1995 FORD TAURUS Recalls, Complaints & Safety

THIS PAST SUNDAY, ON JUNE 11, 2017 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A GRADUATION PARTY AND THERE WAS A LOUD "POW" ONCE I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP. MY STEERING WAS VERY STIFF (AS IF I WAS DRIVING AN ANCIENT LARGE TRUCK WITH NO POWER STEERING, ALSO MY EXHAUST SYSTEM AT LEAST PARTIALLY CAME UNDUN. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CRIPPLED CAR TO OUR REGULAR REPAIR SHOP, WHO TOLD ME THAT I HAD A SUBFRAME RUST-COLLAPSE. I HAD TALKED TO A SHADETREE MECHANIC FRIEND, WHO SAID THAT IT WASN'T AN ACTUAL SUBFRAME COLLAPSE, BUT THE NEXT LAYER UP, THE ENGINE CRADLE WHOSE SLEEVES ARE NO THICKER STEEL THAN THE UNIBODY SHEETMETAL. ONE OF THE SLEEVES RUSTED THROUGH. SUPPOSEDLY THE ENGINE CRADLE SLEEVES ARE REMOVABLE/OR THE CRADLE ITSELF. MY MECHANIC FRIEND AND THE TOW FELLOW THAT BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO MY HOME, BOTH SAID THAT WHAT HAPPENED IS QUITE RARE, THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH AN INCIDENT. THE CRADLE RUST THROUGH CAUSED MY FRONT SUBFRAME TO PARTIALLY COLLAPSE AND THE ENGINE IS TILTED DOWN ON THE RIGHT-FRONT. THIS DISCONNECTED THE EXHAUST AND BOUND-UP MY RACK-AND-PINION STEERING, RENDERING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS CAR IS NOT A RUST-BUCKET, NO RUSTY BODY PANEL HOLES, AND EVERYTHING ELSE STILL WORKS! JUST THE PAINT AND CLEARCOAT ARE FLAKING-OFF. I HAVE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND SEARCHED LOCAL SALVAGE YARDS, BUT CANNOT FIND A GOOD ENGINE CRADLE/SLEEVES. YET, THERE ARE SCADS OF GOOD TAURUS ENGINES CHEAPLY AVAILABLE. WHY DIDN'T FORD OFFER REPLACEMENT ENGINE CRADLE/SLEEVES? WAS THERE NO RECALL? I'D BET I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON THIS HAPPENED TO!! I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS CAR FIXED! I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE SUBFRAME FALLEN AFTER THE ENGINE CRADLE FAILURE. PLEASE SEND ME AN E-MAIL ADDRESS I CAN UPLOAD THEM TO. I LOSE THIS PAGE IF I TRY TO UPLOAD HERE (4TH TIME!)

SUB FRAME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME MOUNTED BOLTS FRACTURED WHEN DRIVING OVER AN UNLEVELED ROAD. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME, THE FRONT MOUNT BOLTS, THE REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND THE ENGINE CRADLE FRACTURED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V323000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 239,000.

BRAKE LINES AT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WALL FROM THE ABS PUMP RUSTED THROUGH DURING VEHICLE OPERATION CAUSING LOSS OF FLUID AND ABILITY TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE. *JS

I WAS DRIVING ALONG WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A BIG BANG CAR SLAMMED PAVEMENT BEGAN TO SWERVE. STARTED SMOKING OFF BURNED RUBBER TIRE POPPED AN CAR WAS BROKE DOWN WHEEL DANGLING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE UNDER CARRIAGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE UNDER CARRIAGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

