NHTSA Complaint #10416434 — 2001 FORD TAURUS

MY 2001 FORD TAURUS HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY PREMATURE AND EXCESSIVE CORROSION. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY FILED FOR THE COIL SPRINGS SNAPPING IN HALF- NOW MY FRAME HAS FAILED. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR STARTED SWAYING- I HELD THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTLY BUT THE CAR WANDERED ON IT'S ON. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AT HOME , IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT FRAME FAILED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A NYS FACILITY I WAS TOLD THAT EXCESSIVE RUST WAS AN ISSUE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY SEE THIS ON THE TAURUS REGULARLY AND HAVE FAILED VEHICLES DUE TO THIS ISSUE. I CONTACTED FORD , THEY SAID OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY DO NOT SELL REPLACEMENT FRAMES AND SUGGESTED I PURCHASE AN AFTERMARKET FRAME AND HAVE REPAIRS DONE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 37 YEARS AND WAS ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE, YOUNG NEW DRIVERS WITHOUT EXPERIENCE WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE THESE VEHICLES. I AM REQUESTING THAT THE NHTSA LOOK IN TO THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF MAJOR COMPONENTS IN THE TAURUS DUE TO LOW GRADE MATERIAL USE. THE FORD COMPANY WAS REQUIRED TO RECALL MINIVANS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE- YET THE TAURUS WHICH FORD SAYS IS ONE OF ITS BEST SELLING VEHICLES HAS BEEN COMPLETELY IGNORED WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. IF THIS VEHICLE WERE MANUFACTURED BY TOYOTA IT WOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. SHAME ON THE POWERS THAT BE THAT ALLOW THIS SITUATION TO CONTINUE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS NEW OE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, USED PARTS ARE NOT AN OPTION DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY ALSO WILL BE ROTTED BEYOND USE. I HAD A 1940S DODGE PARKED IN A FARM FIELD BY A PREVIOUS OWNER THAT HAD LESS RUST THAN THIS VEHICLE HAD WHEN IT WAS UNDER 5 YEARS OLD. WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT QUALITY? *KB