While driving at approx. 35 MPH, I noticed the coolant temperaure had shot up to the red zone. As soon as this happened, it immediately went back down to the midrange of the temperature gauge and stayed there for approx. 10 miles. I checked the anti-freeze at a gas station and it seemed to be full. I parked the car and let it cool for about three hours. I began my drive home and the temp. Stayed in the midrange of the gauge for about 20 miles and then shot up to the red zone. It hovered there about 1 minute and then shot back down to the mid range. I parked the vehicle in my garage. The next morning, I started it up and drove about 1/4 mile and white smoke began pouring from the tailpipe. The smoke smelled like anti-freeze. I returned home and had the vehicle towed to a repair shop. Previously, ford had sent me a letter detailing the defect and offering a warranty extension to 100,000 miles. However, I was already past 100,000 miles when they sent the letter. Can they be forced to cover some or all of the cost of replacing the head gasket? The car failed only two months after I made the last payment to ford credit corporation. Can you help me?
1994 Ford Taurus engine complaints
Page 6 of 11: complaints 131 to 160 of 291, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Engine had smelled hot on prior occasions when climbing hills but did not register hot. Mechanic did not think it was a problem. Transmission downshifted at inappropriate times (ie highway speeds) and mechanic replaced motor mounts. Now transmission will not shift higher than 1st gear.
While traveling engine stalled. Engine check light came on, and consumer pulled vehicle to side of road. Problem caused by vapor lock, which has occurred 3 times. Ford is aware of the problem and advised dealers that the use of "summer blend" fuel would help the problem. Ford has not yet provided a more permanent fix. *ak
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Knocking noise heard at 1500 RPM. Dealer said that the crankshaft was bent/cracked and engine needed to be replaced. Owner had to drive unsafe vehicle around for another week while dealer waited for approval from ford. *ak
When consumer put vehicle in gear it didn't move. The forward clutch piston in the transmission failed, requiring overhaul of automatic transmission. Repairs made at owner's cost. Ford aware of the problem, but doesn't know how to fix it. *ak
After contacting the manufacturer about this, and having received some compensation for the repairs I feel the compensation is inadaquete. It did not cover my out of pocket expenses. I had $3,416 in repair bills (replaced the engine) and was reimbursed $2,900. The difference was stated as being parts replaced which ford would not cover. The engine was replaced by a reputable shop and not through ford. I feel if I had done this through ford (which quoted me $3,900 for the repairs) they would have covered the repair costs.
Head gasket blew leaving me stranded on highway, the transmission failed and locked up on the highway causing the car to slow rapidly as if braking leaving me to cross several lanes of traffic to pull over to the shoulder where I was stranded.
Dealer wanted to charge consumer $403.00 for a timing kit. A ford extended warranty on engine head gasket was received by consumer. Would like for the federal safety agency to help in this matter.
While driving engine check light will come on dashboard. Then the engine will stall, and anti-freeze will leak from head gasket.
The city acatuall disposed of this vehicle because of continuing overheatring of the engine. It could not be diagnosed as head gasket problem, but after research and recent publicity, I am confident that was the problem. Ford should be held responsible for the loss of this poor vehicle.
June 1997 I was told by a 2 different mechanics ..one from penske auto in milford ma, the other from beradi automotive in milford ...after bringing in a car for a problem where my car would run hot at idle...that my head gasket would eventually fail because of this problem. Penske went so far to believe it already happened and my block was cracked. They recommended taking the car to a ford dealer for check up. On 6/16/97, with odometer showing 53123 miles, I took the car to valley ford in milford. I told them penske thought the block was cracked. They investigated and said this wasn't the case. To my complaint that the engine ran hot at idle, with a flickering oil lite only at idle they claimed the getting hotter at idle was characteristic of that make and the lite flickering was due to a "sensitve lite". They found nothing wrong. The car continued to run hot at idle, sometimes smelling. I took the car to beradi automotive and they reiterated some day my head gasket would fail and they have "replaced a bun.
Defective head gasket-created related problems w/engine. Manufacturer notified of problem and repair, unwilling to rectify problem because stated defect occurred after 100,000 mile warranty had expired. Mileage at incident exceeded warranty by 2706 miles. Manufacturer refuses to admit that problem existed before incident even though head gasket was defective from the beginning. Should be reimbursed and this issue made a total recall for these year vehicles are known to have defective head gaskets.
This vehicle has been imported to finland privately, but not me. The engine head gaskets were changed in local car repair shop on 12/1999. Now I found out from internet that this failure is well known in USA and ford company has an extended the warranty for this failure. Warranty last for 7 years or 100,000 miles. My question: I am eligible for a refund of the repair bills ? I consider this as an international warranty matter, cause I am not living in USA. Local ford company here in finland refused to give me any help, they can not do nothing. " prompt reply would be appreciated. "
Consumer had engine replaced 2 years ago due to head gaskets over heating. Consumer learned of a recent recall, and is now having the same problem again. Dealer will not cover the cost of repairs because vehicle was not manufactured at the plant where the recall parts are manufactured.
While driving on highway engine check light came on. Pulled over and was towed to the dealer. They put in a new engine. Also, upon going down the street it felt like vehicle was not in gear and was coasting. Towed to a local mechanic, and he rebuilt the transmission.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
3.8 liter engine head gasket blew at 78,000 miles, causing engine to seize up, extreme amount of smoke came out of exhaust. No prior warning was given.
No summary listed for abov evehicle.
Head gasketand brake failures.
While traveling on a street at 15 MPH, smoke was noticed coming from the tail pipe. Vehicle was towed to an independent shop, and consumer was informed of a blown engine head gasket. Dealer was not notified at this time.
Cost to repair $1800. No safety defect listed in summary.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
While driving temperature went up and vehicle started smoking due to a leaking engine head gasket. Also, vehicle had a faulty water pump and defective transmission. Dealer repaired vehicle. *ak
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Radiator leaked. Yh
Engine head gaskets have cracked at 56,000 miles, causing oil to leak onto the engine compartment. The dealer has been contacted.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Transmission failed to accelerate vehicle at a stoplight. Kicks into gear when acclerator is floored. Overdrive no longer works. Car will only run in regular drive. Also engine head gaskets were blown leaking onto spark plugs. Probably occurred prior to transmission problem. Car used to get to and from work. Minimal mileage.
Vehicles shook while driving due to the engine mounts corroding away. Dealer replaced the mounts.
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