NHTSA Complaint #11349174 — 2014 FORD TAURUS

WE WERE RETURNING TO OUR FARM FROM A TRIP TO TOWN. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT THE 70MPH SPEED LIMIT. A RECENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT GAVE US A NEWLY PAVED ROAD. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY WITH NO WIND AND TEMPS IN THE LOW 80'S. WE WERE ENJOYING THE RIDE AND NOTED WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT THE NEWLY PAVED ROAD WAS. WITHOUT WARNING THE TIRES BEGAN SQUEALING AND THE CONTROL CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR TAURUS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY. THE STEERING BECAME LABORED (I BELIEVE FROM THE AUTOMATED ANTI LOCK AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS ENGAGEDING). MY ATTEMPT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE VIOLENT CHANGE IN VEHICLE OPERATION AND REGAIN CONTROL WERE QUICKLY FUTILE. WE SUCCUMBED TO THE LAWS OF MOTION SPINNING HOPELESSLY OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS THE ONCOMING LANE INTO THE OPPOSITE DITCH AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. MIRACULOUSLY WE THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WE DIDN'T PLUNGE INTO THE MYRIAD OF STEEP TERRAIN CONDITIONS COMMON ON THIS STRETCH OF HIGHWAY. WE DID NOT ROLL BUT CAME VIOLENTLY TO REST ON THE FAR UPSLOPE OF THE OPPOSITE ROADSIDE DITCH. MY LATER RESEARCH FOR THE CAUSE OF OUR SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL PRODUCED THE NHTSA RECALL NO. :20V-072 WHICH IDENTIFIED THE REAR TOE LINK ON CERTAIN FORD MODELS AS SUBJECT TO FAILURE. I LATER CONFIRMED THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TOE LINK HAD SNAPPED ON OUR TAURUS AND WAS THE CAUSE OF OUR ACCIDENT.