RoadVitals

1993 Ford Taurus Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure 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.
71
Latest Dec 8, 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.
5%
of 1,557 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1993 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 71 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 body or structure

The 25 most recent of 71, in the owner's own words

Body & structure
Filed Dec 8, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE FRAME ON THE VEHICLE FRACTURED AND COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING HIM TO TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRAME HAD CORRODED CAUSING IT TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.

NHTSA ID
10369643
Incident
Dec 5, 2010
Mileage
105,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 8, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SUBFRAME OF THE REAR CORNERS FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE STEERING TO LOCK AND NEARLY RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V323000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS) IN 1999. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT PROVIDED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 113,000.

NHTSA ID
10214209
Incident
Jan 1, 2008
Mileage
113,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 20, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED TO THE LEFT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V323000) AND REFERRED HIM TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ACCESS THE RECALL. AS OF NOVEMBER 20, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 157,815.

NHTSA ID
10209515
Incident
Nov 19, 2007
Mileage
157,815 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 27, 2006

SUBFRAME WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION DROPPED OUT WHILE DIVING. STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. CAR WAS PULLED OFF ROAD WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. RECALL ITEMS WHICH WERE REPLACED IN 1999 HAD FAILED AGAIN. FORD TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR SECOND FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10148841
Incident
Jan 25, 2006
Body & structure
Filed Jul 16, 2004

IN JULY OF 2000 I HAD RECALL WORK DONE ON MY CAR, A 1993 FORD TAURUS. THE RECALL WAS TO PREVENT A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENGINE SUB FRAME. THE RECALL WAS TSB #98S36. ON JULY 15, 2004 I EXPERIENCED THAT MAJOR FAILURE OF THE ENGINE SUB FRAME, LOOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS LOSS OF CONTROL WAS DUE TO THE SUBFRAME PLATE CORROSION THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PREVENTED BY THE RECALL 98S36. I GOT THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER (GREENWAY FORD, ORLANDO FL.). THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN DONE ONCE. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH NO RESULTS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A RECALL FOR A CORRODING PLATE SHOULD BE A ONE TIME PERMANET FIX. IF RECALL WORK CANNOT BE DONE TWICE, THEN A SECOND RECALL IS IN ORDER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10081213
Incident
Jul 15, 2004
Mileage
143,145 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 15, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WAS SITTING SIDEWAYS. A MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS DAMAGED.*AK *JB

NHTSA ID
10075498
Incident
May 20, 2004
Mileage
186,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 14, 2004

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUBFRAME CORROSION. ALSO, THE BOLT THAT ATTACHED THE MOUNT TO THE SUBFRAME WAS MISSING. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10073678
Mileage
192,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 19, 2004

WHILE DRIVING FRAMES SEPARATED ON DRIVER'S SIDE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10067401
Incident
Apr 12, 2004
Mileage
190,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 17, 2003

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT, AND TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT LEFT SIDE FRAME WHERE THE COIL SPRING WAS LOCATED CRACKED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10051666
Incident
Dec 17, 2003
Mileage
118,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 30, 2002

CONSUMER HAD A RECALL PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO ON THE UNIBODY BOLTS AND WASHERS, AND THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN FIXED UNDER THE RECALL THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THEY COULD DO TS.*JB CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE IMPROPERLY. THERE WAS ALSO SOME DETERIORATION OF THE SUBFRAME. *JG

NHTSA ID
8021896
Incident
Oct 24, 2002
Mileage
15,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 8, 2002

CONSUMER LOST CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY INFORMED CONSUMER THAT SUBFRAME BODY MOUNT HAD DISCONNECTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8015819
Incident
Mar 25, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Jun 27, 2002

DEALER DID NOT REPLACE REINFORCEMENT PLATE AS STATED IN RECALL 98V323000 NOTICE. RON BORTNICK FORD IN UPPER MARLBORO, MD; PHONE# 301/627-9600. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8012741
Incident
Mar 27, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Apr 8, 2002

SEE ATTACHED FILE. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
760406
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Mar 27, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER (RON BORTNICK FORD; UPPER MARLBORO, MD; PHONE# 301/627-5600) DID NOT REPLACE THE REINFORCEMENT PLATE AS STATES IN THE MANUFACTURER RECALL NOTICE. *NLM *MJ

NHTSA ID
8006513
Incident
Mar 25, 2002
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Aug 28, 2001

RIGHT WHEEL IS MAKING NOISE WHENEVER A TURN IS BEING MADE OR COMING TO A STOP. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT STRUD ROD/ SUBFRAMES, AND BUSHING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID
895319
Incident
Aug 24, 2001
Body & structureEngine
Filed May 31, 2001

VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 98 V 323 000/ SUBFRAME CORROSION ON 03-MAR-1999 AT VICTOR FORD IN WAUCONDA, IL 847-526-5541. CONSUMER STATED THAT REMEDY HAS FAILED. *AK MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE REPLACED, AS WELL AS EXHAUST SYSTEM BECAUSE ENGINE PIPE INTO MUFFLER WAS CRACKED DUE TO CONSTANT JERKING MOTION. *JB

NHTSA ID
889433
Incident
Mar 10, 2000
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+6 more
Filed Mar 12, 2001

VEHICLE STALLING INTERMITTENTLY, AT ANY SPEED/ANY TIME. DEALER STATED THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION DEVICE. *AK VEHICLE WILL NOT START WHETHER IT IS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. STARTER, SPARKPLUGS, AND BATTERY HAVE BEEN REPLACED, DOOR CHIME WOULD SOUND WHEN KEYS WERE NOT IN IGNITION. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND EXPERIENCES ERRATIC SHIFTING. FAULTY FRONT STRUTS CAUSE VEHICLE TO OVERSTEER, TIRES WERE ROTATED AND FRONT WAS ALIGNED TO HELP PROBLEM, HOWEVER DID NOT REMEDY. DASHBOARD RATTLES, HOWEVER DEALER CAN NOT REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY AND THERE IS WIND NOISE WHEN DRIVEN OVER 20 MPH, LEFT DOOR WAS NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY. KEYLESS ENTRY FAILED, PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK INOPERABLE. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NEVER INSTALLED. THERE IS A CONSISENT WIND SOUND IN VEHICLE. FRONT END EXPERIENCED SHAKING. EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION. DIFFICULT AND NOISY STEERING OCCURRED, DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING LINE. FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED. EXHAUST REPLACED. FUEL PUMP REPLACED. WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS ONLY 47114 MILES ON. *SLC

NHTSA ID
882786
Incident
Jun 1, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Mar 8, 2001
1 injury reported

THE BOTTOM OF BOTH FRONT DOORS IS MADE TO PROJECT TOWARDS THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT INSTEAD OF BEING SQUARED LIKE ALL OTHER CARS. WHEN OPENING EITHER FRONT DOOR, THE AFOREMENTIONED DOOR PROJECTION HITS ME IN THE FRONT OF THE LEG UNLESS I STAND A FAR DISTANCE AWAY. ON 3/1/01 AND3/5/01 I SUSTAINED LACERATIONS ON MY LEG BECAUSE OF THIS IDIOTIC AND HAZARDOUS DOOR DESIGN. PLEASE REQUIRE FORD TO FIX THIS. *AK

NHTSA ID
742099
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Jan 18, 2001

CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT RECALL 98V323000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98S36 CONCERNING SUBFRAME CORROSSION. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO IT HAVING A SALVAGED/REBUILT TITLE.*AK THE DEALER'S REFUSED TO DO RECALL JOB MADE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE FOR THE CONSUMER. *YH

NHTSA ID
878478
Body & structure
Filed Dec 7, 2000

CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE IS REGISTERED IN ARKANSAS THAT IT DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR SAFETY RECALL 98V-323, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE PROBLEM ONLY CONCERNS VEHICLE REGISTERED IN THE SALT BELT. NLM

