1996 FORD TAURUS Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING NOISE. HE THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER AXLE WAS CORRODED, SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE LISTED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V385000 (SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, FRONT SEATS, STEERING CONTROL ARMS, DASHBOARD, AND TRANSAXLE WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE SUB FRAME. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 202,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 195,000.

Mileage: 195,000

THE REAR SPRINGS OF MY 1996 FORD TAURUS GL HAVE BOTH BROKEN THROUGH NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR

1996 FORD TAURUS GL, 147,000 MILES. WHILE TRYING TO MOVE THE CAR THE FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE, PUNCTURING THE TIRE. FORTUNATELY THIS WAS LOW SPEED, NO ONE HARMED. REQUIRES NEW SPRING AND TIRE AT A MINIMUM. *TR

Mileage: 147,000

I HAVE A 96 FORD TAURUS THAT HAS A BROKEN FRONT SPRING (AND I OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT) AND IT CAUSED MY TIRE TO BLOW ON THE HIGHWAY. I ALMOST CAUSED A SEVERE ACCIDENT THAT WOULD HAVE INVOLVED A TRACTOR TRAILER, AND ALMOST SURELY MY DEATH. *TR

Mileage: 158,423

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME FROM WORK, WHEN HER TIRE EXPLODED. SHE CALLED CRYING AND VERY SHOOK UP. WHEN I ARRIVED THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR WAS ON THE GROUND. APPARENTLY THE COIL SPRING SHOT OFF THE STRUT ASSY AND PUNCTURED THE INNER SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. FORTUNATELY SHE WASN'T DRIVING TOO FAST AND WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL INCIDENT! UPON LOOKING ON THE INTERNET FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SITUATION, I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH FORD TAURUS AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR ONLY NEWER MODELS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. WHY IS THE SAME PROBLEM ONLY RECALLED WITH ONLY CERTAIN YEAR OF MAKES???? WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THIS COULD'VE HAPPENED. I EVEN CHECKED FOR RECALLS FOR THIS CAR ONLINE. IF I WAS INFORMED OF THIS RECALL, THEN I WOULD'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC TO PUT GUARDS ON THE COIL SPRINGS WITH MY OWN MONEY, BECAUSE A LIFE IS WAY MORE IMPORTANT THAN MONEY OR A PRODUCT. PLEASE REALIZE THAT THIS COULD'VE BEEN VERY VERY BAD AND COULD HAPPENED TO ANYONE. *TR

Mileage: 180,643

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, A CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT END,AND ALSO HAD STEERING DIFFICULTIES. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHERE A CERTIFIED MECHANIC DETERMINED THE TWO FRONT COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, AND INFORMED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED, AND COINCIDED WITH THE DEALERSHIP INFORMATION. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THE MECHANIC INFORMED ABOUT INCIDENTS WHERE THE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED BY THE FRACTURED COIL AND THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. UPDATED 1/19/2007 - *NM

Mileage: 47,898

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HITTING A GUARD RAIL WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR PAINT DAMAGE. AFTER BEING DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED A STABILIZER BAR.

Mileage: 190,804

FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL UNEXPECTEDLY SNAPPED WHILE AT A STOP SIGN AND PUNCTURED TIRE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO ROLL INTO A NEAR LOT. *JB

Mileage: 98,000

I BACKED MY 1996 FORD TAURUS OUT OF THE GARAGE AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS SITTING AND THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE RIGHT TIRE. THERE WAS NO SAGGING OF THE CAR OR WARNING THAT THE SPRING WAS ABOUT TO BREAK. I TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND BOTH FRONT SPRINGS WERE FIXED. *NM

Mileage: 90,000

I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD TARUS THAT HAD SAT FOR A YEAR. UPON BACKING IT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE FRONT SPRING BROKE. THE CAR DROPPED DOWN ONTO THE TIRE SLASHING IT OPEN IMMEDIATELY. THEN I INSPECTED THE OTHER SPRINGS ONLY TO FIND THAT ANOTHER SPRING HAD A BREAK IN IT ALSO. THE SPRINGS WERE NOT RUSTY AND THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN ABUSED. *JB

Mileage: 135,000

I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD TARUS THAT HAD SAT FOR A YEAR. UPON BACKING IT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE FRONT SPRING BROKE. THE CAR DROPPED DOWN ONTO THE TIRE SLASHING IT OPEN IMMEDIATELY. THEN I INSPECTED THE OTHER SPRINGS ONLY TO FIND THAT ANOTHER SPRING HAD A BREAK IN IT ALSO. THE SPRINGS WERE NOT RUSTY AND THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN ABUSED. *JB

Mileage: 135,000

ON MY 1996 FORD TAURUS - RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND CAUSED BROKEN SPRING TO GO INTO RF TIRE CAUSING MASSIVE TIRE DAMAGE TO SIDEWALL. FAILURE WAS AT LOW SPEED SO NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. NEW COIL SPRING AND NEW TIRE WERE PURCHASED & INSTALLED. I'VE READ THAT TAURUSES OF OTHER YEARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE BUT NOT FOR THE 1996 TAURUS. MECHANIC TOLD ME THESE FRONT COIL SPRINGS SHOULD NOT BRAKE AND A MECHANIC FRIEND INFORMED ME OF THIS NHTSA WEB SITE. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL FOR THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY FAILURE AND REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE PAID FOR PRIOR REPAIRS. THANKS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THE TIRE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 888,000

I'VE NOTICED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE I FIRST BOUGHT MY TAURUS. FIRST I NOTICED A RATTLE/VIBRATION IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. I ALSO NOTICED A CLICK WHENEVER I TURNED MY WHEEL HARD EITHER WAY. *JB

Mileage: 81,000

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH FRONT COIL SPRING RUPTURED, PUNCTURING THE TIRE. MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE.*AK

Mileage: 119,000

RECALL CAMPAIGN ; A FRACTURED FRONT COIL SPRING CAUSED THE FRONT TIRE TO BLOWOUT. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE 1999-2000 MODELS ONLY. *SC *JB

WHILE REVERSING CONSUMER FOUND A PIECE OF THE BROKEN COIL SPRING ON THE GROUND OF THE GARAGE. THE DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE AND THE COIL PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. RECALL 04V332000 WAS ISSUED BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *NM

Mileage: 175,000

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH,CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM WHEEL ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND SUDDENLY CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE SHOULDERS. CONSUMER WENT UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT COIL SPRING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BROKE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD ALOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. *AK

WHILE PARKED FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. AS A RESULT, THE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. *AK BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. THE UPPER BRACKET ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM

Mileage: 66,500

FOUND THAT THE REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN DURING A TIRE ROTATION. *AK

Mileage: 94,350

THE FRAME OF MY 1996 FORD TAURUS HAS RUSTED OUT WHERE THE FRAME MOUNTS TO THE BODY ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *MR

Mileage: 71,400

THIS CAR CONTINUALLY STALLS OUT , THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, THE ENGINE REPAIR LIGHT COMES ON, THE UNDERNEATH SUSPENSION SQUEEKS AND GROANS, THE BRAKES SQUEAK, THE WHEEL DOESN'T TURN WHEN THE CAR STALLS OUT. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN I AM TURNING A CORNER, THE CAR STALLS OUT AND THE WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. NOW THE COMPUTOR SYSTEMS ARE NOT WORKING THE AIR CONDITIONING. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR TO GET THE RADIO AND THE AIR CONDITIONING TO START UP. THESE THINGS HAPPEN BUT NO ONE CAN FIND A PROBLEM.

1996 FORD TAURUS WHILE INSTALLING NEW FRONT BRAKE PADS IT WAS NOTICED THAT BOTH FRONT SPRINGS WERE BROKEN.*AK

Mileage: 85,000

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN CONSUMER REALIZED THAT FRONT SUSPENSION DROPPED. *AK

WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVE WAY, THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM PH *JB

I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS ON MY 1996 FORD TAURUS THREE TIMES OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. *JB

PURCHASED MY 1996 FORD TAURUS WAGON IN NOV. 2001. IT ACCELERATES AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH CRUISE GOING DOWN HILL. THE GAS PEDAL OFTEN GETS HUNG UP WHICH LEAVES ME TAPPING IT MY FOOT TO GET IT TO GO, SO THAT I DO NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE WHOLE CAR RIDES VERY ROUGHLY. IT ALSO HANGS UP IN PASSING GEAR ALMOST EVERY TIME. AND ALSO HOW DO I FIND OUT WHERE TO CHECK TO SEE IF ALL THE RECALLS WERE TAKEN CARE OF. BE CAREFUL FOR WHAT U BUY. *NLM

Mileage: 98,000

WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ANY FRONT SUBFRAME PROBLEMS, CAR MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHEN BRAKING LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE AND WHEN HITTING DIPS OR POTHOLES FRONT END SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO TO FALL OUT. REPLACED FRONT STRUTS 06/27/02 STILL HAVE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

I LOVE MY CAR BUT IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER GOING WRONG WITH IT AND HAVING TO WORK ON A VEHICLE AND MAKE PAYMENTS IS AGERVATING AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND THE FORD COMPANY WILL NOT ADMIT PROBLEMS OR HELP. *AK

DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

BROKEN COIL SPRING POSES A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE IT COULD RUPTURE THE TIRE WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, THE FAILURE IS PREMATURE -- ONLY 70000 MILES ON THIS CAR. ESTIMATES VARY, BUT THIS SPRING SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT, WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT END SHAKES AND WOBBLES. *YD

THE INCIDENTS HAVE ALL BEEN THE SAME: THE CAR IS USUALLY GOING UNDER 35MPH. THE CAR STARTS TO SHAKE, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP, THE CAR ACTS AS IF THERE IS NOT ENOUGH GAS GETTING TO THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE EITHER CUTS OFF OR BEGINS TO CHUGG AND SHAKE ANY TIME THE CAR SLOWS OR STOPS. I'M SURE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HOW FRIGHTENING THIS CAN BE SINCE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS SITUATION IS GOING TO OCCUR AND I'M PETRIFIED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN DURING RUSH HOUR ON A MAJOR ROAD CAUSING ACCIDENTS AND MAJOR DAMAGE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS WITHIN FEET OF A SERVICE STATION AND BROUGHT IT TO THEM. THE CODE ON THE ENGINE LIGHT SENSOR WAS, "EGR". THEY DID A 60,000 MILE SERVICE, CHECKED THE EMISSION SYSTEM, AND FOUND NOTHING. AFTER 41 MILES, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SAME SERVICE STATION. THEY REPLACED THE DPFE SENSOR. I'VE SINCE TAKEN IT BACK TO THEM 3 OR 4 TIMES, WHENEVER THE CAR STARTS TO SHAKE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON. THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN THINK OF TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND ARE AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO. THEY EVEN HAD A CLASS WITH 50 TECHNICIANS GIVEN BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND USED MY CAR AS THE EXAMPLE. THEY TOOK APART THE ENTIRE EMISSION SYSTEM AND "ROTO-ROOTED" IT. I DROVE LESS THAN 10 MILES AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AGAIN. SO FAR, I'VE SPENT CLOSE TO $500. BECAUSE THE GARAGE WHERE I ORIGINALLY TOOK IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN CHARGING ME FOR RETURN VISITS. I CONTACTED FORD'S CONSUMER HELP LINE ON MAY 2, 2000. DAMIEN SAID THAT BECAUSE I'D HAD SO MUCH TROUBLE, HE THOUGHT THAT I WOULD GET SOME FINANCIAL HELP FROM FORD AND HE'D LET ME KNOW IN TWO DAYS. WHEN I DIDN'T HEAR FROM HIM, I CALLED FORD AGAIN AND SPOKE WITH CAROL. SHE SAID THAT I WOULD GET NO HELP AND THAT MY FIRST STEP WAS TO TAKE THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER & THAY WOULD HELP ME. THEY DON'T WANT TO HELP ME. WHAT CAN I DO? *AK

