NHTSA Complaint #719252 — 1995 FORD TAURUS

1. RADIATOR - FAILED DUE TO DESIGN DEFECT IN PLASTIC TO ALUMINUM CORE JOINT, CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT, REPLACEMENT FAILED WITHIN ONE DAY. REPLACEMENT FOR THAT ONE LASTED ONLY ABOUT 20,000 ADDITIONAL MILES, SO A TOTAL OF THREE IDENTICAL RADIATOR FAILURES WITH LOSS OF COOLANT IN ABOUT 25,000 MILES ON THE SAME CAR. SAME PROBLEM ON SON'S 1995 TAURUS SEDAN WITH SAME ENGINE. ORIGINAL RADIATOR FAILED, REPLACEMENT FAILED WITHIN 1,000 MILES OF INSTALLATION. THIS EXPERIENCE SEEMS TO INDICATE A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN DEFECT IN THE TAURUS RADIATOR. 2. BRAKE FAILURE. DEFECT IN DESIGN OF REAR CALIPERS USED WITH ABS SYSTEM ON THE TAURUS RESULTS IN RAINWATER INTRUSION CAUSING RUSTING OF CALIPER PINS THAT THEN IMPEDES PROPER RETRACTION OF THE BRAKE PADS. EXCESSIVE PAD WEAR RESULTS IN METAL TO METAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE CALIPER PISTON AND THE PAD BACKING PLATE WITH GREATLY REDUCED BRAKING EFFICIENCY. *AK