NHTSA Complaint #10033082 — 2000 FORD TAURUS

IN READING TH IS PARTICULAR COMPLAINT WAS ONE THAT I ALSO EXPERIENCE DAILY AND AGREE WITH ORIGINAL COMPLAINANT IN A BLANKET APPEAL TO THE FORD MOTOR CORP TO FIX ON A RECALL LIST SENT SOON.THIS IS A 6-PASSENGER RATED SEDAN. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT DEALER SAYS NOTHING WRONG. LAST WEEK I PUT THE CAR UP ON A HOIST AND MADE A VISUAL INSPECTION MYSELF, AND FOUND DEFECTS THAT I BELIEVE WARRANT A RECALL. THE PROBLEM: WHENEVER I HAVE ONE OR TWO PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT, THE REAR SUSPENSION MAKE CLUNKING NOISES. DURING MY INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE TORSION BAR IS TOO WEAK AND ALLOWS A THE CAR TO BOTTOM OUT WITH A FRAME CROSSMEMBER HITTING THE TORSION BAR. THIS HAPPENS ON BOTH TORSION BARS. THESE ARE PARTS THAT ARE NOT DESIGNED TO HIT EACH OTHER (NO RUBBER BUMP PADS). IN FACT, IF I WERE NOT SO CAREFUL, THIS BOTTOMING OUT COULD BREAK THE TORSION BAR A CAUSE THE CAR TO LOSE CONTROL. IN ADDITION, THERE IS EVIDENCE OF THE TAILPIPE RUBBING AGAINST THE LEFT TORSION BAR WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE A CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK UNDER THE CABIN. ALSO, THERE IS A BRAKE LINE THAT IS BEING RUBBED AND WORN BECAUSE IT IS WEDGED AGAINST THE LEFT TORSION BAR AND WILL EVENTUALLY WEAR THROUGH. I FEEL THAT ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD BE CORRECTED AT NO COST TO ME BY THE DEALER. THE WEAK TORSION BARS THAT ALLOW THE CAR TO BOTTOM OUT MAY NEED A RECALL TO REPLACE WITH STRONGER ONES. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO PURCHASED THIS CAR AS A FAMILY CAR AND REGULARLY PUT PEOPLE IN THE BACK SEAT. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM ON YOUR RECALL LIST ALREADY. JM. *AK