# 2002 FORD TAURUS — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
> NHTSA complaint `522728` · 2005-02-21 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** TAURUS
- **Year:** 2002
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
- **Miles at failure:** 59,687
## Narrative
I DRIVE A 2002 FORD TAURUS WAGON, PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER, THE WARRANTY IS NOW UP. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR(CANADIAN WINTER) AND TURNED ON MY HEATER. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, AND THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE DASH. I TURNED THE HEATER OFF AND IT WENT AWAY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WHERE WATER LEAKED INTO THE HEATER MOTOR AND FROZE BURNING OUT THE MOTOR. NOW THIS IS GOING TO COST ABOUT $400 TO FIX. IT APPARENTLY WAS A PROBLEM WITH TAURUS BUILT FROM 2001 - 2003. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A DEFECT RECORDED ON THIS AND A RECALL DONE.
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*