NHTSA Complaint #748867 — 2001 FORD TAURUS

ON MARCH 6, 2001, I PURCHASED A 2001 FORD TAURUS LX, FROM CHINO HILLS FORD, CHINO, CALIFORNIA 91710. ON APRIL 6, 2001, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FORD WEST, ARTESIA BLVD., BELLFLOWER BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE STRANGE PART IS WHEN I PHONED THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM, THEY GAVE ME INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SHIFT THE GEAR AS IF IT WAS PART OF MY OWNER'S MANUAL. I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE TAURUS VEHICLE. WHEN THE SERVICE DEPARMENT AT FORD WEST PULLED THE INFORMATION UP ON THE CAR FROM THE COMPUTER, IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE CAR'S REAR BUMPER HAD BEEN REPLACED WHEN IT HAD 5 MILES ON IT. (THIS WAS NEVER DISCLOSED TO ME). I PICKED UP THE CAR DROVE HOME AND THE BRAKE SWITCH WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME I CALLED CHINO HILLS FORD TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE BRAKE SWITCH. I DROVE THE CAR TO CHINO HILLS ON APRIL 12, 2001, I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE SERVICE PERSONNEL THAT THERE WERE LOOSE WIRES AND I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. ALL OF THIS WAS ASSESSED BY HIM WITHOUT TAKING THE VEHICLE INTO THE SERVICE AREA. CHINO HILLS SUPPLIED ME WITH A RENTAL AND SAID IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE A DAY TO REPAIR. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD CHECK THE CAR THOROUGHLY SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED MORE THAN ONCE IN SUCH A SHORT TIME OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR I COULD FEEL THAT THE BRAKES WERE STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY, SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ONLY TO FEEL AS THOUGH THEY WERE NOT TAKING MY CONCERNS SERIOUSLY. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT THE BRAKES FAILED TWICE ON THE CAR. TWO ENGINEERING COMPANIES INVESTIGATED AND FOUND OIL IN THE BRAKE LINE. NOW FORD DOES NOT WANT TO COMPENSATE ME WITH A NEW CAR AND OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES FOR A RENTAL. A MORE DETAILED LETTER HAS BEEN SENT TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, PRODUCT CLAIM DEPARTMENT. I DESPERATELY NEED YOUR HELP. FORD SAYS THE CAR IS READY, BUT I FEAR FOR MY FAMI LY'S SAFETY!!!!