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1999 Ford Taurus

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Taurus years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Ford Taurus are substantially higher than the model-year median of 318.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

337 reports with mileage · 537 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 180 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

61 crash reports16 fire reports46 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

109 reports
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54,000 miles · Jul 12, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE BRAKING ENGINE STARTED RACING AT A HIGH RATE INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER HADE TO PUMP THE BRAKES. THIS CAUSED A MINOR COLLISION. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10081710

24 miles · Apr 26, 2004
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED FROM A STOP POSITION. INTERMITTENTLY THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. ON ONE OCCASION, WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED, IT RESULTED IN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BEING REAR ENDED. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, IN WHICH NO …

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VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED FROM A STOP POSITION. INTERMITTENTLY THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. ON ONE OCCASION, WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED, IT RESULTED IN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BEING REAR ENDED. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, IN WHICH NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10071576

20,000 miles · Apr 5, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. IT IS NOT WORKING. THE SPEEDOMETER ISN'T READING IT CORRECTLY. VEHICLE IS ALSO HAVING A PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. WHEN IT OCCURS, THE DRIVER SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 10 MINS. WHEN VEHICLE IS RE-STARTED EVERYTHING BEGINS TO WORK AGAIN. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10065567

47,000 miles · Oct 1, 2003
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

VEHICLE'S ENGINE ACCELERATED TO 3000 RPM'S RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING A BRICK WALL.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE GEAR IN PARK, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP THE HIGH RPM RATE THE ENGINE HAD ATTAINED. THE VEHICLE JUMPED AN EIGHT INCH CURB CROSSED A SIDEWALK AND A GRASSY AREA OF TWENTY FEET A…

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VEHICLE'S ENGINE ACCELERATED TO 3000 RPM'S RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING A BRICK WALL.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE GEAR IN PARK, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP THE HIGH RPM RATE THE ENGINE HAD ATTAINED. THE VEHICLE JUMPED AN EIGHT INCH CURB CROSSED A SIDEWALK AND A GRASSY AREA OF TWENTY FEET AND VIOLENTLY HIT A BRICK WALL. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PLACE THE GEAR INTO PARK, TURN THE ENGINE OFF OR PULL THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10042562

47,000 miles · Aug 20, 2003
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHEN VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK, RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING A BRICK WALL.*MR WHILE SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED TO OVER 3000 RPM WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JUMP AN EIGHT INCH CURB AND VIOLENTLY HIT A BRICK WALL.*TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10037628

55,090 miles · Aug 18, 2003
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH CAR WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THE MORE ACCELARATION WAS ATTEMPTED, THE HARDER THE ENGINE PUSHED AND THE HIGHER THE RPMS WENT WITHOUT CHANGING GEAR. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHO HAVE YET TO LOOK AT PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10033013

34,000 miles · Aug 9, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

AT VARIOUS TIMES (SINCE 34000 MILES) THE ENGINE WILL REV BUT NOT MOVE FORWARD. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE ALTOGETHER AND RESTART, OR RUN THE ENGINE HOPING IT WILL SHIFT INTO GEAR. ALWAYS HAPPENS AT FIRST GEAR, THE RPM NEEDLE IS AT THE TOP OF THE DIAL AND THE ODOMOTER NEEDLES STICKS AND DOESN'T MOVE. I …

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AT VARIOUS TIMES (SINCE 34000 MILES) THE ENGINE WILL REV BUT NOT MOVE FORWARD. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE ALTOGETHER AND RESTART, OR RUN THE ENGINE HOPING IT WILL SHIFT INTO GEAR. ALWAYS HAPPENS AT FIRST GEAR, THE RPM NEEDLE IS AT THE TOP OF THE DIAL AND THE ODOMOTER NEEDLES STICKS AND DOESN'T MOVE. I HAVE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS ALREADY WHEN COMING OUT INTO INTERSECTIONS. HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED AT TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND AM TOLD A REPAIR CANNOT BE MADE UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEMS IS GOING TO GET ME KILLED. I AM NOW AT 53000 MILES AND IT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. WHERE CAN I GET SOME ASSISTANCE. THE FIRST 3 CHECKS ON THIS PROBLEM OCCURED WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10031164

