1996 Ford Taurus: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Feb 22, 2003 · Locks · 10,000 miles · WA

The automatic door locks started acting up a little after a year of our vehicle purchase. Both left and right front doors are suppose to unlock all four doors when an unlock motion is done twice. We took the car in to the dealer three times for this problem with unsatisfactory results. At one point, we could not unlock the front driver's side door. After the warrenty period expired, the dealer suddenly had a solution to our problem but at our expense. I did not want to pay for a repair that should of been covered under warranty. The doors remain unrepaired to this day

Filed Apr 10, 2001 · Locks · OH

Door handles do not work properly. They open door sometimes, and other times it do not. Contacted dealer, they were not willing to help.

Filed Feb 15, 2000 · Locks · OR

Extreme safety hazard (front doors will not open from inside or outside of vehicle. Have to be opened from rear)

Filed Sep 19, 1999 · Brakes, Steering · GA

The major problem was engine overheating, brown coolant,loss of heater. Ford repeated flushed out the heater core,replaced the coollant, flushed out engine, radiator. After about a year of this they finally had to replace the engine with another engine, a rebuilt one of course. They continued to have to flush out the brown coolant. Now the heater does not work again. They say that since my warranty is up I must pay for the heater core even though they knew it was going bad and that they had two recalls on brown coolant problems. They say they have not had any problems with engines if they performed the recall. They should have replaced the heater core according to the recall notice 98-b23 and 98b23-s1 but did not. They replaced the steering rack three times to get rid of the noise when turning. Then they replaced the spindles which the ends should have been sealed at the factory but were not. They ground down the rotors several times to keep the car from vibrating and replaced them once. They replaced the door lock which wouldn't allow you to open the car on the drivers side and then replaced the hood latch so you could get under the hood. They have replaced the AC knob twice since the plastic inside keeps breaking. This car has been a piece of junk since I got it and continues to have problems especially with the coolent and the heater system.

Filed Feb 27, 1999 · Steering · OH

My problem is not been determined a safety defect as yet but could possibly be one eventually. The steering makes a grinding noise when turning right. I have reviewed your database on consumer complaints and have found other instances of a similar problem. I have also had problems with the door handles and have also to this date have had the entire front suspension replaced. I realize this is a forum for reporting safety defects but I have exhausted all other means

Filed Feb 3, 1999 · Locks · MO

Doors won't open. Have to get in rear and open from inside.

Filed Nov 12, 1998 · Body · GA

Front door handles on both left and right doors do not work in high humidity environment (on rainy days). Unable to open either front door.

Filed Nov 5, 1997 · Body, Lights · PA

Continuous problem with the door handle sticking due to failure of the lock switch.

Filed Oct 20, 1997 · Locks · IN

Door would not open due to latch problem. Yh

Filed Oct 4, 1997 · Body · NY

Door handle failed.

Filed Sep 10, 1997 · Locks · CA

Door latch failed.

Filed May 5, 1997 · Body · WA

All four exterior door handles will not open from the outside in warm weather, this happens sometimes, but not all of the time.