1986 FORD TAURUS Recalls, Complaints & Safety

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.

2,697,000 vehicles affected

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

THE ARC WELDS ON THE SWAY BAR BRACKET, WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE STRUT RESERVE TUBE, DID NOT FUSE PROPERLY.

Remedy: MONROE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STRUT FREE OF CHARGE.

98,000 vehicles affected

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TAURUS AND SABLES BUILT FROM 10-14-85 THROUGH 8-19-88, AND LINCOLN CONTINENTALS BUILT FROM 11-4-87 THROUGH 9-30-88 (EXCEPT 1989 - 1991 2.5L TAURUS AND 1989 - 1992 SHO). THE AFFECTED CARS WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, AND WISCONSIN. THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, MAY BECOME DETACHED DUE TO CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT RETAINING PLATE. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.

Remedy: INSTALL A CORROSION-RESISTANT REINFORCING PLATE AND A NEW BOLT ON BOTH REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS. THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED BY RECALL 98V-323.

1,610,000 vehicles affected

WHEELS

CHILDREN CAN ACCIDENTALLY LOCK THEMSELVES IN THE FOOTWELL AREA OF THE REAR-FACING THIRD SEAT, OR IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT IN STATION WAGONS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL THIRD SEAT. ONCE THE COMPARTMENT IS CLOSED IT CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE.

Remedy: REPLACE THE SELF-LATCHING ASSEMBLY CURRENTLY USED IN THE REAR STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITH A LATCH ASSEMBLY THAT CAN ONLY BE CLOSED WITH A KEY.

654,000 vehicles affected

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.

Remedy: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.

325,000 vehicles affected

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.

3,600,000 vehicles affected

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

ROAD SALT INDUCED EROSION OF THE WIPER MOTOR CONDUCTOR STRIPS COULD CAUSE LOCALIZED THERMAL STRESS WITHIN THE GLASS.

Remedy: APPLY SEALANT TO CONDUCTOR STRIPS AND PROTECTIVE TAPE TO LOWER BACKLITES.

28,000 vehicles affected

VISIBILITY

THE RIGHT QUARTER WINDOWS MAY CONTAIN GLASS WHICH WAS IMPROPERLY TEMPERED. THIS GLASS MAY YIELD PIECES LARGER THAN THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED BY FMVSS 205, GLAZING MATERIAL. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THESE LARGE PIECES OF GLASS MAY SERIOUSLY INJURE THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR.

Remedy: REPLACE THE QUARTER WINDOWS CONTAINING DATE CODE 5 AF.

4,700 vehicles affected

STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

Remedy: IGNITION LOCK SWITCH CYLINDER WILL BE REPLACED.

4,500 vehicles affected

1986 AND 2005 FORD TAURUS RECALL FOR SPEED CONTROL. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE ANY AND ALL INFORMATION POSSIBLE ON THE RECALL FOR THE FORD TAURUS. *KB

CONSUMER INQUIRING INFORMATION CONCERNING THE SUBFRAME BODY MOUNTS RECALL AND THE ROTOR SEPARATION RECALL ON THE 1986 FORD TAURUS.*MR *NM

PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. NAR 07/02/2003. *MR THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY INTENTIONALLY SOLD DEFECTIVE VEHICLES TO CUSTOMERS. THE DEFECT IS THE TRANSMISSION, ACCORDING TO THE BULLETIN #94-24-7 THEY KNEW THAT DEFECTS EXISTED IN THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES 1986-95 FORD TAURUS, 1993-95 TAURUS SHO, 1986-95 MERCURY SABLE, 1988-94 CONTINENTAL AND 1995 WINDSTAR LIGHT TRUCK. THE CONSUMER HAS WRITTEN TO FORD EXPLAINING WHAT WAS FOUND AND TO DATE NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE STATEMENTS CONTAINED. *CB *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH FRONT LEFT MECHANISM WHICH HOLDS BRAKE SYSTEM FELL INSIDE THE WHEEL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE ALTERNATOR FAILED CAUSING THE BATTERY TO BE DRAINED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE REPEATEDLY BACKFIRED ALMOST CAUSING A FIRE. TS

ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY DIES WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP. I READ SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEING A POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION ITEM BUT HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT SINCE THEN. *AK

THERE WAS A RECALL I WAS TOLD ON THE 1984 & 1985 THE BOLTS BROKE, BUT NO RECALL ON 1986. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE GETS WARM IT WILL SHUT OFF WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A LIGHT OR WHEN STOPPING. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD STALL SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CAUSE WAS NOT FOUND BY THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT THE DANGER OF THE VEHICLE STALLING WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC. *YH

VEHICLE WILL STALL SUDDENLY. VEHICLE WILL NOT GO OVER 35 MPH AND AT THE SAME TIME THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL GO HIGH, AND BRAKES DO NOT HAVE FULL POWER.*AK

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITHIN 20 MINUTES OR MORE. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER AND INDEPENDENT REPAIRS SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TIRES WORE OUT QUICKLY MORE THAN 60 MPH. IT VIBRATES RIGHT TURN, MAKES RUBBING SOUND. *ET

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND OFF. *ET

REAR PASSENGER DOOR MAKES POPPING NOISES WHEN OPENING. *ET

WHILE DRIVING STOPPED AND TURNED CAR OFF. ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER, CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, FIRE WAS UNDER THE DASH, AND IT BURNED THE VISOR AND CARPET. *AK

Fire

WHEN INSTALLING A CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE REAR SEAT THE LAP BELTS DO NOT HOLD TIGHT. I HAVE CONTACTED VARIOUS DEALERS AS WELL AS FORD IN MICHIGAN, AND ALL THAT WAS SAID TO USE IS A LOCKING CLIP,THAT DOES NOT HOLD THAT TYPE OF BELT TIGHT. WE ARE ALSO INSTALLING THE TETHER SYSTEM IN OUR OWN VEHICLE AS THE DEALERSHIPS LOCALLY HAVE NEVER DONE THEM AND WANT TOO MUCH MONEY TO EXPERIMENT ON TYRING TO INSTALL ONE. WE WILL HAVE AN INFANT AND A 3 YEAR OLD IN THE REAR SEAT AND WE WANT THEM TO BE IN CORRCTLY BUT NO ONE HAS ONY ANSWERS.

THE ENGINE MOUNTS ARE LOOSE AT EACH 4 CORNERS. WOULD MAKE CLUNKING NOISES. WOULD STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WOULD SHAKE WHEN ACCELERATING. BEEN TO MECHANIC FOR PROBLEMS. *AK

POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKING. NLM

SUBFRAME REAR PLATE NUT FAILED PRIOR TO RECAL NOTICE (98S36). NLM

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED RECALL COMPONENT FAILURE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (98V-323). MJS

VEHICLE DENIED RECALL REPAIR DUE TO LACK OF PARTS (98V-323). MJS

NO SUMMARY

BUCKET SEAT KEPT FALLING OFF. *AK

4TH FAILURE/BURN OF IGNITION BOX IN STEERING COLUMN. NHTSA RECALLED 1988 AND NEWER VEHICLES, BUT THIS IS MY 4TH BURN. FORD REFUSES ASSISTANCE BECAUSE PARTS ARE NOT RECALLED, ONLY CARS, AND THIS CAR WAS NOT "INCLUDED" IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL.

NO SUMMARY

BODY MOUNTS FAILED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION / EXHAUST SYSTEM / POWER STEERING UNIT, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (98S36). *YC (98V-323)

ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN THE POWER STEERING ON MY CAR WAS INOPERABLE (ENGINE FAILURE) WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL I BENT THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FIRST TIME THE STEERING COLUMN BENT SO FAR THAT IT MADE STEERING IMPOSSIBLE. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD HAVE RENDERED ME HELPLESS TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE. WHEN I REMOVED THE STEERING COLUMN I DISCOVERED THE COLUMN DEFORMED APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH AT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK INSERT. THE COLUMN WAS UNABLE TO PASS OVER THE LOCK BOLT WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE "ON" POSITION. THIS EFFECTIVELY LOCKED THE STEERING COLUMN AND MADE THE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER.

