1997 FORD TAURUS SHO Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1997 FORD TAURUS SHO FORD (FMC) HAS ACKNOWLEDGED IN WRITING THAT THE PROBLEM IS MANUFACTURER RELATED, WHICH STEMS FROM THE YAMAHA MANUFACTURED ENGINE USED IN SHO MODELS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ROUGH IDLE AFTER 20 MINS. ON THE ROAD, SHAKE AGGRESSIVELY, THEN SHUT-OFF FOR DAYS AT A TIME IN UNPREDICTABILITY. AN AUTHORIZED FMC REPAIR CENTER (MLM) SPENT OVER 3-MOS, CONCURRENTLY, WORKING ON THE VEHICLE TO NO AVAIL. SEE 03/01. THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED IN THIS MANNER FROM 11/00 (MM/YY) THROUGH 04/03, AT WHICH TIME I WAS LEFT WITH NO OTHER FISCALLY-VIABLE OPTION BUT TO ARRANGE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO FMC- FMC WOULD TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY AND PLACE A 7YEAR "REPOSSESSION" STAIN ON WHAT USED TO BE A GREAT CREDIT SCORE. TIMELINE: BETWEEN 11/00 (MM/YY) AND 01/01, CONTINUED CALLS WERE PUT INTO FMC REGARDING MY "SHO" VEHICLE. THE CAR WOULD SHAKE AGGRESSIVELY, THEN SHUTDOWN IN MID-TRAVEL. 01/01: I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO MLM. AFTER DESCRIBING THE ISSUE, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $2,200 TO SERVICE THE PROBLEM(S). 03/01: THE ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE WERE SO SEVERE; MLM REQUESTED THAT FMC SEND OUT A "FIELD SERVICE ENGINEER" TO ASSIST THEM. AFTER A WEEK FMC ADMITTED, WHICH WAS DOCUMENTED BY MLM IN WRITING, THAT FMC HAS HAD "SIMILAR PROBLEMS" WITH "OTHER SHOS IN THE FIELD" AND HAD "NO POSITIVE FIX FOR THEM." THIS SUGGESTS THAT FMC KNEW OF THE SHO'S PROBLEMS AND HAVE PURPOSEFULLY FAILED/REJECTED TO AID THE VICTIMS AFFECTED. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, MY PASSENGERS AND I WOULD BE PLACED AT TRAGIC AND UNNECESSARY RISKS, AS THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT-DOWN W/O WARNING- LOCKING UP THE STEERING AND CAUSING ME TO ENGAGE IN "ERRATIC" (AT TIMES) AND "PRECAUTIONARY DRIVING MANEUVERS" WHILE ON PUBLIC ROADS IN ORDER TO REGAIN SOME CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SAFELY STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR HIGHWAY. THIS PROVES MALICIOUS INTENT AND DECEPTIVE PRACTICES PERPETRATED BY FMC. IT ALSO PROVES A FORMED PATTERN. WB *TR

Mileage: 77,126

CAM SPROCKET FAILURE. THIS LEAD TO THE ENGINE STOPPING AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND WENT OUT IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS ALSO SMOKE COMING FROM THE RADIATOR. UNDER THE HOOD, COOLANT WAS OBSERVED LEAKING AND THE TIMING CHAIN BRACKET WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WOULD START WHEN ATTEMPTS WHERE MADE, BUT THERE WAS A TICKING NOISE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO RESOLUTIONS. UPDATED 10/6/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 124,851

1. DRIVING AT CITY TRAFFIC SPEEDS (25-30 MPH) IN PHILADELPHIA. CAR LOST POWER AND STALLED. UPON RESTART WOULD IMMEDIATELY STALL WHEN IDLE. 2. WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING, TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP 3. INFORMED BY FORD DEALER THAT THE CAMSHAFTS WERE BENT AND I NEEDED A REPLACEMENT ENGINE FOR $13,000.00. *NM

Mileage: 105,000

THERE WAS A CHAIN LIKE TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, I AS A TECHNICIAN OBSERVED IT TO BE A CAMSHAFT GETTING READY TO FAIL, WHEN IT FAILED MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS DRIVING LUCKILY ON A SIDE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE HAD LOST ALL POWER AND MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER, NOW THE 1997 SHO JUST SITS B/C I CAN NOT AFFORD THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS! ESPECIALLY WITH A BABY ON THE WAY. *JB

