1989 FORD TAURUS Recalls, Complaints & Safety

THE BALL END BROKE OFF THE TIE ROD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE ATTEMPTED TO SECURE THE SEATBELT, THE ENTIRE SEATBELT BECAME DETACHED FROM THE ANCHORAGE CABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 215,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, HE NOTICED THAT WHEN HE TRIED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, HE WAS UNABLE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL USING THE BRAKE PEDAL. HE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN USING THE BRAKES BUT HAD TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY PUSHING THE OFF BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 96,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1989 FORD TAURUS GLS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TRIED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP TO 85 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF AS THE SPEED INCREASED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE.THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THEY NEVER WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE DUPLICATE FAILURE 2 YEARS LATER. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT REPORTED THE CRASH TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER INCIDENT BEFORE HER STATE CONSIDERED THE VEHICLE FAILURES UNDER THE LEMON LAW. THE CONTACT GAVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER ACCIDENTLY STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND UNEXPECTEDLY, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO BOTH THE BRAKE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDALS BEING POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Crash

HAVING TO MANY PROBLEMS WITH TIRE, HEATING, BRAKES, SUSPENSION I CHANGE THIS PARTS LIKE 3 TIMES. *TR

THIS WAS ON A 1989 FORD TAURUS L . AFTER REAR BRAKE REPAIRS THE BRAKE LINE FROM THE PROPORTIONING VALVE TO THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE HOSE SPRUNG A LEAK AND ALL BRAKING WAS LOST. DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE THIS BRAKE LINE LIKELY BROKE DUE TO YEARS OF CORROSION FROM ROAD SALTS AND OTHER SOURCES DURING BAD WEATHER. DUE TO SO MUCH POSSIBLE DAMAGE FROM CORROSION I HAVE DECIDED TO JUNK THE CAR. BUT IT WAS LIKELY THAT OTHER FORD TAURUS OWNERS MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. *AK

SUNDAY AT 11:45 AM, I LEFT MY HOUSE TO GO TO WORK AT WAL-MART. AT ABOUT 4:30 PM, A CUSTOMER AT WAL-MART CAME IN THE STORE AND TOLD US THAT A CAR WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. I WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE WHO CAR IT WAS. IT WAS MINE. IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE DASH. THE WHOLE DASH IS GONE. THE FIRE STARTED BY ELECTRICAL IN THE DASH. I HAVE THE REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I WAS ON IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE. *NM

Fire

WHILE DRIVING MY 1989 FORD TAURUS SEDAN AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 PM I EXPERIENCED AN APPARENT BLOWOUT OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. IN THE DARK, MY 13 YEAR OLD SON AND I CHANGED THE TIRE PUTTING ON THE TEMPORARY SPARE AND WE DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE LOCAL TIRE SHOP. THERE, OBSERVING THAT THE ORIGINAL TIRE WAS INCAPABLE OF BEING REPAIRED, I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT TIRE. AFTER MOUNTING THE NEW TIRE TO THE WHEEL, THE SHOP WAS UNABLE TO REPLACE THE WHEEL ONTO THE VEHICLE. THEY DISCOVERED A FRACTURED COIL SPRING ALONG WITH A DAMAGED STRUT AND OUTER TIE ROD. EVEN AFTER REPLACING THESE ITEMS (THEY DID BOTH SIDES SINCE THE OTHER EQUIPMENT WAS OF THE SAME VINTAGE) THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PLACE THE FRONT END FULLY INTO ALIGNMENT DUE TO FURTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE COIL SPRING. REPAIRS TO DATE HAVE COST ME $660.88. THE OLD PARTS (SPRINGS, STRUTS AND TIRE) ARE AVAILABLE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING MY 1989 FORD TAURUS, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG, AND THE CAR BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT NEAR ANY OTHER CARS, AND ONLY 1 BLOCK FROM HOME, SO WITH BRUTE FORCE I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR BACK TO MY DRIVEWAY. INSPECTION FOUND THAT BOTH REAR CORNERS OF THE SUB FRAME THAT THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, AND SUSPENSION HAD DROPPED DOWN, SEPERATED FROM MAIN CAR CHASSIS. I THOUGHT THIS WAS UNUSUAL, SO I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND OUT THAT FORD HAD ISSUED RECALL NOTICE 98S36 THAT DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. EVEN THOUGH I NOW LIVE IN TEXAS, I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 1990 IN NEW YORK, AND OWNED SINCE. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN IN NEW YORK FOR THE 1ST 4 YEARS I OWNED IT. THE RECALL DESCRIBES A SUBFRAME RUST PROBLEM FOR CARS DRIVEN IN STATES THAT USE SALT IN THE ROADS IN WINTER. I CONTACTED MY FORD DEALER REQUESTING MY CAR BE REPAIRED WITH A KIT OF PARTS THE IS SUPPLIED IN THE 98S36 RECALL. I EVEN OFFERED TO PAY. I WAS TOLD MY VIN IS NOT ON THE LIST FOR THIS RECALL, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I THEN CALL FORD DIRECTLY AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I ARGUED THAT MY CAR HAD THE EXACT FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE LETTER, AND IN SAME CONDITIONS, SO MY CAR MUST BE ON THE LIST. BUT FORD SAID NO, VIN IS NOT ON LIST, AND THERE NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME A TECHICAL REASON FOR THAT POSITION. MY ISSUES ARE; 1. IF FORD MISSED MY CAR IN IN RECALL NOTICE, THERE MUST STILL BE MANY FORD TAURUS'S DRIVING AT RISK OF AN ACCIDENT DUE THIS PROBLEM. 2. I WANT THE KIT OF PARTS THE COMES IN THE RECALL TO FIX MY CAR, SINCE THE CAR RUNS FINE AND IS GOOD CONDITION. THE VIN NUMBER OF THIS CAR IS: [XXX]. *AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

