57 of the 542 complaints about the 1990 Ford Taurus are about the steering — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 119,000 miles.
57
Complaints
3
Crashes
5
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH SUB FRAME BOLTS SNAPPED. AS A RESULT, STEERING FAILED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10075494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE COMPONENTS FELL ONTO THE STEERING MECHANISM, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO STEER. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED.
NHTSA complaint #10044978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP.
NHTSA complaint #10020348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHEN VEHICLE MERGED ONTO THE STREET, IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT BRAKES BEING APPLYED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE INNER TIE RODS BOLTS HAD BROKEN OF. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
NHTSA complaint #8022012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER CONSTANTLY HAS TO STEER TO LEFT TO KEEP VEHICLE IN LINE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE THE DESIGN FOR THE POWER STEERING IS POOR, THE PUMP IS IN THE RIGHT FORWARD CORNER OF THE ENGINE AND THE HOSES GOING TO THE RACK AND PINION GO OVER THE FWD EXHAUST MANIFOLD, PASS OVER THE TRANSAXLE, AND THEN PASS OVER THE AFTER EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
NHTSA complaint #8001285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
RIGHT HAND CAME UNDONE FROM STEERING RACK, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #884497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
THE OUTER LEFT FRONT TIE ROD END FAILED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #558640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE STEERING COLUMN SHIFTER WAS REPLACED AND THE RACK AND PINION ON THE STEERING WAS REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #558432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
STEERING FLUID KEPT LEAKING OIL, HAD PUMPS AND HOSES REPLACED, AND DEALER STILL COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. COMING AROUND A CURVE ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE SEEMED LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO TURN IN PROPER DIRECTION CONSUMER WAS GOING. CONSUMER WAS PUTTING POWER STEERING FLUID IN FREQUENTLY, CONSUMER SAID IT WAS VERY SCARY ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #875250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
STEERING FLUID KEPT LEAKING OIL, HAD PUMPS AND HOSES REPLACED, AND DEALER STILL COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. COMING AROUND A CURVE ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE SEEMED LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO TURN IN PROPER DIRECTION CONSUMER WAS GOING. CONSUMER WAS PUTTING POWER STEERING FLUID IN FREQUENTLY, CONSUMER SAID IT WAS VERY SCARY ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #875250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP ON THE LEFT POSITION WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #861458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE DRIVINHG ON THE HIGHWAY AND TURNING TO THE LEFT, STEERING BECOMES STIFF AND STICKS. DEALER CAN'T FIND PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #848769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
POWER STEERING LINES FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #548303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
FUEL INJECTION- CAR STALLS, WON'T ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. WIPERS- STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD, VISIBILITY HAMPERED. WHEELS- MAKING A SQUEEKING NOISE, WHEN INSPECTED FOUND LARGE CRACKS. OWNERS MANUAL WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE CAR. MOTOR MOUNTS KEEP BREAKING. SPARE WHEEL/TIRE THAT CAME WITH VEHICLE WAS RUSTED, PARTS OF THE JACK MISSING. POWER STEERING FLUID PUMP WAS CRACKED/LEAKING, HAD TO BE REPLACED. AIRCONDITIONER COMPRESSOR DID NOT WORK, BELT CONNECTED TO THE ALTERNATOR WOULD NOT MOVE, SO CAR WOULD NOT START. BRAKE CYLINDER LEAKING FLUID ONTO BRAKES. HOOD WILL NOT STAY UP.
NHTSA complaint #710362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE BOLT CAME OUT OF THE SUBFRAME, AND CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. ALSO, STEERING WENT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #844285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH MOTOR MOUNTS CAME OFF, CAUSING POWER STEERING TO GO OUT AND VEHICLE WOULD ONLY TURN TO THE RIGHT DUE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID THAT LEAKED OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED.
NHTSA complaint #837060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
OUTER TIE ROD END WOULD COME OUT OF RUBBER BUSHINGS & SEPARATE. THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #838497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN HE WAS AT A CURVE, TRIED TO STEER TO THE LEFT, BUT STEERING WAS STUCK AND CONSUMER HIT A LIGHT POLE. VEHICLE IS AT MECHANIC SHOP.
NHTSA complaint #836585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD . THIS HAPPENED ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER SAYS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID HOSE CAUSED FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #825082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE SPILL ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH STARTED A FIRE FROM THE FLUID GETTING DOWN ONTO THE ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #834916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. ALSO, STEERING IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND VEHICLE IS STALLING WHENEVER CONSUMER TRIES TO START VEHICLE UP.
NHTSA complaint #834501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE A LITTLE STEERING. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED. DEALER PUT THE VEHICLE UP ON THE COMPUTER, AND STILL CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM THAT HAS RETURNED.
NHTSA complaint #833634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
CAR WAS DRIVEN AT LOW SPEED TURNING CORNER (DIRECTION OF TURN - RIGHT), WHEN FRONT STEERING CONTROL WAS SUDDENLY LOST. STEERING CONTROL LOSS WAS DUE TO STEERING ASSEMBLY UNDER FRONT END OF CAR BECOMING DETACHED FROM STRUT. THIS CAUSED SEVERED STEERING ASSEMBLY TO PUNCTURE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND RIGHT REAR TIRE DUE TO SUDDEN BREAKING OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #701793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
CAR WAS DRIVEN AT SLOW SPEED IN ORDER TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. IN DOING SO, PART OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR BROKE OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WHICH BROKE PUNCTURED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #701794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES
POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION COMPONENT (SCREW) FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND DAMAGE TO TIE RODS.
NHTSA complaint #514490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WENT OUT/BOLTS, WHICH HOLD STEERING WHEEL IN PLACE, RUSTED OUT, CAUSING STEERING LOSS OF STEERING. CONSUMER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY.
NHTSA complaint #827355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
THE STEERING TIE RODS COME LOOSE FROM THE THREADED ENDS OF THE STEERING RACK GEAR WHEN THE THREADS WEAR OUT FROM CONSTANT SCRUBBING DUE TO IMPROPER FASTENING.
NHTSA complaint #516591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
INNER SOCKET ASSEMBLY BROKE, CAUSING TIRE TO TURN SIDEWAYS AND LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #519228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
STEERING TIE RODS CAME LOOSE FROM THE ENDS OF THE STEERING RACK DUE TO THREAD FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #517160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, CAUSING LEAKAGE.
NHTSA complaint #517566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.