1995 Ford Taurus Steering Problems

THIS PAST SUNDAY, ON JUNE 11, 2017 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A GRADUATION PARTY AND THERE WAS A LOUD "POW" ONCE I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP. MY STEERING WAS VERY STIFF (AS IF I WAS DRIVING AN ANCIENT LARGE TRUCK WITH NO POWER STEERING, ALSO MY EXHAUST SYSTEM AT LEAST PARTIALLY CAME UNDUN. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CRIPPLED CAR TO OUR REGULAR REPAIR SHOP, WHO TOLD ME THAT I HAD A SUBFRAME RUST-COLLAPSE. I HAD TALKED TO A SHADETREE MECHANIC FRIEND, WHO SAID THAT IT WASN'T AN ACTUAL SUBFRAME COLLAPSE, BUT THE NEXT LAYER UP, THE ENGINE CRADLE WHOSE SLEEVES ARE NO THICKER STEEL THAN THE UNIBODY SHEETMETAL. ONE OF THE SLEEVES RUSTED THROUGH. SUPPOSEDLY THE ENGINE CRADLE SLEEVES ARE REMOVABLE/OR THE CRADLE ITSELF. MY MECHANIC FRIEND AND THE TOW FELLOW THAT BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO MY HOME, BOTH SAID THAT WHAT HAPPENED IS QUITE RARE, THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH AN INCIDENT. THE CRADLE RUST THROUGH CAUSED MY FRONT SUBFRAME TO PARTIALLY COLLAPSE AND THE ENGINE IS TILTED DOWN ON THE RIGHT-FRONT. THIS DISCONNECTED THE EXHAUST AND BOUND-UP MY RACK-AND-PINION STEERING, RENDERING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS CAR IS NOT A RUST-BUCKET, NO RUSTY BODY PANEL HOLES, AND EVERYTHING ELSE STILL WORKS! JUST THE PAINT AND CLEARCOAT ARE FLAKING-OFF. I HAVE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND SEARCHED LOCAL SALVAGE YARDS, BUT CANNOT FIND A GOOD ENGINE CRADLE/SLEEVES. YET, THERE ARE SCADS OF GOOD TAURUS ENGINES CHEAPLY AVAILABLE. WHY DIDN'T FORD OFFER REPLACEMENT ENGINE CRADLE/SLEEVES? WAS THERE NO RECALL? I'D BET I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON THIS HAPPENED TO!! I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS CAR FIXED! I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE SUBFRAME FALLEN AFTER THE ENGINE CRADLE FAILURE. PLEASE SEND ME AN E-MAIL ADDRESS I CAN UPLOAD THEM TO. I LOSE THIS PAGE IF I TRY TO UPLOAD HERE (4TH TIME!)

NHTSA ID

10995826

Incident

Jun 11, 2017

Mileage

136,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ALONG WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A BIG BANG CAR SLAMMED PAVEMENT BEGAN TO SWERVE. STARTED SMOKING OFF BURNED RUBBER TIRE POPPED AN CAR WAS BROKE DOWN WHEEL DANGLING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573609

Incident

Mar 12, 2014

Mileage

184,568 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE UNDER CARRIAGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ID

10543523

Incident

Sep 9, 2013

Mileage

111,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. WHILE ACCELERATING, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD ABNORMALLY TURN AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION AND A DETACHMENT OF BOLTS IN THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V323000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS) RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10426962

Incident

Mar 23, 2011

Mileage

128,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 TO 10 MILES PER HOUR THERE WAS A LOUD BANGING NOISE AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE ENGINE FELL ON THE GROUND. HE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE AS THE PARTS BEGAN TO FALL OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNTS ON THE REAR CORNER OF THE SUB FRAME FELL OFF AND THE REPAIR COST WAS $617 . HE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULDN'T OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 98V323000, STRUCTURE, FRAME AND MEMBERS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 138000. UPDATED 12/30/09. *LJ ALSO, THE POWER STEERING WAS INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 12/30/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10294548

Incident

Dec 2, 2009

Mileage

138,000 mi

OUTER TIE RODS GONE BAD AT 80,000KM SPEEDOMETER JUMPS AT 60,000KM FRONT POWER WINDOWS GONE BAD AT 90,000KM I ONLY HAVE 96,000KM ON MY 1995 FORD TAURUS SE ITS NOW 2009. *TR

NHTSA ID

10277215

Incident

Aug 15, 2006

Mileage

60,000 mi

I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED LAST JULY. IN OCTOBER I NOTICED THAT WHEN I TOOK A LEFT HAND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD STICK AND I WOULD HAVE TO PULL IT TO GET IT STRAIGHT. I TOOK IT TO BE FIXED BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THEN. THREE DAYS AGO I TOOK MY KIDS OUT FOR ICE CREAM AND WE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. THIS TIME THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED COMPLETELY, I COULD NOT MOVE IT AND WE SLAMMED INTO ANOTHER CAR. NOBODY BELIEVED ME, IT TOOK ALOT OF SEARCHING TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS THE BUSHINGS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. ALTHOUGH I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IT HAS GIVEN ME NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10192319

