1992 Ford Taurus

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

• NHTSA recall #98V323000December 16, 19982,697,000 vehicles affected

  structure: frame and members

  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.

  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.

• NHTSA recall #97V025000February 26, 1997212,700 vehicles affected

  vehicle speed control

  Vehicle description: vehicles equipped with 3.8L engines and originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alaska, colorado, iowa, idaho, illinois, indiana, kansas, massachusetts, maine, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, north dakota, nebraska, new hampshire, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, south dakota, vermont, wisconsin, and wyoming. Water Can accumulate within the speed control cable conduit. If enough water accumulates, it could freeze within a low area of the cable routing when exposed to a long term cold soak at temperatures at least several degrees below freezing.

  Driver control of vehicle speed using the speed control system or the accelerator control system would be diminished increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

  Remedy

  Dealers will add a boot to the speed control cable.

• NHTSA recall #97V019000February 25, 199775,200 vehicles affected

  engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan

  These vehicles are originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alaska, iowa, minnesota, nebraska, north dakota, and south dakota. The vehicles involved are 1992-1994 tempo/topaz vehicles with 3.0L engines; 1994 tempo/topaz with 2.3L engines; 1992-1995 Taurus/sable with 3.8L engines; 1994-1995 Taurus/sable with 3.0L engines and 1992-1994 Lincoln continental vehicles with 3.8L engines. During high winds, heavy, blowing and drifting snow, and low temperatures, the engine cooling fan Can become blocked or frozen with snow. The fan motor may not rotate and could overheat.

  This condition Can cause smoke or flames from the fan and/or shroud, the fan electrical wiring, or the fan motor resulting in a vehicle fire.

  Remedy

  Dealers will install an electrical jumper harness containing an automatic resetting circuit breaker to protect the fan motor low speed circuitry from overheating.

• NHTSA recall #92V065000May 11, 1992654,000 vehicles affected

  wheels

  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.

  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.

• NHTSA recall #91V145000September 4, 19911,300 vehicles affected

  structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strut

  Manufacturing errors by the supplier of the liftgate latch mechanism may cause the secondary portion of the liftgate latch not to function. If the latch is not in the primary latch position, the liftgate could open without operator action.

  If the liftgate were to open during vehcile operation,passengers or cargo could fall from the open liftgate.

  Remedy

  Replace malfunctioning liftgate latches.

Other model years

• 1986 101
• 1987 255
• 1988 333
• 1989 562
• 1990 381
• 1991 649
• 1992
• 1993 1,557
• 1994 923
• 1995 1,205
• 1996 825
• 1997 770
• 1998 545
• 1999 874
• 2000 1,195
• 2001 1,037
• 2002 1,426
• 2003 1,223
• 2004 375
• 2005 774
• 2006 318
• 2007 149
• 2008 175
• 2009 64
• 2010 204
• 2011 187
• 2012 79
• 2013 585
• 2014 229
• 2015 282
• 2016 87
• 2017 44
• 2018 52