2000 Ford Taurus: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Sep 11, 2008 · Engine, Suspension · 74,000 miles · NC

I purchased this vehicle used and have had nothing but trouble since. The main issue is that it has had the potential to kill me,my family and passers by on 4 separate occasions . To start with we replaced all of the pulleys on the vehicle last winter, due to a constant squealing noise that replacing the belt did not fix. This cost a small fortune as we broke several tools (and 4 tensioner pulley's) as did 3 mechanics trying to get the pulleys back on. Ford was absolutely no help, they wanted to charge 300 or more dollars to attempt the job, their quote was something like "those things are a pain in the a@# and we never know what we're looking at with labor when we get one in!" after nearly 2 weeks we completed the work and many dollars later only to later discover that when we drive it in the rain the belt comes off! As you can imagine this is not exactly fun when on a country road in the rain with your child at 55 MPH and you suddenly have no control of your car. As was the case with me the first time by the time I pulled into my driveway 2 miles later I had something plastic smoking on the right front side and severe overheating issues!!! This has happened 3 times since, once leaving me stranded at wal-mart,once in a friends driveway and most recently after 2 days of rain I decided to take my kids to the end of the raod to the bus stop(this is only re: 80 feet or so away) and I hadn't been anywhere and hit no puddles out of fear, and yet still lost the belt coming back to my driveway. My child had a seizure at school a week and a half ago, 20 miles from me and I had to drive in the rains from tropical storm gustav to a family members house and get a ride to the hospital to be with my child. I am having to say no to work(substitute teaching) when it's raining again in fear of wrecking and or being stuck somewhere and can't sell it because it has these problems. We also have had major problems with the fan's burning out and the front tires wearing down.

Filed Apr 11, 2007 · Suspension · 85,000 miles · OH

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford taurus. The contact heard a grinding sound while driving under 45 MPH. The contact removed the tire from the vehicle and noticed that the passenger rear coil spring failed and cut into the rear tire about a 1/3 inch. The contact will tow the vehicle to the dealer on april 12, 2007. The current and failure mileage was 85,000.

Filed May 30, 2006 · Suspension · 57,592 miles · IL

I was backing out of a parking spot and noticed rubbing and resistance in the rear driver's side of the car. I pulled back into the parking spot. As soon as I put the car in park there was a very loud pop. I got out of the car to find the rear driver's side tire had blown. I had the tire replaced. When the mechanic was driving the car out of the garage he noticed the grinding and rubbing in the rear driver's side. When further looking at the car it was found the rear driver's side coil spring had broken. The jagged edge of the coil spring had gouged the sidewall of the tire nearly all the way around. In the short drive of the mechanic driving the car to the front of the building and back in the garage to further look at the car, another tire had been damaged by the broken coil. I had to replace 2 coil springs, 2 tires and sway bar. I still have the old tires and coil springs. Thank goodness I was not driving down the highway when this happened.

Filed Jan 19, 2006 · Suspension · 52,000 miles · PA

The federal safety agency action number: pe05054 I was sitting at a red light when I heard a loud noise from the rear of the vehicle. This was followed by a "grinding" noise. I was extremely concerned having no idea what it was. I was fortunately less than a mile from a bp procare where a friend works. I immediately pulled in driving less than a mile and never exceeding 30 MPH. The passenger rear coil had "popped" as he put it. I only have 52,000 miles on the car which is only six years old. I find it to be a nuisance to replace a tire with less than 5,000 miles on it, and am extremely disappointed that the coil spring would have such a short life span to it. Thankfully it happened at a red light, not on the highway, especially without my children in the car.

Filed Nov 16, 2005 · Brakes, Suspension · OH

Consumer right rear coil spring broke cutting into tire. *ts (11/16/05) the brakes were grinding and there was a clunking noise in the rear since the coil springs were replaced.

Filed Sep 7, 2004 · Brakes · NY

Consumer states that he is having problems with the ABS. The consumer stated that when he was traveling at about 35-40 MPH and attempting to make a stop, the brakes made a grinding noise, then after he pumped the brakes he heard a noise and the vehicle did not stop. He stated he has taken the vehicle to the midas brakes shop and was told that, the problem lies within his ABS. He stated he has only had the vehicle 6 mos and has been having this problem since he obtained the vehicle.

Filed Aug 10, 2004 · Brakes · 60,000 miles · PA

My 2000 ford taurus was expericing a grinding noise upon braking during slow speed stops. Had ford dealer check brake componants and they found that the ABS sensing rings were cracked. When asked why theses ring were cracked I was told by the service manager at ray price ford in mt pocono pa. That this was do to" poor wormanship".

Filed May 14, 2004 · Engine · 53,126 miles · NY

I was driving to work when suddenly there was a noise and the sound of grinding metal and my car was a bit difficult to steer. I pulled over and called my husband and aaa. Within 45 minutes we had heard from three different people that this problem (front coil spring breakage) is notorius with ford taurus'. Then when I went back to work and was discussing this, a fellow co worker said that this happened to his 1993 ford taurus and he had it repaired by cole muffler and ford paid for it under a "silent recall". They have no answers for me, just if we would have brought it in they would have given a discount.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Brakes, Suspension · 35,000 miles · NY

Main problem is the transmission....in reverse it starts to buck and grind; motor mount also failed

Filed Aug 20, 2002 · Brakes · IL

Brakes will grind when applied most of the time, pedal feels spongy. Vehicle has not been examined by dealer.

Filed Aug 13, 2002 · Brakes · MA

When applying brakes at slow speed there is a grinding sound and the pedal goeds to the floor, resulting in extended stopping distance. Dealer has replaced rotors, but could not find a problem. Rotor replacement did not remedy the problem.

Filed Aug 9, 2002 · Brakes · NV

Brake pedal keeps going to the floor, when brakes are applied, it appears as if brakes are gone. Contacted dealer. This is a common problem.*ak consumer also stated the brakes were squeaking.