2000 Ford Taurus: harsh or hard shifting

Filed May 16, 2011 · Suspension · 108,000 miles · PA

I was driving to work when I heard a large clunk in the back of my car. I assumed that it was just me hitting a branch. The sound continued, but I wasn't that far from work so I kept driving. My car started to shake severely and I had to fight to keep the steering straight, so I immediately went and pulled over at a gas station where I discovered a severe flat. I had my car towed to the car repair shop, where I work, to have the tire replaced. They showed me that the rear coil spring had punctured and dug a gouge along a third of the tire. It was very scary to see how badly the tire was damaged. I looked online and have seen similar complaints and wonder why someone hasn't done anything about this.

Filed Jul 21, 2008 · Suspension · 96,000 miles · WI

Loud "clunking explosion" sound from rear and car handling was affected. Took it to dealer and found I had 3 broken coil springs-- 2 of which had been broken for a long time. One on the front, which was covered under recall and both back springs. Front spring was covered in recall, but from what I've found online just as many people have problems with the rear springs. Charged over $600 in repair to get 2 new rear springs installed, but still have rattling problems afterwards. Car is driven extremely lightly and the final breakage happened while backing out of my driveway at apx 5mph.

Filed Feb 25, 2008 · Suspension · 86,725 miles · NY

2000 ford taurus fractured rear spring. Loud clunk upon take off from stop. Vehicle occupied by 3 adult passengers and adult driver, no weight in trunk. Vehicle mileage: 86,733 mi. Correctly driven and maintained. Broken springs replaced by repair shop 02/23/2008.

Filed Jan 14, 2007 · Suspension · 51,886 miles · PA

On 1/12/07 while pulling into my garage I heard a loud "clunk" sound in the rear of the car. When I went to drive the car the next day, I heard a loud grating and rubbing sound coming from the rear of the car. It was unlike any sound I have ever heard before so I was afraid to drive the car. Aaa came to tow the car. The tow truck driver looked under the car & informed me that the driver's side rear coil spring had broken & was rubbing the tire. I contacted the ford dealer who told me ford would not pay for the repair but that I should keep my repair bill in case there is a recall for the rear coils in the future. The suggestion was that I might be able to obtain reimbursement from ford. The car was towed on a flat bed truck to an independent mechanic who replaced both rear strut/spring assemblies and sway pins and aligned the car. The mechanic stated that the metal in the parts used by ford is substandard. He said that the tire was not damaged but would have been punctured had I driven the car any distance. He also checked the front coils which were subject to recall in 2004 & said they were "okay". I do not have the defective part. The repair cost me $979.00. I intend to notify ford and the dealership where I purchased the car about this matter. If I had been driving at highway speeds when the coil broke I could have been in a bad accident. My car is 6 years old and the mileage was only 51886 when this happened.

Filed Jan 14, 2007 · Suspension · 51,886 miles · PA

I submitted complaint number 10178664 on 1/14/07 and afterwards discovered that I had entered an incorrect date for the incident. The correct date is 1/9/07 so I am resubmitting my complaint. On 1/9/07 while pulling into my garage I heard a loud "clunk" sound in the rear of my car. When I went to drive the car the next day I heard a loud grating & rubbing sound coming from the rear of the car. It was unlike any sound I have ever heard before so I was afraid to drive the car. Aaa came to tow the car. The tow truck driver looked under the car & informed me that the driver's side rear coil had broken & was rubbing the tire. I contacted the ford dealer who told me ford would not pay for the repair but that I should keep my repair bill in case there is a recall for the rear coils in the future. The suggestion was that I might be able to obtain reimbursement from ford. The car was towed on a flat bed truck to an independent mechanic who replaced both rear strut/spring assemblies and sway pins and aligned the car. The mechanic said that the metal in the parts used by ford is substandard. He said that the tire was not damaged but would have been punctured had I driven the car any distance. He also checked the front coils which were subject to recall in 2004 & said they were "okay." I do not have the defective part. The repair cost me $979.00. I intend to notify ford & the dealership where I purchased the car about this matter. If I had been driving at highway speeds when the coil broke I could have been in a bad accident. My car is 6 years old and the mileage was only 51886 when this happened.

Filed May 30, 2006 · Suspension · 41,921 miles · IL

When turning to the left or going over bumps sounded like items were shifting or clunking in the trunk. Everything taken out of the trunk and the noise continued. The rear suspension was looked at and found to have loose rear sway bar links. The sway bar was replaced.

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 Oct 5, 2005 · Suspension · 68,472 miles · PA

My 2000 ford taurus VIN [xxx] has already had the front springs replaced 3 times with the last two falling in under the mandatory recall. On september 23, 2005 I took it into the dealer again because of a clunking noise and vibration at higher speeds. I was informed that the rear right spring has now broken and needed to be replaced as well. I heard on the news about your current investigation into ford's rear springs the federal safety agency action # pe05054 and thought I should let you know about my occurrence. *nm updated 07/18/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Filed Aug 5, 2005 · Suspension · 89,830 miles · OH

I was driving a country road, going around a curve and a bridge, heard a loud bang (clunk) sound, then the rear sounded like it was dragging. My husband inspected the car and found that the right rear coil next to my tire broke in half and dug into the tire, causing a big tear all the way around the tire. We had to have both rear coils replaced (he said the car would be off balance if they changed only one) and also replaced the tire that was destroyed, this is on a 2000 ford taurus.

Filed May 7, 2004 · Transmission · 61,841 miles · ID

I was driving my 2000 ford taurus se home. At the intersection of columbia and meridian roads south of meridian, idaho I pulled out from columbia and turned north onto a busy meridian road. I heard a clunk and I thought the car had popped out of gear. I coasted to the side of the road and found the car would not go in any gear except reverse. I felt fortunate that I was not rear ended because of the amount of traffic that day. I had the taurus towed to aamco transmission. Their diagnosis was transmission failure and I had them repair the transmission which included a rebuilt torque converter, new bands, sprag clutch/low clutch, rear sun gear & drum, boost valve, pressure control solenoid, assembly set, filter and fluids. The mileage at the time of the failure was 61,841 and the bill came to $2,162.90 less $100 because I had a coupon. My car has the axod type transmission. Ford has a 36,000 mile warranty so this was not covered however I think this was much to soon for a transmission to fail. I had the transmission serviced before the recommended specifications. Thank you, [xxx]. *ak information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Dec 8, 2003 · Suspension · 55,800 miles · MN

Left front coil spring broke while driving 55800 miles on vehicle. Failure caused destruction of two struts, cv axle, a tire, and possibly an ABS sensor. Driver heard a lound clunking noise while the vehicle was in motion on interstate at 70 MPH. Easily could have caused the vehicle to crash.

Filed Aug 18, 2003 · Suspension · 20,000 miles · PA

In reading th is particular complaint was one that I also experience daily and agree with original complainant in a blanket appeal to the ford motor corp to fix on a recall list sent soon.this is a 6-passenger rated sedan. This problem has been reported to the dealer several times, but dealer says nothing wrong. Last week I put the car up on a hoist and made a visual inspection myself, and found defects that I believe warrant a recall. The problem: whenever I have one or two passengers in the back seat, the rear suspension make clunking noises. During my inspection, I found that the torsion bar is too weak and allows a the car to bottom out with a frame crossmember hitting the torsion bar. This happens on both torsion bars. These are parts that are not designed to hit each other (no rubber bump pads). In fact, if I were not so careful, this bottoming out could break the torsion bar a cause the car to lose control. In addition, there is evidence of the tailpipe rubbing against the left torsion bar which could eventually cause a carbon monoxide leak under the cabin. Also, there is a brake line that is being rubbed and worn because it is wedged against the left torsion bar and will eventually wear through. I feel that all of these problems should be corrected at no cost to me by the dealer. The weak torsion bars that allow the car to bottom out may need a recall to replace with stronger ones. This is an extreme safety hazard especially for those who purchased this car as a family car and regularly put people in the back seat. I was surprised to see that you don't have this problem on your recall list already. Jm.