1996 FORD TAURUS Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System Problems

COOLANT SYSTEM FAILURE OF ALL TYPES ALL PART PRONE TO EXTREME CHEMICAL CORROSION VERY AGGRAVATING PROBLEM AND NOW THE COOLANT BYPASS HOSE HAS FAILED WITH THE SAME CORROSIVE SYMPTOMS AS THE OTHER COMPONENTS. *TR

BOUGHT MY 1996 TAURUS IN JAN 1999 FROM A DEALER. NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ENGINE & COOLING SYSTEM THAT WAS ISSUED IN 1999. I HAD TO REPLACE RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT,HOSES (WHOLE COOLING SYSTEM) DUE TO RUST AN SLUDGE IN SYSTEM. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH FOR 12 MILES ENGINE OVERHEATED AND CRACKED HEAD. THE THERMOSTAT NEVER REGISTERED HOT ONLY NOTICED THE OVER HEATING WHEN THE STEAM WAS BILLOWING OUT, IT WAS TO LATE THEN AS ENGINE DIED. OFF & ON THE THERMOSTAT WOULD FLUCTUATE ANYWHERE FROM COLD TO UP TO 95 % HOT AND THE ENGINE TEMP WOULD NOT BE HOT. DUE TO THE PROBLEM I AM NOW WITHOUT A FAMILY CAR AND CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH A NEW ENGINE OR BUY A NEW VEHICLE. IS FORD DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS I HAVE READ ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME...

I BOUGHT A USED 1996 FORD TAURUS FROM A LOCAL FORD DEALER, BROCKPORT FORD, IN 1998. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN JULY OF 2000, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED A HIGH TEMPERATURE. I PULLED OVER TO FIND THE CAR LEAKING COOLANT. I TOOK THE CAR TO VISION FORD AND THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE'S FREEZE PLUGS AS A COST OF $452. RECENTLY I HAD THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM, ONLY THIS TIME IT THE REPAIRS COST ME $907. I QUESTIONED TWO FAILURES OF THIS TYPE ON A RELATIVELY NEW CAR AND LOCATED NUMEROUS WEBSITES DEVOTED TO THIS SAME PROBLEM IN 1996 FORD TAURUS VEHICLES. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED NUMEROUS THERMOSTATS AND NOW MY HEATER CORE IS GOING. THIS IS ALL DUE TO A MANUFACTURING/ ENGINEERING DEFECT, WHICH CAUSES THE ANTIFREEZE TO TURN ACIDIC AND ATTACK THE ENGINE PARTS. THERE WAS A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WARRANTY EXTENSION" ISSUED BY FORD FOR THIS...

WE HAD PURCHASED OUR 1996 FORD TAURUS IN JULY OF 1999 WITH 30,000 ON THE ODOMETER [XXX]. NOT LONG AFTER THIS I HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED AND, AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES THE HEATER CORE GOES OUT. AT A COST OF $600 WE HAD IT REPLACED. SINCE THEN THE HEATER CORE HAS BEEN REPLACED 7 TIMES; THE LAST TIME BEING JANUARY 9, 2004 WITH 75,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE FIRST TIME THE HEATER CORE HAD BEEN REPLACED IT WAS DONE BY OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED WITH A FORD PART. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PART WOULD HAVE A 12 MONTH, 12,000 MILE WARRANTY, SO IF THE PART FAILS AGAIN IT WOULD BE COVERED BY FORD. THIS WAS A GOOD THING. THE PART ALWAYS FAILED BEFORE THE 12K MILES OR 12 MONTHS (NOTE: WE ALSO HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED LAST SUMMER 2003 AT A COST OF $850)....

PREVIOUSLY TO THIS ON 1/99, RECALL 98B23 WAS COMPLETED DEALING WITH THE RUSTY, CORROSIVE COOLANT CONDITION WHICH DEVELOPS IN THE 1996 TAURUS. NOW THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAS DEVELOPED NUMEROUS STRESS CRACKS CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO POUR OUT. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTIOIN IT APPEARS THE RADIATOR HAS ALSO DEVELOPED A LEAK.

