This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 1995, Ford Taurus. While driving the vehicle was operating properly. Contact could not tell how fast he was going because the speedometer was not working. When getting off at the exit the vehicle was beginning to slow down. He thought the car was overheating. While trying to get off of the road saw smoke appearing from the right tire on the front. Someone came up to him and he turned the car off and jumped out of the car he looked under the car and saw fire coming from the gas tank. The air intake and battery melted. All electrical components still worked because it did not get into the fire wall. The fire department had enough time to salvage most of the vehicle. It was unknown where the fire started. The dome light would not go off the vehicle. Also, the passenger side door light would not go off. When contact noticed these lights were on he took the fuse out that controls these lights but since he was going on a long drive. Back home he put the fuse back in to listen to the radio. Then while driving home the vehicle caught on fire.
Wiring harness burned, causing fuel to go into injector. Dealer has been notified. The head gasket and the motor were rebuilt prior to recall, but the consumer was reimbursed by the manufacturer. However, the motor failed again. After four month of diagnosis, the dealer determined a burnt wire to be the cause.
Electrical system failure: No crank sometimes. The vehicle was taken to a local Ford dealer who kept the vehicle for 3 days. When it first arrived at the dealer, they couldn't start it either. The next day they were able to start the vehicle and could not find where the problem was. Obviously, there was no charge and the vehicle was returned to me. This has occured 3 times since I've had the vehicle (purchased used on 7/99). Instrument panel: Speedometer needle jumps around, typically after I reach speeds in excess of 30 mph.
- Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
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Engine overheated, took to repair shop, head gasket failed, was after recall date (Dec. 98) was told no maximum mileage by Ford customer service. Later Ford changed date but put a lid of 100,000 miles. Have contacted Ford several times to no availe. I feel this is a problem that has nothing to do with the mileage of the vehicle but a design problem that should be reimbursed to the customer.
Electrical system wiring: Driving approximately 15-20mph when the check engine light came on. Pulled over to the side road and raised hood. Smoke and sparks was coming from underneath the dash. In less than two minutes the vehicle was engulfed in flames. Was told that the fire was due to faulty wiring.
Upon starting the vehicle owner smelled wires burning, he then noticed a red glow underneath dashboard, vehicle caught on fire, owner jumped out just in time.
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- Cumming, GA, USA