NHTSA complaint: 2001 FORD TAURUS — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO, I WAS HAVING MECHANIC PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD IT INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. THE EGR VALVE AND EGR SENSOR WAS REPLACED. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I WAS NOT ABLE TO HAVE IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC AGAIN. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, I NOTICED THAT WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE, THERE WAS AN INSTANTANEOUS SMELL OF EXHAUST IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE WINDOWS WERE ALL IN THE CLOSED POSITION. I WAS REQUIRED TO DRIVE WITH MY WINDOWS DOWN FOR A FEW DAYS UNTIL I COULD HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE EGR SENSOR HAD MELTED DUE TO THE EGR VALVE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE VACUUM LINE FROM THE EGR VALVE TO THE EGR SENSOR HAD ALSO MELTED. DURING THE FEW DAYS THAT I HAD TO DRIVE IT, I SUFFERED FROM EXTREME HEADACHES, NAUSEA, AND LIGHTHEADEDNESS FROM THE EXHAUST COMING INTO THE CAR. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO FIRE, THERE WAS A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT CAUSING THE SENSOR TO MELT. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation