NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
175 reports80,000 miles · Jun 30, 2020
Engine
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 W…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #11331838
149,220 miles · May 30, 2020
Unknown Or Other
I DON'T KNOW THE KEYLESS ENTRY CODE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11326590
153,000 miles · Apr 14, 2020
Electrical System
THE CAR LOOSES POWER. THE RPM GO UP BUT SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T MOVE. DASH SHOWS DASHES. WHEN YOU STOP AND CUT THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON IT SLAMS INTO GEAR. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES THE CAR DRIVES FINE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11321126
65,691 miles · Jan 31, 2020
Steering
2008 TAURUS, BOUGHT NEW 11/7/7, 33 MILES. 11/12/13 REPAIR ' 31,682 MILES ' RACK AND PINION STEERING STARTED TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. REPLACED FOR $889.82, NOT UNDER WARRANTY; FORD COVERED NONE OF THE COST. 1/2/20 REPAIR ' 65,691 MILES ' RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED AGAIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER A 30-MILE DRIVE. REPLACED FOR $…
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2008 TAURUS, BOUGHT NEW 11/7/7, 33 MILES. 11/12/13 REPAIR ' 31,682 MILES ' RACK AND PINION STEERING STARTED TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. REPLACED FOR $889.82, NOT UNDER WARRANTY; FORD COVERED NONE OF THE COST. 1/2/20 REPAIR ' 65,691 MILES ' RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED AGAIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER A 30-MILE DRIVE. REPLACED FOR $954.87 PLUS TAX. FORD COVERED NONE OF THE COST.
NHTSA ODI #11306326
118,500 miles · Sep 18, 2019
Air Bags
WHEN DRIVING ON MAIN ROAD MITCHELL ST. IN DOWNTOWN CADILLAC, THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHED AND STARTED ON SINCE. A FEW NIGHTS AFTER, WHEN STARTING THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT COME ON UNTIL MINUTES AFTER THE CAR STARTED. NOW, IT WILL STAY LIGHT FROM WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING G UNTIL SHUT OFF.
NHTSA ODI #11256404
161,356 miles · Sep 18, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System
ON 5/20/19 I FILLED UP MY FUEL TANK AND WHEN I RETURNED HOME I SMELLED GASOLINE. I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK ON TO THE GROUND. I IMMEDIATELY PUT DOWN ABSORBENT, PARKED THE VEHICLE ON A FLAT SURFACE OF MY DRIVEWAY AND PLACED A LARGE CATCH PAN UNDER THE VEHICLE WHERE T…
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ON 5/20/19 I FILLED UP MY FUEL TANK AND WHEN I RETURNED HOME I SMELLED GASOLINE. I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK ON TO THE GROUND. I IMMEDIATELY PUT DOWN ABSORBENT, PARKED THE VEHICLE ON A FLAT SURFACE OF MY DRIVEWAY AND PLACED A LARGE CATCH PAN UNDER THE VEHICLE WHERE THE FUEL WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE HAD PASSED EMISSIONS ABOUT 2 OR 3 MONTHS PRIOR THAT INCLUDES A TEST ON THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE AMOUNT THAT LEAKED OUT WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF OF A LITER IN TOTAL THEN STOPPED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS EVER COME ON AND THE FUEL LEAK ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I FILL THE TANK UNTIL THE GAS PUMP STOPS, I HAVEN'T FILLED THE TANK FULL AGAIN UNTIL YESTERDAY 9/17/19 WHEN I FILLED THE TANK FULL. AFTER THE FIRST LEAK WAS NOTICED I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC THAT PUT THE CAR ON A LIFT AND DROPPED THE FUEL TANK PRESSURIZED IT AND COULD NOT FIND OUT WHERE THE FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM. HE INSTALLED A NEW SENDING UNIT AND FUEL PUMP GASKETS AND REINSTALLED THE FUEL TANK, FILLED THE TANK FULL AND NO LEAK WAS NOTICED. TO BE SAFE AND EASE MY MIND I DIDN'T FILL THE TANK FULL UNTIL YESTERDAY 9/17/19 WHEN I NOTED THE LEAK AGAIN. THE MECHANIC SAID HE DIDN'T NOTICE ANY PREMATURE WEAR ON THE FUEL TANK OR ANY OF THE COMPONENTS WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO HIM. I SPOKE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TODAY AND HE SAID IT COULD POSSIBLY BE A FAULTY EMISSIONS VALVE THAT IS LOCATED ON TOP OF THE TANK. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON 9/20/19 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT AGAIN. I AM CHECKING HERE TO SEE IF OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND IF A RECALL WAS EVER AVAILABLE AND IF NOT TOO ADD THIS TO COMPLAINTS.
NHTSA ODI #11256317
87,000 miles · Sep 6, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury
MY 79 YEAR OLD FATHER-IN-LAW WAS IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT YESTERDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2019. HE WAS AT A STOP SIGN IN THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH OHIO. UPON TAKING OFF FROM A STOP HE WAS HIT NOT BY ONE CAR BUT TWO CARS. MY FATHER IN LAW HAS HAD THIS CAR SINCE 2009 AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF IT. THEY ONLY HAVE THIS CAR. ANYWAY WHEN HE …
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MY 79 YEAR OLD FATHER-IN-LAW WAS IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT YESTERDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2019. HE WAS AT A STOP SIGN IN THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH OHIO. UPON TAKING OFF FROM A STOP HE WAS HIT NOT BY ONE CAR BUT TWO CARS. MY FATHER IN LAW HAS HAD THIS CAR SINCE 2009 AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF IT. THEY ONLY HAVE THIS CAR. ANYWAY WHEN HE HIT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, NONE. HE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL SO HARD THAT WE THOUGHT HE WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK.
NHTSA ODI #11253542
150,000 miles · Apr 1, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury
THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND STRUCK A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT AT 20 MPH AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED
NHTSA ODI #11193241
Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2019
Air Bags
I CHECK YEARLY FOR RECALLS ON ALL MY VEHICLES. IN 2016 I FOUND A RECALL ON THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG. I NOTIFIED GUSTAFSON FORD IN KEWANEE IL 61443 WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE . I PULLED UP THE RECALL ON MY PHONE AND SHOWED THEM THE RECALL. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM FORD REGARDING THIS SO UNTIL THEY DO T…
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I CHECK YEARLY FOR RECALLS ON ALL MY VEHICLES. IN 2016 I FOUND A RECALL ON THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG. I NOTIFIED GUSTAFSON FORD IN KEWANEE IL 61443 WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE . I PULLED UP THE RECALL ON MY PHONE AND SHOWED THEM THE RECALL. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM FORD REGARDING THIS SO UNTIL THEY DO THEY CAN NOT FIX IT. EVEN THOUGH CAN SEE FORD CLEARLY STATES A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. AT THAT TIME MY CAR WAS 8/9YRS OLD. I'VE ASKED THEM A FEW TIMES SINCE THEN AND GOT THE SAME ANSWER FROM THEM NOW 2019 AND STILL THE RECALL I BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION IIN 2016 IS STILL NOT FIXED.I ALSO DID NOT RECEIVE A LETTER FROM FORD INFORMING ME OF THE RECALL. WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET THIS FIXED ? I TRAVEL FOR MY JOB THROUGH OUT ILLINOIS AND IOWA A MINIMUM OF 800 MLS PER MONTH . WAS THE RECALL SENT TO GUSTAFSON FORD KEWANEE IL 61443? IF SO WHY DID THEY TELL ME THEY DON'T HAVE IT AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNTIL FORD SENDS THEM THIS NOTICE? PLEASE HELP!! THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NO ONE WANTS TO FIX. IF I'M HIT DRIVING 75MPH ON THE INTERSTATE I COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED ! THEN WHO WOULD TAKE CARE OF MY 3 CHILDREN AND 77YR OLD GRANDMOTHER? IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT THIS WAS BROUGHT TO GUSTAFSON FORD ATTENTION IN 2016 AND NOW 2019 STILL THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG IS STILL IN MY CAR. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO TO FIX THIS RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM
NHTSA ODI #11191952
123,000 miles · Mar 11, 2019
Power TrainService Brakes
TRANSMISSION CLUNKS INTO EACH GEAR WHEN DRIVING SLOW. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED TO MOVE SHIFTER FROM PARK, THERE IS AN ALARM THAT IS FAIRLY LOUD COMING FROM THE DASH. THE BRAKES SEEM TO WORK WELL AND I HAVE MAINTAINED MY OWN VEHICLES, SO THERE IS NO REASON THIS SHOULD BE WRONG WITH THE CAR. IT HAS VERY LOW MILES FOR THE YEAR A…
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TRANSMISSION CLUNKS INTO EACH GEAR WHEN DRIVING SLOW. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED TO MOVE SHIFTER FROM PARK, THERE IS AN ALARM THAT IS FAIRLY LOUD COMING FROM THE DASH. THE BRAKES SEEM TO WORK WELL AND I HAVE MAINTAINED MY OWN VEHICLES, SO THERE IS NO REASON THIS SHOULD BE WRONG WITH THE CAR. IT HAS VERY LOW MILES FOR THE YEAR AND HAS MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR MONTHS, GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.
NHTSA ODI #11185889
NHTSA investigations
1PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking
Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve
ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO