RoadVitals

1993 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.
57
Latest Sep 12, 2014
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.
4%
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.
8
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

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 1993 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 57 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 57, in the owner's own words

Steering
Filed Sep 12, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S HANDS BECAME STUCK TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO RELEASE THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOTICED A DARK YELLOW GLUE OR PASTE LIKE SUBSTANCE COMING OUT OF THE SEAMS OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 10/30/14*CN UPDATED 4/27/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID
10632773
Incident
Feb 1, 2014
Mileage
65,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jan 23, 2004

THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRE HARNESS, STEERING COLUMN COVERS, TURN SIGNAL/WIPER SWITCH WERE REPLACED. *PH *NM

NHTSA ID
10057183
Incident
Nov 28, 2001
EngineSteering
Filed Jan 15, 2004
Fire reported

MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED. STEERING PINS REPLACED 4 DAYS AFTER MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED, THE CAR CATCHES ON FILE FROM AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. I DROVE THE CAR 1 TIME AFTER IT WAS OUT OF THE SHOP. 11 HOURS AFTER I DROVE IT, THE WHOLE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE FROM AN ELECTRICAL SHORT

NHTSA ID
10070376
Incident
Mar 15, 2003
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+5 more
Filed Jun 3, 2002

VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED AGAIN. *AK CONSUMER HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THE PAN PLUG LEFT UNDONE CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE OIL, THE RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO OVER TORQUE BOLTS WHICH BURSTED AROUND THE CORE, THE ENGINE IS KNOCKING AND THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO LACK OF OIL. CONSUMER HAS LOST TRUST IN THE DEALERSHIP. HEAD LIGHTS FAILED, LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE WIPERS WERE NOISY, DEALER REPLACED THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND WIPER MOTOR. THERE IS A POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING, THERE IS A RUBBING NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT ON TURNS AND WHEN BACKING UP. THE AIR CONDITIONER IS NOT BLOWING COLD AIR, SHRATER VALVE AND A/C REFRIGERANT WAS REPLACED. THE KEY SWITCH FAILED. THE FAULTY ANTENNA MOTOR FAILED. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ID
8010926
Incident
Sep 3, 2001
Steering
Filed Mar 5, 2002

THE RACK AND PINION HAS FAILED OR BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES ON MY VEHICLE. FORD ADVISED US TO HAVE THE STRUT PLATES CUT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN ALIGNMENT AND THIS DID NOT HELP EITHER BECAUSE THE RACK KEPT GOING OUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED BUT THEY NEVER RESPONDED TO OUR COMPLAINTS IT IS LIKE THE FORD EXPLORER MAJOR FRONT END PROBLEMS PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS!!! I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET BUT FORD STILL HAS NOT RECALLED THIS YEAR MODEL. *AK

NHTSA ID
758976
Incident
Dec 12, 1993
ElectricalSteering
Filed Dec 17, 2001
Fire reported

WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATED SHE AND DAUGHTER WERE TRAPPED INT HE VEHICLE, CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE STEERING LOCKED UP.*SLC

NHTSA ID
8000796
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
EngineSteeringSuspension+1 more
Filed Aug 21, 2001

THE RACK & PINION PULLS APART AND CAUSES THE FRONT END TO BECOME OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND ALSO CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STEER TERRIBLY. THE RIGHT FRONT MOTOR MOUNT BURST BECAUSE IT IS HYDRAULIC THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN THE RACK AND PINION GOES OUT. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO HAS A DEFECT IN THE FOURTH GEAR RATIO AND SHOWS ON THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER WHEN SERVICED.