55,000 miles · Aug 6, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE FOR ANY AMOUNT OF TIME COOLANT LEAKES OUT ONTO THE GROUND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLES ACCELERATES WITHOUT ANY WARNING ,AND VEHICLE STALLS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10032268

60,000 miles · Jul 15, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

I DRIVE A 1999' FORD TAURUS. UPON ENTERING THE FREEWAY I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. CAR DOES NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. I THOUGHT THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS STICKING. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT FOR THE STICKY CABLE BUT FOUND OUT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CABLE. BETWEEN THEN AND NOW I HAVE GOTTEN …

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I DRIVE A 1999' FORD TAURUS. UPON ENTERING THE FREEWAY I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. CAR DOES NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. I THOUGHT THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS STICKING. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT FOR THE STICKY CABLE BUT FOUND OUT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CABLE. BETWEEN THEN AND NOW I HAVE GOTTEN THE PROBLEM FIXED FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP TWICE (PAID COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOLLARS EACH TIME) ,AND THE CAR WAS ACTING UP AGAIN(FOR THE THIRD TIME). THEN A FRIEND OF MINE REMINED ME OF THIS SHOW HE HAD SEEN WHERE PEOPLE HAD REPORTED THEIR TAURUS'S ACCELERATING SUDDENL,Y BUT FORD MOTOR CO. PASSED THE BUCK ON THE DRIVERS (THEY ACCIDENTLY MAY HAVE STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL). THIS WAS A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE TAURUS AND I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT EACH TIME I GET AN UNSATISFACTORY ANSWER FROM THEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10028361

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A STOP. APPLIED BRAKES, BUT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10007268

Official recalls

5

04V332000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

Jul 15, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS COULD FRACTURE DUE TO CORROSION ASSOCIATED WITH SALT USED ON THE ROADWAYS DURING THE WINTER. A FRACTURED SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE TIRE MAY RUPTURE RESULTING IN A RAPID AIR LOSS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE SPRING SHIELDS. IN ADDITION, FORD IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS IN ALL OTHER STATES, FOR FRACTURE ONLY, UP TO 10 YEARS OF SERVICE OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. IF THE VEHICLE HAS ALREADY ACCUMULATED MORE THAN 150,000 MILES, THIS COVERAGE WILL LAST UNTIL JULY 31, 2005. IF EITHER FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURES, DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. AN INTERIM NOTICE WAS SENT TO OWNERS ON AUGUST 2, 2004. PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE 2000-2001 MY VEHICLES AND OWNERS WERE SENT A LETTER ON JANUARY 10, 2005, ADVISING THEM TO BRING IN THEIR VEHICLES FOR REPAIR PARTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THE 1999 MY VEHICLES BY THE END OF FEBRUARY 2005 AND OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL BE NOTIFIED THEN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

99V250000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Sep 20, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE A PIN SHAFT IN THE SWITCHABLE ELR/ALR MECHANISM THAT IS INCORRECTLY FORMED. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SWITCHING MECHANISM COULD BECOME NONFUNCTIONAL, PREVENTING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING FROM BEING EXTRACTED FROM THE RETRACTOR. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT MALFUNCTION OF THE MECHANISM COULD PREVENT THE BELT FROM BEING SWITCHED INTO THE ALR MODE. THE ELR MECHANISM IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONS AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE WEBBING TO BE EXTRACTED, THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT COULD NOT BE WORN BY A VEHICLE OCCUPANT. IN THE EVENT THAT THE MECHANISM DOES NOT ALLOW THE ALR MODE TO BE ENGAGED, THE OPERATOR MAY BE UNABLE TO PROPERLY INSTALL A CHILD SEAT IN THAT SEATING POSITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLIES. ASSEMBLIES WITH JULIAN DATE CODES OF 200 THROUGH 223 ARE SUSPECT AND WILL BE REPLACED.

98V288000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Nov 9, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUPPED WITH THE "CALIFORNIA" EMISSIONS PACKAGE. AN INCORRECT TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE WAS INSTALLED. THE LINE CONTACTS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MODULE SUPPORT BRACKET AND OVER TIME, CAN WEAR AND DEVELOP A LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE APPROPRIATE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE.

98V204000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Sep 1, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A DASH INSULATOR RETAINER CLIP WAS NOT FULLY ASSEMBLED TO THE ACCELERATOR CABLE DASH FITTING. THE CLIP CAN DISENGAGE FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND FALL INTO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM PIVOT AREA.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE ENGINE MAY NOT FULLY RETURN TO IDLE. ALSO, THE INSULATOR MAY NOT STAY IN THE INTENDED LOCATION AND COULD INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR CABLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES TO ENSURE PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CLIP, AND RE-INSTALL IF NEEDED.

98V198000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Aug 25, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL SEAT TRACKS. THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ATTACHING STUD MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. THIS HEAT TREATMENT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE STUD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE STUD IS CRACKED, IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTING BRACKET AND STUD ASSEMBLY.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

PE04044 · Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture

Opened May 24, 2004 · Closed Aug 16, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front; Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

ODI POSSESSES 130 VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRES (VOQ) ALLEGING FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT (MODEL YEAR 1999-2000) VEHICLES.AN ADDITIONAL 11 VOQS CONCERNING MY 2001 VEHICLES HAVE BEEN FOUND, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 141.MORE THAN 75% OF THESE REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE BROKEN SPRING DAMAGED OR PUNCTURED THE ADJACENT TIRE.ALL OF THESE REPORTS ORIGINATED IN THE SALT BELT STATES LOCATED IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.FORD WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (04V-332) COVERING VEHICLES SOLDOR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO INSTALL SPRING SHIELDS IN MY 1999-2001 TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES TO PREVENT A FRACTURED SPRING FROM DAMAGING THE NEARBY TIRE.FORD WILL ADDITIONALLY NOTIFY OWNERS OF ALL MY 1999-2001 TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES THAT WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR SPRING FRACTURES HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OF AGE OR 150,000 MILES.ODI ANALYZED FORD?S WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA AND FOUND THAT 99% OF THE SPRING FRACTURES OCCURRED IN THE STATES COVERED BY THE RECALL.THE OTHER INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN THE STATES OF FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, ALABAMA, AND GEORGIA.IN VIEW OF THE COVERAGE OF THE SPRING FAILURES BY THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, ODI IS CLOSING THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE COUNTRY.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Suspension:front

ODI POSSESSES 130 VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRES (VOQ) ALLEGING FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT (MODEL YEAR 1999-2000) VEHICLES.AN ADDITIONAL 11 VOQS CONCERNING MY 2001 VEHICLES HAVE BEEN FOUND, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 141.MORE THAN 75% OF THESE REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE BROKEN SPRING DAMAGED OR PUNCTURED THE ADJACENT TIRE.ALL OF THESE REPORTS ORIGINATED IN THE SALT BELT STATES LOCATED IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.FORD WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (04V-332) COVERING VEHICLES SOLDOR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO INSTALL SPRING SHIELDS IN MY 1999-2001 TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES TO PREVENT A FRACTURED SPRING FROM DAMAGING THE NEARBY TIRE.FORD WILL ADDITIONALLY NOTIFY OWNERS OF ALL MY 1999-2001 TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES THAT WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR SPRING FRACTURES HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OF AGE OR 150,000 MILES.ODI ANALYZED FORD?S WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA AND FOUND THAT 99% OF THE SPRING FRACTURES OCCURRED IN THE STATES COVERED BY THE RECALL.THE OTHER INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN THE STATES OF FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, ALABAMA, AND GEORGIA.IN VIEW OF THE COVERAGE OF THE SPRING FAILURES BY THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, ODI IS CLOSING THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE COUNTRY.

Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

ODI POSSESSES 130 VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRES (VOQ) ALLEGING FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT (MODEL YEAR 1999-2000) VEHICLES.AN ADDITIONAL 11 VOQS CONCERNING MY 2001 VEHICLES HAVE BEEN FOUND, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 141.MORE THAN 75% OF THESE REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE BROKEN SPRING DAMAGED OR PUNCTURED THE ADJACENT TIRE.ALL OF THESE REPORTS ORIGINATED IN THE SALT BELT STATES LOCATED IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.FORD WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (04V-332) COVERING VEHICLES SOLDOR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO INSTALL SPRING SHIELDS IN MY 1999-2001 TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES TO PREVENT A FRACTURED SPRING FROM DAMAGING THE NEARBY TIRE.FORD WILL ADDITIONALLY NOTIFY OWNERS OF ALL MY 1999-2001 TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES THAT WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR SPRING FRACTURES HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OF AGE OR 150,000 MILES.ODI ANALYZED FORD?S WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA AND FOUND THAT 99% OF THE SPRING FRACTURES OCCURRED IN THE STATES COVERED BY THE RECALL.THE OTHER INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN THE STATES OF FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, ALABAMA, AND GEORGIA.IN VIEW OF THE COVERAGE OF THE SPRING FAILURES BY THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, ODI IS CLOSING THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE COUNTRY.

PE02080 · Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture

Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Apr 29, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

A TOTAL OF 161 FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING FAILURES ARE KNOWN TO ODI AND FORD FROM ALL SOURCES, 59 OF THESE LEADING TO TIRE DAMAGE.THESE FAILURES ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE CORROSION STATES, WHERE 253,814 SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE SOLD.WARRANTY AND CONSUMER COMPLAINT DATA SHOW THAT THE SUBJECT FLEET EXPERIENCED A SPRING FRACTURE RATE OF 0.009% AT 30,000 MILES AND 0.03% AT 60,000 MILES.THESE RATES ARE VERY LOW WHEN COMPARED TO PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS OF COIL SPRING FRACTURE:RECALLED '93 TAURUS (EA97-026): 0.1% AT 30,000 MILES AND 0.34% AT 60,000 MILES; AND RECALLED '98 WINDSTAR (EA00-027): 0.11% AT 30,000 MILES AND 1.25% AT 60,000 MILES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ALSO EXPERIENCED FAILURE RATES SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN THOSE OF COMPARABLE-AGED NON-RECALLED WINDSTARS SUBJECT TO EA00-027 (MY '95-'97).GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Suspension

A TOTAL OF 161 FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING FAILURES ARE KNOWN TO ODI AND FORD FROM ALL SOURCES, 59 OF THESE LEADING TO TIRE DAMAGE.THESE FAILURES ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE CORROSION STATES, WHERE 253,814 SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE SOLD.WARRANTY AND CONSUMER COMPLAINT DATA SHOW THAT THE SUBJECT FLEET EXPERIENCED A SPRING FRACTURE RATE OF 0.009% AT 30,000 MILES AND 0.03% AT 60,000 MILES.THESE RATES ARE VERY LOW WHEN COMPARED TO PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS OF COIL SPRING FRACTURE:RECALLED '93 TAURUS (EA97-026): 0.1% AT 30,000 MILES AND 0.34% AT 60,000 MILES; AND RECALLED '98 WINDSTAR (EA00-027): 0.11% AT 30,000 MILES AND 1.25% AT 60,000 MILES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ALSO EXPERIENCED FAILURE RATES SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN THOSE OF COMPARABLE-AGED NON-RECALLED WINDSTARS SUBJECT TO EA00-027 (MY '95-'97).GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT.

Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

A TOTAL OF 161 FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING FAILURES ARE KNOWN TO ODI AND FORD FROM ALL SOURCES, 59 OF THESE LEADING TO TIRE DAMAGE.THESE FAILURES ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE CORROSION STATES, WHERE 253,814 SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE SOLD.WARRANTY AND CONSUMER COMPLAINT DATA SHOW THAT THE SUBJECT FLEET EXPERIENCED A SPRING FRACTURE RATE OF 0.009% AT 30,000 MILES AND 0.03% AT 60,000 MILES.THESE RATES ARE VERY LOW WHEN COMPARED TO PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS OF COIL SPRING FRACTURE:RECALLED '93 TAURUS (EA97-026): 0.1% AT 30,000 MILES AND 0.34% AT 60,000 MILES; AND RECALLED '98 WINDSTAR (EA00-027): 0.11% AT 30,000 MILES AND 1.25% AT 60,000 MILES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ALSO EXPERIENCED FAILURE RATES SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN THOSE OF COMPARABLE-AGED NON-RECALLED WINDSTARS SUBJECT TO EA00-027 (MY '95-'97).GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT.