| Components - Details | |
|---|---|
| NHTSA Complaint Number: 005024822 | Incident Date: Jan, 10 2005 |
| Consumer's City: HILTON HEAD | Consumer's State: SC |
| Vehicle Transmission Type: AUTO | Manufacturers Name: Ford Motor Company |
| Model Name: TAURUS | Model Year: 1999 |
| Vehicle Involved in a Crash: No | Component's Description: Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings |
| Vehicle Involved in a Fire: No | Persons Injured: 0 |
| Vehicle's VIN#: 1FAFP58S8XA | Date added to File: May, 23 2021 |
| Date Complaint Received: Jun, 16 2005 | Complaint Type: IVOQ |
| Incident Reported To Police: No | Purchase Date: Mar, 28 2004 |
| Was Original Owner: No | Anti-lock Brakes: Yes |
| Number of Cylinders: 6 | Date of Manufacturer: - |
| Was Vehicle Towed: - | Description of the Complaints: Consumer was driving down a country road in a 1999 ford taurus station wagon when the brakes failed with no warning and the pedal went to the floor. fortunately, consumer was able to coast to a stop with no damage and safely exit the vehicle. the following day the vehicle was driven (using the emergency brake) to the dealer who subsequently determined that the steel tubing of the brake line had rusted through, causing the failure. having never heard of such a failure in three decades of being involved with automotive repair in a northern climate with salted roads, and in view of the fact that this vehicle spent only a few years in a northern climate prior to moving to a snow-free area, consumer requested and was given the failed brake lines as evidence (still available). replacing the brake lines cost over $100 in parts and supplies and over $360 in labor, for a total bill of $471.18. a subsequent search of the nhtsa database revealed other complaints about this same problem with the taurus (see odi #10117988 and #10124628) with no investigation initiated by either ford or nhtsa. evidently investigations do not happen unless there is a fire, death, injury, etc., and these complaints involved: a taurus that had already exited a highway; one in a mcdonald's drive-thru; and this one on an isolated road. it seems incredible that no action is taken on such an obvious material design defect that can result in a sudden loss of braking with absolutely no warning. what does it take to get the nhtsa's attention? |
