Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-73
My front rotors were warped within 2,000 miles of purchasing the car.
Power steering fluid leaked and caused the need for replacement of the pump at 60,000 miles, 61,000 miles, and 62,000 miles.
Steering rack needed to be replaced after 59,000 miles.
Dome light and door ajar warning would not shut off after 63,000 miles.
There were also alternator, battery, and starter problems around the time of the steering rack problems. There were no signs of problems previous to this.
When purchasing this car it appeared to be a very decent, quiet, and comfortable car. However, I have been informed that many of the '99 models have had power steering and steering rack problems.
Many newer Fords have had problems with the dome light/door ajar warning and there is not a dome light override switch.
Many Tauruses have also had front rotor problems before they should.
This is not a good for the money.
Hello: I am a Taurus owner (1998) I can't help notice all the posts about "dome light/door ajar light on problems" This was one problem I had with my Very Trouble Free Taurus, Since the Dome light plunger switch was moved on these cars from the front door hinge/pillar area to where the door latch is, they have been a little more troublesome. TIP: just shoot a little spray lube where the door latch is. (on the door) Every 4-6 months, I bet the "light on" problem will be taken care of.
I've got a 99' LX Taurus. What's gone wrong? Read on:
1. When I bought the car new the cruise control did not work. 10 miles.
2. The multifunction switch would turn on the windshield wipers intermittently while driving & hitting small bumps. 2K miles. This was a big joke with everyone I took to lunch & shuttled around town, they all would comment on "there goes that automatic dust removal system". HA HA HA...
3. It developed, & still has, an annoying "rattle" that comes from behind the headlight switch. I broke the first switch & the dealer replaced it with a new one. That one started making noise shortly thereafter. I've given up on this one & have decided to just live with it. 8K miles.
4. Front rotors started going at about 20K miles. Finally after I couldn't take the wheel shake any longer I did replace the front brake pads & had the rotors resurfaced. 40K miles. All the machine shops I took the rotors to advised me that they couldn't machine them down because they were already worn down so thin that they were under specification. All, but one shop, that is... I couldn't believe that this would happen to original rotors, "virgin" rotors, if you will. They all told me I could thank FORD for that, going as cheap as they could get away with.
5. The seat belts in mine went too. Just like everyone else's. It seems they went as cheap as they possibly could here too. Fortunately, I had a dealer replace all of them at 35.9K miles, just before the factory warranty expired. Still it's frustrating to have to deal with being without wheels, for any given amount of time, because of something that should have never given out in the first place.
6. I just hit 60K miles & now I too have the dome light issue I'm reading so much about. This problem is compounded by my after market alarm now not arming itself because it thinks one of the doors is not closed. I'm going to "lubricate" the door hinge area, where I understand the switch has been relocated to, and pray that this resolves the current issue.
7. Just recently, 50K miles, I've noticed a worry-some clunking (or something feeling loose & knocking) at very low speed while making turns into driveways. It feels like something on the front end is working itself loose. Something with the front suspension or drive train...??? Time to pray again
My wife also have a 99 Taurus that has the dome light problem. I will certainly try lubing the door latches. The car has 65k miles and has had the steering rack replaced twice, once at 20k miles under full warranty and once at 58k where Ford paid 80% of the repair, including the tow charge. Ford that knows there is a problem with the racks and if the customer complains loud enough will pay part of the bill even if you are well out of warranty.
Regarding the problem of the dome light staying on. I sprayed every door latch with a generous dose of WD40. Within a few minutes the dome light went out. Thanks for the tip.
Thank you SO much for the tip about solving the "dome light/door ajar" dilemma. I have a 1997 Mercury Sable with the same problem...the car was sitting in the driveway tonight, and after THIRTY minutes, the dome and interior lights still would not turn off! As per your instruction, I used spray lubricant on the latches of the driver and passenger-side doors, and *poof*, the interior lights turned off. Again...thanks!
Hi.
I just had the same dome light problem with my 99 Ford Taurus wagon. I was so upset due to the fact that I just made my last payment on it, and boom, here come the problems. I read all your advice on the WD-40 lubricant and to spray it on the door hinges, and like magic, the light went out and the door ajar light also went out! I cannot express how relieved I am that I didn't have to take it in to the dealer and be charged hours of labor!
Thank you.
Anne R.
I have a 99' Taurus and it has been a great car up until recently. I have almost 70,000 miles on it and every time I turn the steering wheel either left or right, it makes a nasty squealing sound. I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this same situation at all.
E-mail me at cjmaier@mtu.edu.
I've had some problems with my Taurus too.
The worst areas:
Heater core
Rotors
Headlight lenses
A/C Problems (though have original compressor)
Radio.
Agree with other; it handles like a dream. I have had to change out most replaceable parts, except light bulbs seem to last a long time.
About 40K miles ago I had to have the transmission rebuilt. Did I mention mine is a 1989, purchased in late 1988. It has 241K mostly city miles and I'm the mechanic.
Something needs changing as I have a vibration in the front end that none of the standard things seems to fix.
Advice anyone?
WSGJ, Greenville, Tx.
I have a 1986 Ford Taurus and it is a great car to own. I have had steering problems and this was fixed several years back. That noise when you turn the car either way has always been in my Taurus from conception. I now think I may have another problem with the power steering as the fluid has gone black and periodically I am hearing interesting noises emanating??fromthe right side of the car. Have had to replace those pesky tie rods and a transmission (under warranty) and the brakes. You know for all the problems, which is not the Taurus's fault, the car runs well and passed a safety and emissions test this year. Yes, I would get another Ford Taurus-no question!! Mary Lynn
p.s. If anyone knows about power steering, please let me know if the power steering box makes a noise. Thanks.
My Grandmother purchased a 99 Ford Taurus at the end of the model year. I must say that it is the biggest rip off for the buck ever! To kick off to with the negatives, the rear brake shoes needed to be replaced at 15,000 miles. fortunately the warranty covered it all. Next, at around 30,00 miles we noticed a strong, prevalent wind noise, only to discover that the driver side door was about one centimeter out of place, warranty would not cover it and the repair would cost an arm and a leg. Next, the pesky "door ajar" light problem occurred and I have yet to try the lubricant trick, and not to mention, one of the light bulbs in the instument panel went dead around 70,000 miles. Yet another major repair was when we took the car in for and alignment, the shop noticed the right ball-joint was busted, so we spend several hundred dollars getting that fixed. Next, at another attempt to cure the vibration in the steering column with a wheel alignment, the mechanic discovered that we had a bent, yes you heard me right, a bent left, front strut, so we spent 200 bones on "premium" Ford Struts, had them installed at another 150 buckaroos, and it still vibrated! After getting the two front tires replaced (because of excessive wear from the defective strut) and getting a tire balance, we uncovered the single source of all our misery, two very warped brake rotors. Have we yet to replace those. And, the biggest repair, getting our entire rack-and-pinion replaced, I'm not going to tell your the price, but lets just say it was about 5% of the price of the lemon. And lastly, two minor, but super annoying defects, the windshield wipers going on with out warning, and a horrible rattling noise coming from somewhere inside the driver's door, it's an unbearable nuisance.
There are, however some positives, the car is roomy and comfortable, bar the high amount of wind noise. Another is a comfortable, if not overly bouncy ride.
My verdict, the Taurus is not worth keeping if you have to spent more than one thousand in repairs in one month. Hope you have better luck than us!
I have a 1999 Ford Taurus and had to replace the steering
rack at approximately 60k miles and also the steering pump.
I have 2001 Taurus also and have had a problem twice with
the Exhaust Gas Airflow sensor and had the same problem
with the 1999. It seems to be heat related because the
sensor is located right above the exhaust manifold and in
the air flow path between the engine and firewall. Sense
this is an solid state electronic device, it will not stand
much heat. Ford Engineers should get the picture after
replace a several thousand a year. That goes for the
steering rack also. The Hydraulic cylinder is right next to
the exhaust manifold in the hot air path. From reading about all the steering rack replacement I really believe
Ford has a problem.
I recently found a pin hole leak in one of the aluminum
wheels on the 2001 Taurus and it caused the tire to lose
air at the rate of about 15 psi in two weeks. This could
be a real safety hazard for tire blowing. Ford did replace
it with me paying the last $60.00, This was a casting defect in the aluminum wheel.
Both cars experienced the sensor problem at around 35k miles.
Other than these problems, I like the Taurus and gas mileage, plus fair performance for a 3 liter engine.
I have a 1999 Ford Taurus. At 55K miles I had to have the steering rack and power steering pump replaced, fortunately I had purchased an extended warranty, so Ford covered everything including a rental. Shortly after (about 2 weeks) the repair, I started having a problem when starting the car. It will start and then die. The only way it will remain running is if I keep my foot on the gas. I'm not sure what to do, but am sure this is probably not covered under warranty. If anyone has had this problem before with his or her Taurus, please let me know what causes this to happen.
This car was bought used with very few miles on it back in 2000 by my parents. The only problems they seemed to have had before I took it in 2002 were warped rotors, and an alignment problem. I have been driving it for 10 months with no problems until now as I have described above. Sorry this is so long. I would appreciate any advice I receive.
I have a 99 ford and it shudders going into 3rd gear anyone else have that prob.?
Don't you just LOVE the internet! I was having the dome light issue and thanks to you guys $.05 worth of WD_40 solved the problem! Thanks!!!
When I turn my wheel to the left when I make a turn I also get that hideous noise. I'm not sure what it is, but I just had my rack and pinion replaced because there was puncture in one of the boots and it was shooting power steering fluid all over the ground. It was bad. Now I've got the dome light problem, and I'll try the WD40.
When I first got the car it was real solid, and responsive, now after some many miles 70K+ the car has felt like it's coming apart at the seems. It just shudders and you get wind noise, and it shakes once you get to 65+ MPH. It just freaks me out, I want to replace it, but American cars have a bad rep and foreign cars are getting expensive, especially if you want a good one. Angers me greatly.