1992 Ford Taurus Steering Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE REAR MOUNTING ATTACHMENT FOR THE ENGINE CRADLE DETERIORATED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY ROAD SALT, DEBRIS, AND OTHER NATURAL MATERIALS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE MAJOR SAFETY HAZARDS. IF THE ENGINE CRADLE IS NOT SUPPORTED, A LOSS OF STEERING AND A CRASH MAY OCCUR. HE WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER PROVIDED HIM WITH A REASSEMBLY KIT, AS IF THE FAILURE WERE COMMON. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000. UPDATED 5/19/08 *CN

1992 TAURUS STEERING PROBLEM. *TS

DT: 1992 FORD TAURUS. THE U SHAPED HOUSING THAT HOLDS UP THE ENGINE RUSTED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD, ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED. ALSO, THE FRONT, EMERGENCY, SERVICE AND REAR BRAKES WERE NO GOOD, THE KEY BROKEN IN THE IGNITION. THERE WERE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ACQUIRED VEHICLE FROM AN AUCTION HOUSE. HE HAD A MECHANIC INSPECT IT, AND FOUND IT WAS BAD. HE TOOK IT BACK THE AUCTION HOUSE AND HE KEPT THE TITLE. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE TAMPERED WITH THE ODOMETER . THE INCIDENT DATE HE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE REJECTED THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO CAPITAL AUCTION 603-622-9058.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, THERE WAS A NOISE, IN WHICH THE SUBFRAME HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, AND BECAUSE THE SUBFRAME MOUNT FAILED, IT CAUSED THE STEERING TO GO OUT, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *SCC

FOLLOW-UP -- I.E., ADD'L COMPLAINTS ABOUT FAILURES FOR SUCH A LOW-MILEAGE CAR. THESE CAUSED SAFETY PROBLEMS AND ALSO CONCERN BY CONSUMER'S CERTIFIED MECHANIC. MANUFACTURER SHOULD ASSIST FOR PAYMENT OF DEFECTS AND FAILURES. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED. *AK

WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT THERE IS A CRANKING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING. DRIVER FEELS THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A BUSINESS PARKING LOT, THE TIE ROD END SNAPPED OFF CAUSING THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL TO TURN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND THROWING THE CAR TO STOP. FORTUNATE FOR MY WIFE THAT SHE WASN'T DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE CAR WAS TOWED BY AAA TO A FORD DEALER WHERE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD WAS REPLACED FOR 170 DOLLARS. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE PASSENGER TIE ROD COULD SIMILARLY SNAP WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN DOWN THE HIGHWAY!

IF THIS PART FAILURE HAPPENED AT SPEED THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS, POSSIBLY CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND SENSIBLY DRIVEN. I AM FRIENDS WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND KNOW THAT HE TOOK EXCEPTIONAL CARE OF THE CAR AND ALSO DROVE IT VERY CONSERVATIVELY. I HAVE THE FAILED PART AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IF YOU NEED IT. I BELIEVE THE PART FAILED DUE TO POOR MACHINING OR INCORRECT HEAT TREATING. AS POPULAR AS THIS MODEL IS I FELT IT VERY IMPORTANT TO REPORT THIS SITUATION.*AK

PULLED UP TO A STOP SIGN AND RIGHT SIDE INNER TIE ROD BROKE. ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO, INNER TIE ROD ON THE LEFT SIDE BROKE. BOTH OF THE TIE RODS BROKE BY THE BALL JOINT. BOTH TIE RODS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK *ML

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN ONE MONTH. I BOUGHT IT FROM AN AS-IS DEALER WITH ONE-YEAR WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION. WE FOUND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON JANUARY 21, AND HAD MY CAR CHECKED BY A MECHANIC. THE REPORTED PROBLEM WAS POWER STEERING LEAKING AND THEN THE RELATED PRESSURE AND RETURN HOSES WERE REPLACED. IT SEEMED OK. BUT ON JANUARY 26, MY CAR WAS SUDDENLY ON FIRE WHEN WE WERE DRIVING WITH OUR TEACHER. WE HAD TO CALL 911 TO SMOTHER THE FIRE. MANY WIRINGS WERE DAMAGED, THUS THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN ANYMORE. AND LATER WE STILL FOUND THE POWER STEERING LEAKING. IN BOTH CASES, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DEMONSTRATED EVERYTHING WAS OK EVEN WHEN THREE PERSONS WERE ON FIRE! IS THE AUTO SAFE? COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO FIND AN AUTHORIZED OFFICE IN RENO, NV TO INSPECT THE CAUSE OF THE VEHICLE FIRE? THANK YOU. *AK

TURNING RIGHT AFTER STOP, CAR MADE A POP NOISE. CAR VEERED LEFT ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE AND HIT STATIONARY METAL POLE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO AUTOMOBILE BODY AND SUSPENSION. CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED BY INSURANCE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

THE RIGHT SIDE TIE ROD END BROKE IN HALF WHILE BACKING OUT, CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. FORD MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *YC

WHILE DRIVING AT 5MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN TIE ROD END BROKE, CAUSING LEFT WHEEL TO STAY STRAIGHT UP. WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE TURN WHILE THE RIGHT WHEEL MADE THE LEFT TURN, MAKING A SCREECHING SOUND. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

STEERING WHEEL IS VERY HARD TO TURN WHEN DRIVING AT ANY TIME WHICH MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

TIE ROD FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE STEERING ABILITY AND CROSS THE CENTER LINE OF THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK A SIGN AND TREE.RECALL CAMPAIGN #98S36. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS CORROSION WITHIN THE STEERING, AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO STEER WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD OR MAKING A SLIGHT TURN. *AK *ML

WHEN VEHICLE IS WARMED UP & WOULD START TO TURN STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD MAKE GRINDING NOISES IN THE RIGHT FRONT. SOUNDS LIKE METAL TO METAL. TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. HAD BOTH STRUTS, TIE RODS, OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED. NOISE STILL EXISTS. MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK

WAS LEAVING FROM THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE WATER BOTTLE FELL AND CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PICK IT UP, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL/ WENT OFF THE ROAD,RESULTING IN A CRASH. DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND THE RESIDUE FROM THE AIRBAG DID SOMETHING TO CONSUMER'S FACE AND LEFT A 7 INCH SCAR. CONSUMER ALSO SUFFERED A WHIPLASH, AND LOST 15 POUNDS. *AK

INNER TIE ROD FRACTURED. (QCAW)