NHTSA ID
558329
Body & structure
Filed Dec 5, 2000

RECALL 98V323000, APPOINTMENT ON 30 NOV 2000 FOR RECALL REPAIRS. AS OF DECEMBER 5, 000 DEALER STILL HAD CAR , REPAIRS NOT COMPLETED. *AK

NHTSA ID
875972
Incident
Nov 30, 2000
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Sep 12, 2000

I BROUGHT MY CAR TO SARASOTA FORD ON FRI. SEPT. 8, 2000 TO DIAGNOSE A FUEL ODOR, CLICKING IN THE FRONT END, AND AN A/C PROBLEM. FORD REPLACED THE A/C BY REMOVING THE DASH. AFTER WORKING ON IT FRIDAY, ALL DAY SATURDAY (EVEN AFTER CLOSING), AND MONDAY, IT WAS READY EARLY AFTERNOON, SEPT. 11. I DID NOT HEAR FROM FORD, SO CALLED I MYSELF TO PICK AROUND 12::40 PM TO PICK UP THE CAR. I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS AND GOT INTO MY CAR, ONLY TO NOTICE THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT NOT WORKING RIGHT. I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING THEN BECAUSE I ALSO NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT GOING ON AND OFF. A MECHANIC STANDING NEARBY HELPED ME BY LOCATING DAN WHITE, THE SERVICE WRITER FOR MY CAR (AND ASST. SERVICE MANAGER). DAN WALKED TO MY CAR TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LIGHT BEING ON. HE EXPLAINED THAT 'HE' (I ASSUMED, THE MECHANIC) DIDN'T NOTICE THE LIGHT AT FIRST, BUT NOTICED IT LATER. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE AIRBAG MODULE HAD BEEN ALL TAPED UP AND THAT'S WHY THE LIGHT WAS ON. I INFORMED HIM THAT MADE NO SENSE TO ME AND ASKED WHY HE HAD NOT INFORMED ME. HE TOLD ME HE DIDN'T TELL ME BECAUSE HE ASSUMED I HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, OR TAPED IT UP MYSELF. I EMPHATICALLY INFORMED DAN THAT WAS NOT THE CASE!! I CONFIRMED WITH DAN AT THAT TIME HIS STATEMENT TO ME THAT 'HE' (THE MECHANIC) DIDN'T NOTICE THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT AT FIRST, ONLY LATER. HE TOLD ME THAT THE MECHANIC THOUGHT MAYBE HE SHORT CIRCUTED SOMETHING AND WENT TO CHECK AND FOUND THE MODULE HAD BEEN TAPED. I FIND IT PECULIAR THAT DAN WHITE DID NOT INFORM ME ABOUT THE SITUATION UNTIL I ASKED HIM ABOUT IT WHEN I WAS IN MY CAR, READY TO DRIVE OFF AFTER PICKING IT UP AT THE DEALERSHIP. DAN SAID HE DID NOT INFORM ME BECAUSE HE . I ARRIVED HOME, I ALSO DISCOVERED THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL AND THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER WORKED. I FIND IT ALSO PECULIAR THAT THESE ELECTRICAL ITEMS (INCLUDING THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT) WERE ALL WORKING WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR TO HAVE THE AC REPAIRED!! IS A REPAIR FACILITY REQUIRED T

NHTSA ID
731120
Incident
Sep 11, 2000
Body & structureEngine
Filed Aug 29, 2000

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A MOTOR MOUNT, TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE MOUNTS, CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE BACK WITHIN THE SAME YEAR, THIS TIME MECHANIC SAID SUBFRAME WAS CRACKED. *AK

NHTSA ID
869042
Incident
Aug 1, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Jun 29, 2000

FRONT TENSION STRUT BUSHING RETAINER HAS PULLED OUT OF SUBFRAME. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR TAURUS. IT PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD IN THAT WHEEL ALINGMENT WILL NOT BE MAINTAINED IN A PANIC BREAKING SITUATION. FORD DEALER HAS SAID THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR IS TO REPLACE SUBFRAME.

NHTSA ID
724739
Incident
Mar 1, 1999
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+5 more
Filed Jun 9, 2000

BRAKES REPAIRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. *MJS

NHTSA ID
552560

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .