPEEDS DOWN TO 60MPH OR LESS, AND USUALLY DRIVING NO MORE THAN 1/2HR. EACH TRIP. I'M AFRAID TO TAKE A LONG TRIP FOR FEAR THE CAR WILL HESITATE, LOSE POWER, OR SLOW DOWN IN HEAVY EXPRESSWAY TRAFFIC. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY.*AK