2008 Ford Taurus: engine failure

Filed Jun 30, 2020 · Engine · 80,000 miles · LA

I was driving 55 MPH with a truck close behind, when it just died. I had no power steering, brakes, etc. I was scared to death thinking I was going to be hit by the truck behind me. I was in a curve, and thankfully there was a store. It took all my strength to turn the car in, and somehow I was able to come to a stop. I had no warning, no light came on and my son came to see what was wrong. He said it was overheating. We had it towed home and when he checked it the oil was creamy , whitish. He had never seen anything like it. We researched it, and found numerous complaints about the cyclone engine failure due to the water pump failing, which is inside the engine along with the timing chain!!! I was shocked! Water pumps go bad, everyone knows that. Why would any company put a water pump inside the motor?!?! I never would have bought it if I had known because it is just wrong. Then I found out ford had been using that engine for over 10 years, even with all the complaints and I wonder how many accidents and injuries and deaths have been caused by this. I could have been killed!!!! Why is there no recall? I can't afford to have a new engine put in, I'm 63 and disabled. I don't know what I am going to do. With all the catastrophic engine failures due to this, I am shocked that ford has not helped us out. They must have a lot of lawsuits. Please help if you can, I am sick about it.

Filed Sep 18, 2017 · Engine · 75,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford taurus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning on numerous occasions. Prior to each failure, all of the lights on the instrument panel illuminated and the steering wheel seized. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. Future ford in sacramento, california was made aware of the issue and replaced the fuel injector and the fuel injection sensor, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but the cause of the failure could not be determined through diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and stated that there was no recall. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

Filed Dec 29, 2014 · Steering · 23,401 miles · PA

Left turn from a stop, out of subdivision entrance. While turning, steering became extremely difficult. Immediately tried to get vehicle of the road. Before totally off the road, steering returned to normal. Started back into traffic and immediately seized again briefly, returning to normal. This was also accompanied by a grinding noise. Immediately returned home. Thankfully it was a sunday and traffic wasn't heavy, as this happened on a well traveled highway through our town. I had one of my children with me. Mechanic was called, vehicle not taken to shop yet. This issue is the most filed complaint on this site, and an absolute safety issue!!!! Why is there not a recall??? The following was taken directly from this site: "what is a safety-related defect? The united states code for motor vehicle safety (title 49, chapter 301) defines motor vehicle safety as 'the performance of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment in a way that protects the public against unreasonable risk of accidents occurring because of the design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle, and against unreasonable risk of death or injury in an accident, and includes nonoperational safety of a motor vehicle.' a defect includes any defect in performance, construction, a component, or material of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment.' generally, a safety defect is defined as a problem that exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment that: poses an risk to motor vehicle safety, and may exist in a group of vehicles of the same design or manufacture, or items of equipment of the same type and manufacture." steering issues don't pose a risk to vehicle safety? All the same complaints don't show a problem may exist in a group of vehicles of the same design or manufacture? In addition, this failure seems to happen when there are low miles on the odometer.

Filed Apr 2, 2014 · Steering · 31,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH and attempting to make a right turn, the steering wheel seized and he had to use extreme force to complete the turn. The contact stated that the issue continued after he completed the turn however, the failure still occurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the worm gear and the power assist needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 31,000. Updated 05/12/14 ma updated 8/8/17

Filed Aug 14, 2013 · Engine · 85,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle jerked as there was a sudden loss of acceleration without warning. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where the failure was unable to be replicated. The contact mentioned that the engine was replaced but did not resolve the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000 and the current mileage was 35,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Apr 4, 2012 · Steering · 35,000 miles · KY

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford taurus. The contact was driving 40 MPH when the power steering failed and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but the manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 35,000 and the current mileage was 36,000 .

Filed Nov 23, 2011 · Steering · 114,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the steering wheel seized, making the vehicle difficult to steer. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer, but the manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 114,000.