Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
26
Latest Jul 8, 1999
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 333 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
10
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1988 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 26 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming steering
The 25 most recent of 26, in the owner's own words
I HAVE SERVICE RECORDS DOCUMENTING ALL FAILURES AND I SEE FROM NUMEROUS WEBSITES THAT OTHER TAURUS CUSTOMERS ARE FURIOUS AT MANY PROBLEMS OF THIS CAR. ADVERTISING BY FORD SEEMS ALMOST FRAUDULENT AND BASED ON NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REPORTED TO THEM I BELIEVE THIS CONSTITUTES DELIBERATE FRAUD. THOSE OF US WHO HAVE INTEGRITY HAVEN'T PASSED OUR LEMON CARS ON TO OTHER POOR IGNORANT SOULS BUT THE ENTIRE OWNERSHIP PERIOD OF THIS FORD TAURUS HAS CAUSED ME TO SUFFER SEVERE DEPRESSION AND STRESS AND HAS CAUSED INJURY ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS. I'M AT THE POINT OF JUST DONATING THE CAR TO CHARITY FOR PARTS BUT I INTEND TO BECOME VOCIFEROUSLY INVOLVED IN LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD. NO WONDER THE TAURUS IS NO LONGER THE BEST SELLING CAR IN AMERICA. BUT I THINK IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET FORD FOR THIS. THEIR BEHAVIOR IS UNACCEPTABLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK
NHTSA ID
708365
Incident
Aug 30, 1996
Steering
Filed Jun 20, 1999
POWER STEERING HOSE ARE TO CLOSE TO ENGINE MANIFOLD THREE TIMES THEY MELTED CAUSING FLUID TO BE LOST AND STEERING FAILURE ONE TIME A HOSE BROKE CAUSING A FIRE THE HARNESS HAD TO BE REPAIRED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF FLUID STARVATION THE HOSE WERE PLACED AWAY FROM MANIFOLD AFTER GREAT EXPENSE SOME ONE COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED ARE KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS
NHTSA ID
707702
Incident
Jun 11, 1999
Steering
Filed Feb 16, 1999
Fire reported
A FIRE STARTED WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO LEAKAGE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
834843
Steering
Filed Jan 28, 1999
Crash reported
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A POLE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
NHTSA ID
834204
Fuel systemSteeringTransmission
Filed Nov 24, 1997
TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLIPPING SINCE OWNING VEHICLE. ALSO FUEL PUMP FAILED TWICE, AND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED ONCE. *AKE
NHTSA ID
523481
Incident
Aug 1, 1997
Steering
Filed Sep 17, 1997
Crash reported3 injuries reported
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL AT 60 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR NO REASON, CAUSING OWNER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
NHTSA ID
816415
EngineSteering
Filed Jan 10, 1997
Fire reported
POWER STEERING LINE ROUTED OVER CATALYTIC CONVERTER, POSING RISK OF FIRE IF HEAT FROM CONVERTER EFFECTS RUBBER LINE.
NHTSA ID
513622
Steering
Filed Dec 20, 1996
Fire reported
POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKED FLUID RESULTING IN FIRE.
NHTSA ID
513803
Incident
Sep 18, 1995
Steering
Filed Dec 13, 1996
FAILURE OF THE STEERING COLUMN, THE HIGH PRESSURE LINE IS LEAKING FLUID, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE LINE . *AK
NHTSA ID
806334
Incident
Jul 1, 1996
Steering
Filed Nov 6, 1996
Fire reported
FLUID LEAK IN ONE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE, POWER STEERING HOSES, CAUSING FIRE.
NHTSA ID
511110
Incident
Sep 18, 1995
EngineSteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 23, 1996
REPLACED ENGINE MOUNTS, ALSO REPLACED REAR SPRINGS AND RUSTED FRONT SPINDLES. *AK
NHTSA ID
510499
Incident
Oct 1, 1996
Steering
Filed Aug 27, 1996
Fire reported
PARKED VEHICLE AND STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE AND TOTALED CAR. *AK
NHTSA ID
801346
Incident
Aug 17, 1996
Steering
Filed Jul 29, 1996
DISTORTED STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN. *AK
NHTSA ID
800101
Steering
Filed Jul 10, 1996
Fire reported
CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. POWER STEERING RETURN LINE WAS LEAKING AND STARTED FIRE. *AK
NHTSA ID
986697
Incident
Jul 5, 1996
Heating & air conditioningElectricalFuel system+3 more
Filed Apr 24, 1996
TIE ROD ENDS FAILED SIX TIMES.
NHTSA ID
601396
Incident
Apr 24, 1996
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Nov 16, 1995
WATER PUMP BROKE. *SD
NHTSA ID
487690
Incident
Nov 16, 1995
Steering
Filed Oct 25, 1995
THE STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE TURNING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA ID
973919
Incident
Sep 30, 1995
Steering
Filed Sep 8, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT LANE INTO A ROAD DIVIDER, POSSIBLE DUE TO DEFECT IN STEERING MECHANISM. TT
NHTSA ID
971796
Incident
Sep 1, 1995
Steering
Filed Aug 11, 1995
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED THREE TIMES. *DH
NHTSA ID
484952
Incident
Jun 1, 1995
Body & structureSteering
Filed Aug 1, 1995
THE SUBFRAME MOUNTING BOLTS PULLED OUT AND CAUSED THE CAR TO LOSS STEERING WHILE DRIVING. TT RECALL 93V106, HOWEVER CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE IT WAS TOO OLD. *SLC
NHTSA ID
969649
Incident
Jul 31, 1995
Steering
Filed Apr 17, 1995
WHILE DRIVING TIE ROD BROKE, LOSS CONTROL OF CAR. TT
NHTSA ID
963902
Incident
Apr 14, 1995
Steering
Filed Apr 3, 1995
SOMETHING FAILED IN STEERING MECHANISM WHILE DRY STEERING, RESULTING IN VIBRATION WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED/HELD, FEELS AS IF CAR DOES NOT HAVE POWER STEERING. *DH
NHTSA ID
482676
Incident
Jan 1, 1991
Steering
Filed Mar 24, 1995
Crash reported
STEERING LOCKUP WHILE DRIVING SPEED 10MPH,IMPACT 12:00 POSITION. TT
NHTSA ID
962526
Incident
Mar 24, 1995
Steering
Filed Mar 23, 1995
TIE RODS RUSTED, HAD THEM REPLACED. TT
NHTSA ID
962489
Steering
Filed Mar 13, 1995
TWO POWER STEERING LINES RUN PARALLEL; ONE LINE HAS A FITTING WHICH RUBS AGASINST OTHER LINE, CAUSING STEERING FLUID TO LEAK. *AK
NHTSA ID
961804
Incident
Oct 1, 1994
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own