Incident

May 31, 2007

THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009242

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING LEAKING. ALSO STATED THAT HAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ENGINE. ENGINE WAS REPLACED AND THAT IS WHEN STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING LEAKING OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER WONT FIXED THE PROBLEM UNLESS THE CONSUMER PAYS FOR THE WORK. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THREE DIFFERENT ENGINES ON THE VEHICLE. TS

NHTSA ID

10001413

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR SCC

NHTSA ID

8021492

Incident

Oct 16, 2002

Mileage

24,165 mi

WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR IT MAKES A BAD POWER STERRING SOUND MY FLUID IS NOT LOW. MR

NHTSA ID

768358

Incident

Sep 1, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING, HOWEVER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM.*SCC

NHTSA ID

567341

Incident

Nov 1, 1995

WHILE PULLING OFF FROM A STOP HEARD TWO LOUD POPS, AND STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8012221

Incident

Jun 18, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO STEER, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE POWER STEERING IS HARDER THAN IT SHOULD BE, THE RACK AND PINION HAS BEEN REPLACED YET THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. NLM

NHTSA ID

8006373

SPEEDOMETER WAS'T WORKING, VERY NOISY BRAKES

NHTSA ID

9006530

STEERING WHEEL WAS MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED BOTH OUTER TIRE RODS, AND RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR AND LINK. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

8006156

CONSUMER STATES A SHORT TIME AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, THERE WAS A STRONG HEATED METAL ODOR WHEN THE HEATER WAS TURNED ON, THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS POSSIBLY MILDEW PRESENT IN THE VENTING SYSTEM, AND THEY SPRAYED IT WITH AIR FRESHNER, HOWEVER THE ODOR ALTHOUGH NOT AS STRONG IS STILL PRESENT.*JG

NHTSA ID

564658

ENGINE STALLED & POWER BRAKES AND STEERING SHUT DOWN AT 75 MILES PER HOUR. OCCURRED ON INTERSTATE 40, HALF WAY BETWEEN NEEDLES & BARSTOW. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103 DEGREES. LUCKY TO GAIN ACCESS TO RIGHT SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY BEFORE BEING REAR ENDED BY OTHER TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID

750801

Incident

Jul 9, 2001

POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. BRAKES MAKE A NOISE LIKE GRINDING METAL AGAINST METAL.

NHTSA ID

9002437

THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. ONCE UNDER WARRANTY, ONCE ON AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND 2 TIMES AT MY EXPENSE. ALL FOUR TIMES USED FORD REPLACEMENT PARTS AND THE 1ST 3 REPAIRS USED FORD MECHANICS. AS THE CAR IS LESS THAN 5 YRS OLD AND UNDER 89000 MILES, IT SEEMS EXTRAORDINARY THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE REPLACING THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD EVERY 12 MONTHS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. THE FORD DEALER AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAYS, THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION. WE WILL REPLACE IT IF YOU WILL PAY ALL COSTS. I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS IS NOTMAL. THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS EXTREMELY LOUD. FORD DEALER SAYS YES, IS LOUD, WORKS FIND. THEY WILL EPLACE AT MY EXPENSE AND IT " WILL BE QUIET FOR A WHILE" THAT IS THE NATURE OF A TAURUS...I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS ACCURATE OR ACCEPTABLE

NHTSA ID

738709

Incident

Dec 1, 2000

ENGINE GASKET/ POWER STEERING, WATER PUMP FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

734563

Incident

Sep 1, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP. THEN, HAVE TO WAIT AND RESTART.*AK

NHTSA ID

872473

Incident

Oct 5, 2000

STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN. IT'S POWER STEERING, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT HARD TO TURN. CONSUMER IS AFRAID THAT VEHICLE MAY HIT SOMEONE. *AK

NHTSA ID

861067

Incident

Aug 27, 1999

SPEEDOMETER IS UNRELIABLE AT SPEEDS OVER 45MPH. STARTED AT APPROX.55,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

721190

REPLACED ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER AT 44,979 MILES, AND AGAIN AT 80,980 MILES. SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WOULD FLUCTUATE AND GET BURIED AT 90 MPH AND DRIVER WOULDN'T KNOW HOW FAST THEY WERE GOING. THE ORIGINAL PART SHOULD NEVER HAVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, MUCH LESS TWICE IN ONLY 80,980 MILES. CONTACTED FORD, THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, AND WE HAD TO PAY FOR PARTS AND REPAIRS FOR BOTH REPLACEMENTS. FIRST REPLACEMENT OF $295, SECOND (2 YEARS LATER) WAS $500. SAME DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

721019

Incident

Jan 26, 1998