MY 1995 TAURUS EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE LOWER SUB-FRAME MOUNT RETAINER PLATE. THE RETAINER PLATE HAD BECOME SEVERELY CORRODED OVER TIME AND THIS CORROSION HAD WEAKENED THE RETAINER PLATE ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE BOLT HEAD TO PULL THROUGH THE RETAINER PLATE. THIS FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO MOISTURE FROM NORMAL PRECIPITATION AND CONSISTENT WITH THE FAILURE DETAILED IN THE REASONS FOR RECALL SECTION OF SERVICE RECALL BULLETIN 98S36. THE FORD RECALL BULLETIN STATES THE RETAINING PLATE NUT BECOMES SEVERELY CORRODED FROM LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS AND RETENTION OF MOISTURE IN THE MOUNTS. DUE TO CORROSION, MY 1995 TAURUS EXPERIENCED THAT SAME FAILURE BUT THE CORROSION WAS NOT CAUSED BY ROAD SALTS. ALTHOUGH THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT SLOW SPEED, STEERING WAS AFFECTED. HAD THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT HIGH-SPEED OR WHILE CROSSING A SLIGHT BUMP OR DIP IN ROAD SURFACE, STEERING COULD HAVE BECOME DIFFICULT, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A CAUSE OF CONCERN FOR OTHER 1986-1995 TAURUS AND SABLE VEHICLES STILL IN SERVICE. BECAUSE MY VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REGISTERED IN ANY OF THE STATES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, MY REQUEST TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE IN THE RECALL WAS DENIED. NHTSA RECALL 98V323000 WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE FROM OCCURRING. HAD THIS VEHICLE BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS SAFETY RECALL, THIS FAILURE WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS FAILURE IS ALSO CAUSED BY CORROSION DUE TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO MOISTURE FROM NORMAL PRECIPITATION AND NOT EXCLUSIVE TO ROAD SALTS. THUS, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 98V323000 SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO ONLY STATES WHERE ROAD SALTS ARE USED. THEREFORE, I AM REQUESTING FORD MOTOR COMPANY BE REQUIRED TO EXPAND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 98V323000 TO COVER VEHICLES REGISTERED IN STATES WHERE LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO MOISTURE FROM NORMAL PRECIPITATION IS A FACTOR. *TR

ARRIVING HOME, I PARKED THE CAR IN OUR ATTACHED GARAGE. I WENT INTO THE GARAGE AND I NOTICED THE SMELL OF SOMETHING HOT OR SHORTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I BACKED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. THE NEXT DAY, I RECONNECTED THE BATTERY AND NO LONGER NOTICED THE SMELL. I DROVE IT AND THERE WAS NO MORE ODOR. THE SPEED CONTROL FAILED TO OPERATE, AND THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ON THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE 3 AMP FUSE IN THE WIRNG HARNESS WAS BLOWN, BUT ONLY AFTER COMING CLOSE TO STARTING A FIRE. FORD HAS A HISTORY OF SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ON THE WIRING HARNESS AND CAUSING FIRES. THIS CAR WAS RECALLED IN 2007 TO INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS WITH A 3 AMP FUSE BETWEEN THE SWITCH AND THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO WHERE IT OFFERED NO PROTECTION. THE CAR WAS RECALLED AGAIN IN 2008 TO REPLACE THE FIRST WIRING HARNESS WITH ONE HAVING THE FUSE AHEAD OF THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE 3 AMP FUSE IN SERIES WITH THE 15 AMP FUSE IS FAR LESS LIKELY TO CAUSE A FIRE THAN HAVING ONLY THE 15 AMP FUSE. NEVERTHELESS, I CAME CLOSE TO HAVING A MAJOR FIRE IN OUR HOME WHILE WE WERE INSIDE HAD I NOT NOTICED THE PROBLEM. THE 3 AMP FUSE DID ITS JOB, BUT THERE WAS ENOUGH BRAKE FLUID AND HEAT TO POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE LEAKING SWITCH AND THE FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THEY CHARGED ME $177.03 FOR THE REPAIR. FORD HAS RECALLED ABOUT 10 MILLION VEHICLES TO ADD THE FUSE, BUT I AM CONVINCED THAT THE DESIGN IS STILL UNSAFE BECAUSE 3 AMPS COULD STILL IGNITE BRAKE FLUID, I HOPE THIS NOTE MAY SAVE OTHERS FROM SERIOUS PROBLEMS, AS MORE OF THESE PRESSURE SWITCHES WILL FAIL WITH AGE AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID ON THE CONTINUOUSLY ENERGIZED WIRING HARNESS. THE 3 AMP FUSES MAY NOT ALWAYS BLOW SOON ENOUGH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, FLAMES EMITTED FROM THE HOOD, COVERING THE WINDSHIELD. THE COOLANT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED HAT THE RADIATOR AND ELECTRONIC WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 19,000.

Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, FLAMES EMITTED FROM THE HOOD, COVERING THE WINDSHIELD. THE COOLANT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED HAT THE RADIATOR AND ELECTRONIC WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 19,000.

Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. WHILE ACCELERATING, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD ABNORMALLY TURN AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION AND A DETACHMENT OF BOLTS IN THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V323000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS) RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SUB-FRAME MOUNT DROPPED CAUSING A CLANKING SOUND WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 98V323000 ( STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS) WHO STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IN 2001. THE CONTACT STATED THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NEVER PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE SINCE THERE WERE NO NEW BOLTS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

DRIVING AT 65MPH ON THE FREEWAY, MY CAR STARTED TO VIBRATE BAD AND THEN THE RIGHT BACK TIRE BLEW OUT A FEW MINUTES LATER. THE TIRE WAS FAIRLY NEW AND IN GREAT SHAPE WITH GREAT TREAD STILL ALL AROUND IT. WE REPLACED THE TIRE. *TR

IT WAS DISCOVERED IN 2005 THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN NEAR THE BOTTOM ON MY 1995 FORD TAURUS. A PORTION OF THE COIL SLIPPED PAST THE BOTTOM SUPPORT OF THE STRUT LEAVING THE SHARP BROKEN EDGE ABOUT 1/4 INCH FROM THE TIRE. IT IS ESPECIALLY WORRISOME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THIS SHARP EDGE WILL PROBABLY PUNCTURE THE TIRE IF THE COIL SPRING SLIPS FURTHER, PAST THE BOTTOM SUPPORT OF THE STRUT. THIS WOULD IMMEDIATELY STOP THE ROTATION OF THE TIRE. AS AN IMPROVEMENT TO THE SITUATION, THE PORTION OF THE BROKEN COIL SPRING NEAR THE TIRE WAS GROUND DOWN GIVING IT ABOUT 1/2 INCH CLEARANCE FROM THE TIRE. THE COIL SPRINGS HAVE NOT YET BEEN REPLACED, BUT REPLACEMENT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 125,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN ON ASPHALT AND CONCRETE ROADS IN AVERAGE CONDITION. COIL SPRINGS SHOULD NOT FAIL IF A CAR IS DRIVEN USING NORMAL CARE. IT WAS DISCOVERED IN 2010 THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN NEAR THE TOP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE FROM AN INDEPENDENT PARTY, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE STRUT WAS BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SUBFRAME WAS BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,412,622.

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). 1995 FORD TAURUS,FAN MOTOR FROZE, FORD SAID THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE CIRCUIT BREAKER BUT NOT THE FAN WHICH IS NOW FROZE UP AGAIN DUE TO MILEAGE (142,000). I'VE REPLACED MOTOR NO LESS THAN THREE TIMES SINCE 1997 BEFORE FINDING OUT ABOUT RECALL. ALSO I'VE REPLACED A REAR MOTOR MOUNT TWO TO FOUR TIMES SINCE 1997. A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE BOUGHT OR BUILT IN CERTAIN OTHER STATES HAVE RECALLS ON WHAT SOUNDS TO BE THIS SAME PROBLEM CAUSES ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO FALL CAUSING ACCIDENT. FORD WILL NOT FIX. COULD I GET HELP FROM YOU IN ORDER TO GET FORD TO REPAIR THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS. [XXX] *TR

98V323000 THIS IS THE RECALL ID I HAVE THIS CAR AND THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT IS BROKE THE NUT THAT HOLDS THE BOLT BROKE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 TO 10 MILES PER HOUR THERE WAS A LOUD BANGING NOISE AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE ENGINE FELL ON THE GROUND. HE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE AS THE PARTS BEGAN TO FALL OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNTS ON THE REAR CORNER OF THE SUB FRAME FELL OFF AND THE REPAIR COST WAS $617 . HE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULDN'T OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 98V323000, STRUCTURE, FRAME AND MEMBERS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 138000. UPDATED 12/30/09. *LJ ALSO, THE POWER STEERING WAS INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 12/30/09. *JB

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUB FRAME DETACHED, WHICH CAUSED THE SUB FRAME TO DROP.AS A CONSEQUENCE THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT, THUS AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL# 98V323000 (STRUCTURE; FRAME AND MEMBERS). UPON CONTACT A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT BECAUSE HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RANGE HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 79,331.

PURCHASED 2 FIRESTONE FR 380 ON 7/21/09 AND HAD THEM PUT ON REAR.ON 7/28/09 WHILE TRAVELING ON FREEWAY AT 70MPH SUDDENLY DRIVER REAR TIRE FAILED. PEOPLE IN CAR BEHIND REPORTED TIRE SUDDENLY WENT FLAT AND HUB CAP FLEW OFF. DAUGHTER LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND WENT INTO DITCH AND ALMOST FLIPPED HIT MANY SMALL TREES 1 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER CAR CAME TO A STOP PASSENGERS NOT HURT. *TR

Crash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING. THE DAY BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DRIVER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V323000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

OUTER TIE RODS GONE BAD AT 80,000KM SPEEDOMETER JUMPS AT 60,000KM FRONT POWER WINDOWS GONE BAD AT 90,000KM I ONLY HAVE 96,000KM ON MY 1995 FORD TAURUS SE ITS NOW 2009. *TR

THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SPRINGS FAILED AFTER NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED ON THE FRONT TWO WHEELS. BOTH SPRINGS SNAPPED IN HALF AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS NOTICED BEFORE I DROVE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, HOWEVER THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT IS VERY HIGH CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD. *TR

THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION BROKE AT THE CENTER OF THE SPRING CAUSING THE FRACTURED COIL TO SNAP OUT AND CONTACT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE SIDE WALL. THIS CONDITION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DROP FROM THE LOSS OF SUPPORT OF THE SPRING AND THEN THE VEHICLE FURTHER DROPPED FROM THE SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE. THE END RESULT WAS A TIRE THAT WAS LOCKED UP AND A UN-CONTROLLED SPIN OUT OVER A DITCH THAT WAS OVERFILLED WITH WATER RUNOFF FROM A CURRENT HEAVY STORM . THE DITCH WAS ABOUT 8 FEET DEEP AND THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED OVER THE WATER. MY BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME AND STATED THAT THIS WAS AN EVER INCREASING OR RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE MANY FRONT SPRINGS ON THIS SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE, A FORD TAURUS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON A HOT DAY ENGINE STALLED. WOULD NOT START. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, IT STARTED AND WOULD ONLY ROUGH IDLE. AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS CAME BACK AND CAR STARTED AND RAN FINE. DID THIS ONCE A COUPLE YEARS AGO WITH WIFE DRIVING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY WITH THE STEERING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY DISCOVERED EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON BOTH REAR CORNERS OF THE FRAME. IN ADDITION, THE SUBFRAME DROPPED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V323000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS). THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 64,980.

TRANSMISSION - CAR DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. IT JUST STOPPED SUDDENLY. *TR

I TOOK MY CAR INTO A GARAGE, AND THEY TOLD ME THE REAR CORNERS OF CRADLE MOUNT ARE RUSTED SO BADLY, THE MECHANIC COULD PUT HIS FINGER THROUGH THE HOLES. HE SAID IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY. THAT IF I HIT A BIG BUMP, THE REAR CORNERS WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED COULD BREAK AWAY AND ONLY THE FRONT MOUNTS WOULD BE HOLDING IT. I SAW ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD, AND THEY SAID THAT EVEN THOUGH MY CAR MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR WAS LISTED, MY CAR WASN'T INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL, BUT THEY OFFERED TO SELL ME A NEW CAR INSTEAD OF REPAIRING IT. MY CAR IS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. WHILE MAKING A TURN, A BOLT DETACHED FROM THE SUBFRAME. AS A RESULT, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AND AFFECTED THE CONTACT'S CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE FORD DEALER, BUT IT HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V323000 (STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS). THE SPEED AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

DRIVING VEHICLE NORMAL, MAKING RIGHT HAND TURN, HEARD LOUD THUMB WHICH VIBRATED THREW FLOOR BOARDS. CONTINUED DRIVING UNTIL A SUITABLE PLACE WAS FOUND TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER (WORK APROX .75 MILES FROM INCIDENT). CALLED FAMILY MEMBER TO LOOK AT VEHICLE. DAMAGE NOTICED: REAR RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) SUBFRAME/ENGINE CRADLE HAD RUSTED TO THE POINT THE SECURING ELEMENTS HAD DISINTEGRATED AND ALLOWED THE SUBFRAME/CRADLE TO DROP DOWN. THIS RESULTED IN A VEHICLE WHICH IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE STEERING WHEEL ALIGNMENT TO BE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT BY EST. 10 DEGREES RIGHT. SEVERAL SEARCHES ON THE NET INDICATE LIKE PROBLEMS WITH SAME VEHICLE MODEL AND YEAR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 98V323000, HOWEVER FORD CUSTOMER HOTLINE CLAIMS THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ALTHOUGH THE MODEL AND YEAR ARE IDENTICAL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 15-20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND A LOSS OF STEERING. THE ENGINE FELL AND LANDED ON THE STEERING RODS, WHICH MADE IT EXTREMELY IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS NOT WORTH THE REPAIR, AND WOULD NOT RECOMMEND INVESTING MONEY INTO THE VEHICLE. A WEEK PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT A LOCAL MIDAS INSTALLED A NEW MUFFLER. THERE WERE SEVERAL RECALLS LISTED FOR THAT YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE AND FORD WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS ONLY ONE RECALL FOR THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE, BUT IN REALITY, THERE WERE SIX. FORD ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL ON OCTOBER 6, 1999. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE OR HAVE ANY REPAIRS PERFORMED AT THE LOCATION THEY CLAIMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 103,013. UPDATED 08/04/08 *BF UPDATED 08/07/08