Engine Cooling System problems of the 1997 Ford Taurus - part 1

The plastic overflow bottle from the radiator keeps failing. I have replaced it 3 times in the past 4 years,was told at parts store they sell about 5 a month between the Ford Taurus and Mercury sable,it is getting costly and Ford has no answer.

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Taurus. The contact noticed a strong gasoline smell and noticed gasoline on the ground under the vehicle. The mechanic stated that three failures were present: the fuel tank, a coolant leak, and brake line corrosion. There were no warning indicators prior to the failures. The vehicle was repaired. The contact would like Ford to reimburse him for the cost of the repairs, but they refused. The failure mileage was 123,100 and current mileage was 123,900. Updated 04/02/08.

1997 Ford Taurus - 3. 0l v6 ohv type u tensioner puller seized up while driving on highway - result: serpentine belt sheared off the tension pulley assembly. Pulley and belt needed to be replaced, engine overheated due to water pump not running because no belt was operating the pump due to the tensioner pulley seizing. Mechanics stated that they have to replace this item on the 3. 0 l v6 engine and subsequent damage to other items within the engine compartment on 4 to 5 cars per week. (the brake shop - centerville, in).

The engine coolant reservoir over flowed.

Driving down freeway, car overheated, then stalled, then wouldnt start. The engine was blown, head gasket blown and there was water in the oil. Have extended warranty thru universal and they are not honoring warranty. Was never informed on the cooling recall.

The coolant is leaking from underneath the vehicle. The engine has rusted and the water pump is warped. The dealership is aware of the problem.

We were driving on the freeway when the car began to lose power. We were close to an off ramp, and exited. At that time, the temperature gauge started to climb, and the engine stopped. We had the car towed to a garage near our home. An engine core plug had failed, the resultant lose caused the engine to overheat, and damage the head gasket. We had to replace the engine for $3900. I have contacted Ford motor company, but they state that there is no recall for this engine problem, so I am sueing them in small claims court. Dt.

Engine coolant turned brown and supposedly corrosive due to so-called poorly designed cooling system. This caused my timing cover to begin leaking and my head gasket and engine to fail while on our family vaction in seattle. I have noticed numberous other complaints regarding this problem in your files and was wondering if there is any recourse that can be taken. I am looking at a bill of approximately $4,0000 to replace the engine. Please suggest any action that I can take to recover all or part of this cost from the manufacturer.

While traveling on highway and without prior warning vehicle was leaking anti freeze from underneath the hood. Dealership was aware of problem. Dealer found freeze plug had rusted out, dealer stated that this condition was a defect, manufacturer denies any claim.

Check engine went on and engine stopped accelerating, reservoir emptied, dealer says out of warranty.

Ford provided a no-charge service program, number 98b23 to owners of 1996 and 1997 Taurus and sable vehicles equipped with a 3. 0l engine. The purpose was to check the cooleng system and install a coolant by-pass kit. This program was eligible through February 28, 1999, regardless of mileage. Only first owners were contacted. My daughter as 2nd owner was not. She gave me the car in June,2001 and neither one of us had an inkling of the coolant problem. My car engine blew with no warning. We are lucky to survive the incident. Ford doesn't want to hear about the incident. All they can say it's out of warranty. This is a potentially dangerous problem with this vehicle. I think it should be investigated. The public should be aware of the design flaw so they could take care of it before it causes a serious accident. I would like to be contacted to hear from you if anything can be done about this. Thanks.

We were driving on a busy freeway when the engine failed and completely stopped . We had no prior knowledge that the car had a cooling system problem. My daughter gave me the car so I would have a "safe" vehicle to drive. She owned it for the 3 years prior. Bought when it was a year old. Was never notified of a recall or adjustment for the cooling system by a kit provided by the Ford company. The Ford CO. Has an extended warranty to 100000 miles on their Ford Taurus 3. 8 engine but not this 3. 0l although the same problem exists, blown head gaskets, cracked heads, etc. Would appreciate some help. This at least my 4th form I filled out trying to get an answer from you. Can I expect one or am I just blowing in the wind? lillian c. Carson.