RUSTED OUT FREEZE PLUGS A KNOW PROBLEM ORGINATING WITH FORD. NLM

THE CONSUMER TURNED ON THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER AND COLD AIR ALONG WITH A MIST THAT FILLED THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND COVERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE PAPER NAPKINS TO CLEAR THE WINDOWS. THE HEATER CORE IS AN EXISTING PROBLEM THAT REOCCURS EVERY 3 MONTHS SINCE APRIL 2001. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. NLM COOLANT LEAK. DEALER REPLACED HEATER CORE 5 TIMES. RIGHT REAR WINDOW INOPERATIVE. DEALER REPLACED RIGHT REAR WINDOW MOTOR. SWITCH ON AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL HEAD FALLS OFF. DEALER RPELACED CRACKED CENTER CONTROL KNOB. SUNGLASS COMPARTMENT IN CENTER CONSOLE LID BROKE OFF. CONSOLE COMPARTMENT DOOR, HINGE PINS AND SPRING REPLACED. SQUEAK NOISE UNDER HOOD. REPLACED BELT TENSIONER AND IDLER PULLEY. *TT

CAR IS ALWAYS OVERHEATED AND TRANSMISSON SLIPING AND JUMPING. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT, THE RADIATOR AND ANTIFREEZE BOTTLE RECOVERY UNIT FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *YD

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ON, FOLLOWED BY SHAKING AND VIBRATION. ALSO INTERMITTENT STALLING WOULD OCCUR WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR APPLYING ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM A STOP POSITION, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER SHOP, AND HAD SOME SEVERE REPAIRS DONE, PROBLEM CONCERNING ENGINE IS STILL OCCURRING, ALSO REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED, THE COOLANT OVERFLOW BOTTLE CONTAINED A LEAK. *SLC

WHEN PURCHASED, THIS CAR WAS SERVICED, INCLUDING A COOLING SYSTEM INSPECTION. I ALSO NOTIFIED FORD BY TELEPHONE THAT I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR, PROVIDING THE VIN. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE CAR AT THAT TIME. THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS CHECKED 4 MONTHS AGO, AND WAS FINE AT THAT TIME. SEVERAL DAYS AGO, THE CAR OVERHEATED, SPEWING COOLANT WHEN THE HOOD WAS LIFTED. I DID NOT, AT ANY TIME ATTEMPT REMOVAL OF THE COOLANT CAP; THE COOLANT WAS SPEWING FROM BENEATH THE CLOSED CAP. MY MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY CONTAMINATED WITH RUST AND SLUDGE. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT FORD HAD A RECALL ON THE SITUATION. WHEN I CALLED FORD, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL WAS OVER, THAT THEY WOULD NO LONGER COVER THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT THE RECALL WAS OVER IN 1999. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS RECALL. FORD...

CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE IN 1999 ABOUT ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. CONSUMER HAD REPAIRS DONE WHICH REPLACED RESERVOIR AND HEATER COIL. SINCE THEN, PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO . ALSO, CONTACTED FORD, AND FORD STATED WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND NOTHING THEY COULD DO. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

FREEZE PLUGS RUSTED OUT. *AK

FREEZE PLUG MALFUNCTIONED ON12/28/99; HAD RECALL ON05/13/99 #98B2, ONLY 7 MONTH AFTER THE RECALL 41234MILES FREEZE PLUG REPLASE 51231MILES TANK YOU. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE AND COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED. HEAD GASKET BLEW. KOONS FORD OF ANNAPPLIS, MD SAID I NEED A REPLACEMENT ENGINE FOR $4,500. CALLED FORD SERVICE REP. HE SAID THE PROBLEM IS NOT A PRODUCT DEFECT AND FORD WILL NOT HELP WITH REPAIRS. *AK

HEAT GAUGE WENT UP AND DOWN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO FLUSHED COOLANT AND FOUND COOLANT HAD BROKEN DOWN AND DAMAGED ENGINE. VEHICLE STILL AT DEALER AT THIS TIME. BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED A SLIGHT ODOR AFTER DRIVING, THE COOLANT SYSTEM WAS CHECKED AND THE CONTAINER WAS BROWN AND MUSHY SO THE FLUIDS WERE REPLACED, A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE COOLANT SYSTEM WAS MUSHY AND SMELLY AGAIN, A FORD REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL, BUT IT HAD EXPIRED, THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL AND IS REQUESTING THAT THE RECALL WORK BE COMPLETE, FORD WOULD NOT REPAIR OR BE RESPONSIBLE SINCE THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED. *SLC

