What 234 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Ford Taurus

On the 24th February, 2022, I was driving my 2014 Ford Taurus taxi cab on the highway to go pick up a client. I saw a dash light indicating slippery road and suddenly, I could not control the steering of the car. All attempts to control the steering proved futile, and the car kept swerving on both sides, till it hit the divider between the roads. This is the second time that this incident is happening to me. The first incident resulted to a minor damage, and the car was taken to the shop for fix. With the second incident from last month, this resulted to my car being totaled. I am lucky and grateful to be alive. I spoke to my son and learned that there was a recall on the 2014 Ford Taurus. Below is an excerpt regarding the recall that was responsible for my car being damaged; Summary Feb 10,2020 Manufacturer Recall Number20S04 NHTSA Recall Number20V072 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete VEHICLES THAT ARE EXPOSED TO FREQUENT FULL REAR SUSPENSION ARTICULATION (JOUNCE AND REBOUND) MAY EXPERIENCE A FRACTURED REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK. Safety Risk A FRACTURE OF A REAR TOE LINK SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISHES STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Link for reference: https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?vin=[XXX]#vin Due to this crash, I have lost my means of livelihood. I've contacted Ford and was sent back to the insurance. I have contacted C INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11457139

WE WERE RETURNING TO OUR FARM FROM A TRIP TO TOWN. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT THE 70MPH SPEED LIMIT. A RECENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT GAVE US A NEWLY PAVED ROAD. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY WITH NO WIND AND TEMPS IN THE LOW 80'S. WE WERE ENJOYING THE RIDE AND NOTED WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT THE NEWLY PAVED ROAD WAS. WITHOUT WARNING THE TIRES BEGAN SQUEALING AND THE CONTROL CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR TAURUS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY. THE STEERING BECAME LABORED (I BELIEVE FROM THE AUTOMATED ANTI LOCK AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS ENGAGEDING). MY ATTEMPT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE VIOLENT CHANGE IN VEHICLE OPERATION AND REGAIN CONTROL WERE QUICKLY FUTILE. WE SUCCUMBED TO THE LAWS OF MOTION SPINNING HOPELESSLY OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS THE ONCOMING LANE INTO THE OPPOSITE DITCH AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. MIRACULOUSLY WE THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WE DIDN'T PLUNGE INTO THE MYRIAD OF STEEP TERRAIN CONDITIONS COMMON ON THIS STRETCH OF HIGHWAY. WE DID NOT ROLL BUT CAME VIOLENTLY TO REST ON THE FAR UPSLOPE OF THE OPPOSITE ROADSIDE DITCH. MY LATER RESEARCH FOR THE CAUSE OF OUR SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL PRODUCED THE NHTSA RECALL NO. :20V-072 WHICH IDENTIFIED THE REAR TOE LINK ON CERTAIN FORD MODELS AS SUBJECT TO FAILURE. I LATER CONFIRMED THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TOE LINK HAD SNAPPED ON OUR TAURUS AND WAS THE CAUSE OF OUR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11349174