NHTSA Complaint #751964 — 1996 FORD TAURUS

THE 1996 FORD TAURUS SHOS ARE A 3.4L 4 CAM V8. ON THE LEFT BANK OF THE V8, THE EXHAST CAMSHAFT BROKE. THE DEALER REPORTING THE DAMAGE TO ME SAID THAT THIS CAMSHFT IS DRIVEN AS A SLAVE CAMSHFT TO THE INTAKE CAMSHAFT WHICH IS DRIVEN OFF THE TIMING CHAIN. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IN OTHER CASES THAT THE DAMAGE COULD BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE CYLINDER BANK. THEY ARE IDENTICAL IN DESIGN, MEANING ONE CAMSHAFT IS DRIVEN OFF OF A SLAVE CHAIN FROM THE OTHER CAMSHAFT, WHICH IS IN TURN DRIVEN OFF THE TIMING CHAIN. IT APPEARS THAT THE CAMSHAFTS IN THESE V8 SHOS ARE AN ACHILLES HEEL. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTED FAILURES. PLEASE SEE INFORMATION IN WWW.V8SHO.COM OR WWW.V8SHO.COM/SHO/CAMSHAFTSPROCKETFAILURE.HTM, AND WWW.V8SHO.COM/SHO/CAMSPROCKETAUTOPSY.HTM, AND WWW.V8SHO.COM/SHO/CAMSPROCKET2.HTM AS WELL AS YOUR OWN DATABASE. I CALLED FORD'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS LINE AT 1-800-392-3673 TO REPORT THIS DAMAGE. FORD IS NOT WILLING TO COVER ANY PART OF THE DAMAGE AT THIS TIME. I BELIEVE THAT 105,348 MILES IS VERY EARLY IN A CAR'S LIFE FOR SUCH A FAILURE. I HAVE LOOKED THROUGH THE NTSA'S RECORDS AND I SEE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE DESIGN FLAW AND THESE FAILURES. WOULD YOU PLEASE REVIEW YOUR RECORDS AND ENCOURAGE FORD TO REPAIR THE FAILURES OR REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR REPAIR COSTS. ALSO, IT APPEARS FORD DEALERS ARE REPLACING CAMSHAFTS WITH REPLACEMENT UNITS THAT HAVE THE SAME DESIGN FLAW IN THEM! THEREFORE, IS A CUSTOMER EVER FREE FROM THE FEAR THAT THE CAMSHAFTS COULD BREAK AGAIN TO THE TUME OF $2,000 TO $12,000 DAMAGE AS SOME PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED? THE ESTIMATE FOR MY VEHICLE'S REPAIRS IS $5,500 OR GREATER (MORE INSPECTION IS BEING DONE AT THIS TIME AT CRESTWOOD FORD) NOT INCLUDING SALES TAXES! I HOLD FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE NOT THE DEALERS. PERSONALLY, IF FORD PROVIDED THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE AND SHARED SOME OF THE LABOR, I BELIEVE MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, WOULD ACCEPT THOSE TERMS. THANK YOU. *AK