I BROUGHT MY CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHEN I NOTICED ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY. DUE TO COMPLETE CORROSION OF COOLANT SYSTEM, THIS RESULTED IN THE REPLACEMENT OF FREEZE PLUGS, WATER PUMP, RADIATOR, HEAD GASKETS, THERMOSTAT AND HEATER CORE. I WILL HAVE TO BRING IT BACK IN APRIL FOR ANOTHER RADIATOR FLUSHING. I LATER LEARNED FROM A RADIO TALK SHOW THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE COOLANT SYSTEM FOR THIS AUTO. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD, THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SENT, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED IT AND IT EXPIRED AUGUST 1999. FORD OR THE DEALER REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE RECALL HAS BEEN FIXED BY MY REPAIRS OR NOT AND WILL THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. FORD HAS ALSO REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR ANY OF THE COSTS. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE

THE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED WHILE I WAS WAITING IN LINE AT THE BANK, AND THREW OUT THE FREEZE PLUGS, I SURFED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THE CAR HAD A RECALL AND FOUND OUT THAT IT DID AND THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND WAS DENIED. THEY DENY HAVING A RECALL ON THE COOLING SYSTEM , WHICH REQUIRED A BYPASS KIT TO STOP THE CAR FROM RUNNING HOT. I ACTUALLY GOT THIS INFORMATION ON YOUR WEB SITE, I SHOWED THE RECALL PAPER TO THE DEALER AND THEY STILL DENIED IT, I HAD TO PAY FOR EXPENSIES OUT OF MY POCKET AND FOR THE RENTAL CAR. THE RECALL WAS IN 1997, I WAS TOLD THAT IF I DID NOT HAVE THE ORIGINAL RECALL PAPER THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND DENIED ME THE CLAIM. I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK BECAUSE IT STILL WAS NOT HEATING...

I WAS DENIED THE CLAIM BY CHRYSLER FINACIAL. BECAUSE THE RUST COLORED COOLANT THAT THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN CAME OUT WHEN THE FREEZE PLUGS CAME OUT AND THEY DENIED THE CLAIM BECAUSE THEY SAID I DID NOT KEEP RECIEPTS FOR THE ANITFREEZE IN WHICH I PURCHASED FOR THE MAINTENANCE., NO ONE KEEPS THOSE RECIEPTS, I HAD TO PAY FOR THE CAR REPAIR AND THE RENTAL CAR BILL WHICH WAS $668.73 AND $591.12 I FEEL THAT I WAS DENIED WRONGFULLY WHEN I HAVE PAID ON THIS WARRANTY FOR 4YRS NEVER USED IT AND WHEN I NEED IT I GOT DENIED BY BOTH CHRYLSER FINACIAL AND BOB DUNN AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY.*AK

RUSTY COOLANT RETURNED AFTER FLUSHING, COOLANT FAILED, COOLANT FROZE, RADIATOR BRKEN, ENGINE OVERHEATED, NEEDS HEAD JOB OR NEW ENGINE. FORD BALKING AT RECALL REPAIR AND RESPONSIBILTY FOR SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE. *AK

I WAS STOPPED AT A BRIDGE WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. A MUD COLORED ANTI-FREEZE BEGAN TO SPILL OUT OF MY ENGINE. THE CAR NEVER OVERHEATED BEFORE OR NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. AT THIS POINT I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO LOOK AT THE CAR. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT ALL 1995 & 1996 TAURUS'S HAVE A RECALL FOR THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. I THEN PROCEEDED TO TAKE MY TAURUS TO A FORD DEALER (HALDEMAN FORD ON 11/27). HALDEMAN INDICATED THAT THE RECALL EXPIRED IN SEPT 1999 AND ADVISED ME THAT THEY COULD PROBOBLY REPAIR MY VEHICLE FOR A CHARGE OF 200-300 DOLLARS. NEXT I RECEIVED A CALLED FROM HALDEMAN STATING THAT I COULD HAVE THE ENGINE FLUSHED OUT WHICH WOULD COST ABOUT $1,000.00, AND WOULD HAVE NO GUARANTEES THAT THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. OR I COULD PURCHAS A NEW ENGINE...

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

DDD (DOT NUMBER: NA TIRESIZE: NA) (DOT NUMBER: NA TIRESIZE: NA)

I WAS STOPPED AT A BRIDGE WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. A MUD COLORED ANTI-FREEZE BEGAN TO SPILL OUT OF MY ENGINE. THE CAR NEVER OVERHEATED BEFORE OR NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. AT THIS POINT I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO LOOK AT THE CAR. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT ALL 1995 & 1996 TAURUS'S HAVE A RECALL FOR THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. I THEN PROCEEDED TO TAKE MY TAURUS TO A FORD DEALER (HALDEMAN FORD ON 11/27). HALDEMAN INDICATED THAT THE RECALL EXPIRED IN SEPT 1999 AND ADVISED ME THAT THEY COULD PROBOBLY REPAIR MY VEHICLE FOR A CHARGE OF 200-300 DOLLARS. NEXT I RECEIVED A CALLED FROM HALDEMAN STATING THAT I COULD HAVE THE ENGINE FLUSHED OUT WHICH WOULD COST ABOUT $1,000.00, AND WOULD HAVE NO GUARANTEES THAT THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. OR I COULD PURCHAS A NEW ENGINE...

I WAS STOPPED AT A BRIDGE WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. A MUD COLORED ANTI-FREEZE BEGAN TO SPILL OUT OF MY ENGINE. THE CAR NEVER OVERHEATED BEFORE OR NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. AT THIS POINT I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO LOOK AT THE CAR. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT ALL 1995 & 1996 TAURUS'S HAVE A RECALL FOR THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. I THEN PROCEEDED TO TAKE MY TAURUS TO A FORD DEALER (HALDEMAN FORD ON 11/27). HALDEMAN INDICATED THAT THE RECALL EXPIRED IN SEPT 1999 AND ADVISED ME THAT THEY COULD PROBOBLY REPAIR MY VEHICLE FOR A CHARGE OF 200-300 DOLLARS. NEXT I RECEIVED A CALLED FROM HALDEMAN STATING THAT I COULD HAVE THE ENGINE FLUSHED OUT WHICH WOULD COST ABOUT $1,000.00, AND WOULD HAVE NO GUARANTEES THAT THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. OR I COULD PURCHAS A NEW ENGINE...

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ENGINE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING STALLED/ JUST STOPPED WORKING.CONSUMER STEERED OFF THE ROAD, AND DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSE THE PROBLEM.*AK THE DAY BEFORE THIS FAILURE, THE HEATING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE STALL. THE DEALER SAYS THE COOLANT SYSTEM WAS THE CAUSE, AND THAT THE ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACED. *YH

I LIKED THE CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT , BUT AM WONDERING IF I BOUGHT A LEMON

IN MAY OF 2000 IWAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON MD 695 WHEN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I THEN LOST POWER MY CAR SHUT OFF AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER MY CAR WAS STALLED OUT I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO TOWSON FORD IN TOWSON MD THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY COOLING SYSTEM AFTER TELLING A FEW FRIENDS OF MY ORDEAL ONE TOLD ME OF A RECALL FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM ON THE 96 TAURUS I THEN CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR CO IN MICH. WHERE I WAS TREATED VERY RUDLY OVER THE PHONE I CALLED SEVERAL TIMES TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR IWAS TOLD SEVERAL DIFFRENT TIMES THAT ONE WOULD CONTACT ME IT WASNT UNTIL I REFUSED TO HANG UP THE PHONE UNTIL I SPOKE TO A SUPERVISOR THAT I TALKED TO SOMEONE AFTER ALL THE TROUBLE I WENT THROUGH THEY TOLD ME FORD WAS NOT GOING TO...

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY WITH MY HEADS AND TRANSMISSION SINCE I'VE GOTTEN THE CAR!

