RoadVitals

1994 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.
64
Latest Aug 4, 2011
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.
7%
of 923 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.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

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 1994 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 64 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 64, in the owner's own words

Body & structure
Filed Aug 4, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL POP NOISE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE CRADLE BOLT WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND ORDERED THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V323000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS) AND ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 9/20/11 *CN UPDATED 10/11/11

NHTSA ID
10417053
Incident
Aug 3, 2011
Mileage
130,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 26, 2011

THE FRONT LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT DROPPED. THERE WAS LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE FRONT CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWED THE FRONT CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10384587
Incident
Feb 26, 2011
Body & structure
Filed Nov 29, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOWER THAN USUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED A CRACK IN THE FRAME THAT CAUSED THE REAR SUSPENSION TO LOWER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO MADE A CLUNKING SOUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STRUTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.

NHTSA ID
10368232
Incident
Oct 11, 2010
Mileage
190,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 23, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH HE HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND SHUT OFF. UPON EXAMINATION HE NOTICED THAT THE SUB FRAME FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000.

NHTSA ID
10367237
Incident
Nov 20, 2010
Mileage
75,000 mi
Body & structureFuel system
Filed Sep 9, 2010
Crash reported

THE FUEL PUMP, AND TRANSMISSION FOR THE 1994 FORD TAURUS GL 3.0 V6. BUCKS AND KICKS ALOT. EVEN AFTER FIXED. EVEN IF YOU AREN'T STEPPING ON THE GAS IT GETS A DELAYED REACTION SOMETIMES AND STILL KICKS OR BUCKS A LITTLE BUT WHILE COASTING. A RESULT COULD BE DAMAGING PROPERTY, AND POSSIBLE CRASHES THAT CANNOT BE AVOID IF A SUDDEN STOP WAS NEEDED AND THE CAR DOES BUCK AND KICK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10354595
Incident
Jan 6, 2006
Body & structureTransmission
Filed Apr 12, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND THE CONTACT OBSERVED WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED WATER LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A TRANMISSION DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10325096
Incident
Apr 11, 2010
Mileage
140,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 22, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH STATE INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR ENGINE MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V323000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS); HOWEVER, THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE RECALL IN THEIR SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. UPDATED 10/07/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/10/08. *JB

NHTSA ID
10235322
Incident
Jul 22, 2008
Mileage
109,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 17, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS FIRST DEPRESSED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE ENGINE MOUNT WAS CORRODED. THE PURCHASE DATE, SPEED, AND MILEAGE INFORMATION WERE UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 5/6/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH THEY HAVE AGREED TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL AND REPAIRS ARE NOW COMPLETE. UPDATED 05/06/08 *TR

NHTSA ID
10224791
Incident
Apr 15, 2008
Body & structureEngineSuspension+1 more
Filed Mar 17, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE SUBFRAME ON THE VEHICLE DROPPED. THE CONTACT LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT AN AUTO SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME DROPPED. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS $1,000. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V323000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS) WAS REFERENCED. THE ENGINE COOLING FAN FAILED TWO MONTHS AGO, AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. THE REPAIR COST WAS $400. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V019000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WAS REFERENCED. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE STRUTS ON HIS VEHICLE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 943036000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT: SHOCK ABSORBER) WAS REFERENCED. THE REPAIR COST WAS $300. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT, AND THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $1,500. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 103,000.

NHTSA ID
10221438
Incident
Mar 16, 2008
Mileage
103,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 13, 2005
1 injury reported

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE. RECALL # 98V323000. THE WASHER CORRODED. THE CONSUMER SAID THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. THE CONSUMERS WIFE HIT HER HEAD BUT SHE WAS NOT HURT VERY BAD. DEALER STATED IT WAS THE RECALL PROBLEM BUT THE MANUFACTURER SAID IT WAS NOT THE RECALL. DEALER WILL NOT FIX IT WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION FROM MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10128553
Incident
Jun 29, 2005
Mileage
140,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 3, 2004

RECALL FOR 1994 FORD TAURUS, RECALL WAS NEVER IMPLEMENTED. *BF RECALL#98V323000. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BUT IT WASN'T. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10105508
Incident
Dec 1, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Jul 14, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED T6HA T FRAME BROKE CLOSE TO MOTOR MOUNT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10081887
Incident
Jul 14, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Sep 23, 2003

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT RECALL 98V32300 ISSUED ON DECEMBER 15, 1998 CONCERNING STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS DEFECT. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED IN THE STATE WHERE THE PROBLEM HAPPENED.*AK THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE, SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. ENGINE APPEARED LOWER THAN NORMAL AND THE BODY MOUNTS ON SUBFRAME SEPARATED DUE TO CORROSION.*TS *JB

NHTSA ID
10037954
Incident
Aug 28, 2003
Mileage
77,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 6, 2003

CONSUMER NOTICED A BOLT AND WASHER UNDER VEHICLE. TECHNICIAN STATED THAT SUBFRAME WAS BROKEN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10032300
Body & structure
Filed Apr 23, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR STRUCTURE/FRAME OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT FRAME HAS A DESIGN DEFECT.

NHTSA ID
10017419
Incident
Apr 23, 2003
Body & structure
Filed Feb 27, 2003

AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE SUBFRAME WAS PERFORMED, THE SUBFRAME BROKE. RECALL # 98 V 323 000.*JB

NHTSA ID
10009491
Incident
Sep 25, 2002
Mileage
146,357 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 11, 2002

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE, AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE DROPPED DOWN ON TO THE STEERING MECHANISM MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. *YH

NHTSA ID
8018418
Incident
Sep 9, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Jul 5, 2002

WHEN OPENING DRIVER'S DOOR INSTEAD OF STAYING OPEN IT WILL COME BACK AND HIT DRIVER'S LEG. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES.*AK

NHTSA ID
8013309
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Jun 18, 2002

NHTSA RECALL 98 V 323 000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98S36 CONCERNING SUBFRAME CORROSION: A DETACHMENT OF BODY MOUNTS HAD OCCURRED WHILE PARKING AND CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8011995
Incident
Jun 13, 2002
Body & structure
Filed May 25, 2001

SUBFRAME BODY MOUNT BECAME DETACHED AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SWERVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE. *AK

NHTSA ID
889188
Incident
May 12, 2001
Body & structureExterior lighting
Filed Apr 3, 2001

WHEN TURNING OFF HEADLIGHTS SOMETIMES THEY WON'T GO OFF, AND SOMETIMES THEY'LL COME ON BY THEMSELVES, AND DRAIN BATTERY.*AK POSSIBLE BOLT FAILURE IN SUBFRAME CAUSED CLUNKING SOUND. *YH

NHTSA ID
884979
Incident
Apr 3, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Mar 29, 2001

SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY, RIGHT SIDE, FRONT ROD MOUNTING HOLE CORRODED THROUGH.

NHTSA ID
743258
Incident
Mar 26, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Mar 16, 2001

SUBFRAME FAILED WHILE MAKING A TURN. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT STEERING JAMMED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
883308
Incident
Mar 13, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Mar 15, 2001

SUBFRAME IS CORRODED, LIKE IN RECALL 98V323000, YET THIS VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID
883141
Incident
Feb 15, 2001
Body & structureDriver assistanceSuspension
Filed Mar 1, 2001

RECALL NHTSA: 94E036000/ FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS. SWAY BAR BRACKET BROKE ON CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PERFORM ANY SERVICE ON VEHICLE. *AK THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT BRACKETR BROKE AWAY FROM THE SUBFRAME. ALSO, THE CRUISE CONTROL KEEPS GOING OUT. *YH

NHTSA ID
881870
Incident
Jan 4, 2001

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 .