I OWN A 1997 FORD TAURUS SHO. THE FIRST SIGN OF PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN I KEPT HEARING A TICKNG SOUND IN THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT IN TO A FORD DEALER AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A MIS- FIRING CYLINDER. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE DEALER FIX IT SO I FOUND A MECHANIC WILLING TO WORK ON THIS TYPE OF CAR. I HAD THE TWO MIS-FIRING CYLINDERS REPLACED. THE TICKING IN THE ENGINE STILL WENT ON. BEFORE ANYTHING COULD BE DONE THE CAR ACTED LIKE THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN. FINDING A MECHANIC THAT HAS ACTUALLY WORKED ON THESE TYPES OF CARS IS HARD TO FIND, INLCUDING A FORD DEALER MECHANIC. I HAD A FORD MECHANIC THAT NOW WORKS OUT OF HIS OWN GARAGE LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BROKEN CAMSHAFT 4 BAD VALVES AND BENT PISTONS. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 86,000 MILES ON IT. THE MECHANIC FEELS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE. I HAVE ALSO DONE RESEARCH INTO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. TO DATE THERE ARE 550 VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A FREAK INCIDENT WITH JUST MY CAR.

Mileage: 86,000

THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON HAS BEEN ON FOR FEW MONTHS. CAR SEEMS TO RUN OK BUT CAN NOT GET CAR INSPECTED BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK THE CAR TO AUTO ZONE THEY DID A DIAGNOSIS AND SAID THERE WHERE TWO CODES THAT CAME UP AS A FAILURE. I READ ON YOUR WEB SITE THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL IN DEC. 2001 ON THE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM UPGRADE. *JB

Mileage: 120,533

CAMSHAFT STRIPED OUT CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. *JB

Mileage: 74,500

ON DECEMBER 21, 2004 MY 1997 FORD TAURUS SHO BEGAN MAKING A TICKING NOISE. TWO DAYS (AND ABOUT 20 MILES) LATER, THE LEFT EXHAUST CAMSHAFT SPROCKET FAILED, CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL AND NOT RESTART. AS A RESULT OF THE SPROCKET SLIPPING, THE NO. 5 CYLINDER'S PISTON WAS CRACKED DUE TO COMING IN CONTACT WITH AN OPEN VALVE (THIS IS AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE). 15,000 MILES AGO, THE LEFT INTAKE CAMSHAFT SPROCKET FAILED, RESULTING IN A $2900.00 REPAIR BILL FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP. UNABLE TO AFFORD THE COST OF SUCH A REPAIR AT THIS TIME (NOT TO MENTION UNWILLING TO DEAL WITH THE SAME FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT WANTED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS HARDLY EVER HAPPENS AND THAT I MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO CAUSE IT THE FIRST TIME), I OPTED TO ATTEMPT THE PROCEDURE MYSELF. AFTER FINDING AND REMOVING THE FAULTY CAMSHAFT, I THOUGHT MY PROBLEMS WERE SOLVED UNTIL I CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS. THE NO. 5 CYLINDER PLUG WAS COVERED IN OIL, WHICH MEANS THERE IS A BAD PISTON/RING, AND MOST LIKELY VALVES. I AM CONSIDERING MY OPTIONS TO REPAIR OR PART THE CAR OUT NOW. I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BY FORD DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT WILL ARISE WHEN THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ON A FREEWAY. THE LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A STALLED ENGINE COULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THROUGH TRAFFIC TO A "SAFE" SPOT ON THE SHOULDER. THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE AT WWW.V8SHO.COM (IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE SO MANY REGISTERED FAILURES WITHOUT THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF A PROBLEM BY FORD). *JB

Mileage: 94,440

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE ENGINE WAS IDLING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND RETURNED TO NORMAL DRIVING. *AK

VEHICLE QUIT RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN JUST AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT ON A BUSY 55MPH HIGHWAY. COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT FOR MY 17 YEAR OLD INEXPERIENCED DRIVER. PUSHED VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MY REPAIR SHOP. VEHICLE HAD JUST OVER 100,000 MILES. WAS TOLD VEHICLE WAS ONLY RUNNING ON 5 OF 8 CYLINDERS. AFTER EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSIS, IT WAS DETERMINED TO THAT THE ENGINE CAM GEAR BROKE LOOSE THAT OPENS UP THE VALVE TO THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER. MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE HEAD AND THE EXHAUST VALVES. SPENT ALMOST 3000.00 DOLLARS TO HAVE ALL REPAIRS MADE TO THE MOTOR. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT WHEN THE CAR ABRUPTLY SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. PLEASE HAVE FORD ISSUE A RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE CAMS WITHIN THE 3.4L V8 SHOWS BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY HURT. *LA

