Combination metal/rubber transmission cooling lines rotted out spraying hot transmisiion fluid through out the engine compartment and onto the hot engine. This failure on my 2000 Ford Taurus wagon with 77,000 miles was a complete surprise as my previous car was a 1992 Ford Sable wagon that I sold with 395,000 miles on it and all the major oriiginal components in good working order. I just realized what the difference was. The 1992 Sable transmission cooling lines were all steel, not a combination of steel/rubber as in my 2000. The quality has been lowered to save money. Fortunately, I was near my repair shop when the transmission started to die from the loss of fluid and the smoke started coming out from the fluid on the hot engine and exhaust. A little earlier and the car could have died on me in fast moving heavy rush hour traffic on on I-684. The rotten lines were subsequently replaced at a cost approaching $400 for parts/labor. It took 6-quarts of transmission fluid to replace what was blown out!

- Cornwall, NY, USA