1989 Ford Taurus Body & Structure Problems

WHILE DRIVING MY 1989 FORD TAURUS, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG, AND THE CAR BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT NEAR ANY OTHER CARS, AND ONLY 1 BLOCK FROM HOME, SO WITH BRUTE FORCE I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR BACK TO MY DRIVEWAY. INSPECTION FOUND THAT BOTH REAR CORNERS OF THE SUB FRAME THAT THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, AND SUSPENSION HAD DROPPED DOWN, SEPERATED FROM MAIN CAR CHASSIS. I THOUGHT THIS WAS UNUSUAL, SO I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND OUT THAT FORD HAD ISSUED RECALL NOTICE 98S36 THAT DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. EVEN THOUGH I NOW LIVE IN TEXAS, I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 1990 IN NEW YORK, AND OWNED SINCE. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN IN NEW YORK FOR THE 1ST 4 YEARS I OWNED IT. THE RECALL DESCRIBES A SUBFRAME RUST PROBLEM FOR CARS DRIVEN IN STATES THAT USE SALT IN THE ROADS IN WINTER. I CONTACTED MY FORD DEALER REQUESTING MY CAR BE REPAIRED WITH A KIT OF PARTS THE IS SUPPLIED IN THE 98S36 RECALL. I EVEN OFFERED TO PAY. I WAS TOLD MY VIN IS NOT ON THE LIST FOR THIS RECALL, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I THEN CALL FORD DIRECTLY AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I ARGUED THAT MY CAR HAD THE EXACT FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE LETTER, AND IN SAME CONDITIONS, SO MY CAR MUST BE ON THE LIST. BUT FORD SAID NO, VIN IS NOT ON LIST, AND THERE NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME A TECHICAL REASON FOR THAT POSITION. MY ISSUES ARE; 1. IF FORD MISSED MY CAR IN IN RECALL NOTICE, THERE MUST STILL BE MANY FORD TAURUS'S DRIVING AT RISK OF AN ACCIDENT DUE THIS PROBLEM. 2. I WANT THE KIT OF PARTS THE COMES IN THE RECALL TO FIX MY CAR, SINCE THE CAR RUNS FINE AND IS GOOD CONDITION. THE VIN NUMBER OF THIS CAR IS: [XXX]. *AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

THE CHASSIS MOUNTS ON THE REAR OF THE SUBFRAME CORRODED AND BROKE WHICH ALLOWED THE FRAME TO SEPARATE FRONT HE BODY. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *MR *CB *NLM

BOTH REAR MOUNTING BOLTS ON SUBFRAME FAILED AT 15MPH. RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY. THERE WAS A VERY LOUD BANG, I WAS TURNING A CORNER WHEN THE COMPONENTS FAILED. IT WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE SAFELY. IT WAS AS IF THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. FURTHER CONTACT TO DEALER FOR RECALL ACTION IS FORTHCOMING AS THE VEHICLE IS UNDRIVABLE IN THIS CONDITION.

THE RIGHT REAR MOUNTING BOLT ON THE SUBFRAME BROKE OFF WHERE IT SCREWS INTO THE MOUNTING PLATE IN THE BODY. THE STEERING ALIGNMENT AND TIGHTNESS WAS NEGATIVELY EFFECTED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE REAR CORNER OF THE SUBFRAME BOLT BROKE, AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR A RECALL, AND DEALER ORDERED PARTS FOR THAT PROBLEM AND 4 OTHER RECALLS. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER NEVER CONTACTED HER BACK WHEN PARTS CAME IN. *AK

THE REAR SUBFRAME BOLTS PULLED THROUGH, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. ALSO THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION HAS DROPPED. DEALER SAID VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. *AK

THESE STRUTS ARE USED ON THE FRONT AND REAR OF MANY MAKES OF MODEL CARS, MY PHYSICIAN SAYS THAT HE SEES MANY INJURIES OF THESE STRUTS FAILING ON HOODS AND TRUNK LIDS. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BOTH BEEN INJURED BY THESE FAILURES

WAS TOLD BY FORD MOTOR CO. AND PARTICIPATING DEALER THAT SUBFRAME RECALL IS NOT WHAT CAUSED THE UNSAFE CONDITION OF SAID VEHICLE, WAS TOLD I AM RESPONISBLE FOR ENTIRE REPAIR BILL. *AK

RECALL 98V323000: RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE & NOTIFIED DEALER. WAS INFORMED NO PARTS AVAILABLE & WOULD CALL WHEN THEY ARRIVED. HAS BEEN WAITING OVER 2MONTHS & RECEIVED NO CALL. FINALLY CALLED DEALER & WAS INFORMED PARTS ON BACK ORDER FOR SUBFRAME. NOT SATISFIED WITH ANSWER. *AK

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98V323000 & CONTACTED AT LEAST 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS. WAS INFORMED BY EACH THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE & COULD NOT SET UP AN APPOINTMENT. *AK

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98V323000 & CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS & HAD REPAIRS DONE. ON THE 2ND DAY AFTER REPAIRS (26 MAR 99), THE SUBFRAME BROKE & DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. MANUFACTURER & DEALER WERE NOT PAYING FOR DAMAGE THAT OWNER DECLARES ARE AT FAULT & SHOULD PAY. OWNER FEELS THEY SHOULD SINCE RECALL CAUSED THE PROBLEM ANYWAY. WANTS TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THE RECALL REPAIRS. *AK

RECALL REPAIR ON FAULTY BODY MOUNTS HAVE NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO DEALER PROBLEM. NLM (98V-323)

RECALL # 98V323000 ENGINE/ SUBFRAME; WHEN CONTACTING DEALERSHIP CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT RECALL DID NOT COMPLY TO VEHICLE IN THE STATE OF ARIONZA. CONSUMER ALSO TOLD THAT NOTHING WOULD BE REPLACED IF NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND. THIS IS NOT WHAT IS STATED IN RECALL NOTICE. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT (98V-323), WHICH CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS, CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH REPAIR INVOICE. *MJS

RECALL 98S36. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. HAS BEEN 60 DAYS, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

RECAL 93V106002. WHEN DRIVING ONTO THE ROAD THE SUBFRAME BODY MOUNTS FELL DUE TO CORROSION PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE DROPPED DOWN AND STEERING LOCKED,UP. DEALER CONTACTED, VIN # DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE RECALL. *AK

RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED PRIOR TO NOTICE ON THE REAR SUB-FRAME BODY MOUNTS (98S36).

REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT CORROSION.

WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN BECAUSE OF RECALL 93V106002. WHEN THE SUB-FRAME BOLTS BROKE, THE FRAME BECAME UNATTACHED AND CAUSED THE BODY TO TWIST, NO SUPPORT TO THE FRAME, DEALER CONTACTED AND REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CONTACT CONSUMER, AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE. *AK