1997 Ford Taurus: engine failure

Filed May 2, 2008 · Engine · 97,000 miles · OH · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford taurus. While driving 25 MPH, the engine caught fire. The contact pulled over and exited the burning vehicle. The fire department was able to contain the fire. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but they were unable to determine the cause of the failure. There was no sign of lost oil or other fluids. The engine was replaced. The insurance company's investigation concluded that the cause of the failure was due to human error. The contact recently became aware of ford recall number 05s28 and she feels that this could be the cause of her engine fire. A police report was filed. The failure mileage was 97,000.

Filed Feb 16, 2004 · Seat belts · 81,000 miles · IL

3 different seat belts on this vehicle have seized up -- completely failed -- in the 6 years we have owned the car. The seat belts lock in place, and are then non-functioning. We are about to replace that third broken seat belt.

Filed Jul 16, 2003 · Engine · 128,500 miles · IN

1997 ford taurus - 3.0l v6 ohv type u tensioner puller seized up while driving on highway - result: serpentine belt sheared off the tension pulley assembly. Pulley and belt needed to be replaced, engine overheated due to water pump not running because no belt was operating the pump due to the tensioner pulley seizing. Mechanics stated that they have to replace this item on the 3.0 l v6 engine and subsequent damage to other items within the engine compartment on 4 to 5 cars per week. (the brake shop - centerville, in).

Filed Nov 2, 2002 · Engine · IL

Cam sprocket failure could have been prevented by being notified by ford. Ford has know of the problem and should have notified owners as there is aprocedure to remedy this problem. By not welding the cams engine failure accurs causing excessive damage to engine. Preventive welding for $ 500.00 corrects the problem. I now have to replace total engine at a cost of about $6,00.00 for salvaged motor. Dt

Filed Oct 25, 2002 · Engine · WA

We were driving on the freeway when the car began to lose power. We were close to an off ramp, and exited. At that time, the temperature gauge started to climb, and the engine stopped. We had the car towed to a garage near our home. An engine core plug had failed, the resultant lose caused the engine to overheat, and damage the head gasket. We had to replace the engine for $3900. I have contacted ford motor company, but they state that there is no recall for this engine problem, so I am sueing them in small claims court. Dt

Filed Aug 20, 2002 · Engine · IL

This failure has happened to atleast 100 of the 20,000 taurus sho vehicles manufactured it is only a matter of time before it happens to all of them. Ford has done nothing to resolve this defect or bad design problem becasue there has not been any loss of life. It is only going to be until there is some unsuspecting mother and child that dies from losing control of the vehicle on an expressway when this happens. Then maybe ford will try to rectify the problem. Please do what you can to force ford to rectify the problem before the loss of life has occured. Not only will ford not fix there mistake but they have the only parts to repair these vehicle and have set the price to puchase these parts at an outragous amount. $1000 for a new cam. $500 for a gasket set $12000 for a new engine.

Filed Aug 6, 2002 · Engine · MN

Engine coolant turned brown and supposedly corrosive due to so-called poorly designed cooling system. This caused my timing cover to begin leaking and my head gasket and engine to fail while on our family vaction in seattle. I have noticed numberous other complaints regarding this problem in your files and was wondering if there is any recourse that can be taken. I am looking at a bill of approximately $4,0000 to replace the engine. Please suggest any action that I can take to recover all or part of this cost from the manufacturer.

Filed Jun 27, 2002 · Engine · IL

This is a failure of the secondary sprocket on the camshaft of my 1997 taurus sho. This to me seems to be a manufacturing defect the camshaft is attached to the cam by splines which under the stress of the engine spin un the cam which throws off the timing and destroys the engine. Ford knows of this problem and asked the people of v8show.com to send them some cams so they can test them. I am an owner that owes $6000 on a vehicle which is completly out of order sitting in my garage because I do not have the extra money anywhere between 5000 and 15000 to fix it. 5000 is for a used engine wth 50,000 miles on it. 15,000 is the cost of a new engine from ford. Please help in anyway you can.

Filed Nov 26, 2001 · Engine · CA

Ford provided a no-charge service program, number 98b23 to owners of 1996 and 1997 taurus and sable vehicles equipped with a 3.0l engine. The purpose was to check the cooleng system and install a coolant by-pass kit. This program was eligible through february 28, 1999, regardless of mileage. Only first owners were contacted. My daughter as 2nd owner was not. She gave me the car in june,2001 and neither one of us had an inkling of the coolant problem. My car engine blew with no warning. We are lucky to survive the incident. Ford doesn't want to hear about the incident. All they can say it's out of warranty. This is a potentially dangerous problem with this vehicle. I think it should be investigated. The public should be aware of the design flaw so they could take care of it before it causes a serious accident. I would like to be contacted to hear from you if anything can be done about this.thanks.

Filed Nov 11, 2001 · Engine · CA

We were driving on a busy freeway when the engine failed and completely stopped . We had no prior knowledge that the car had a cooling system problem. My daughter gave me the car so I would have a "safe" vehicle to drive. She owned it for the 3 years prior. Bought when it was a year old. Was never notified of a recall or adjustment for the cooling system by a kit provided by the ford company.the ford co. Has an extended warranty to 100000 miles on their ford taurus 3.8 engine but not this 3.0l although the same problem exists, blown head gaskets, cracked heads, etc. Would appreciate some help. This at least my 4th form I filled out trying to get an answer from you. Can I expect one or am I just blowing in the wind? Lillian c. Carson.

Filed Sep 6, 2001 · Brakes, Electrical · FL

A/c compressor seized causing drivebelt failure and loss of steering, alternator, and power brakes.

Filed Aug 29, 2001 · Engine · CA

Car is in shop having 2 cracked heads replaced. Mechanic was advised to keep all parts for further investigation. The ford taurus 3.8 engine has an extended warranty because of head gasket failure. The ford company told me that the 3.0 engine was built in atlanta ga. And there were no recalls on it.the alldata service bulletin 97-24-16 issued 11-24-94 said to simply extrapolate the 3.8l engine for the warranty extension on the 3.0. We almost had a bad accident because the engine died with no warning on a busy freeway. If it is a ingition modular problem also I don't know at this time. I feel this veh engine should have lasted more than 91,334 miles. If ford has a problem with the engine it should be acknowledged before anymore breakdowns occur.