NHTSA ID
750898
Incident
Dec 12, 1995
SteeringTransmission
Filed May 7, 2001

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND DOWNSHIFT. VEHICLE STARTED STALLING AS CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL OVER. ALSO, POWER STEERING FAILED.*AK

NHTSA ID
887637
Incident
May 4, 2001
Steering
Filed Mar 13, 2001
Crash reported

STEERING WHEEL TIE ROD BROKE WHILE DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL STREET. *AK

NHTSA ID
742369
Incident
Jan 23, 2001
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
Steering
Filed Feb 26, 2001

WHILE DRIVING COULD TRY TO MAKE A TURN AND STEERING WHEEL WILL MAKE NOISE. WILL BE HARD TO STEER LIKE IT DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS WITH THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. *AK

NHTSA ID
881479
Incident
Feb 26, 2001
BrakesElectricalEngine+4 more
Filed Jan 23, 2001

BATTERY FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START. NLM

NHTSA ID
739815
Incident
Aug 11, 1999
Steering
Filed Dec 6, 2000

VEHICLE MAKES A POPPING NOISE WHEN STEERING MAINLY TO RIGHT. DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND IT WAS FRONT INNER TIE ROD. NO CAUSE DETERMINED, BUT COST IS ON CONSUMER.*AK

NHTSA ID
876051
Incident
Sep 1, 2000
Steering
Filed Nov 23, 2000

POWER STEERING ON EXTREME LEFT GETS STUCKUP MOMENTERIARILY MANY TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
736792
Incident
Nov 18, 2000
EngineSteeringTransmission
Filed Oct 13, 2000

CAR WAS BOUGHT FROM ORIGINAL OWNER. THE CONDITION WAS EXCELLENT, ONLY 69,000 MILES ON ENGINE. IT STARTED TO FALL APART WITHIN 3 WEEKS, FIRST STEERING, THEN TRANSMISSION, NOW THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO LEMONAIDCARS.COM THE 1993 TAURUS IS FULL OF PROBLEMS. FORD SAID ITS NOT THERE PROBLEM AND REF'D TO GREEN VALLEY FORD THIS DEALERSHIP WE DO NOT TRUST. THEY ALWAYS ADD ON THINGS TO A CARS 'PROBLEM'. WE ARE NOT BUYIN A FORD EVER AGAIN! *AK

NHTSA ID
734241
Incident
Jun 12, 2000
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical+1 more
Filed Oct 12, 2000

IGNITION IS INOPERATIVE. KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION & DOESN'T LINE UP CORRECTLY. THIS MAKES IT VERY EASY TO STEALTHE VEHICLE. VEHICLE'S AIR BAG & HORN ARE NOT WORKING RELATING TO THIS. DEALER HAS NEVER TRIED TO FIND A REMEDY FOR THE PROBLEM.*AK CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AS WELL. STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

NHTSA ID
872889
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
Steering
Filed Sep 8, 2000

CAR IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.

NHTSA ID
730805
Incident
Sep 8, 2000
AirbagsSteering
Filed Jul 11, 2000
Crash reported

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE & DRIVER NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ACTING UP. WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN VEHICLE. HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED.*AK

NHTSA ID
865245
Steering
Filed Jun 29, 2000

I TOOK M Y CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND I NOTICED PROBLEMS W/ THE STEERING. THE WHEEL WOULD BE HARD TO TURN WHEN MAKING SHARP RIGHT HAND TURNS. I HAD A FRIEND TETS DRIVE THE CAR AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT MAY BE THE RACKET PINION SYSTEM. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT REAR SAFETY BELT. I CHECKED THE INTERNET TO SEE WHAT RECALLS THERE WAS FOR FORD TAURUS AND I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE SO MANY THAT FORD HASN'T CONTACTED ME ON. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO CONTACT FORD ABOUT? *AK

NHTSA ID
724781
Incident
Apr 29, 2000
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+5 more
Filed Jun 9, 2000

BRAKES REPAIRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. *MJS

NHTSA ID
552560
EngineSteeringTransmission
Filed May 30, 2000

CAR WAS RUNNING ROUGH. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND HE SAID IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ALSO, TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING/ SHIMMYING/ SHAKING, AND POPPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR. CONSUMER SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE ENGINE WAS GOING TO FALL OUT. WHEN RUNNING CAR FOR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES, IT BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER AND WON'T TURN. CONSUMER FEARED STEERING IN TRAFFIC. HEADGASKET AND COOLING REPLACED, BUT THERE IS STILL TRANSMISSION AND STEERING TROUBLE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
862676
Incident
Oct 1, 1999
Steering
Filed Apr 13, 2000
Crash reported1 death reported

