1995 Ford Taurus Suspension 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

SUB FRAME.

NHTSA ID

10811222

Incident

May 1, 2014

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

IT WAS DISCOVERED IN 2005 THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN NEAR THE BOTTOM ON MY 1995 FORD TAURUS. A PORTION OF THE COIL SLIPPED PAST THE BOTTOM SUPPORT OF THE STRUT LEAVING THE SHARP BROKEN EDGE ABOUT 1/4 INCH FROM THE TIRE. IT IS ESPECIALLY WORRISOME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THIS SHARP EDGE WILL PROBABLY PUNCTURE THE TIRE IF THE COIL SPRING SLIPS FURTHER, PAST THE BOTTOM SUPPORT OF THE STRUT. THIS WOULD IMMEDIATELY STOP THE ROTATION OF THE TIRE. AS AN IMPROVEMENT TO THE SITUATION, THE PORTION OF THE BROKEN COIL SPRING NEAR THE TIRE WAS GROUND DOWN GIVING IT ABOUT 1/2 INCH CLEARANCE FROM THE TIRE. THE COIL SPRINGS HAVE NOT YET BEEN REPLACED, BUT REPLACEMENT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 125,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN ON ASPHALT AND CONCRETE ROADS IN AVERAGE CONDITION. COIL SPRINGS SHOULD NOT FAIL IF A CAR IS DRIVEN USING NORMAL CARE. IT WAS DISCOVERED IN 2010 THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN NEAR THE TOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10349354

Incident

May 1, 2005

Mileage

125,000 mi

THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SPRINGS FAILED AFTER NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED ON THE FRONT TWO WHEELS. BOTH SPRINGS SNAPPED IN HALF AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS NOTICED BEFORE I DROVE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, HOWEVER THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT IS VERY HIGH CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10272787

Incident

Jun 2, 2009

Mileage

44,783 mi

THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION BROKE AT THE CENTER OF THE SPRING CAUSING THE FRACTURED COIL TO SNAP OUT AND CONTACT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE SIDE WALL. THIS CONDITION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DROP FROM THE LOSS OF SUPPORT OF THE SPRING AND THEN THE VEHICLE FURTHER DROPPED FROM THE SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE. THE END RESULT WAS A TIRE THAT WAS LOCKED UP AND A UN-CONTROLLED SPIN OUT OVER A DITCH THAT WAS OVERFILLED WITH WATER RUNOFF FROM A CURRENT HEAVY STORM . THE DITCH WAS ABOUT 8 FEET DEEP AND THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED OVER THE WATER. MY BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME AND STATED THAT THIS WAS AN EVER INCREASING OR RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE MANY FRONT SPRINGS ON THIS SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE, A FORD TAURUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242806

Incident

Sep 12, 2008

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 1995 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT STEERING WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A REALIGNMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT NEED AN ALIGNMENT BEFORE HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES AND THE BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 41,658 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10184531

Incident

Mar 1, 2007

Mileage

41,658 mi

ALL 4 SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS BROKE ON OUR 1995 FORD TAURUS. THE DISCOVERY DATE IS LISTED AS THE INCIDENT DATE, YET THE APPEARANCE OF THE BREAK AREAS IS THAT IT IS NOT RECENT. I HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED AS RECOMMENDED, AND THE BRAKES ARE NOT VISIBLE FROM BEING THAT HIGH UP ON THE LIFT. THE BRAKES ARE ALSO HIDDEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON THE GROUND AND SPRINGS COMPRESSED. ONLY WHEN REQUESTING PREVENTIVE INSPECTION OF THE STRUTS (OUTCOME FINE, NOT LEAKING) ON A LIFT AT EYE LEVEL WITH THE SPRINGS EXPANDED ARE THE BRAKES EVIDENT. I LOOKED UP ON NHTSA ONLINE DATABASE AND SEE A RECALL FROM AUGUST 2004 ON 1999-2001 FORD TAURUS. I ALSO SEE EXTENSIVE REPORTING ON THE INTERNET OF SIMILAR BRAKES GOING BACK TO AT LEAST 1993. ONE REAR SIDE FENDER CLEARANCE IS DIMINISHED, AND THE 1999-2001 RECALL STATES THE MAIN SAFETY HAZARD IS A BROKEN PIECE OF SPRING PUNCTURING A TIRE WHILE DRIVING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10157104

Incident

May 5, 2006

PASSENGER REAR COIL SPRING BROKE PRIOR TO PURCHASE IN 2002 @ APPROX 61,185 MILES, DRIVER REAR COIL SPRING BROKE @ APPROX 88,000 MILES. REPAIR SHOP SENT ME TO FORD AS THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS ON SPRINGS. FORD DEALER SAID NO OPEN RECALLS FOR THIS CAR, FAILED TO MENTION THE GOV'T INVESTIGATION. NO CONSEQUENCES YET - TIME WILL TELL. WILL REPAIR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT DIFFICULT W/O JOB. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE - IF FORD WANTS THEM THEY CAN HAVE THEM AS SOON AS THEY REPLACE & REPAIR AT NO CHARGE. SPRINGS SHOULDN'T BREAK PRIOR TO 61,185 - WHY ISN'T FORD TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS?? *NM

NHTSA ID

10140941

Incident

Oct 27, 2005

Mileage

88,000 mi

HAD BEEN DRIVING AUTO AND WHEN ENTERING PARKING AREA I HEARD A LOAD BANG AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO WOBBLE. I STOPPED, GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SPRING HAD BROKEN AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. AT THIS TIME, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REPAIR DAMAGE OTHER THAN PUTTING ON TEMPORARY SPARE TIRE TO PARK THE VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10136574

Incident

Sep 3, 2005

Mileage

91,000 mi

STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS HIT AND THE FRONT END DROPPED. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND SAW THAT THE FRONT LEFT SPRING HAD BROKEN AND DROPPED THE FRONT END. WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF AT EXIT. BY THIS TIME, BROKEN SPRING HAD SEVERED THE FRONT TIRE WHICH BLEW OUT. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED HOME - MY EXPENSE. AT REPAIR SHOP, DEALER FOUND THAT BOTH FRONT SPRINGS WERE BROKEN HOWEVER THE RIGHT FRONT HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR SOME TIME WITHOUT ANYONE'S KNOWLEDGE. HAD TO REPLACE SPRINGS, STRUTS AND SHOCKS, NEW TIRE, FRONT END ALIGNMENT, STABILIZER BAR CONTROL, BRAKE HOSE AND AXLE SHAFT ASSEMBLY WHICH WERE ALL DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE SPRING BREAKING. LUCKILY WE WERE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND NOT CRUISING AT 65 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED OR THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10131868

Incident

Jul 9, 2005

Mileage

156,376 mi

FORD TAURUS 1995, BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRING. *BF THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF A RECALL RECALL, HOWEVER HE WAS TOLD THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO HIS YEAR VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10117163

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. SUDDENLY, THE FRONT LEFT SIDE COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE LEFT FRONT STRUT AND COIL SPRING WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10113101

Incident

Feb 23, 2005

1995 FORD TAURUS. BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN. ACCORDING TO DEALER POTENTIAL DANGEROUS CONDITION. TIRE DEALER ENCOUNYERED MANY SIMILAR FAILURES. WILL NO LONGER USE FORD REPLACEMENT SPRINGS STILL NO RECALL BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY!

NHTSA ID

10096120

Incident

Oct 20, 2004

Mileage

89,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE COIL SPRING BROKE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL NUMBER 04V332000. *AK THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 2-5 MPH. *TC *JB

NHTSA ID

10089549

Incident

Mar 10, 2001

WHILE HAVING THE TIRES BALANCED, THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAD BROKE AND COULD PUNCTURE THE TIRES IF THEY WEREN'T REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL 04V332000 ON THIS ISSUE BUT WAS FOR LATER MODEL YEARS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10087911

Incident

Sep 20, 2002

Mileage

86,815 mi

I HAVE A 1995 FORD TAURUS , LAST YEAR THE REAR COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND MADE THE CAR SEEM LIKE IT HIT SOMETHING . I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL BUT IT DID MAKE THE CCAR SWERVE . THIS WAS EITHER THROUGH MY ACTION OR THE ACTION OF THE COIL SPRING BREAKING. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING AND THE DRIVERS FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE , THIS MADE THE CAR SUDDENDLY PULL TO THE LEFT . I TELL MYSELF I WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT TRAVELLING AT A HIGHER SPEED. I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT BUT IT PULLED THE CAR ENOUGH I WENT INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE. BEING THIS WAS THE SECOND COIL SPRING THAT FAILED I LOOKED AT THE OTHER 2 AND DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN ALSO . IT WAS BROKEN NEAR THE TOP ON THE LAST SPIRIAL AND DID NOT MAKE THE CAR DROP DOWN MUCH . SO I GUESS THERE COULD BE MANY CARS LIKE THIS WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE THE SPRING IS EVEN BROKEN. ALSO IN NOVEMBER OF 2003 I HAD TO HAVE REPAIRS TO THE THE CRADLE BUSHING REPLACED FOR THE REAR SUBFRAME . THIS TIME I JUST WAS TURNING RIGHT FROM A STOP SIGN WHEN IT BROKE AND DID NOT LOSE CONTROL BUT IT MADE THE CAR PULL / STEER TO THE RIGHT . I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THIS WAS A RECALL ON CERTIN VEHICLES BUT NOT ON MINE .

NHTSA ID

10081304

Incident

Jul 6, 2004

Mileage

99,375 mi

I BOUGHT THE CAR ABOUT A YEAR AND HALF AGO AND RIGHT OFF WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. VERY DISAPPIONTED BECAUSE I LOVE MY FORDS I CHECKED THE FLUILDS AND KEPT IT UP HAD THE GASKET REPLACED. AND IT STILL JERKS INTO GEAR BUT ITS AN AUTOMATIC ! WHAT CONCERNS ME NOW MY I HAD MY ROTARS AND BRAKES REPLACED AND MY CAR IS STILL EATING UP TIRES TOO AND BOUNCING ALL OVER THE ROAD!! *AK

NHTSA ID

10081038

Incident

Feb 13, 2002

Mileage

888,887 mi

BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE RESULTING IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSING.*MR *JB

NHTSA ID

10081851

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

1995 FORD TAURUS FRONT SPRINGS BROKE. *MR *NM

NHTSA ID

10073759

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE FRONT SPRINGS SNAPPED. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10072269

Incident

Apr 12, 2004

Mileage

80,000 mi

A/C: COMPRESSOR CLUTCH CAME APART EXHAUST: DUE TO HEAT AND CORROSION CAT CONVERTER FLANGE BECAME SO THIN IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEAL EXHAUST. ACT CONVERTER REPLACED UNDER 8/80 EMMISSIONS WARRANTY. PAINT: CRACKS IN PAINT DEVELOPED ABOVE REAR WHEEL (SHEET METAL FLEXING?) ALLOWING MOISTURE IN CAUSING CORROSION AND PAINT TO LIFT. FRONT SPRINGS: BOTH FRONT SPRINGS BROKE NEARLY PUNCTURING THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. NO HELP FROM FORD. SEEMS THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF BAD SPRING PROBLEMS. 93 TAURUS RECALL #98V-094, WINDSTAR RECALL 01V-199, CONTOUR RECALL 01V-255. THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON FRONT SPRINGS FOR THE 2000 FORD FOCUS FOR 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. DEALER BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION WHILE IN FOR A/C REPAIR. HAD THE SPRING PUNCTURED THE TIRE AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPIC. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE OTHER THAN TO SAY IF THERE WAS A FUTURE RECALL OR SATISFACTION PROGRAM I WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSMENT. THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS RELATIVLY INEXPENSIVE. IT'S THE FACT THAT THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM AND ARE UNWILLING TO ADDRESS IT THAT BOTHERS ME. SPRINGS ARE NOT A MAINTANCE ITEM. I HAVE SEEN THEM LOSE TENSION AND SAG ON OLDER HIGH MILEAGE CARS, BUT NOT BRAKE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10070604

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

Mileage

82,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH ON A FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SPRING BROKE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE STRUTS AND TIE ROD'S. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SPRING HAD BROKEN AND THE VEHICLE HAD BECOME UN-DRIVABLE. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10029491

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND DAMAGED THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. *PH

NHTSA ID

10032342

Mileage

160,000 mi

THE COIL SPRINGS WERE CORRODED AND BROKE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10011301

Incident

Mar 5, 2003