No summary listed for abover vehicle.

A recall for brown coolant had been performed on the car in December of 1998. The brown coolant from what I understand now was rust. The dealership replaced two freeze plugs, however the plugs used are not the same as the original. The new plugs were held on with a clamp. It turns out that the rust was already in the coolant system and after two and a half years and approximately 30,000 miles later the clamp rusted out and the coolant poored out of the car which in turn caused the cylinder to crack and burn two head gaskets. Apparently their recall was a bandaid that didn't heal the wound and only caused further damage over time.

I notices there are several complaints regarding a cooling system problem. I too have an issue with brown rusted coolent that caused the head gasket to fail. I was told today that it will cost aproximatly $5000. 00 to repair. They want to replace the engin, radiator, heater core, water pump, etc. The service manger at the dealer said that this is caused by poor cooling system design that causes a rust build up and the eventual blown head gasket. Since this is an obvious design flaw with many accounts listed on the NHTSA, I would like an investigation and the possible recall by the manufacturer (Ford).

Coolant is leaking onto motor. Dealer has inspected and repaired vehicle; however, problem has reoccurred. Please provide additional information.

Coolant discolorated( rusty and brown) goodyear mechanic explained it was what is called "brown death" caused by engines not being properly processed at foundry(possibly left sand and metal shavings inside engines. Engines overheats, coolant runs out freeze plugs blow out thermostat locks up water pump fails temperature gauge doesn't register that its overheating.

No summary listed for above vehicle.

Afraid to drive car, don't know when to expect next failure. No contact from manufacturer, do they care?no safety defect listed.

The car had about 35,000 miles on it when purdhased it, factory warranty was carried over to us as the new owners. Soon after the sale of the car to us, Ford came out with a brown coolant recall, which ran until September 1999. All owners of these 1997 Taurus were supposed to be notified of the recall by mail. If notified car owners brought their cars in during this time period, the Ford dealers would correct the problem at no cost to the owner. Ford motor company never informed us of this recall. It was not until she brought the car into north bay Ford (in santa cruz, CA) to repair a cracked coolant holding tank on July 19, 2000, that she was told of the required recall work need on her Ford Taurus, but the work was no longer covered under a warranty payment program and the cost was now the owners problem and there was nothing the Ford dealer could do about it. At this time we paid the bill, which was over $500. The brown coolant recall program was required because of a design error in the routing of the cooling system hoses into and out of the dash heater coil and the proximity of the hoses around the engine exhaust manifold. The result was that this problem caused the coolant to turn into brown mud from excessive rusting of the engine block. We never experienced any over heating problems with the car until the coolant tank began leaking. Now, because of the excessive rust in the coolant, a galvanic reaction develops with freeze plugs in the engine block. The dealer insisted on changing the plugs, but he only changed 2 of the 4 plugs. The job also included a complete engine flushing to remove all the old rusty coolant. On July 7, 2001, brown coolant began running out onto the ground for the second time which required another $500 to repair. Ford motors will not do anything to cover the cost of there engineering error.

No safety defect listed for above vehicle.

While freeway driving, the car died. No warning lightsor any other visable problems. Towed to nearest dealer and were told the engine was blown and could have another for 5,500. 00. Towed the car home and found the cooling resivore was cracked and had empitied all coolent. We find from Ford motors that this was a recall item, and we were never notified.

Noticed brown coolant during maintenance. Had some problems with overheating about two weeks prior. Notified manufacturer, was told out of warranty, no recalls, not a wide spread problem. Took to non-dealer shop. Found leaking head gasket. Replaced head gaskets, thermostat, coolant overflow container, and anti-freeze. Resurfaced cylinder heads. Performed cooling system flush. During routine maintenance at ~50,000 miles noticed brown coolant again.

Engine coolant is turning brown. Changed coolant at 20,000 miles and recently changed again at 45,000. Shoud not be happening on a 97' vehicle.

Heater core failed after 4 times and 2nd engine failed. Cooling problems never found.

The problems with my Taurus are the result of the poorly designed cooling system of the 1997 model. A cooling system bypass kit was introduced by Ford. I am trying find out whether or not a recall was done. In the last 4 months, starting Nov. 1999, three freeze plugs have blown. The Ford service mechanic says this is due to the acid build up in the corroded coolant in the cooling system due to the poorly designed cooling system. So far the head freeze plugs, the block freeze plugs, the water pump, the thermostat, and the overflow tank have been replaced because of corrosion at a cost of $800. After the last repair of the block freeze plugs and water pump, within 30 miles of driving the head has either cracked or warped, or the head gasket has blown. I have an estimate of $1211 to diagnose and repair (if no head cracks). I have been told that it is enivitable that the transmission freeze plug, radiator, and heater core will fail. The only way to guarantee proper running condition would require a rebuild and replacement of radiator and heater core at a cost of $4500. Ford has been apathetic about my problems. In this site, I have found complaints of similar problems due to the cooling system corrosion. Complaints of blown heads and leaking heater cores. I feel Ford should remedy my problem in some way. Please contact me I you can help me.

Consumer was not aware of the recall prior to purchase, vehicle denied recall repair due to time restrictions. (98b2).

Engine coolant system corroded turning brown. Changed coolant, radiator assy - remmoved, expansion coolant removed - replaced at 27473 miles and recently changed coolant at 33322, still corroding. Failure with power tran, gear change problem, overhualed power tran at 33290. Received bad service at galpin Ford. Galpin Ford did not honerd my warranty, had to call Ford to enforce the warranty. Galpin Ford refused to fixed the coolant problem, galpin Ford left off the cap on the radiator , while I was driving notice it and did report to galpin Ford.

Engine coolant system corroded even though it had been flushed just previously, causing a cylinder head/head gasket to crack requiring $1,600 is repairs to the owner. Vehicle is not currently under a warranty, so owner is having to pay for repairs that he feels are the result of a manufacturing defect. Owner was advised by service attendant at Ford dealership that there have been numerous problems just like this with this year, make and model. If the coolant system is not flushed a certain way, which the owner has no way of knowing, the problems identified here will occur. If it is bad enough, service technician informed owner that it may result in total engine failure.

Received manufacturer recall notice 98b23/engine cooling system. Dealer refused to honor notice because vehicle was not in computer, but correct VIN # was on notice. Can NHTSA help in this matter or provide information on this matter.

Water pump failed. During inspection and repair a rust colored fluid was noticed to be contaminating coolant system.

Coolant fluid shot out of radiator onto engine and vents, and mist appeared all over passenger's compartment. Took to dealer, and dealer replaced radiator and hoses. Five months later, water was leaking from bottom of vehicle, took to dealer, and they said it was related to heater core recall. Dealer they replaced heater core pump assembly and core assembly. 14 months later, radiator started leaking. Dealer said it was part of the same recall, but they were going to charge consumer.

The engine cooling system heater coil broke, causing a chemical odor inside of vehicle & a mist. Had been to dealer at least 8 times for the problem & each time the heater coil was replaced along with the engine to correct the heater coil from blowing.

Vehicle has a major problem with cooling and heating system. Five months after purchase the heater became defective. At this time the vehicle was under warranty for consumer absorbed not cost. The failure occurred six times over the past years. The episode became more unsafe and extremely inconvenient. On July 26,2003 the defective radiator sprung a leak. Consumer stated Ford should recall the vehicle and should be given another vehicle at a big discount price in 1999.

Recall repair work on the brown coolant was not completed as stated by dealership.