THIS REPORT IS MADE BY THE ONONDAGA COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINERS OFFICE, 100 ELIZABETH BLACKWELL ST., SYRACUSE, NY 13210, PHONE 315-435-3163, FAX 315-435-3319, REPORTED BY INV. MICHAEL S. BIRCHMEYER. THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FATALITY IN WHICH THE DRIVER WAS KILLED. FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, THE VEHICLE CRASHED PROCEEDED THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND STRUCK A TREE HEAD-ON IN FRONT OF A SCHOOL. THE ACCIDENT WAS ALSO INVESTIGATED BY THE CAMILLUS POLICE AND THE ONONDAGA COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT. WE ARE FORWARDING THIS INFO TO YOU BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SURE IF THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID
721430
Steering
Filed Feb 2, 2000

STEERING RACK AND PINION IS PREMATURELY WEARING. HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
856054
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+5 more
Filed Jan 4, 2000

WHERE DO I START, THIS CAR HAS BEEN A MONEY PIT FROM DAY ONE! THE BRAKES HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED 3 DAYS AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR--SIGNATURE FORD CLAIMED IT WAS ARE FAULT AFTER SOME ARGUMENT THEY FINALLY REIMBURSED US FOR THE BRAKES. WE DISCOVERED A SMALL LEAK, WE FOUND IT TO BE COMING FROM THE HEATER HOSE. WE DECIDED TO TRUST SIGNATURE FORD, THEY CLAIMED THAT WE NEEDED A NEW HEATER HOSE, WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR. WE TOOK ARE CAR BACK TO THE FIRST MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT IT AND HE SWORE THAT THOSE THINGS WERE NOT LEAKING WHEN THEY LEFT HIS SHOP, NO PROOF THOUGH SO WE HAVEN'T FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST SIGNATURE FORD. WE HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE HEATER HOSE AND WATER PUMP. WE ARE TAKING THE RADIATOR IN TO BE CHECKED OUT VERY SOON. WE HAD THE STARTER REPLACED AT SIGNATURE FORD, SINCE IT WAS FIXED THE KEYLESS ENTRY STOPPED WORKING. WE'VE HAD THE BRAKES COMPLELY FIXED, THREE TIMES. WE HAVE HAD THE OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED. THE AIRCONDITIONER WILL NOT WORK, WE WERE TOLD THAT WE NEED A NEW COMPRESSOR AND CLUTCH. THERE IS A SHORT THAT CAUSES A FUSE TO BLOW, RESULITING IN LOSS OF GAUGES. ONE OF THE BACK WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK. THE MOLDING AROUND SAID WINDOW DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY. THE POWER STEERING MAKES A STRANGE NOISE AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING; WE TOOK IT IN TO SIGNATURE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS FINE. WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR THE TIRES THAT WERE ON IT WERE TOO BIG RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE CURRENT TIRES SHOW SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE INSIDE FRONT PASSANGER TIRE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN TOTALLY REBUILT, THE TECH. WHO FIXED IT SAID THAT THIS IS TYPICAL OF SHO'S. THE FOG LIGHTS SOMETIMES FAIL. THE LAMP OUT LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WHEN NO LAMP IS OUT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES DURING ACCELERATION. THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF AT VARIOUS TIMES. IF WE HAD KNOWN THEN WHAT WE KNOW NOW WE NEVER WOULD HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. WE CANNOT AFFORD ALL OF THESE COSTLY REPAIRS! *

NHTSA ID
716880
EngineSteering
Filed Jul 22, 1999

AT 14K MIL DRIVE STEERING GEAR BROKE INTO PIECES AND TRAVELLED THROUGH THE ENGINE; OIL PUMP REQUIRED REPLACEMENT IN ADDITION TO THE GEAR REPLACEMENT; NO REASON FOR FAILURE ID BY DEALER

NHTSA ID
708938
Incident
Oct 14, 1996

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .