1987 Ford Taurus

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE S…

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.

THE ARC WELDS ON THE SWAY BAR BRACKET, WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE STRUT RESERVE TUBE, DID NOT FUSE PROPERLY.

Fix: MONROE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STRUT FREE OF CHARGE.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TAURUS AND SABLES BUILT FROM 10-14-85 THROUGH 8-19-88, AND LINCOLN CONTINENTALS BUILT FROM 11-4-87 THROUGH 9-30-88 (EXCEPT 1989 - 1991 2.5L TAURUS AND 1989 - 1992 SHO). THE AFFECTED CARS WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMON…

Fix: INSTALL A CORROSION-RESISTANT REINFORCING PLATE AND A NEW BOLT ON BOTH REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS. THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED BY RECALL 98V-323.

CHILDREN CAN ACCIDENTALLY LOCK THEMSELVES IN THE FOOTWELL AREA OF THE REAR-FACING THIRD SEAT, OR IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT IN STATION WAGONS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL THIRD SEAT. ONCE THE COMPARTMENT IS CLOSED IT CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE.

Fix: REPLACE THE SELF-LATCHING ASSEMBLY CURRENTLY USED IN THE REAR STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITH A LATCH ASSEMBLY THAT CAN ONLY BE CLOSED WITH A KEY.

FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.

Fix: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.

SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

Fix: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.

ROAD SALT INDUCED EROSION OF THE WIPER MOTOR CONDUCTOR STRIPS COULD CAUSE LOCALIZED THERMAL STRESS WITHIN THE GLASS.

Fix: APPLY SEALANT TO CONDUCTOR STRIPS AND PROTECTIVE TAPE TO LOWER BACKLITES.

LEFT AND/OR RIGHT REAR SPINDLE ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF SPINDLE STEM SEPARATES, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Fix: REPLACE REAR SPINDLE.

STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLIES CONTAIN LOWER SHAFTS OF INSUFFICIENT LENGTH FOR PROPER ATTACHMENT TO THE SHAFT INSULATOR FLANGE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SHAFT COULD SEPARATE, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.

Fix: REPLACE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY, AS NECESSARY.

Steering

On certain vehicles located in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador, the lower sub frame mount plate nut may corrode and fail due to exposure to road salt. This could result in loss of structural integrity of the subframe mount attachment. Detachment of the body mounts at the rear corners of the sub frame which…

Structure

On certain vehicles with 3.0 Litre and 3.8 Litre engines, the body mounts on the rear corners of the subframe which supports the engine and transmission may become detached due to corrosion of the rear lower mount retaining plates, allowing the rear corners of the subframe to drop. Should this occur, steering could become very difficult, thereby adversely affecting vehicle cont…

Structure

Note: Station wagon vehicles only. Young children left unattended in the vehicle could lock themselves in the footwell area of the rear-facing third seat (or the underfloor storage compartment in station wagons not equipped with the optional third seat). Once the compartment is closed, it cannot be opened from the inside, and there is the danger of air deprivation, excessive bo…

Engine

THIS RECALL SUPERSEDES RECALL 90-27 FOR VEHICLES IN THE MARITIMES. THE THROTTLE MAY STICK IN AN OPEN POSITION DUE TO LINKAGE BINDING CAUSED BY CORROSION. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO RUN AT HIGHER THAN IDLE SPEED WHEN THE THROTTLE IS RELEASED AND COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT DRIVER CONTROL RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CRASH. CORRECTION: A STAINLESS STEEL SLEEVE, WHICH WILL BE PLACED OVE…

Brakes

THE COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTION FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN AND FRACTURE, RESULTING IN A REDUCTION OF BRAKING PERFORMANCE. SUCH A FRACTURE WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKING AT THE CORRESPONDING FRONT WHEEL WHICH COULD IN TURN RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE AND A POSSIBLE CRASH. CORRECTION: FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WILL BE REPLACED.

Engine

RANGER/BRONCO II - 2.9 LITRE ENGINES TAURUS/SABLE - 3.0 LITRE ENGINES NOTE: VEHICLES LOCATED IN NEWFOUNDLAND, NOVA SCOTIA, NEW BRUNSWICK AND PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. THE THROTTLE MAY STICK IN AN OPEN POSITION DUE TO LINKAGE BINDING CAUSED BY CORROSION. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO RUN AT HIGHER THAN IDLE SPEED WHEN THE THROTTLE IS RELEASED AND COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT DRIVER CONTR…