Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1992 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 48 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.
The 25 most recent of 48, in the owner's own words
I BOUGHT 3 FORD TAURUS WAGONS IN 6 MONTHS AND THE SPRINGS BROKE IN ALL OF THE 3 LATEST CARS. BOTH SPRINGS BROKE WILE I WAS DRIVING ,PUNCTURING 1 TIRE. NO REPAIR MADE YET. *AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING A SNAPPING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE FRONT LEFT SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WHERE IT WAS DETERMINE D THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. THE SWAY BAR BRACKET TORE AWAY FROM THE STRUT AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE REPAIR PERSONNEL SUGGESTED REPLACING THE SHOCK ABSORBER AND STRUT. THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 94E036000. HOWEVER ,THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. *AK
FORD TAURUS, 1992, FRONT K-FRAME BROKE LOOSE FROM CHASSIS RESULTING IN A LOCK-UP OF THE STEERING, FORTUNATELY AT A LOW SPEED, THEREBY ENDANGERING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE WE LEARNED THAT THIS WAS NOT UNUSUAL IN THE 1989-1994 FORD TAURUS CARS. THE FAILURE OF THE STRUCTURAL MEMBER WAS CAUSED BY NORMAL RUST DAMAGE TO THE FRONT A-FRAME. I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED TO FIND THIS DESIGN DEFECT ON THIS SITE.*AK *NM
THE VEHICLE IS A 1992 FORD TAURUS WAGON. ON JULY 26, 1996 THE COIL SPRINGS BROKE PUNCTURING THE FRONT TIRE WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF MIDAS FOR AN OIL CHANGE. FORD AT THE TIME SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE SO THEREFORE IT WAS REPAIRED AT MIDAS. THIS MORNING, FEBRUARY 3, 2005 THE COIL SPRINGS AGAIN BROKE PUNCTURING THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE AND WILL AGAIN NEED NECESSARY REPAIRS TOTALLY APPROXIMATELY $450.00. CALLED FORD SAID THERE WERE NEVER ANY RECALLS ON THIS YEAR VEHICLE BUT INFORMATION FROM THE INTERNET INDICATED THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALLED NEARLY 900,000 FORD TAURUS AND MERCURY SABLE 1999, 2000, AND 2001 SEDANS STATING IN COLD WEATHER STATES SALT FROM ROADS COULD CORRODE AND FRACTURE THE CARS' FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND THEY WERE INSTALLING PROTECTIVE SHIELDS IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES. MY CONCERN IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS MODEL IS OLDER AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS WHAT IS THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE? I WONDER WHAT THE OUTCOME WOULD BE HAD THIS VEHICLE HAD THE COIL SPRING BREAK WHILE ON THE FREEWAY...WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR? THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE GREATLY CONCERNS US.*JB
I HAVE OWNED THIS TAURUS SINCE, 1993-1994, IT HAD 43,000 MILES ON IT, FROM A DEALER (FLANNERY FORD). I HAVE HAD MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED, WATER PUMPS (2) (ALMOST $1,000), BRAKES AND CALIPERS(TOO MANY TO REMEMBER), STRUTS (TOO MANY TO REMEMBER), IGNITION. THIS PAST SATURDAY, WHILE MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP, BECAUSE THE INSIDE DOOR LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF AND THE ALARM BELL (THAT DINGS WHEN YOU LEAVE THE KEY IN OR LIGHTS ON), THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL FELL OFF THE CAR. THE ENTIRE TIE RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED, STRUTS AND SPRINGS (THAT WAS $1,000). I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE OIL PAN REPLACED BECAUSE IT RUSTED OUT AND HAD ENGINE MOUNTS REPLACED AGAIN DURING THIS PROCEDURE (THAT WAS ALMOST $1,000). I CAN ONLY REMEMBER RECEIVING 1 RECALL NOTICE AND THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR. *AK
AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR RECALL 94E036000 FOR FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM . CONSUMER BOUGHT A USED VEHICLE. DEALER STATED NOTHING THEY COULD DO. COMPUTER SHOWED THE STRUTS WERE REPLACED.*AK
WHILE A MECHANIC WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE BOTH REAR MOUNT ARE WARP AND CORRODE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
CONSUMER STATES RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE, HOWEVER ON ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER COULD HEAR A CRUNCHING NOISE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME BOLTS WERE BAD, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE OF THE RECALL WITH THE REAR BOLTS BEING BAD IT CAUSED STRESS TO THE FRONT SINCE THE FRAME IS ALL ONE PIECE, FORD STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE. BRAKES WERE REPLACED. FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. *SLC
FOR A CAR WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE, HAVE HAD TO REPLACE OR FIX SIGNIFICANT NUMBER ITEMS (SERIOUS SAFETY ITEMS INCLUDED!!) THAT FAILED. HOPE MANUFACTURER CAN HELP REIMBURSE COSTS. PER RESEARCH, THESE ITEMS SHOULD NOT BREAK DOWN AT THIS MILEAGE LEVEL! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK
LEFT FRONT STRUT COIL SPRING BROKE, CAUSING END OF BROKEN COIL SPRING TO SLICE OPEN TIRE, CAUSING A TIRE BLOWOUT AND SUSPENSION OF CAR DROPPING, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO FRONT TIE-ROD END AS WEIGHT OF VEHICLE FELL ON STEERING MECHANISM. SPEED AT BREAK AROUND 5 MPH AS DAUGHTER WAS PULLING AWAY FROM STOP. THIS IS DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE; AND, SHE PAID BILL FROM HER COLLEGE SAVINGS. CONSIDERING MILEAGE & AGE, I THINK FORD SHOULD AT LEAST PAY FOR 50% OF TOTAL BILL ($618). FORD CUSTOMER SERV. REP. TOLD ME THERE WAS IN FACT A RECALL, BUT MY VIN # DOESN'T QUALIFY ME FOR A REFUND. JUDGING FROM YOUR OTHER LOGGED COMPLAINTS, THERE SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR FAULT WITH FORD'S REASONING ON WHO'S ELEGIBLE AND WHO'S NOT. THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS SITE FOR THESE DEFECT INVESTIGATION AND CHECKING INTO THIS COMPLAINT.*AK
I DISCOVERED THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS HAD BROKEN. THEY BOTH BROKE ON THE OUTSIDE LOWER COIL.*AK
WHEN DRIVING AND EITHER MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, CAUSING POOR STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
IN MARCH OF 1997, THE LEFT FRONT SPRING ON MY MOTHER MARGARETS CAR FRACTURED/FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY. AS A RESULT, THAT SIDE OF THE CAR BASICALLY COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND AND COULD NOT BE DRIVEN WITHOUT DOING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE TIRE AND OTHER SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO THE CLOSEST AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT SPRING HAD INDEED FAILED/FRACTURED. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $426.70 IN JULY OF 1998, I (DANIEL ZEHLER - SON OF MARGARET) RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM FORD HAVING TO DO WITH A SIMILAR/IDENTICAL DEFECT ON 1993 TAURUS AND SABLE VEHICLES. IT TURNS OUT THAT I OWN A 1993 TAURUS. PER THE RECALL LETTER, THE SAFETY DEFECT IS AS FOLLOWS: "THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS ON YOUR VEHICLE CAN FRACTURE IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN HIGH-CORROSION AREAS OF NORTH AMERICA FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE ON THE SPRING THERE IS SOME POSSIBILITY THAT THE TIRE CAN BE DAMAGED. A FRACTURED SPRING CAN CAUSE ONE SIDE OF YOUR VEHICLE TO BE LOWER THAN THE OTHER, CAN RESULT IN CLUNKING OR RATTLING NOISE OR CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RIDE ROUGHLY." IN THE WHAT WILL FORD DO CATEGORY, THE LETTER STATES THAT FORD IS PROVIDING ADDITIONAL WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR FRONT SPRING REPLACEMENT, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2001. IN THE WHAT SHOULD WE DO CATEGORY, THE LETTER STATES THAT "IF EITHER OF THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SPRINGS SHOULD FRACTURE DURING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD, CONTACT YOUR DEALER. AT NO COST TO YOU/US, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS." IN THE MEANTIME, SO AS TO PREVENT TIRE DAMAGE SHOULD THE SPRING FRACTURE, FORD HAS DEVELOPED A SPECIAL PLASTIC PROTECTIVE SHIELD, WHICH HAS BEEN INSTALLED ON OUR 1993 TAURUS. AS THE 1992 & 1993 TAURUS MODELS ARE VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL, IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE RECALL ON THE 1993 TAURUS'S SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO THE 1992'S AS OUR DEFECT SEEMS TO BE IDENTICAL TO THAT WHICH FORD HAS ALREADY AGREEDEFECT ONTHE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO THE.
DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE UPPER SECTION OF THE COIL SPRING DROPPED BELOW THE LOWER SPRING SEAT ASSEMBLY AND FELL TO THE BAR OF THE STRUT MOUNT. THIS CAUSED THE SPRING SECTION TO CONTACT THE BACK SIDE OF THE TIRE AND THE BRAKE LINE, RESULTING IN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION. *AK *ML
BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE, AND CUT THOUGH LEFT FRONT TIRE. TIRE WENT FLAT, CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS IF GOING FAST AT ALL. DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR. CONSUMER FELT THAT COIL SPRINGS WERE DESIGNED IMPROPERLY. *AK *ML
FRONT END ISN'T SECURED TO THE CHASSIS WHICH IS CAUSING MOVEMENT AND SHAKING WITHIN THE FRONT END. *AK FRONT END BOLT LOOSE CAUSING VIBRATION IN FRONT END. *YH
VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 35-45 MPH, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CONTROL, RESULTING IN SAFETY HAZARD. 6 REPAIRS SHOPS CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
ENGINE BLOCK MOLDING UNEVENLY RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. MJS
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH A SPRING BROKE IN HALF AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. *AK
WHEN RIDING OVER BUMPS THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO FALL APART. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN TURNING VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT, IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN &HARD TO CONTROL. ALSO, WOULD MAKE A WHINNING NOISE. AN ONGOING PROBLEM & INCREASINGLY GETTING WORSE VEHICLE WAS NOT TEST DRIVEN BY MECHANIC AFTER TAKING TO DEALER. MECHANIC DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING. ODOMETER WAS READING THE SAME MILEAGE WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN & PICKED UP.
FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE, SHREADING THE TIRE. *YC
WHEN VEHICLE IS WARMED UP & WOULD START TO TURN STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD MAKE GRINDING NOISES IN THE RIGHT FRONT. SOUNDS LIKE METAL TO METAL. TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. HAD BOTH STRUTS, TIE RODS, OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED. NOISE STILL EXISTS. MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AROUND 45MPH OR ABOVE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. MOVED VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD & TURNED IT OFF & RESTARTED. HAD TAKEN TO MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES FOR PROBLEM. HAD THE FUELD PUMP REPLACED 3 TIMES & THE COMPUTER CHIP REPLACED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TEST DRIVEN. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
FRONTLEFT COIL SPRING BROKE DUE TO CORROSION WHICH COULD CAUSE THE TIRE TO DEFLATE.*AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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