1989 Ford Taurus Body & structure Problems

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)

NHTSA ID

10096398

Incident

Oct 7, 2004

Mileage

153,389 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10086192

Incident

Apr 17, 2000

Mileage

95,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10027262

Incident

Mar 1, 2003

Mileage

53,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

564957

BOTH REAR MOUNTING BOLTS ON SUBFRAME FAILED AT 15MPH. RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY. THERE WAS A VERY LOUD BANG, I WAS TURNING A CORNER WHEN THE COMPONENTS FAILED. IT WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE SAFELY. IT WAS AS IF THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. FURTHER CONTACT TO DEALER FOR RECALL ACTION IS FORTHCOMING AS THE VEHICLE IS UNDRIVABLE IN THIS CONDITION.

NHTSA ID

747335

Incident

Jun 24, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

555474

3 SETS OF MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED, THE MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. NLM

NHTSA ID

553705

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT (98V-323), WHICH CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS, CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH REPAIR INVOICE. *MJS

NHTSA ID

552681

Incident

Jan 20, 1999

THESE STRUTS ARE USED ON THE FRONT AND REAR OF MANY MAKES OF MODEL CARS, MY PHYSICIAN SAYS THAT HE SEES MANY INJURIES OF THESE STRUTS FAILING ON HOODS AND TRUNK LIDS. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BOTH BEEN INJURED BY THESE FAILURES

NHTSA ID

711247

Incident

Sep 12, 1999

THE RIGHT REAR MOUNTING BOLT ON THE SUBFRAME BROKE OFF WHERE IT SCREWS INTO THE MOUNTING PLATE IN THE BODY. THE STEERING ALIGNMENT AND TIGHTNESS WAS NEGATIVELY EFFECTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

719832

Incident

Feb 20, 2000

BOTH REAR DOORS ARE EXTREMELY HARD TO OPEN, FROM BOTH INSIDE AND OUT. THE DOORS ARE SO HARD TO OPEN THAT THE HANDLE ON THE LEFT REAR BROKE OFF. MY 10 YEAR OLD HAS TO PUSH ON THE DOOR WITH HER FEET TO GET IT OPEN. MY HUSBAND IS LARGE AND EVEN HE HAS A HARD TIME PULLING THE DOORS OPEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

716036

TAILGATE AJAR WARNING LAMP STAYED ON EVEN WHEN TAILGATE LOOKED SECURELY CLOSED AND COULD NOT BE OPENED WITHOUT KEY. THE BOLT IN THE VEHICLE BODY THAT THE TAILGATE LATCH LOCKS ONTO HAD SHIFTED POSITION DUE TO A ONE AND A HALF INCH TEAR IN THE BODY SHEET METAL THAT BOLT WAS ATTACHED TO. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

603374

Incident

Apr 15, 1997

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE REAR CORNER OF THE SUBFRAME BOLT BROKE, AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

852065

Incident

Oct 27, 1999

THE REAR SUBFRAME BOLTS PULLED THROUGH, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. ALSO THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION HAS DROPPED. DEALER SAID VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

848764

Incident

Sep 26, 1999

CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR A RECALL, AND DEALER ORDERED PARTS FOR THAT PROBLEM AND 4 OTHER RECALLS. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER NEVER CONTACTED HER BACK WHEN PARTS CAME IN. *AK

NHTSA ID

851059

Incident

Oct 18, 1999

SHOULDER BELTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE BROKE. ALSO, RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER'S TIRE KEEPS GOING FLAT, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE FIVE TO SIX TIMES. FINALLY, THERE IS SOME TYPE OF KNOCKING NOISE WITHIN THE SUBFRAME. *AK

NHTSA ID

847122

Incident

Jan 1, 1997

THE TAURUS IS THE WORST ENGINEERED CAR I HAVE EVER SEEN. - WFS

NHTSA ID

710070

Incident

Aug 6, 1996

RECALL REPAIR ON FAULTY BODY MOUNTS HAVE NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO DEALER PROBLEM. NLM (98V-323)

NHTSA ID

545798

Incident

Mar 11, 1999

CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL LETTER. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. RECALL NUMBER 98V323000, REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

838536

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98V323000 & CONTACTED AT LEAST 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS. WAS INFORMED BY EACH THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE & COULD NOT SET UP AN APPOINTMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

836710

Incident

Mar 31, 1999

RECALL 98V323000: RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE & NOTIFIED DEALER. WAS INFORMED NO PARTS AVAILABLE & WOULD CALL WHEN THEY ARRIVED. HAS BEEN WAITING OVER 2MONTHS & RECEIVED NO CALL. FINALLY CALLED DEALER & WAS INFORMED PARTS ON BACK ORDER FOR SUBFRAME. NOT SATISFIED WITH ANSWER. *AK

NHTSA ID

837811

Incident

Apr 17, 1999

WAS TOLD BY FORD MOTOR CO. AND PARTICIPATING DEALER THAT SUBFRAME RECALL IS NOT WHAT CAUSED THE UNSAFE CONDITION OF SAID VEHICLE, WAS TOLD I AM RESPONISBLE FOR ENTIRE REPAIR BILL. *AK

NHTSA ID

705854

Incident

Apr 20, 1999

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98V323000 & CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS & HAD REPAIRS DONE. ON THE 2ND DAY AFTER REPAIRS (26 MAR 99), THE SUBFRAME BROKE & DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. MANUFACTURER & DEALER WERE NOT PAYING FOR DAMAGE THAT OWNER DECLARES ARE AT FAULT & SHOULD PAY. OWNER FEELS THEY SHOULD SINCE RECALL CAUSED THE PROBLEM ANYWAY. WANTS TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THE RECALL REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID

836772

Incident

Mar 26, 1999

TURN SIGNALS AND BLOWER MOTOR STOP WORKING. THEN STARTS WORK AGAIN, THEN STOP, THEN START, FUSES ARE OK, POWER WINDOW PASSENGER'S SIDE STOPS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, ALSO, POWER SEAT DOESN'T WORK, INTERMITTENTLY. SEVERAL OTHE R ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE EVIDENT INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

704807

Incident

Jun 1, 1998

RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED PRIOR TO NOTICE ON THE REAR SUB-FRAME BODY MOUNTS (98S36).

NHTSA ID

544311

Incident

Sep 26, 1998