1989 Ford Taurus Interior & seats Problems

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

NHTSA ID

8017774

WHEN THE SEAT BRACKETS FAILED I HAD JUST SAT DOWN IN THE VEHICLE I NOTIFIED THE FORD MOTER COMPANY OF THIS PROBLEM AND ALL THAT THEY SAID WAS THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THIS SERVES A SERIOUS RISK FORMY SELF AND MY FAMILY AND I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX TIS PROBLEM ON MY OWN. *AK

NHTSA ID

751794

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT SWITCH STUCK IN THE 'REAR-DIRECTION' POSITION. THE ELECTRIC MOTOR APPARENTLY OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE FOAM TO CATCH FIRE. THE AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER WASN'T SMART ENOUGH TO FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE, BUT THE UPHOLSTERER WAS, BECAUSE HE CALLED ME AND ASKED IF I WANTED THE OLD SWITCH PUT BACK ON THE NEW SEAT. I SAID NO. I STILL HAVE THE ENTIRE SEAT ASSEMBLY, INCLUDING THE SWITCH. FORD NEVER RESPONDED TO MY LETTER. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATE ON HAND, BUT THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 3.5 YEARS AGO. THANK YOU. THOMAS G. RUF. *AK

NHTSA ID

722411

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

THERE WAS NOT A FIRE IN THAT I COULD SEE FLAME BUT FAST ESCAPING SMOKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE IGNITION AND FROM THE FAR LEFT DASH RIGHT NEXT TO THE WINDSHEILD, I QUICKLY EVACUATED TWO YOUNG GIRLS FROM THE CAR IN CASE IT WENT INTO FLAMES. THE CAR WAS PURSHASED FROM MY BOYFRIEND AND HE KNEW THERE WAS TROUBLE WITH THE HEATER / BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT SINCE OCTOBER 1997. HE ALSO TOLD ME ABOUT THE LURCHING (LATER DETERMINATED) AS A MOTOR MOUNT PROBLEM BUT PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED BY A TRANSMISSION SHOP AS A BADLY SLIPPING TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED AFTER THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED. THE CAR IS AT YOUNG FORD IN CHARLOTTE BEING REPAIRED FOR THE APPARENT BURNED IGNITION AND MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND THEN A FRUTHER LOOK INTO THE HEATING PROBLEM AND ALSO ERRATIC GAS GAUGE, WHICH SOMTIMES SHOWS FULL WHEN I CAN STILL ADD 10 GALLONS OF GAS

NHTSA ID

712027

Incident

Jun 23, 1999

THE DRIVERS SEAT MOUNTING LUG BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FLOP BACKWARD AT EVERY START. THE PIECE IS A SMALL STAMPED METAL BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE SEAT FRAME TO THE FLOOR. THE BREAK IS ABOUT 2 INCH LONG. HALF THE BREAK IS SHINY AND HALF IS RUSTY, INDICATING THAT THE PART MAY HAVE BEEN PARTIALLY BROKEN WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED. THE SERVICE MGR SAYS HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS PART BROKEN, BUT FORD HAD A REPLACEMENT FOR THIS OBSCURE PART AVAILABLE LOCALLY. THERE ARE SEVERAL BREAKS IN THE SEAT MOUNTING ASSEMBLY. TOTAL COSTS FOR PARTS ALONE $435 + $145!

NHTSA ID

710521

Incident

Jul 10, 1999

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION SYSTEM, RECENTLY THE WIRING UNDER THE DASH STARTER TO SMOKE. MJS

NHTSA ID

545778

DRIVER'S POWER ADJUSTED SEAT FRAME BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO RELEASE FROM THE UPRIGHT POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ID

836364

Incident

Mar 25, 1999

CONSUMER'S SON DROVE VEHICLE TO SCHOOL AND PARKED VEHICLE ON THE LOT, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE HOOD TO DASHBOARD, IT WAS BURNED MORE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK

NHTSA ID

822452

Incident

Mar 10, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE HOOD FLEW UP AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. THE DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE HOOD TO FLY UP. *AK

NHTSA ID

825540

Incident

Jul 16, 1998

SEAT RAIL BROKE JUST ABOVE THE FRONT LEFT FLOOR BOLT ANCHOR POINT LEAVING THE SEAT ATTACHED AT ONLY THREE POINTS.

NHTSA ID

537709

Incident

Jul 1, 1997

DOORS OPEN WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

525025

THE SEAT CUSHION FRAME ON THE POWER SEATS SHEARS FROM THE BRACKET ATTACHING THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR. SHEARING OCCURS ON THE SEAT WHERE THE BOLT ATTACHES TO THE BRACKET. THIS IS THE SECOND INSTANCE OF THE METAL BREAKING AWAY FROM THE BOLT.

NHTSA ID

521865

Incident

Aug 1, 1997

SEAT BELT BUCKLE COMES UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

519520

SEATBACK ADJUSTER FAILURE/SEATBACK COLLAPSED BACK ALL THE WAY, CENTER HINGE PIVOT BROKE LOOSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

511446

Incident

Aug 21, 1996

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM CRACK OF HOOD RIGHT BY WINDSHIELD, TURNED OFF IGNITION, TOWED TO SERVICE STATION, DRIVER WARNED OF FIRE HAZARD.*AK

NHTSA ID

801897

Incident

Aug 30, 1996

WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCED SMOKE IN STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING WIRING HARNESS TO MELT ON FIVE OCCASIONS, DUE TO SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *AK HEAD LIGHTS FAILED ON FOUR OCCASIONS DUE TO THE FAULTY HARNESS AND STEERING COLUMN SWITCH. *SLC

NHTSA ID

985746

Incident

Nov 15, 1990

EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FIRE IN WIRING IN DRIVERS SIDE SEAT. *AK

NHTSA ID

984569

Incident

May 15, 1996

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE DASH TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. . *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

984550

Incident

May 2, 1996

STEERING COLUMN STARTED TO CATCH FIRE, IT STARTED SMOKING FROM THE DASH BOARD SO THE OWNER JUMP OUT THE CAR AND TOOK THE BATTERY OUT HAD THE CAR WORKED ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

979766