NHTSA Complaint #10063768 — 2001 FORD TAURUS

CAR EXPERIENCES VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAS A RATTLE IN THE "FRONT END". DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE FRONT END "LINK PINS" TO BE WORN. THESE PINS ATTACH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE AND IN TURN, HOLD THE FRONT TIRES IN POSITION. THESE PINS HAVE BEEN REPLACES TWICE ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. ONCE AT APPROX 21,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT APPROX 56,000 MILES. THE DEALER SAYS THEY SEE THIS "A LOT ON THE TAURUS" AND STATE THAT FORD HAS NOW CHANGED THE PART DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. THIS IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT AS FAILURE OF THIS PART COULD RESULT IN THE FRONT WHEELS COMING OFF THE VEHICLE (PER THE DEALERSHIP). AGAIN - SYMPTOMS ARE FRONT END VIBRATION, WHICH IS NOT CORRECTED BY TIRE BALANCE. *NM