1999 Ford Taurus: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Mar 22, 2014 · Electrical · TN · fire

Was driven down the highway never had any problems before noticed a burning wire smell.. Pulled over and the whole top of my motor was on fire... The fire department said it was electrical... My car is totaled.

Filed Mar 17, 2010 · Engine · OH

I purchased a vehicle from some [xxx] and I haven't had the car for 30 days and the vehicles is unsafe has had me almost in some accident due to the unsafe of the car. I took the car back to the place where I purchased it and they keep on telling me its my fault the car is giving me problems. I asked them if I can just get my money back and when I advise them of that they talk in their language to me where I don't understand. I have two children that are 10 and 4 ; the car is not safe. The incident that went wrong with the car is it over heated cut off on the highway while I had the children in the car,also after I took it back to them they fixed it ran fine then the following week after that the belt that I had initially told them about the first time came offthe next week which could spark a fuse while im driving and catch on fire so they advise me to have it towed which they had advise me to do and they took on that responsibility but the car engine light is on it has became a hardship with me and my family and it now sounds like the brakes is going wrong now I just want my money back so I can purchase another reliable transportation for me and my family.

Filed May 12, 2009 · Acceleration · 84,000 miles · TX · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford taurus. While the vehicle was parked in the garage, it caught fire. The fire spread quickly throughout the garage. The fire department extinguished the fire and stated that the fire could have originated with the cruise control module, which is common in some ford SUV's. The current and failure mileages were 84,000.

Filed Apr 27, 2009 · Brakes · 64,950 miles · IL

While driving my 1999 ford taurus to work on april 16th of this year, I noticed what appeared to be light colored smoke coming off my tailpipe as I sat at a stoplight. At the next stoplight, the smoke was more intense. At the same time, I noticed my brakes seemed spongy. When I got to work, I checked the underside of the car and discovered brake fluid was pouring over the exhaust pipe, just before the muffler and was burning off. Upon inspection of the vehicle at a local ford dealer, it was discovered that the brake lines leading back to the drums in the rear were severely corroded just in front of the left rear tire. One line had burst open and the second had a crack in it. This occurred simultaneously. Both systems were compromised at the same time. Had I continued to drive it, I would have lost all brake fluid and been left with no braking capability whatsoever. Further examination revealed similar corrosion just below the master cylinder near the left front wheel, although that had not been breached. The car is only 10 years old and had 65,000 miles on the odometer. It was regularly maintained exclusively at the ford dealer (westfield ford in countryside illinois). I traded the car in on a new model that day. After checking the internet, I became aware of numerous people with the same exact complaint. Although I no longer own the car, I am concerned this problem will surface with the thousands of taurus vehicle currently on the road. If my wife had been driving the car with our two children in it, she would have never noticed what was happening until it was too late. This is a disaster waiting to happen. I contacted ford customer care on 4/20/09 and met complete indifference. I was told my complaint would go on file and to have a nice day. If these brake lines were made with some type of defective steel and there are more models out there like mine, it is only a matter of time before they start rupturing and causing accidents with injuries or death occurring.

Filed Sep 21, 2006 · Electrical, Engine · 85,000 miles · MI · fire

I owned a 1999 taurus and drove it for approximately seven years without major problems. I performed the normal maintenance on the vehicle and it was in good working order. On septebmer 20, 2006 the vehicle caught on fire. The car was parked in front of my house. The source of the fire appeared to be the front right area of the engine component. The vehicle is completely destroyed and is now in a junk yard. The local fire department was called to the scene and put the fire out. There were no injuries, and minor damage to the grass due to the heat of the fire.

Filed Dec 16, 2005 · Acceleration · 130,000 miles · CA · fire

Dt: the contact heard an explosion outside his home on december 14, 2005 at approximately midnight. He came out of the house to find his 1999 ford taurus on fire while parked. The fire appeared to be localized in the front engine compartment. The police were not notified, but the fire department extinguished the fire. Based on the events it believed that the fire was result of a defective vehicle speed control. *ak updated 1/25/2006 -

Filed Jun 22, 2005 · Fuel system · 105,000 miles · CA · fire

Dt: on 06/13/05 car caught on fire in the garage. When driver was turning on the car smoke came from under the hood. Driver told her husband, and as husband came out to the vehicle, he saw flames coming from cracks in the hood. By the time the fire department arrived the garage was on fire along with two other garages, on left and right side. There was an arson investigator, who reported that it was due to the fuel system. The sheriffs department of lakewood issued report # 105-15803-1331-445. The fire department investigator located out of newhall owner has the phone number and names of the investigators.

Filed May 2, 2005 · Electrical · 100,000 miles · NC

Contact states: drove car 1/2 mile using headlights by the time she entered the driveway a burning smell and smoke was coming out of front driver side hood above the headlights. Smelled between tar and glue smell. It smells even when headlights are not in use drove less than 1/2 mile. Ford dealership did say it sounded electrical.

Filed Sep 22, 2004 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · GA

Since we purchased the car new it has lurched forward when being started. The transmission has had a hard time shifting, reving the engine up, then jumping into gear. We have had it back to the dealer several times for various problems. Recently the transmission has been making noise and shifting badly. On a trip we found that it was low on transmission fluid although it hadn't leaked. We replaced the fluid and started driving home, checking the fluid several times. We looked in the reaarview mirror at one point and saw smoke coming out the back. Fluid had leaked on the engine and exhaust. We also discovered small drops of fluid on the back bumper of the car. When we got home, we parked the car, still no leak when sitting still. I backed the car up to take it to the dealer to be checked but when I put it in drive it won't engage in any forward gears. I then tried going backward again, nothing. I t has died. I called the dealer and stated I believe this is a ford defect, especially after reading all the problems they have had with transmissions. I have been told too bad. They will be happy to replace it at my cost. Why would I want another bad transmission.

Filed Feb 19, 2004 · Transmission · 112,000 miles · NY · fire

The consumer noticed smoke coming from under the hood while driving at 45 MPH. The hood then burst into flames. The fire burnt through the paint on the hood, melted the front tire, dashboard and other front end components. The fire department hasn't identified the cause of the fire. The consumer feels it may be related to the recall 98v288000 for the transmission oil cooler line. The VIN number is outside the remedy scope. *nm

Filed Jan 7, 2003 · 75,000 miles · NY

On friday, december 27th, 2002, my son zachary, age 17, was driving our 1999 ford taurus. (VIN # 1fafp53u7xa255465) on a two way street, speed limit 35 MPH, when he noticed a burning smell and smoke coming from the left front tire area. He maintained control and immediately pulled off onto the side of the road. The tire was shredded - he called me and I arranged for a tow to a local garage. They (murray's) found that the left front coil spring had broken, puncturing the tire and wrecking the shock tower upper bearing. My son did not run over anything; the coil spring had simply broken. The car has 75k miles on it. The local garage (murray's) told us the very next day another 1999 ford taurus. Came in with the exact same problem (ron murray inc. (585) 334-5382). My father -in-law contacted some friends who work at local ford dealers and they were aware of the problem springs in the 1999 models; in fact the springs were changed for the next model year. However, there is currently no official recall from ford. I did research on the internet and there have been numerous complaints on this same exact problem - all 1999 ford taurus's. - please use the following link to obtain the reports: http://www.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/cars/problems the repair bill was $322.32 and we were without use of the vehicle for a week waiting on parts. If my son had been driving on the highway - well, I hate to think of what might have happened shredding a front tire at 65 MPH. Peter tichacek (585) 265-5688

Filed Oct 9, 2002 · Electrical · TX · fire

Company car caught on fire. Phots and investigation appears to be started by electrical. Ford has several tsbs on wiring harness and ignition switch. Mr