COOLANT SYSTEM CORRODED OUT FREEZE PLUGS. COOLANT RAN OUT AND ENGINE STALLED WITH NO WARNING. ENGINE IS HAVING TO BE REPLACED, BUT FORD SAYS THIS WAS NOT THE CAUSE. REVIEWING THE BOARD HERE I SEE MORE THAN JUST ME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. JUST AS WITH THE FIRESTONE ISSUE AND FORD ITS ALWAYS THE OTHER GUYS FAULT, NOT THEM. FOR ONCE I WOULD LIKE SEE FORD TAKE THIER SHARE OF BLAME. FORD REPS WILL NOT EVEN RESPOND TO COMPLAINT.*AK

THE HEATING AND COOLING PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE HAVE PROGRESSED FROM BEING INCONVENIENT TO A PERMANENT PROBLEM. FINALLY, AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL 2000 I THOUGHT THAT POSSIBLY IF I HAD THE RADIATOR FLUSHED THAT IT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE HEATING AND A/C PROBLEMS. THE 19TH OF APRIL 2000 I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR A OIL CHANGE AND TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE COOLING SYSTEM. IN THERE NOTES UNDER "CORRECTION" IT SAID "CHECK OVER COOLING SYSTEM;BELTS;HOSES;COOLANT;ECT... THEN IN THE "COMMENT" AREA IT SAID *CK -30 OR BETTER UNLESS ADVISED* IT WAS PICKED UP AND I FELT COMPELLED TO CHECK TO SEE IF THEY HAD TOPPED OFF THE FLUIDS. (BEING A WIDOW AND A SINGLE MOTHER I DON'T KNOW WHO TO TRUST ANY MORE SO I DO MORE CHECKING THEN MAYBE OTHERS) THE COOLANT RESVOIR WAS NEAR EMPTY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT AND...

THE FORD TAURUS IS 1996 AND 1997 WAS USED AS A GUINEA PIG FOR AN EXPIRIMENTAL COOLANT THAT RUSTED OUT THE FREEZE PLUGS, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND MORE. MINE WAS FOUND TO HAVE THIS COOLANT. I HAVE ALREADY LOST ONE FREEZE PLUG AND COULD LOOSE OTHERS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WANTS ME TO PAY FOR HALF OF FIXING THEIR ERROR. THEY NOW WANT TO PAY NOTHING BECAUSE I DID NOT MEET THEIR DEADLINE. MY CAR COULD BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS, LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. PLEASE HELP

SOME QUESTIONS, I WAS NOT SURE ABOUT SUCH AS THE DRIVETRAIN, ETC. IN MOST CASES I SAID I DID NOT NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT, DID NOTIFY THE DEALER. MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS REGARD MANUF. DEFECTS & MAY NOT BE SAFETY-RELATED EXCEPT FOR THE 1 ABOUT THE PARK PAWL RECALL #96S51; IN THIS CASE, I HAD DONE SEARCH OF RECALLS ON MY CAR MAKE & MODEL THRU CERTAIN INTERNET WEB PAGES & FOUND THERE WERE 5-6 RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. I CALLED FORD CUST. SVC. & GAVE MY VIN # TO FIND OUT WHICH ONES APPLIED TO MY CAR. I FOUND 2 OF THEM APPLIED TO MY VIN #. I SUSPECT THAT FORD IS NOT NOTIFYING ME OF THESE RECALLS. ONE RECALL--NOT SAFETY RELATED, #98B23, I FOUND OUT ABOUT FROM A SVC. MGR. @ A DEALERSHIP. WHEN I CALLED FORD CST. SVC. & TOLD THEM I HADN'T BEEN NOTIFIED, REP SAID...

THE TEMPATURE GAUGE HAS BEEN RISING HIGH THE LAST TWO MONTHS, AND THE SEVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON FOR A FEW DAYS, GOES OFF ROR A SHORT TIME ONLY TO COME BACK ON.THE ONLY OTHER TIME THE GAUGE WENT THIS HIGH AND HIGHER IS WHEN THE WATER RESAVIOR CRACKED AND BUSTED. OUR CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME, BUT FORD CLAIMED THIS PART WAS NOT COVERED.FORD COMPANY ALSO HAD A RECALL AUGUST 1997 TO INSTALL A BYPASS COOLING KIT. WHICH WE DID HAVE INSTALLED, TWO MONTHS AFTER MY WATER SYSTEM HAD BEEN FLUSHED BECAUSE OF GOOGED AND CORRODED COOLANT. THEY DID NOT TELL US AT THAT TIME, THAT BECAUSE THE SYSTEM WAS SO BAD THAT WE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICAL. EVERY YEAR WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSYEM THAT SEEM TO ADD UP MORE AND MORE IN PRICE. AND WE DO KEEP...

