NHTSA Complaint #768463 — 1992 FORD TAURUS

I OWN TWO TAURUS STATION WAGONS, THIS ONE AND A 1990 MODEL, BOTH PURCHASED USED. BOTH HAVE HAD TWO PROBLEMS IN COMMON. THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ON BOTH CARS HAS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. ON THE 1992 MODEL, THIS LED TO A LEAKING REAR WHEEL HYDRAULIC BRAKE CYLINDER DUE TO OVERHEATING. ON THE 1990 MODEL, I ONCE DROVE 2 HOURS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON. THIS LATER CAUSED THE REAR RIGHT SPINDLE TO BEND, PUTTING THE TIRE SEVERELY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE HEAT HAD ESSENTIALLY ANNEALED AND SOFTENED THE SPINDLE. NO MECHANIC I HAVE TALKED TO HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES. BOTH BECAME UNRELIABLE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. SIMILAR MODEL CARS AT THE JUNKYARD ALSO HAD BROKEN BUCKLES. BOTH AT TIMES APPEARED TO BE BUCKLED, THEN LATER SLID OPEN. MR