CarComplaints.com Notes: Most people need a car where the coil springs don't puncture or shred tires while driving. The Taurus fails in that respect.
The 1999-2003 Ford Taurus has a huge problem with coil springs breaking, which can puncture or even shred tires while driving.
The US government spent THREE YEARS (2008-2011) investigating the 2002-2003 Taurus coil springs. Although Taurus/Sable from earlier years were recalled, ultimately the NHTSA did not force a recall. They determined that because there had been no deaths & very few bad crashes & injuries, the broken coil springs defect was no big deal & not a safety defect. Tell that to all the owners who had close calls...
I could smell coolant and noticed a puddle on the ground beneath the car. After taking the car in for an oil change they told me the coolant reservoir had a small hole in it. Called the Ford dealership (dealer part) and was told I was the third person that day to call for one.
He stated Ford made the plastic reservoir to thin and the coolant was reacting with the plastic. Once they realized they had a problem they went to a thicker plastic. Sick of being on the receiving end of Ford's mistakes and not being reimbursed for their cost cutting measures.Since its not a safety issue there was no recall.
This is the second reservoir/expansion tank that has been replaced on this car within 6 months. The problem with it this time was that it cracked and leaked out all the coolant 500 miles from home while we were on vacation. So i had no tools to fix it with. I had to get a ride with some strangers to the auto parts store, buy another one and replace it. This is an ultra pain because it makes the car very unreliable. A one time problem is one thing, but several times makes me not want to drive it very far from home because it may happen again.
At first it was an annoyance that the reservoir tank cracked, spraying anti-freeze all over the engine, me, and the driveway. After paying $70 to get a new tank and replacing (which wasn't too difficult), the car seemed fine. In June of the very same year, we drove to the beach for vacation. 500 miles from home, the tank cracked once again. This is ridiculous that the tank constantly breaks.
Just purchased this car 'used as is' on August 31, 2010. I have taken it back to the dealer telling them that I smelled antifreeze, water level in overflow tank is low. They said don't worry about how much water is in it, as long as there is some and that it was fine. The smell of antifreeze coming through the vents when I use fan with or without AC is concerning to me. As well as the sound it makes when I cut it off, as if there is a lot of pressure and a hissing sound somewhere on the passenger side under the hood.
Update from Sep 24, 2010: I replaced the overflow tank. I paid for the part and took it to the dealer I purchased car from (USED/ AS IS) and they put the new tank on. There is a damp spot in front floor board right in front of passenger seat, but NOT under the dash. Doesn't smell like antifreeze and everything is running great now. Heat doesn't seem to be working well but its still 93 degrees here right now. I make under 200.00 a week so it's difficult for me to pay for a mechanic to do a complete check on everything and/or fix it. Some people are saying it has to be the heater core since floorboard is wet, others are saying if it was heater core it would smell like antifreeze and be wet under the dash too.
expansion tank leaks when car is warm up you can see the steam coming from under the hood when you shut it off and you can smell antifreeze when you shut the car off
- lab2470,
Powhatan Point, OH, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
the engine coolant plastic expansion tank/ reservoir would continually leak after the engine warmed up due to defective/cracked/leaky plastic tank after only 70,000 miles. Very poor design and materials.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I could smell coolant and noticed a puddle on the ground beneath the car. After taking the car in for an oil change they told me the coolant reservoir had a small hole in it. Called the Ford dealership (dealer part) and was told I was the third person that day to call for one.
He stated Ford made the plastic reservoir to thin and the coolant was reacting with the plastic. Once they realized they had a problem they went to a thicker plastic. Sick of being on the receiving end of Ford's mistakes and not being reimbursed for their cost cutting measures.Since its not a safety issue there was no recall.
- Richard P., WEST VALLEY, NY, US