1994 Ford Taurus: complete transmission failure

Filed Sep 18, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 155,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 1994 ford taurus. The contact stated that the engine and transmission failed. The contact started the vehicle and both the engine and the transmission collapsed. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number: 93v106000 (structure:frame and members) and contacted the dealer. The dealer advised the contact that his VIN was not included in the recall campaign. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and they filed a complaint on the contact's behalf. The failure mileage was 155,000.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Transmission · 84,313 miles · CA

We have replaced the transmission in this car 3 times. The first failure was within 3 months and was under warranty. The second failure was at 84313 miles and we put a new ford manufactured transmission in the car. That transmission failed at only 16000 additional miles. Our transmission repair cost us $1345 because we were not charged labor by our independent repair dealer. This time we didn't put in a ford manufactured transmission and we're still going at over 120,000 miles. We sued ford in small claims court and lost.

Filed Sep 29, 2003 · Transmission · 36,000 miles · WA

1994 ford taurus reverse just stopped working,(sounded like neutral ). The car struggled to go over 25mph to get home. We made it home just in time for the car to stop working all together! None of the gears work and I will have to have it towed to a repair surface. Only 36,000 miles and already a new transmission!

Filed Sep 27, 2003 · Transmission · 65,000 miles · IL

The third transmission has now failed. The first time shortly after obtaining the car new. The second time at around 65,000 miles (at this juncture I was told by a reliable source that ford was aware of this transmission problem). The third failure, aug. 2003, has just happened after repeat trip to the dealer with failure of the car to move complaints, in the last 6 months. Now I'm being told that the transmission is shot and the mileage warranty is not in force. The car is just a little over the 12,000 mile period but is was not when I began to have the problem corrected. This person that I continue to connect with, while calling ford, is non responsive and refuses to connect me with a supervisor. All she say's is "we don't have a problem" and "I cannot speak with anyone else". I have spent over $5,000 replacing transmissions and I'm going to get some resolution. I would appreciate any advice in bring this to a positive conclusion. The incident date below is when the first transmission failed, 3 months after getting this car new.

Filed Sep 23, 2003 · Transmission · OH

Transmission failed prematurely. Parts have been replaced four times, but problem still exists.

Filed Aug 26, 2002 · Engine, Transmission · NM

1. 3.8l v6 head gaskets. Gasket(s) failed on vehicle at 80878 miles. Engine blows heavy ?!@#$% smoke from tailpipe, overheats and loses coolant. Vehicle is 8 yrs old and out of extended ford warranty program, (7yrs 100,000mi). Contacted both local ford dealership and ford customer service, both saying there is no assistance they could provide, even though it is a known defect with the head gaskets. 2. Transmission failed, at 79,392mi. When vehicle was warm, transmission would not engage 1st gear, leaving you stranded wherever you stopped. Contacted local ford dealership, who quoted $2500 + labor. Had transmission replaced at local transmission shop for $1800. This vehicle has been carefully maintained. All maintenance items performed at manufacturers recommended intervals for heavy duty use. (every 3000mi) oil changed every 3,000mi, transmission fluid changed per maintenance schedule, filters, tire rotation, spark plugs, everything. If ford won't stand behind their product, which has a known design / manufacturers defect. This was the last ford product I will ever buy. It may be anyway.

Filed May 29, 2002 · Transmission · PA

Transmission pops out of gear when stopped including in heavy traffic where the event could pose a traffic hazard. After brief period, transmissions pops back into gear causing vehicle to bolt forward. Dealer charged $60 to advise that forward clutch piston is "sticking" and tranmission needs replacement at $2,700 plus. Ford advises that they will not stand behind their product. Research reveals that the forward clutch piston is a very common problem for that vintage of tarus. Ford used inferior materials to shave a few bucks and has since changed product due to the high volume of failures. However, the company that claimed "quality is nu job number one" refuses to act in a responsible fashion relative to this defect. Garnet ford shoud have told me before charging $60 for an analysis of the transmission or before replacing the engine mount for $400 (apparently a related problem) that this year of tarus has had extensive problems with premature transmission failures. Ford should be ashamed of its corporate behavior relative to its refusal to address the massive number of consumer complaints of premature transmission failure on this model.

Filed Nov 10, 2001 · Transmission · VA

Automatic transmission was maintained in accordance with ford manual provided with car. Transmission failure exposed driver and other traffic to harm as car would suddenly go into neutral in moving traffic or not move forward from stop in traffic situations. I have learned that ford repaired many of these taurus cars but they have not responed to my 2001 request to cover this transmission repair expense ($1504).. Websites show problems with faulty aluminum forward clutch pistons in this type transmission. Thank you for your assistance in this safety matter!

Filed Feb 24, 2001 · Transmission · OH

My son bought this car from his grandparents. It was originally bought brand new from dick masheter ford in columbus, oh. The mileage was at 50,000 when the transmission went out and the ford dealer in johnstown, ohio told us that 1994 taurus's have one of the most unreliable transmissions that ford had produced and that they have serviced a lot of taurus transmissions. The cost for my 19 year old son on a car that should have not needed any major work was $2,100 for a re-built transmission from aamco in reynoldsburg, ohio. My son owns the car and his name is [xxx], I am his mother [xxx].*ak parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Dec 9, 2000 · Transmission · MN

Transmission failed without any warning. Contacted repair shop they stated that it has been happening a lot to this year and model of vehicle

Filed Dec 5, 2000 · Transmission · VA

Transmission failed.

Filed Oct 24, 2000 · Transmission · SC

Transmission failed, possibly due to cracked piston that controls gears. *ak fwd clutch piston inside the fwd clutch drum had cracked. The problem is wide spread with these kinds of vehicles.