Mileage: 100,640

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1997 FORD TAURUS SHO USED.AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND SOME DISTURBING NEWS THE CAM SPROCKETS ARE WILL MORE THAN LIKLEY FAIL AND JUST TO METION FORD NEW THIS AND SCREWD PEOPLE. *AK ANYWAYS THE OTHER DAY ABOUT 2 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR I HEARD A TICKING NOISE THAT YOUASLLY AND MORE THAN LIKLY MEENS YOUR CAM HAS ALREADY FAILED IT JUST HASNT SLIPPED YET WHEN IT SLIPS YOU HAVE ANYWHERE FROM 4,000 TO 6,000 IN ENGINE REPAIR'S NOW MINE HASNT SLIPPED AND HOPEFULY IT WHANT BUT IT HAS THE TICKING NOISE LIKE YOUR DRIVING A TICKING TIME BOMB AND YOU DONT KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO GO OFF.THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THIS IS I LOVE MY CAR AND I LOVE MY LIFE AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS WHEN THE MOTOR GOES YOU LOSE ALL YOUR POWER LIKE YOUR BRAKES,POWER STERRING NOW IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERN FOR HUMAN LIFE YOU WOULD ASK FOR A RECALL ON THIS AUTOMOBILE AND SAVE PEOPLE THE GREIF THAT FORD IS PUTTING US THROUGH AGAIN MY MOTOR IS STILL FUNCTIONAL THANK GOD BUT IT IS A TICKING TIME BOMB HOPEFULY WE WILL GET JUSTICE AND FORD WILL HAVE TO RECALL ALL FORD TAURUS SHO'S AND HOPEFULY IT WILL COST THEM SOME MONEY AND TROUBLE SINCE THATS WHAT THERE PUTTING US THROUGH NOT TO METION THE TRANS PROBLEMS THAT THEY ALSO KNEW ABOUT BUT I WANT GO INTO THAT OTHER THAN THEY SURGE CLUTCH GOES BAD 1ST-2ND GEAR ARE HARSH WHEN SHIFTING ALOT OF OTHER THINGS I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND CONCERN SINCERLY DAYNE A. GOMEZ

ON MORNING OF JUNE 13, 2003 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00 AM, I STARTED MY CAR. THE CAR STARTED BUT MADE A CLICKING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE BAY. I LOOKED TO SEE THE PROBLEM AND DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC FOR HIS INSPECTION. AT FIRST CHANCE OF INSPECTION ON JUNE 19TH THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE THE ENGINE AND I WOULD BE BETTER OF TO TAKE TO A FORD DEALER. I THAT TIME DROVE THE CAR TO PLACE OF PURCHASE, WHITMOYER FORD. ON FRIDAY THE 20TH, I WAS INFORMED MY WHITMOYER FORDS SERVICE (DAVE) THAT THE CAMSHAFT HAD SLIPPED AND HAD CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. ON JUNE 23RD I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY SERVICE (800-241-3673) AND ADVISED THEM OF THE PROBLEM. THE FORD MOTOR SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOOK MY INFORMATION AND PROCEEDED TO READ ME A RESPONSE ALONG THE LINE: THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THUS NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED IN REPAIRING OF THE CAR. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE SUPERVISOR AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUPERVISOR GUIDELINES WERE NOT ANY DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE PROVIDED. I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO THE SUPERVISOR ALTHOUGH I HAVE GOTTEN VOICE MAILS WITHOUT ANY NUMBER TO CALL. I HAVE RESEARCH MORE ON MY PROBLEM AT HTTP://WW2.V8SHO.COM/SHO/CHANGES.HTML AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THEY ALONE HAVE 268 CAMSHAFT FAILURES LIKE MINE LISTED. FROM WHAT I CAN DETERMINE THAT FORD MOTOR CO. HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE 1997 AND HAS NOT ADMITTED TO THE PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO COVER FOR THE COST OF REPAIR OF ALL 4 CAMS IN THE ENGINE. THE BILL COULD BE AS GREAT AS $10,000 PER OCCURRENCE IF NOT REPAIRED AND PREVENTATIVE WORK PERFORMED. AS OF JUNE 25, 2003 FORD ZONE REP HAS NOT RETURNED PHONE CALLS OF WHITMOYER FORD. THE FOLLOWING WEB SITE HAS PDF FILES WHERE FORD HAS OFFERED, SOME ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE PA ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE, TO A CONSUMER BUT STILL FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. *NLM

Mileage: 86,000

A TICKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR WAS IN IDLE. I TALKED TO A FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAMSHAFT PROBLEM WAS AFFECTING MY CAR. I WAS QUOTED AROUND $6000.00 FOR THE REPAIRS. I DID SOM RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE SECONDARY DRIVE GEARS FOR THE CAMSHAFTS WERE THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE. *TT

Mileage: 69,000

ON AUGUST 18, 2002 I HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO A CAMSHAFT SPROCKET FAILURE. A WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.V8SHO.COM SHOWS 241 FAILURES THAT THEY CAN DOCUMENT. *JB

Mileage: 63,800

1997 FORD SHO TAURAS. THIS CAR QUIT ON MY WIFE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE,NO POWER NO WHERE.THERE WAS CARS SLIDING,HONKING HORN ETC.TO KEEP FROM HITTING OR CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO HER.I WASN,T CONCERN ABOUT THE CAR,BUT SHE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT.THIS ISSUE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COSTLY.SOMEONE NEEDS TO STEP IN AND TAKE THESE CARS OFF THE HIGHWAY,BEFORE ITS TO LATE.MY CAR IS SITTING IN THE GARAGE DRIPPING OIL EVERY WHERE.COST TO MUCH TO FIX TO MUCH TO SELL.JUST HAVE LITTLE OVER 70000 MILES.IF ANYONE NEEDS A CAR TO LOOK AT I,VE GOT ONE.

Mileage: 73,000

I HAD A CAM FAILURE ON MY 97 FORD TAURUS SHO, BAD DESIGN ON THE ENGINE LED TO THE FAILURE

Mileage: 76,260

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 1997 FORD TAURUS V8 SHO IN 2000. WE HAD MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES PERFORMED ON A REGULAR BASIS AND NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER, 2002. (THE TOTAL MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS APPROXIMATELY 64,000 MILES). IN LATE DECEMBER, 2002, THE CAR STARTED TICKING VERY LOUDLY SO WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC ON JANUARY 3, 2003, WHO WASN'T SURE WHY THE CAR WAS TICKING BUT HE PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE AND FLUSHED THE ENGINE. ON SUNDAY EVENING, JANUARY 5, 2003, I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE ENGINE JUST DIED. IT LOCKED UP AS IF IT WERE OUT OF GAS AND I HAD TO MANUALLY STEER IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONCE THE CAR WAS INSPECTED BY OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE PROBLEMS ARE DUE TO A CAM SPROCKET FAILURE. IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THERE ARE MANY OF THESE FAILURES ON 1996-1999 FORD TAURUS SHO'S. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ENGINES BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT IN A ROAD ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 64,000

I HAVE A 1997 FORD TAURUS SHO, I STARTED HEARING A TAPING IN MY ENGINE, I ASKED A MACHANIC FRIEND ABOUT IT, HE TOLD ME THAT HE READ ABOUT THE CAM SHAFT IN THE SHO'S FROM 1996 - 1999 GOING BAD, I TOOK MY SHO TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY DETERMIND IT WAS THE CAMSHAFT HAD GONE BAD. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND THERE IS A WRITE UP ABOUT THE ISSUE.I TALKED TO FORD MOTOR CO CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HADN'T HAD ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO WARRENT A RECALL, THAT I SHOULD SAVE MY RECIEPTS AND IF THEY HAVE A RECALL THEY WOULD REFUND MY MONEY. IF IT IS A KNOWN FAULT IN THE ENGINE WHY HASN'T FORD CHECKED INTO IT? I LIKED MY FORD SHO, AND WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT FOR A LONG TIME.

Mileage: 16,950

MY CAR HAD A MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE AT 48500 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT I HAD MULIPLE CAM FAILURES CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THIS ISSUE IS VERY SERIOUS DUE TO THE SUDDEN NATURE OF THE FAILURE AND THE OTHER COMPONANTS THAT NO LONGER FUNCTION PROPERLY ONCE THE ENGINE IS DEAD. DT

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT SOME 50 1996 THROUGH 1999 TAURUS SHO'S HAVE HAD CAM FAILURES. THE RANGE IN MILEAGE VARIES FROM LOW MILES TO HIGH MILES. A GOOD NUMBER OF THE UNDER 100K MILES. SINCE THESE CAMS COST $1000 EACH AND 4 IS NEEDED AND IN MOST CASES PISTONS ARE ALSO REQUIRED. ALL OF US WHO BELONG TO THE WWW.V8SHO.COM LIST ARE WORRIED ABOUT FOUR CARS HAVING CAM FAILURES. FORD HAS IN AT LEAST ONE INSTANCE PAID FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR BILL IN CAR THAT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT HAS LEFT THE REST OF US HUNG OUT TO DRY. *AK DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS-----758682.

Mileage: 37,000

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO TRAVEL. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND TECHNICIAN STATED ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT CAUSED THE OIL PUMP TO NOT TAKE PRESSURE. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE, REAR END, AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SLC