The defect
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.
The risk
IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Taurus | 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| Lincoln Continental | 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 |
| Mercury Sable | 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
Components: STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Taurus | 1986 | 101 | 8 |
| Ford Taurus | 1987 | 255 | 8 |
| Ford Taurus | 1988 | 333 | 5 |
| Ford Taurus | 1989 | 562 | 5 |
| Ford Taurus | 1990 | 381 | 6 |
| Ford Taurus | 1991 | 649 | 4 |
| Ford Taurus | 1992 | 681 | 5 |
| Ford Taurus | 1993 | 1,557 | 6 |
| Ford Taurus | 1994 | 923 | 4 |
| Ford Taurus | 1995 | 1,205 | 5 |
| Lincoln Continental | 1988 | 84 | 9 |
| Lincoln Continental | 1989 | 158 | 4 |
| Lincoln Continental | 1990 | 158 | 3 |
| Lincoln Continental | 1991 | 203 | 3 |
| Lincoln Continental | 1992 | 126 | 3 |
| Lincoln Continental | 1993 | 121 | 4 |
| Lincoln Continental | 1994 | 190 | 5 |
| Mercury Sable | 1986 | 46 | 8 |
| Mercury Sable | 1987 | 76 | 8 |
| Mercury Sable | 1988 | 126 | 5 |
| Mercury Sable | 1989 | 238 | 6 |
| Mercury Sable | 1990 | 166 | 5 |
| Mercury Sable | 1991 | 221 | 4 |
| Mercury Sable | 1992 | 364 | 4 |
| Mercury Sable | 1993 | 674 | 6 |
| Mercury Sable | 1994 | 387 | 4 |
| Mercury Sable | 1995 | 350 | 5 |
Other structure recalls in 1998
17 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the structure; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 98V330000 23 Dec 1998 | LES ENTERPRISES M.CORBEIL |
| 98V327000 18 Dec 1998 | SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. |
| 98V301000 1 Dec 1998 | AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. |
| 98V280000 5 Nov 1998 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 98V271000 27 Oct 1998 | JAGUAR CARS |
| 98V208000 8 Sept 1998 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 98V200000 28 Aug 1998 | AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. |
| 98V186000 10 Aug 1998 | MARQUE, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998