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 1999 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the front passenger side brake line fractured. The contact was able to cruise to a stop safely. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic and the brake line was repaired. The mechanic stated that the brake line was corroded. The failure and current mileages were 70,000.
My brake pedal went all the way to the floor board, and I could not stop so I crashed into the car in front of me and it in turn crashed into the car in front of it.
A 51 point inspection done on a 1999 Ford Taurus I purchased that had the following safety issues: Cracked brakes, loose pinion rod, transmission, steering wheel off center to name a few items. Required a flushing, oil, etc. I had to pay out of pocket to have most of these items repaired or replaced. Some old parts are available, but I also have documentation to support my complaint. I have not had the transmission fixed due to funds. These items are a safety issue and could have cause a major accident.
While driving in a small town I experienced a loss in braking. The brake pedal went completely to the floor. I was able to guide the car to the side of the road, and then had it transported to a garage. They found that the master cylinder had failed. And was leaking fluid. This caused failure of the front brakes. On further inspection of the braking system they found that their was a leak in the brake line leading to the rear brakes. This leak was caused by external corrosion of the line. I thought that these lines were stainless steel, and should not have corroded due to salt on the roadway. If the lines are not made of stainless steel, they should be. The failure of the master cylinder and the leak in the line could have resulted in a serious accident, but did not because I was driving at a slow speed. I lost the complete stopping power of the car.
I just purchased this vehicle from a car dealer. Since I purchase my bolts to the back brakes came out. Front end is making noises especially when turning the wheel. Back window is ready to break off missing passenger side hinge to hold the window in place. Brakes squeal. Electrical system is not working properly for example the power doors do not unlock, the power seat does not adjust when you push the button, the trunk can not be opened with the key, the doors have to be unlock manually.
- Wilkes Barre, PA, USA
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Total brake failure: Having worked on cars for 40+ years and owned many vehicles over the years, it was a surprise to suffer total brake failure without ever having the brake light indicate a failure. For as long as I can remember, all my vehicles had a primary and secondary brake circuit with a pressure differential switch that would latch and light the brake warning light. On several occasions a partial brake failure was caught by the warning light. Master cylinder replacement was performed quickly as driving with one circuit is dangerous. The 1999 Ford Taurus has no brake pressure differential switch, no kidding! if one does not make panic stops as a regular part of driving, it is easier than one would think to have a partial failure go undetected (despite that there must have been extra pedal travel). When the second circuit fails the result is total brake failure without warning. In my opinion, this is criminal negligence, the same type of thinking as the Ford pinto fuel tank. Forget the cup holder, spend the money on the safety switch!!! I shudder to think of people seriously injured due to this missing switch.
Loss of braking due to rear brake lines corroding and resulting fluid loss. An internet search indicates this is a very common problem with Ford tauruses of this era. Failure occurred near the rear of the driver's door. Car is awaiting repair.
While driving my 1999 Ford Taurus to work on April 16th of this year, I noticed what appeared to be light colored smoke coming off my tailpipe as I sat at a stoplight. At the next stoplight, the smoke was more intense. At the same time, I noticed my brakes seemed spongy. When I got to work, I checked the underside of the car and discovered brake fluid was pouring over the exhaust pipe, just before the muffler and was burning off. Upon inspection of the vehicle at a local Ford dealer, it was discovered that the brake lines leading back to the drums in the rear were severely corroded just in front of the left rear tire. One line had burst open and the second had a crack in it. This occurred simultaneously. Both systems were compromised at the same time. Had I continued to drive it, I would have lost all brake fluid and been left with no braking capability whatsoever. Further examination revealed similar corrosion just below the master cylinder near the left front wheel, although that had not been breached. The car is only 10 years old and had 65,000 miles on the odometer. It was regularly maintained exclusively at the Ford dealer (westfield Ford in countryside Illinois). I traded the car in on a new model that day. After checking the internet, I became aware of numerous people with the same exact complaint. Although I no longer own the car, I am concerned this problem will surface with the thousands of Taurus vehicle currently on the road. If my wife had been driving the car with our two children in it, she would have never noticed what was happening until it was too late. This is a disaster waiting to happen. I contacted Ford customer care on 4/20/09 and met complete indifference. I was told my complaint would go on file and to have a nice day. If these brake lines were made with some type of defective steel and there are more models out there like mine, it is only a matter of time before they start rupturing and causing accidents with injuries or death occurring.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Taurus. On May 29, 2008, the brake pedal extended to the floor when it was depressed. Brake fluid was leaking and burned the pavement in the contact's driveway. The vehicle was towed to an auto garage. The cause of the failure was determined to be brake line corrosion. The garage repaired the front and rear brake lines. The manufacturer is aware of the defect; however, they will not assist with the $285.12 repair cost. The failure mileage was 31,529 and current mileage is 31,869. Updated 7/3/08 the corrosion was caused by water being trapped by a plastic guide that held the brake lines to the underside of the vehicle. Updated
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Taurus. The contact's wife attempted to stop the vehicle, but the brake pedal extended to the floor when it was depressed. The contact placed brake fluid into the brake reservoir and depressed the brake pedal, in which it extended to the floor again. He inspected the undercarriage and noticed that the brake lines were corroded all the way through. In addition, all the fluid he added leaked onto the ground. The dealer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 00V075000 (service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components). The current mileage was 57,456 and failure mileage was 57,445.
The contact has a 1999 Ford Taurus and has had consistent problems with the car since it was bought new. She has been complaining for the last 48,000 miles for the same things. Most recently last week she took vehicle to the dealer for a leak in the master cylinder, which they repaired.. they cleaned the hubs. She had to push the brakes all the way to get the car to stop. They replaced brake booster, machined rotors, and put new brake pads on. At 1,700 miles had to take vehicle to dealer for a noise she from the brakes. They cleaned the hubs. At 22,466 brakes and serpentine belt were checked. They put a new serpentine belt on at 22,500 miles. Also, had multiple electrical problems with the car. 4 multifunction switches were replaced. In addition, a head lamp control switch was replaced at 17,000 mile, and a new radio put in. The A/C had alo bee worked on twice.
Various problems involving 1999 Ford Taurus station wagon. The power steering made excessive noise, dealer replaced the steering rack. The vehicle front end was out of alignment. The check engine light illuminated intermittently. The dealer replaced several components to correct this occurrence. The technician removed and replaced #1 coil, replaced the spark plugs, cleared all the codes and then the vehicle ran fine. The front and rear brakes were replaced and the rotors machined. The temperature gauge malfunctioned. The technician replaced the freeze out plug and thermostat. Windshield washers failed. The vehicle steering wheel was loose. The technician indicated that the vehicle needed front and rear struts, sway bar links and rear subframe bushing. When accelerating the vehicle's transmission slipped and on cold start reverse jerks into gear, dealer replaced the trans unit. The D/S door rubber on the bottom of the door was coming off. D/S seat belt would not retract. Antifreeze was leaking in out the rear block.
1999 Ford Taurus brake and rotor equipment. The rotors warped after minimal use. The rotors and pads were replaced and experienced vibration when braking again about 4 weeks later.
Front brake rotor warp alot at lease a set a year transmission shifts rough at times steering is stift pulls to the left hard sometimes, think it might be something with the transaxle?
Swaybar endlinks are junk but dealer insists oem only way to go. Aodx transmission kicks in and out. Now experiencing P0500 code (faulty speed sensor)? rear brakes have always squeeled (even with oem pads) have had two apparent blowouts of pass side seal in rack.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Northville, MI, USA