TRANSMISSION GEARS WOULD STICK. THE MOTOR WOULD LIFT IN THE AIR. WOULD HEAR LOUD NOISES WHENEVER TURNING STEERING WHEEL. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP & WAS INFORMED MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BAD & WERE ABOUT TO FALL OFF. THEY WOULD NEED REPLACING. ALSO INFORMED THE STABILIZER SWAY BAR WAS GOING BAD. *AK

FRONT SUB-FRAME MOUNTS FAILURE, BARLEY AVIODED NUMEROUS HEAD ON COLLISIONS IN WET CONDITIONS, FRONT TENSION ARM METAL BUSHINGS FAILED, CAUSING DARTING ACCROSS CENTER LINE. MASSIVE TIRE WEAR, REPAIRS SHOPS OVERLOOKED CONDITION, ALTHOUGH WERE ALERTED AND TOLD TO FIND AND REPAIR. I HAVE A LONG LIST OF SAFETY HASARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE, AS MY MILEAGE IS APPROACHING 330,000.0 MILES. I KNOW THE VEHICLE VERY WELL & WOULD LIKE TO ADD MORE IN A LETTER. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO REPAIR THE FRONT SUB FRAME MOUNTS. THE DEALER I TAKE IT TO FOR RECALLS IS GATEWAY FORD AS LISTED IN QUESTIONAIRE, I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM AN INDIVIDUAL WITH APROX 56,000.0 MILES ON IT IN 1988. SINCERELY JERRY L NELSON. *AK

REAR CRADLE BOLTS BROKE, AND LET THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION COME DOWN. LOCKED THE STEERING LINKAGE. STEERING CABABILITY WAS LOST. DRIVING AT 25MPH, MANAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, CAN REPAIR VEHICLE FOR ONLY A SMALL FEE. *AK

CONSUMER UNABLE TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.

THE MALE PART OF SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE SNAPPED OFF THE STRAP. ALSO ONE OF THE BRACKETS ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THAT HOLDS THE BACK PART OF THE SEAT,BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAME. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROLBEM. THE PROBLEMS HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE STEERING GOT HARD AND THE CONSUMER COULDN'T STEER THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY CONSUMER KEPT ON HEARING SOME KNOCKING NOISE FOR TWO DAYS. WHEN THE CONSUMER FINALLY PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, WATER PUMP WENT OUT. *AK

ENGINE MOUNTS NEEDED REPLACED IN DECEMBER OF 1998. WE KNOW OF OTHER TAURUS OWNERS IN OUR AREA THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IN MARCH OF 1999 WE FOUND OUT THAT THESE ARE BEING RECALLED MOSTLY ON THE EAST COAST. WE FEEL THAT WE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED THE $400.00 AS WELL, SINCE THE PROBLEM IS OBVIOUSLY HAPPENING ON THE WEST COAST TOO.

THE VEHICLE HAS OVERHEATED SINCE CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE NEW. ALSO, VEHICLE JUMPS FORWARD WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HIT BUMP, CAUSING THE FRONT END TO FALL APART. POSSIBLE CAUSE DEFECTIVE LOWER REAR BODY MOUNTS. *AK

FRONT AND BACK PASSENGERS' DOOR HANDLES BROKE ON THE INSIDE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, ENCOUNTERED A DITCH IN ROAD, AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD NOT RESPOND AND MOVE. FRONTAL IMPACT OCCURRED AND VEHICLE HIT A POLE. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMAITON. *AK

Crash 2 injured

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE VIBRATES AND DIES OUT. WHEN STARTING VEHICLE BACK UP IT KEEPS CUTTING OFF. ALSO, THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE HAS NO SECOND GEAR, AND SLIPS AND JERKS INTO FIRST GEAR ALOT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND PARKING STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, CAUSING POOR STEERING FOR THE CONSUMER. *AK