1996 Ford Taurus Body & Structure Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR CARRIAGE HAD CORRODED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW UNDER FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

THE MOTOR CRADLE IN MY MOTHER-IN-LAW'S 1996 TAURUS RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE AS SHE WAS MAKING A TURN. THIS CAUSED THE MOTOR TO PARTIALLY DROP MAKING STEERING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THE 1995 TAURUS IN DEC. OF 1998. MY QUESTION IS IF THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL 1998 THEN WHY WOULD THE 1996 TAURUS NOT BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CREDIBLE DOCUMENTATION THAT FORD SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED A PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR CRADLES IN THE 1996 TAURUS TWO YEARS BEFORE THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM PROMPTING THE 1998 RECALL. SHORT OF THAT, I WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE FIXED BY FORD. *TR

ON MY 1996 FORD TAURUS THE SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. WITH ONLY 90,000 MILES AND STORED INSIDE I HAVE NEVER SEEN A FRAME RUSTED OUT THIS BAD. *TR

THE FRAME IS CRACKED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT WATER LEAKED ONTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR AREA. THE WATER WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

THE 1996 TAURUS THAT I DRIVE HAD A THUD/CLANKING NOISE UNDER THE FLOOR BOARDS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. REPLACED BRAKES, AND WHILE THE CAR WAS JACKED UP I FOUND EXTREME RUST THROUGH ON THE PASSENGER'S REAR ON THE SUBFRAME CARRIAGE AND CARRIAGE BOLT. THIS CAR WAS NO LONGER BEING DRIVEN. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 115,000 MILES ON IT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE ROTTED OUT. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT ANY REPAIRS WE NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY OR RECALL, AND THAT THEY HAVE LETTERS FROM FORD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS WAS ONLY COVERED THROUGH THE 1995 MODEL YEAR.*AK

I CURRENTLY OWN A 1996 FORD TAURUS. BY A FLUKE, I WAS RECENTLY NOTIFIED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE SUB-FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS CORRODED BEYOND REPAIR. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE IS NO OTHER RUST ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH WOULD INDICATE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH I HAVE CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS THE MAIN SUPPORT, WHICH HOLDS UP THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. IF IT WERE TO SUDDENLY DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME IMPOSSIBLE. I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE DRIVING WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND DO NOT REALIZE IT, JUST AS I DIDN'T. I AM ASKING THAT YOU CHECK INTO THIS FURTHER AND TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS. THANK YOU, JAMES MEHRING. *NM

I NOTICED A CLICKING IN FRONT END WHEN TURNING,STOPPING AND ACCELERATING WICH VERY QUICKLY GRADUATED TO A LOUD POPPING SOUND.AFTER TAKING IT IN TO THE GARAGE THEY FOUND THAT THE HALF SHAFT AND TIE ROD WERE DAMAGED ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE.AFTER REPLACING THE PARTS IT WAS STILL POPPING.THEY PUT IT ON A HOIST AND REALIZED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED AWAY AT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE.THIS WAS IMEDIATELY DECLARED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE TO THE HALF SHAFT AND TIE ROD.AFTER TAKING IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO THE FRAME, HE NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR WAS NEAR COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT AS WELL.I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS THE SAME CAR (MODEL AND YEAR) AND HE IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS WITH HIS CAR.*AK

THE STATE INSPECTION REFUSED TO INSPECT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BECAUSE THE SUB FRAME CORRODED BEYOND REPAIR. *AK

DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, A LOUD "THUD" NOISE WAS COMING FROM FRONT. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT FRONT RIGHT CRADLE MOUNT WAS BROKEN. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN CAMPAIGN NUMBER 98V323000. *AK *SLC

DORR HANDLE ON DRIVERS SIDE WOULD NOT OPEN. I HAD TO OPREN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE . SUDDENLY, FOR NO APPARANT REASON IT WORKED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE AND CORRECTED ITSELF. *AK

WHENEVER IT RAINS / GOING THROUGH SOME WATER. DOORS WORK INTEMITTENTLY. *AK *YC

FRONT DOOR HANDLES ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT DOORS DO NOT WORK IN HIGH HUMIDITY ENVIRONMENT (ON RAINY DAYS). UNABLE TO OPEN EITHER FRONT DOOR.

DOOR HANDLE FAILED.

CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR HANDLE STICKING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE LOCK SWITCH.

ALL FOUR EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE IN WARM WEATHER, THIS HAPPENS SOMETIMES, BUT NOT ALL OF THE TIME. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS (70 PLUS MPH) IN CROSSWIND CONDITIONS THERE IS A LOUD "MOANING" AND/OR "WHISTLING" SOUND THAT IS PRESENT IN THE AREA OF THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WHERE THE DOOR ASSEMBLY MEETS THE FRAME AND WINDOW ASSEMBLY. THE SOUND IS SO LOUD THAT I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE RADIO BECAUSE THERE IS TOO MUCH NOISE IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR TO TALK OR HEAR NORMALLY. I HAVE INFORMED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS PERSONAL FORD VEHICLE. FORD CAN'T SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM NOR DO THEY SEEM TOO CONCERNED ABOUT IT. THEY (FORD)JUST SORT OF PUT ME OFF AND MORE OR LESS INDICATE THAT BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT SEEM TO CORRECT THE PRONLEM THAT I"LL JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. THE PROBLEM IS ONGOING AND OCCURS FREQUENTLY WHEN I TAKE TRIPS WHERE I AM DOING HIGH SPEED DRIVING IN CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.

POWER DOOR LOCK INOPERATIVE.

REAR BUMPER FAILED.

BENT PILLAR ON DRIVER'S SIDE WHICH PREVENTED DOOR FROM CLOSING PROPERLY TWICE.