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE IN FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR A RIGHT TURN. DEALER STATES THAT NOISE IS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. *AK *ML

FRONT END IS MISALIGNED. YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

CAR MAKE LOUD SQUEALING NOISE WHEN MAKEING SHARP TURNS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. WHEN CAR WAS BROUGHT IN UNDER WARRANTY THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE ISN'T SHIFTING PROPERLY AND STALLS. ALSO, AND TIRE SHAKE. *AK

VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO FAILURE OF THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO STRIKE PAVEMENT BELOW DUE TO COLLAPSED FRONT END (NO OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED). MJS

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 50,600 MILES DUE TO A FAULTY FORWARD PISTON IN THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION WITH REBUILT TRANSMISSION AT VEHICLE OWNER'S EXPENSE. TRANSMISSION HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN HARD OR HAD NOT PULLED AN EXCESS LOAD. WOULD LIKE INVESTIGATION TO SEE IF MORE VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND TO SEE IF A RECALL IS NECESSARY. SUSPENSION: POPPING SOUND IN FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING. ROUGH RIDING. DEALER SAID NEEDS SUBFRAME BUSHINGS AND STRUTS (47331 MILES).

WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT, THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND SOMETHING IS RUBBING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE WHERE THE NOISE IS COMING FROM. *AK

THUMPING NOISE FROM FRONT SUSPENSION AND METAL TO METAL NOISE WHILE MAKING SLOW TURNS.*ET

THUMPING NOISE FROM FRONT SUSPENSION AND METAL TO METAL NOISE WHILE MAKING SLOW TURNS.*ET

STABILIZER BAR. VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD THUMPING SOUND WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT.

FRONT END VIBRATION , SEVERAL REPAIRS MADE, HOWEVER STILL VIBRATES CAUSING TIRES TO WEAR PREMATURELY.

FRONT END VIBRATES AND IS NOISY. PROBLEM CANNOT BE DETERMINED.

FRONT LEFT STRUT FAILED. MJS

REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. ALSO VEHICLE VIBRATES UPON APLYING BRAKES. *AK

VEHICLE RIDES LOW.

SUSPENSION NOISE.

FRONT END MISALIGNED.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND WHEN THERE IS A QUICK CHANGE IN THE ROAD SURFACE, THE STRUTS MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP (5) OR (6) TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM SINCE JULY OF 96. THE STRUTS AND SWAY BAR WERE REPLACED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. ALSO, NEW SUBFRAME INSULATORS WERE PUT IN A FEW WEEKS AGO. VEHICLE IS STILL MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND WHEN THERE IS A QUICK CHANGE IN THE ROAD SURFACE, THE STRUTS MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP (5) OR (6) TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM SINCE JULY OF 96. THE STRUTS AND SWAY BAR WERE REPLACED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. ALSO, NEW SUBFRAME INSULATORS WERE PUT IN A FEW WEEKS AGO. VEHICLE IS STILL MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE. *AK

RATTLE IN FRONT END WHEN TURNING RIGHT.

VEHICLE RECALL NOTICE SENT, VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED RATTLE AND CREAKING SINCE NEW.

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AT SLOW SPEED THERE'S A VERY BAD RUBBING NOISE. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAIL. *AK

WHEN TURNING RIGHT ONLY THERE IS A NOISE . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

VEHICLE BOTTOMS OUT WHEN HITTING BUMPS, ALSO REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. *AK

FRONT END NOISE.

VEHICLE DRIFTS ALL OVER THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. RESULTING IN POOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. PLEASE DESCRIBE ALL OTHR PROBLEMS. *AK

VEHICLE PUSHED BY WIND VELOCITY OF OTHER VEHICLES, CAUSING POOR STABILITY. *SD

CAR BOUNCES SLIGHTLY WHEN ACCELERATING. *DSH