1990 Ford TAURUS: complaints, problems and recalls

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015627 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020348 at NHTSA ↗

HEATER CORE LEAKS. THIS PART HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 5 YEARS OF TIME. IT IS A CHEAPLY MADE PART AND PROBABLY THE MOST PROFITABLE FORD MAKES. LABOR IS 10 HOURS TO REPLACE THE PART. APPLIES TO ALL TAURUS'. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 210,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023388 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED AT A HIGH SPEED ON THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE DOOR. THEN, VEHICLE IMPACTED OTHER VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026965 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE CAR SOMETIMES MOVES BACKWARDS AND VICE VERSA. NEAR ACCIDENT IN A PARKING LOT WHILE COMING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030450 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 1990 TAURUS LX WAGON THAT HAS ONE OF THE FAULTY AXOD TRANSMISSIONS. LAST YEAR THIS TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND I REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. AFTER RESENT RESEARCH,IT APPEARS MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND ONLY A FEW HAVE RECEIVED ANY RESTITUTION FROM FORD (1993-95 TUARUS/SABLE OWNERS). *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043494 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ABS LIGHT STAYED ON AT ALL TIMES. HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS NOT EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044494 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE COMPONENTS FELL ONTO THE STEERING MECHANISM, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO STEER. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044978 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1989-10-13 (October 13, 1989)

AN INCORRECT TRANSISTOR MAY CAUSE AUTOLAMP SYSTEM LIGHT SENSOR MODULE MALFUNCTION.

Consequence: HEADLAMPS COULD TURN OFF WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN ORREMAIN ON AFTER VEHICLE IS PARKED. LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHTCOULD BE HAZARDOUS TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER TRAFIFIC.

Remedy: REPLACE LIGHT SENSOR MODULES.

Reported: 1990-08-28 (August 28, 1990)

WHEELS MAY CONTAIN CRACKS THAT COULD PROPOGATE IN RAISED PORTION OF WHEEL CENTER.

Consequence: UNDER SEVERE DUTY, THIS COULD RESULT IN EVENTUALSEPARATION OF WHEEL RIM FROM CENTER WITH LOSS OF CONTROL AND POSSIBLY ACOLLISION.

Remedy: REPLACE WHEELS WITH WHEELS OF A REVISED DESIGN.

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.