THE VEHICLE HAD A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING. I REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, RADIATOR AND THE COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURE CAP TO NO AVAIL. I THEN REPLACED THE WATER PUMP. WHEN I REMOVED THE ORIGINAL WATER PUMP I NOTICED THAT THE IMPELLOR BLADES WERE BADLY DETERIORATED FROM CORROSION. THE BLADES WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED AWAY AND UNABLE TO MOVE WATER; THIS RESULTED IN THE ENGINE CONTINUING TO OVERHEAT. I BELIEVE THAT THE BLADES WERE UNABLE TO STAND UP TO THE COOLANT SOLUTION*AK

TRANSMISSON TROUBLE: BUZZING COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. VECHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERS 7 TIMES FOR REPEATED SAME PROBLEM. SOLENOID IN THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALERS IS GOING BACK TO FORD. DEALER FEELS I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. HOW CAN THIS BE WITH A CAR UNDER 21,000 MILES??I HAVE ALSO HAD REPEATED PROBLEM WITH DISCOLORED FLUIDS DUE TO A COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM WHICH A RECALL WAS ISSURED AND A COOLING KIT WAS INSTALLED. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE TO MOTOR PLEASE ADVISE. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER ON THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE.

WHEN TRAVELING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ANTI-FREEZE WAS SPRAYING ONTO THE ENGINE WHEN VEHICLE OVERHEATED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE A FROZEN PLUG WHICH NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

RUST IN COOLANT, WATER PUMP CORRODED, HAD TO BACK FLUSH ALL RELATED HOSES, PERFORMED AT OWNER EXPENSE. PROBLEM RESTARTED AFTER 2 MONTHS. FORD CONTACTED AND NO RELATED RECALL NOTICES INDICATED, ALTHOUGH NUMEROUS NHTSA CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ARE AVAILABLE. *AK

ESTIMATED COSTS OF 3000 DOLLARS TO REPAIR ENGINE AND COOLING PROBLEMS 60 DAYS TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM STILL DOES NOT RUN CORRECTLY NO WARRANTIES EVEN WITH A PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY DEALER HAS BEEN CLOSED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR FRAUD. NO SATISFACTION FROM FORD MOTOR CO. *AK

FORD IS NOT PROVIDING ANY INFORMATION ON COOLANT RUST DENYING RUST AT ALL. HAVE REPLACED RESEVOIR FOR ANTIFREEZE DUE TO A PREVIOUS RECALL... HEATER COIL HAS GONE OUT DUE TO CORROSION THAT FORD IS DENYING EVEN EXSISTS.

FREEZE PLUG MALFUNCTIONED, AFTER IT WAS FIXED A SMELLOF COOLENT WAS IN CAR. IT THEN WENT AWAY, DEC 1999 ALL FIVE FREEZE PLUGS MALFUNCTIONED AT 57000. I WAS INFORMED ADVISORY WENT TO ALL OWNERS. DID NOT RECEIVE ADVISORY NOW IT IS TOO LATE TO FIX. *AK

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

THE VEHICLE HAS HISTORY OF TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS. THE DEALER HAS FLUSHED THE COOLING SYSTEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND A RECALL FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS PERFORMED. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND LOSE POWER, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. STEAM THEN BEGAN TO BILLOW FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED THE HEADS WERE CRACKED AND THE ENGINE WAS FULL OF WATER. THE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE BY PHONE ONLY TO BE TOLD THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRENTY AND FORD HAS NO OBLIGATION TO TO PAY FOR ANY OF THE DAMAGES. LETTERS WRITTEN TO FORD HAVE GONE UNANSWERED. *AK

REPETATIVE BROWN COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER SERVICE RECALL # 98B27 IN DEC OF 98 FOR THE COOLING UNIT. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND DIED BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING ANTI FREEZE. DEALER AND MANUFCTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

RECALL ON ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM, HOWEVER ENGINE OVERHEATING AND COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT AFTER REPAIR. MJS