CAR TRAVELING 50 MPH DOWN A DRY DIRT ROAD, WITH NO REASON CAR ENDED UP SPINNING 5 TIMES AND BEING STOPPED BY A TREE. A LOUD THUMP WAS HEARD JUST PRIOR TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. INVESTIGATION DONE. ENGINE HAD DROPPED, COULD HAVE BEEN AT TIME OF IMPACT. I WONDER IF THIS AUTO EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN AN EARLIER RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN ATLANTA SUFFERS FROM THE SAME PROBLEMS AS OTHERS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. RECALL SAID SNOW SALTS CAUSED DETERIOTION OF SUBMOUNT BOLTS, FLORIDA SEACOAST WEATHER RUSTS BOLTS TOO.*AK

Crash 4 injured

WE HAVE A 1989 TAURUS W/OD TRANSMISSION THAT SHIFTS HARD AND ROUGH, ALSO THE FRONT AND REAR RATTLES AND SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL OFF. WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE RECALLS FOR THIS ON OUR VEHICLE. THE PAINT IS BLISTERING WITH ORANGE RUST COMING THROUGH, AND THE STEARING (POWER W/TILT) HAS A JERK IN IT. CAN YOU OR WILL YOU HELP ME WITH THESE DEFECTS?*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE THEN THE LEFT FRONT DROPPED TO THE GROUND. CONSUMER GOT OUT TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THE TIRE WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE RIM. VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A SHOP. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN OFF. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE COIL SPRING BROKE.*AK

THE FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT BACK TO THE LOCKING POSITION. TH DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED BUT THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *NM

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT ANCHORING CABLE BROKE FROM ITS ANCHOR. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE CABLE BROKE DUE TO EXTENSIVE WEAR AND TEAR. MANUFACTURER WOULD BE INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

I OWN VIN#[XXX] AND WENT FOR INSPECTION ON 8/8/03 AND FAILED EMISSION CONTROL#92E30 DUE TO A RECALL ON CATALYST#93E47 WHICH I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED .FORD NEVER NOTIFIED ME OF THIS BY LETTER EVER ! ALSO THIS HAS NEVER COME UP ON ANY OF MY PRIOR INSPECTIONS THEIR FOR I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS SINCE YOU NEVER SENT ANY INFORMATION OR RECEIVED A CALL FROM ANY ONE ON THIS MATTER AND NOW THIS HAS COME ABOUT AND I SHOULD NOT BE HELD LIABLE THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I DID MYSELF .I SHOULD HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND GIVEN THE SAME OPPORTUNITY AS OTHERS TO CORRECT THIS MATTER. PLEASE RESPONSE TO THIS MATTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS AND TELL ME HOW CAN I CORRECT THIS MATTER WITHOUT ANY FURTHER PROBLEM FOR ME OR YOUR COMPANY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH. DEALER NOTIFIED

I BOUGHT MY 1989 FORD TAURUS IN JUNE OF 2001. IN THE PAPERWORK FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNERS WAS INFO. ON A RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY DATED 4/98 REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH SEATBELT BUCKLES. I RECENTLY HAD DIFFICULTIES WITH MY SEATBELT BUCKLES AND TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS CONSEQUENTLY TOLD IT WAS WAY PASSED THE WARRANTY DATE EVEN BEFORE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. SO MY COMPLAINT IS HOW DO I GET THEM FIXED SINCE THIS CAN BECOME A SERIOUS MATTER IF I OR ANYONE ELSE GETS STUCK IN THE CAR, OR HAS FURTHER DIFFICULTIES EVEN FASTENING THE SEATBELT. I ALSO WAS NOTIFIED OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACING THE IGNITION MODULE TO SUBMIT YOUR RECEIPTS BY 10/02. I HOWEVER DIDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE IT UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND SUBMITTED THOSE RECEIPTS ANYWAY WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE WHAT SO EVER. I'VE ALSO NOT LONG AGO HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR MOUNTINGS FOR MY REAR SHOCKS AND SPRINGS AND THE FRONT NEED TO BE DONE AS WELL. DOES THIS QUALIFY IN THE RECALL OF THE SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER ID #94E36000? *AK I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO HOW A PERSON KNOWS TO LOOK FOR THESE RECALLS WHEN BUYING A VEHICLE. SHOULDN'T THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFY US?

THE CHASSIS MOUNTS ON THE REAR OF THE SUBFRAME CORRODED AND BROKE WHICH ALLOWED THE FRAME TO SEPARATE FRONT HE BODY. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *MR *CB *NLM

VEHICLES' ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. *MR

Fire

1989 FORD TAURUS LX. *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768109

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *NLM WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *MR

Fire

I HAVE A 1989 FORD TAURUS WITH AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE FOR 1 YEAR AND YESTERDAY WHEN IT WOULDN'T START, IT KEPT CRANKING ON IT'S OWN EVEN AFTER I PULLED THE KEY OUT. IT THEN STATRED SMOKING FROM UNDER THE DASH AND I HAD TO JUMP OUT AND DISCONECT THE BATTERY! FORD RECALLED EVERY OTHER MODEL FOR 1989 BUT MINE AND THE EXPLORER FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHY NOT MINE?

WHILE DRIVING APRX. 55MPH BACK PASSENGER TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICAL (SEDAN) AND GOING INTO A SPIN (TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 95S),(DOT: W2M0 R3B), (MODEL TYPE: STEEL BELTED RADIAL), (MAKE: FIRESTONE FR360). I HAVE 2 YOUNG CHILDREN THAT WHERE IN THE VEHICAL WITH ME. IN THE EVENT THAT I WAS NOT EXTREMLY WELL TRAINED IN DEFENSIVE DRIVING MY BELIEF IS THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ROLLED. THESE TIRES HAVE LESS THEN 400 MILES ON THEM. THE TWO FRONT TIRES ARE SHOWING BUBBLES ON SIDEWALL. DRIVER BACK TIRE HAS SEPERATION WHERE THE SIDEWALL MEETS THE TREAD,(THIS SEPERATION IS VERY THIN AND HARD TO SEE UNLESS YOU ARE AT EYE LEVEL WITH THE TIRE). I FIND THAT FIRESTONE HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THERE MANUFACTORING OF TIRES, SO THERFOR I WILL NO LONGER BE PURCHASING TIRES FROM THIS COMPANY IN THE FUTURE.

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING.*JB

Fire

WHILE DRIVING POWER BUCKET SEAT SOMEHOW DETACHED FROM FRAME/FLOOR? SEAT IS WOBBLING AROUND, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE VEHICLE DUE TO A MOUNTING BRACKET FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

ENGINE WOULD STALL WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. *SLC

SEATBELT BUCKLE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS VEHICLE, HOWEVER IN 1994 THE FRONT SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING AND THE BELT WOULD NO LONGER SECURE THE SEAT BELT, THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THE CONSUMERS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED, SO CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS, CONSUMER RECENTLY RECEIVED RECALL 98V323, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. YH

THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHILE DRIVING, AFTER WHICH BLACK SMOKE EMITS FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT STALLS OUT, POSSIBE ENGINE FAILURE. NLM

VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED CAUSE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK

Fire

CONSUMERS VEHICLE SUFFERED A BROKEN SUB-FRAME MOUNTS WHICH RENDERS THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. THERE IS A RECALL ON SUB-FRAME MOUNTS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *JG

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEATBELT WON'T STAY FASTENED, AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WON'T RETRACT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.AK

VEHICLE HAS HAD 2 BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. *JG

CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR MOUNTS ON HIS VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE MOTOR MOUNTS BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED DUE TO VIN. *JG

VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUOS PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATOR. *JG

CONSUMERS VEHICLE SUFFERED A BROKEN SUB-FRAME MOUNTS WHICH RENDERS THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. THERE IS A RECALL ON SUB-FRAME MOUNTS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *JG

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

JIM DANDY TRANSMISSION REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. NOW I HAVE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEARING LEAKING WHERE THERE WAS NO LEAKS AND THE POWER STEARING WORKED FINE BEFORE THEY WORKED ON MY TAURUS THEY ARE LOCATED ON CALLEN STREET IN VACAVILLE CA. PHONE 449-8282. I FEEL THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONDITIION THAT THE POWER STEARING IS IN NOW. TO REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION THEY DROP THE FRONT A FRAME MOTER AND ALL SO THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH THE POWER STEERING TO DO THIS TYPE OF REPAIR. IT WAS NOT LEAKING BEFORE WHY DO THEY THINK THEY SHOULD GIVE BACK TO ME LEAKING AND THEY HAVE BEEN PAYED 1,850 CASH FOR THE REPAIR. I DO WISH TO FILL A COMPLANT AGAINST JIM DANDY TRANSMISSION TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED CORRECTLLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HELP IN THI MATTER OR BE ABLE TO DIRECT ME TO THE PROPER PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP ME. *AK