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.
Wipers come on and spray wiper fluid while the switch is in the off position. This occurs while the blinkers are switched on. They will eventually turn off by giggling the lever. Not once was the wiper switch ever found in the on position. This has been a troublesome experience for years.
Car: 1999 Ford Taurus SE sedan a problem has started occuring with my front windshield wipers since Oct 2004. The wipers are malfunctioning, whereby they come on intermittently even when the wiper-switch is in the off position. I took my car to my dealer ( dillon Ford, 30 tolland turnpike, manchester, ct ) to have this problem examined and fixed. The dealership charged me $75 to examine the problem. The technicians reported that they were nto able to reproduce the problem and felt the cause of the problem might be a failed GEM module. I ordered a new GEM module through the dealership and had my GEM module replaced. This cost me about $400. The replacement did not fix my problem at all. I still have in my possession my old GEM module; the car has the new GEM module. I took the car agian to the dealership on 05/20/2005 to have the problem fixed, however the technicians again reported that they were not able to reproduce the problem. Meanwhile I still have the problem with the malfunctioning wipers, and I feel this is not only a huge irritant, but also a safety hazard.
When driving my car, the windshield wipers will come on periodically without being turned on.this happens while driving down a road with or without having made a turn. It has happened at least 40 times within the last year.my Ford dealer says they cannot fix it under warranty because they can't make the problem happen, therefore, they can't fix it.this same problem is occurring with a 2nd 1999 Taurus that I own and my son drives.pretty strange coincidence, wouldn't you say?my fear is that when I need the wipers to work someday they will fail completely and not go on at all.
I have a 1999 Ford Taurus. When the windshield wiper switch is off, sometimes the windshield wipers will come on for no reason. Sometimes this is just once then it will stop. Sometimes it is several times in a row then it will stop. It is most prevalent during the summer, or on hotter days. Although, it has even happened in cold weather. I notice that others have complained about this same problem, but as yet it appears that there is no recall on this apparent defect in the design by Ford. It is clear to me that the switch tolerances do not adequately take account of expansion and contraction over the operating temperature ranges of the vehicle. The problems I describe above have been observed in sacramento, ca, which is not the worst place in the U.S. for severe temperature changes between seasons. Hence, if it doesn't work in California, it probably will be a problem in more severe climate changes also. His problem occurs several times a week during the summer. Ford really should do the right thing and do a recall on this issue. I am an engineer and this is clearly a design defect. If the windshield wipers were to fail to work due to this problem during inclement weather, this defect could be dangerous.
Driving down the road the winshield wipers fail at times or come on by them selves, espcially when turning nothing has been done yet to correct failure
- Blountsville, AL, USA
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Windshield wipers come on for intermittently for no apparent reason. Estimated cost of parts is around $150. I am afraid the whole switch system will go out due to excessive use and unnecessary use. This could be a potential hazard if they go out during inclimate weather.
Purchased '99 Ford Taurus from hertz dealership in July 2000. After a couple of months the windshield wipers would constantly come on when in the off position. Sometimes occurs right after signal has been used but not always. Will occur at random. When taken back to hertz dealership, mechanic informed me that it is a known Ford manufacturing defect and must be fixed by them. When I contacted the Ford dealership, they stated they would only fix the defect without charge if the mileage was under 30,000. At the time, my mileage was approximately 29,995. Constant attempts to have problem resolved by Ford have been unsuccessful. Ford dealership stated that problem with the wiring was not supposed to be on Ford cars but only on vans and trucks. Request any assistance in resolving this matter since the defect is a Ford factory defect that should have been addressed to Ford owners by Ford without penalty. Should be handled without cost to loyal Ford owners.
The windshield wiper/washer controls will start the blades moving for no appearant reason. Contacted the dealership, they said it is a known problem but we have to pay for the repair. The problem is in the control switch assembly whichis also the assembly for the turn signals and the head light hi/lo beam controls. Estimated price of repair for this known problem is >$150. If this is a known problem, then some form of recall should be in order.
Intermittently windshield wipers are operating while switch is in off mode. Dealer was notified, and informed consumer that parts were on back orders. Consumer states part still has not come in yet.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Appomattox, VA, USA