NHTSA Complaint #10058355 — 1997 FORD TAURUS

I HAVE ADVISED FORD MOTOR CO OF A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION IDENTICAL TO CONDITION FOUND IN RECALL # 97V-097NSA-111PAW, FORD # 97S75. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM THE SERVO COVER IS CAUSED BY THE COVER BECOMING PERFORATED BY RUST. THIS ON A 1997 FORD TAURUS WHICH HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF BUT DRIVEN IN VERMONT & NEW HAMPSHIRE WHERE SALT IS USED DURING WINTER SNOWS. FORD MOTOR CO DECLINED ANY PARTICIPATION BECAUSE MY CAR DOESN'T FALL INTO THE PRODUCTION CATEGORY OF THE RECALL. THE SYMPTOMS AND LEAKING OF OIL AGAINST THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR WHEN DRIVING ARE THE SAME AS THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. TO THIS END, THE FIRST RUST THROUGH PROBLEM OCCURED WITH THE OIL COOLER LINE WHICH RUSTED OUT PREVIOUSLY AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED. JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO THE METAL TUBE FROM THE HEATER TO THE REAR OF THE ENGINE BEGAN LEAKING FROM RUSTOUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I ASSURE YOU THIS CAR IS NO "RUST BUCKET" I AM A FULLY CERTIFIED (IN ALL SUBJECTS) NIASE MECHANIC AND KNOW WHEREFROM I SPEAK. THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE TAURUS MODELS OPERATING IN NEW ENGLAND AND I'M CERTAIN MINE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE RUST PROBLEMS. THE VIN # [XXX] TRANSMISSION DATA PLATE: [XXX] OIL PAN READS: AXOD METRIC ENGINE: 3.0L DATE OF MANUFACTURE: 8/97. *JB UPDATED 08/03/2012 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)