1989 Ford TAURUS: complaints, problems and recalls

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004717 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING APRX. 55MPH BACK PASSENGER TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICAL (SEDAN) AND GOING INTO A SPIN (TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 95S),(DOT: W2M0 R3B), (MODEL TYPE: STEEL BELTED RADIAL), (MAKE: FIRESTONE FR360). I HAVE 2 YOUNG CHILDREN THAT WHERE IN THE VEHICAL WITH ME. IN THE EVENT THAT I WAS NOT EXTREMLY WELL TRAINED IN DEFENSIVE DRIVING MY BELIEF IS THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ROLLED. THESE TIRES HAVE LESS THEN 400 MILES ON THEM. THE TWO FRONT TIRES ARE SHOWING BUBBLES ON SIDEWALL. DRIVER BACK TIRE HAS SEPERATION WH…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005475 at NHTSA ↗

1989 FORD TAURUS LX. *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768109

Owner-reported narrative. 71,775 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007457 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 1989 FORD TAURUS WITH AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE FOR 1 YEAR AND YESTERDAY WHEN IT WOULDN'T START, IT KEPT CRANKING ON IT'S OWN EVEN AFTER I PULLED THE KEY OUT. IT THEN STATRED SMOKING FROM UNDER THE DASH AND I HAD TO JUMP OUT AND DISCONECT THE BATTERY! FORD RECALLED EVERY OTHER MODEL FOR 1989 BUT MINE AND THE EXPLORER FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHY NOT MINE?

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008010 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *NLM WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *MR

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015538 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLES' ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. *MR

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022407 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10027262 at NHTSA ↗

I BOUGHT MY 1989 FORD TAURUS IN JUNE OF 2001. IN THE PAPERWORK FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNERS WAS INFO. ON A RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY DATED 4/98 REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH SEATBELT BUCKLES. I RECENTLY HAD DIFFICULTIES WITH MY SEATBELT BUCKLES AND TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS CONSEQUENTLY TOLD IT WAS WAY PASSED THE WARRANTY DATE EVEN BEFORE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. SO MY COMPLAINT IS HOW DO I GET THEM FIXED SINCE THIS CAN BECOME A SERIOUS MATTER IF I OR ANYONE ELSE GETS STUCK IN THE CAR, OR HAS FURTHER DIFFICULTIES EVEN FASTENING THE SEATBELT.…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030328 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1991-03-04 (March 4, 1991)

THE POWER SEAT SWITCH WIRING IS ROUTED OVER RATHER THAN UNDER THE FRONT SEAT SUPPORT BRACE, ALLOWING DAMAGE BY SEAT CUSHION SPRING ENDS WHEN SEAT IS OCCUPIED.

Consequence: POWER SEAT SWITCH WIRING INSULATION MAY BECOME ABRADED,OR PUNCTURED, AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD OCCUR THAT COULD RESULT IN A FIREIN THE SEAT CUSHION MATERIAL.

Remedy: REVISE ROUTING OF POWER SEAT WIRING TO PREVENT DAMAGE FROM SEAT CUSHION SPRING CONTACT.

Reported: 1991-08-06 (August 6, 1991)

FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.

Consequence: SEVERELY CORRODED ROTORS MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE NEARTHE INNER EDGES OF THE BRAKE DISCS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS,HIGHER THAN NORMAL PEDAL EFFORTS, LOUD GRINDING NOISES, AND MODERATE PULLS WHENTHE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS MAY INCREASE MINIMUMSTOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.

Reported: 1992-05-11 (May 11, 1992)

CHILDREN CAN ACCIDENTALLY LOCK THEMSELVES IN THE FOOTWELL AREA OF THE REAR-FACING THIRD SEAT, OR IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT IN STATION WAGONS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL THIRD SEAT. ONCE THE COMPARTMENT IS CLOSED IT CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE.

Consequence: THERE IS A DANGER OF AIR DEPRIVATION, HYPERTHERMIA,AND/OR PANIC RESPONSE TO A CHILD WHO HAS LOCKED HIMSELF OR HERSELF INTO THECOMPARTMENT, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ASPHYXIATION.

Remedy: REPLACE THE SELF-LATCHING ASSEMBLY CURRENTLY USED IN THE REAR STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITH A LATCH ASSEMBLY THAT CAN ONLY BE CLOSED WITH A KEY.

Reported: 1992-08-17 (August 17, 1992)

THE RIGID MOUNTED SAFETY BELT BUCKLES ARE DEFECTIVE IN THREE WAYS. FIRST, A FASTENED SAFETY BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT UNLATCH WHEN THE RELEASE BUTTON IS DEPRESSED. THIS RESULTS FROM INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE BUCKLE EJECTOR FINGER AND THE BUCKLE TONGUE WINDOW. THE SECOND DEFECT IS THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY NOT LATCH. THE THIRD POSSIBLE DEFECT IS THAT THE TONGUE MAY BE RETAINED BY THE BUCKLE, BUT IT MAY NOT BE LATCHED SUFFICIENTLY TO PROVIDE OCCUPANT PROTECTION.

Consequence: AN INSUFFICIENTLY LATCHED OR UNLATCHED SAFETY BELTINCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO SEAT OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT. IF THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT UNLATCH, IT WILL NOT ALLOW THEOCCUPANT TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

Remedy: FORD WILL REPLACE THE RIGID MOUNTED SAFETY BELT BUCKLES WITH END RELEASE SAFETY BELT BUCKLES DESIGNED TO PREVENT LATCH PROBLEMS.

Reported: 1998-12-16 (December 16, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.

Consequence: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.