Recall Subframe Bushings

[rltrbill]

Anybody know how long a recall is good for. I have a 1994 which fits the bill. Do you think Ford will still honor the recall?

 

[oxrox]

I don't think so, I think they stopped the recall sooner than that. They wouldn't cover my 95 even though it is still the same problem.

Ryan
95 ATX

 

[SHO Continental]

the recall covers 94s.. but I don't think anyone will be covered right now. When I looked up the recall for my '93 (it's not a original cali car) all I found were TSBs, no actual recalls, so I couldn't get them to fix it. here's what the NHTSA says...

Make : FORD Model : TAURUS Year : 1994
Manufacturer : FORD MOTOR COMPANY
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 98V323000 Recall Date : DEC 15, 1998
Component: STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 2697000
Summary:
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 STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
Consequence:
IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
Notes:
NOTE: THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES RECALL CAMPAIGN 93V-106. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN JANUARY 18, 1999. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

you can go to http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/recallsearch.cfm to look up more recalls..

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

I got mine done for free a bit over a year ago. And it is a Cali. car.

Just go into a dealer and have them look up your vin #.

 

[sweet sho]

I have a 95 and mine didn't count as one. Or at least i ws told that there was no recall on mine.

 

[Ishodu]

Well my 95 they said it was done, when I asked them at ford, guess what I found when I went to drop my sub frame? NO recall ever done. I am glad I had them recall kits then.

 

[Ace]

there is a ten year window on recalls...this came from a freind of mine at a Ford dealership.....after ten years your car does not qualify..i know because i had him look up my vin# on my 93 to see if there were any and thats when he said this...

 

[Mr Anonymous]

As far as I know, it's still valid. We typically go down to the dealer every few weeks with a stack of titles from SHO's we've scrapped to get free recall kits on those cars which never had the recall done. Last went about 2 weeks ago and got a couple kits, and there was no mention about the recall running out.

 

[Rockledge]

Safety Recall 98S36

It's a Safety Recall and therefore it never expires. The truth of the matter is that some dealerships just don't want to deal with it and so they shoot people some baloney about the car not being covered or the recall being expired. Here is an excerpt from the dealer letter:

December, 1998

To: All Ford and Lincoln - Mercury Dealers

Subject: Safety Recall 98S36 - Certain 1986 - 1995 Taurus and Sable and 1988 - 1994 Continental Vehicles - Sub-Frame Rear Plate Nut Replacement

AFFECTED VEHICLES
Certain 1986-1995 Taurus and Sable and 1988-1994 Continental vehicles that were originally sold or are currently registered in the following U.S. states and Canadian Provinces:

U.S. States:
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 Virginia Wisconsin

Canadian Provinces:
Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland Nova Scotia
Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec

REASONS FOR RECALL
The body mounts on the rear corners of the sub-frame that support the engine and transmission may separate. This can occur if the lower retainer plate of the mount or the retaining plate nut becomes severely corroded from long term exposure to road salts and retention of moisture in the mounts. This corrosion can weaken the retainer plate of the mount or the retaining plate nut severely enough to allow the bolt head to pull through the washer or out of the nut. Should both rear mounts separate, the rear of the sub-frame will drop and steering may suddenly become difficult. This could result in an accident.

SERVICE ACTION
To correct this condition, dealers will replace the attaching bolts, plate nuts and the reinforcement plates on the bottom of the sub-frame rear body mounts, on all affected vehicles.

 

[Redline]

So how do recalls work? Do I just take my car in and they fix it for free for me?

 

[Rockledge]

Labor and parts associated with a Safety Recall are at no cost to the vehicle owner.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Just dont thinkl that they will throw fresh sub frame bushings on there for free.

Only the recall hardware. Two bolts, two nuts with flanges, and two large washers, and two enormous holes in your floorboards.. Thats what you get.

 

[Rockledge]

Some excellent supporting documentation (which can be shown to the Service Manager if necessary) regarding Safety Recall 98S36 can be found here:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/RepositoryFiles.cfm?module=RECALLS&IfsDocId=98V323


Notice that in the NHTSA letter to Ford it says in bold:

Ford is responsible for the remedy of these vehicles from this date forward regardless of vehicle age, mileage or ownership.