NHTSA Complaint #712027 — 1989 FORD TAURUS

THERE WAS NOT A FIRE IN THAT I COULD SEE FLAME BUT FAST ESCAPING SMOKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE IGNITION AND FROM THE FAR LEFT DASH RIGHT NEXT TO THE WINDSHEILD, I QUICKLY EVACUATED TWO YOUNG GIRLS FROM THE CAR IN CASE IT WENT INTO FLAMES. THE CAR WAS PURSHASED FROM MY BOYFRIEND AND HE KNEW THERE WAS TROUBLE WITH THE HEATER / BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT SINCE OCTOBER 1997. HE ALSO TOLD ME ABOUT THE LURCHING (LATER DETERMINATED) AS A MOTOR MOUNT PROBLEM BUT PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED BY A TRANSMISSION SHOP AS A BADLY SLIPPING TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED AFTER THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED. THE CAR IS AT YOUNG FORD IN CHARLOTTE BEING REPAIRED FOR THE APPARENT BURNED IGNITION AND MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND THEN A FRUTHER LOOK INTO THE HEATING PROBLEM AND ALSO ERRATIC GAS GAUGE, WHICH SOMTIMES SHOWS FULL WHEN I CAN STILL ADD 10 GALLONS OF GAS