RoadVitals

1991 Ford Taurus Steering Problems

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.
76
Latest May 11, 2010
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.
12%
of 649 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.
8
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

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 1991 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 76 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 76, in the owner's own words

Browse every complaint
Steering
Filed May 11, 2010
Fire reported

A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK NEAR THE RACK RESULTED IN A FIRE, WHICH DESTROYED THE VEHICLE, AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10329836
Incident
May 10, 2010
Mileage
148,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 15, 2002

POWER STEERING IS HARD TO STEER AT LOW SPEEDS. WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATES FASTER STEERING LOOSENS. FORD WAS NOT NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8009942
Incident
May 14, 2002
Steering
Filed Jun 21, 2001

RECALL 98V323/ SUBFRAME BOLT CORROSION. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER, TOOK IT TO DEALER, AND BOLTS WERE REPLACED.ON JUNE 15TH, MOUNTING BRACKET BROKE, AND CONSUMER COULD NOT STEER VEHICLE/ LOST CONTROL. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
890938
Incident
Feb 10, 2000
AirbagsElectricalSteering
Filed Feb 5, 2001

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATING ON DASH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER NOTICED WIRING HARNESS HAD SHORT CIRCUITED, CAUSING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. ALSO, EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
879770
Steering
Filed Jan 28, 2001

STEERING RACK WAS LOOSE AND FELL OFF. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS MODEL HAS HAD A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING RACKS.*AK

NHTSA ID
740036
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Jan 23, 2001

FRONT BRAKES AND BACK BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THE FAILED, VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP. ROTORS/CALIPERS/ DRUMS SHOE PADS WERE DEFECTIVE. ALSO, RADIATOR/ OIL PAN, AND STEERING POWER ASSIST: HOSE: FLUID WERE LEAKING. AND DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
878876
Incident
Jan 8, 2001
Heating & air conditioningSteering
Filed Jan 17, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND SUDDENLY SOMETHING INSIDE OF STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE, AND CAR WAS STUCK. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. STEERING BELT BROKE AND A/C COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP THAT WAS WHY STEERING COLUMN WOULDN'T MOVE. *AK

NHTSA ID
878350
Steering
Filed Jan 9, 2001

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE TIE ROD SNAPPED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, THE CAR TURNED INTO A CURB AND STOPPED. NLM

NHTSA ID
558773
Incident
Dec 28, 2000
Steering
Filed Mar 1, 2000
Fire reported

CAR WAS PARKED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE POWER STEERING HOSE THAT CAUSED SMOKE TO COME INTO THE CAR. CONSUMER CLIMBED UNDER THE CAR WHILE SOMEONE ELSE TURNED THE WHEEL AND A FLAMES SPARKED, CAUSING A FIRE. CAR WAS TOTALLED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
857713
Incident
Oct 12, 1999
Steering
Filed Feb 17, 2000

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, INNER TIE ROD END FRACTURED AT THE ATTACHMENT POINT OF BALL JOINT TO TIE ROD, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND RUPTURE OF FUEL LINE RESULTING IN A MASSIVE FUEL LEAK. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AND REPAIRED. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *ML

NHTSA ID
857158
Incident
Sep 4, 1999
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+5 more
Filed Dec 16, 1999

TIRES FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID
550008
Steering
Filed Nov 3, 1999

CONSUMER LOSES STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT OR PARKING. STEERING WILL JUST LOCK. IF CONSUMER TRIED TO TURN AND MAY MAKE A 360 DEGREE BECAUSE CAR WILL NOT TURN, THIS COULD HURT SOMEONE. *AK

NHTSA ID
852473
Incident
Nov 1, 1999
BrakesSteering
Filed Oct 29, 1999

BRAKES WILL LOCK AT RANDOM (USUALLY WHEN HOT), POWER ASSIT BLEW OUT HIGH PRESSURE LINE CONNECTION

NHTSA ID
714051
Incident
Oct 26, 1999
Steering
Filed Sep 3, 1999
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED DUE TO A POWER STEERING LEAK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
846709
Incident
May 17, 1999
Heating & air conditioningSteeringSuspension+1 more
Filed Sep 2, 1999

AT 53699 MILES, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT PULL, DEALER REMOVED AND OVERHAULED TRANSACLE AND REPLACED BOTH OUTER CV BOOTS, 3 MONTHS LATER MORE PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE TRANSMISSION. AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AND 4 MONTHS LATER FAILED AGAIN AFTER REPAIR. POPPING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING. STRUT BUSHINGS NOISY AND TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
843754
Incident
May 5, 1999
EngineInterior & seatsSteering
Filed Feb 26, 1999

MY MOTOR MOUNTS, TIE RODS, AND CV BOOTS WENT BAD. THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND TIE RODS I FEEL WENT OUT WAY TO SOON FOR ANY CAR. THIS CAR WAS GIVEN TLC BEFORE I HAD IT B/C IT WAS MY GRANDMA'S. MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKS ARE WORKING IMPROPERLY. THEY ARE EXTREMELY HARD TO OPEN WITH FINGERS. YOU HAVE TO PULL THE DOOR HANDLE FROM THE INSIDE USUALLY TO GET IT.

NHTSA ID
703778
Incident
Dec 18, 1998
Steering
Filed Jan 29, 1999

FRONT RIGHT WHEEL STOPPED RESPONDING TO STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. COULD BE FATAL IF HAPPENS IN HIGHWAY BECAUSE ONLY ONE WHEEL WOULD RESPOND TO STEERING WHEEL. I'M ONLY DRIVER TO THIS CAR - PURCHASE NEW FROM SHEEHY'S FORD-ALL REPAIRS DONE ONLY AT DEALER- NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT NOR A TRAFFIC TICKET-NEVER DRIVE CAR FASTER THAN 65 M/H-CAR WAS AT DEALER 2 MONTHS BEFORE BECAUSE IT HAD LOST A MOTOR SUPPORTING NUT-SAME DEALER WHO FIXED THIS TIME=JERRY'S FORD.- THANK YOU- LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID
702703
Incident
Jan 16, 1999
Body & structureBrakesEngine+1 more
Filed Jan 26, 1999

I HAVE FAILED TO UNDERSTAND WHY ALL I HAVE HAD WITH MY VEHICLE WAS PROBLEMS TILL THIS DAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
702618
Incident
Mar 1, 1998
Body & structureEnginePowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Jan 20, 1999

MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED AS WELL AS THE AXLES AS A DIRECT RESULT OF RECALL ON SUBFRAMES, CAUSING DIFFICULT STEERING.

NHTSA ID
543436
Incident
Nov 27, 1998
Steering
Filed Dec 9, 1998

RECALL 93V106002. VEHICLE MADE A CLUNCKING SOUND, TURNING, STEERING LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, REPAIRED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
826782
Incident
Aug 11, 1998
Steering
Filed Nov 20, 1998

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER NOTICED THE STEERING WASN'T CENTERED, AND WHEN MAKING SHARP TURN THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
831113
Incident
Jul 12, 1998
Fuel systemSteering
Filed Nov 4, 1998

THE INNER TIE ROD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF STEERING. ALSO, POKED A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS SEEN DEFECTIVE PART. *AK

NHTSA ID
830092
Incident
Oct 11, 1998
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Oct 9, 1998

WINDSHIELD RESEALED/POWER WINDOW REPAIRED/MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH/TRANSMISSION/STEERING LINKAGE/ WATER PUMP/THERMOSTAT/FAN/ALTERNATOR AND AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
781025
Steering
Filed Oct 1, 1998

WHEN TURNING LEFT & ACCELERATING, STEERING LOCKS UP. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER & INFORMED LEFT SIDE MOUNTS HAD DROPPED & IN PIECES. RIGHT SIDE SHOWS SOME DETERIOATION. MECHANIC SAID RECALL WAS CANCELLED & WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REPAIR VEHICLE. (#93V106002) *AK

NHTSA ID
828411
Incident
Aug 11, 1998
Steering
Filed Sep 9, 1998
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH CONSUMER WENT TO MAKE A TURN, LOST ALL STEERING POWER. VEHICLE VEERED ACROSS THE MEDIAN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. CONSUMER HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES VERY HARD IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONSUMER CONTACT THE DEALER, THE DEALER SAID THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *AK

NHTSA ID
827741
Incident
Aug 24, 1998

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

Transmission241Engine117Brakes76Body & structure63Airbags55Electrical41Powertrain (other)28Suspension28Driver assistance26Visibility19Heating & air conditioning19Tires & wheels17Interior & seats12Seat belts11Other / unspecified10Fuel system10

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .