1995 Ford Taurus steering problems

STEERING

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 complaint #10995826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10573609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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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 complaint #10543523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

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 complaint #10426962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10294548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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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.

NHTSA complaint #10277215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID

THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10009242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

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 complaint #10001413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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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 complaint #8021492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

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

NHTSA complaint #768358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

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

NHTSA complaint #567341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

SPEEDOMETER WAS'T WORKING, VERY NOISY BRAKES

NHTSA complaint #9006530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

CONSUMER BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE OF A GRINDING NOISE HEARD IN THE LEFT WHEEL WHEN TURNING AT A LOW SPEED. THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE RACK STICKING AND THE STRUT BEARINGS NOISY. THE RACK AND PINION, THE LEFT AND RIGHT ASSIST VALVE AND THE FRONT STRUT BEARING WERE REPLACED. THE NOISE IS NOT AS LOUD BUT CONTINUES.(CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNES VEHICLE).(

NHTSA complaint #564658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

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

NHTSA complaint #8012221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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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 complaint #8006373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

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.

NHTSA complaint #8006156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

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 complaint #750801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

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

NHTSA complaint #9002437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

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 complaint #738709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

ENGINE GASKET/ POWER STEERING, WATER PUMP FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #734563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

OUTER TIE RODS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #784321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

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

NHTSA complaint #872473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

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.

NHTSA complaint #861067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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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.

NHTSA complaint #721019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

NHTSA complaint #721190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON A BUSY INTERSTATE VEHICLE STALLED AND WENT OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE POWER STEERING ALSO WENT OUT, UNTI L VEHICLE COOLED OFF. CONSUMER THEN STARTED VEHICLE, WENT A COUPLE OF MILES, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. CONSUMER FEELS THIS PROBLEM ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE, AND MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK A MECHANIC ADVICED THAT A FUEL PUMP BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT COULD OVER HEAT AND SHUT DOWN IN HOT WEATHER. THE DRIVER DID NOT ACCEPT THE ADVICE AND THE FUEL PUMP IS DOING FINE.

NHTSA complaint #858808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED (UNDER WARRANTY) AT APPROXIMATELY 27,000 MILES BECAUSE IT BECAME ERRATIC OVER 40 MPH. ERRACTIC MEANS THAT ONCE I GET ABOVE 40 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE CONSTANTLY BOUNCES BETWEEN 35 MPH AND 85 MPH AND MAKES VARIOUS HIGH-PITCHED OR "GROWLING-TYPE" NOISES. IT VARY RARELY WOULD STEADY ITSELF AT ONE RATE. EASTGATE FORD REPLACED THE SPEEDOMETER WITH THE FIRST PROBLEM. WITH THE REPLACEMENT SPEEDOMETER, I EXPERIENCED THE SAME ERRATIC BEHAVIOR AFTER ONLY 10,000 - 15,000 MILES. I HAVE NOT REPLACED IT BECAUSE I WAS PROVIDED A QUOTE OF $450 TO REPLACE THE UNIT. WHEN SEARCHING THE WEB AND THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THIS PROBLEM, IT STATES THAT THERE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ENOUGH LUBRICANT PLACED IN THE SPEEDOMETER CABLE DURING MANUFACTURE. THE ONLY WAY TO "REPAIR" THIS PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE THE UNIT. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SPEED I AM TRAVELING ON CITY ROADS OR HIGHWAYS ONCE I GET ABOVE 40 MPH. I HAVE TO DRIVE AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME RATE OF SPEED AS THE OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME AND HOPE THAT THEY ARE DRIVING AT/AROUND THE SPEED LIMIT. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT I AM WEARING OUT THE PLASTIC NEEDLE AND ANY ASSOCIATED BEARINGS BECAUSE OF THE NOISES THAT ARE GENERATED. IF THE BEARINGS WEAR OUT, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TELL MY RATE OF SPEED AT ANY TIME, INCLUDING SCHOOL ZONES! AN INTERESTING NOTE IS THAT MY STEP-MOTHER HAS A 1993 FORD ESCORT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND'S CO-WORKER ALSO HAS A FORD VEHICLE WITH THE EXACT SAME SPEEDOMETER PROBLEMS. IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET FORD TO RECALL THESE SPEEDOMETERS? THIS IS MY THIRD FORD VEHICLE AND WILL NOW BE MY LAST BECAUSE THIS IS SO ANNOYING. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO TO ASSIST YOU ANY FURTHER.

NHTSA complaint #717900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

BETWEEN 55-65MPH THE SPEEDOMETER BECAME ERRATICALLY AND DID NOT READ PROPER SPEED.

NHTSA complaint #717311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER MALFUNCTIONED/REPLACED (39,000 MILES)BUT NOW VEHICLE IS TMU-TRUE MILEAGE UNKNOWN-ANY RECOURSE?DASHBOARD VIBRATES INTENSELY AT 70-75MPH. TIRES BALANCED, ROTATED, REPLACED. STRUTS(4) REPLACED, STEERING COMPONENTS CHECKED BUT STILL VIBRATION. APPEARS THAT DASH DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH SUPPORT.

NHTSA complaint #706371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.