NHTSA Complaint #10108477 — 2001 FORD TAURUS

I HAVE A 2001 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON WITH A LITTLE OVER 56,000 MILES ON IT. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AT A LONG STOP LIGHT & WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, I HAD NO POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR THE REMAINING MILE TO WORK WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. WHEN I GOT TO WORK I NOTICED THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD BROKE. AFTER WORK, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR 2 MILES TO A GARAGE FOR REPAIRS, ONCE AGAIN WITHOUT POWER STEERING. THE GARAGE STATED THAT THE REASON THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE WAS THAT THE BEARINGS IN THE AIR CONDITIONING CLUTCH WERE SEIZED WHICH CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO LOCK UP. THIS CAUSED TREMENDOUS FRICTION ON THE SERPENTINE BELT CAUSING IT TO BREAK. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE AIR CONDITIONING CLUTCH WITH THE SEIZED BEARINGS & ALSO STATED THAT THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE CLUTCH TO THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO COME OFF & THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO COME OFF THE ENGINE. THE SHOP MANAGER STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE WITH THIS AMOUNT OF MILES ON IT, BUT HE HAD NOTICED THIS PROBLEM LATELY WITH NEWER MODEL FORDS. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AS I LOST POWER STEERING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING. I AM ALSO A MUSCULAR MAN, SO I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE AT LOW SPEEDS WORTH GREAT DIFFICULTY. HOWEVER, IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT A HIGHWAY SPEED WITH MY WIFE OR MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER DRIVING, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE & WOULD PROBABLY HAVE CRASHED POTENTIALLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I WOULD LIKE THIS PROBLEM INVESTIGATED TO SEE IF THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING CLUTCH ON LATE MODEL FORDS. *JB