CAR SHUT OFF 3 MINUTES AFTER STARTING IT. I RESTART IT THEN IT SHUT OFF AGAIN AFTER 5 MINUTES. DROVE THE ABOUT HOUR AND HALF NO PROBLEM. 2 HOURS LATER DROVE CAR A FEW BLOCKS SHUT OFF AGAIN LUCKILY I WAS PULLING BACK UP TO MY HOUSE. NOW I'M SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP.
2008 Ford Taurus X
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Taurus X years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
137 reports with mileage · 16 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
6 reportsWE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SINCE 2016 TO TED BRITT FORD AND TO FORD ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE JERKING, POPPING, SLIPPING, ESPECIALLY WHILE TURNING, AND THEY TOLD US THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE COMPLAINED. AT ONE POINT THE SERVICE TECH TOLD US THAT SLIPPING, JERKING, AND POPPING FRO…
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WE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SINCE 2016 TO TED BRITT FORD AND TO FORD ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE JERKING, POPPING, SLIPPING, ESPECIALLY WHILE TURNING, AND THEY TOLD US THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE COMPLAINED. AT ONE POINT THE SERVICE TECH TOLD US THAT SLIPPING, JERKING, AND POPPING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WAS NORMAL FOR THE TAURUS X. ON 10/20/2017, WE BROKE DOWN ON A VERY BUSY ROAD. WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED TO BUCKLE AND CHOKE. THEN WE HAD SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WE TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND TURNED ON THE FLASHERS. WE FOUND OUT THAT THE ANTIFREEZE RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. SOMETHING IS CLEARLY WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE AND FORD DOES NOT WANT TO CORRECT IT. WE WERE FORCED TO BUY THIS CAR BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT TED BRITT SABOTAGED OUR 2003 FORD WINDSTAR LX. TED BRITT SABOTAGED OUR WINDSTAR THROUGH DISCONNECTING THE VACUUM LINE THAT FED THE HEATING AND AC. WE WENT FOR THREE YEARS FREEZING IN THE WINTER AND BOILING HOT IN THE SUMMER. THEY DID NOT WANT TO RECONNECT THAT LINE FOR OUR HEAT AND AC. THEY DISASSEMBLED A LOT OF OUR WINDSTAR AND THREW EVERYTHING IN THE BACK OF OUR VAN ONTO THE CLOTH SEATS. DASHBOARD, COWL, GRILL, HOOD WAS OFF THE VAN, TIRES, BRAKE LINES, ENGINE PARTS, AND OTHER PARTS WERE THROWN ONTO OUR CLOTH BACK SEATS. THEY MADE OUR TAN SEATS BLACK WITH THE ROAD GRIME AND GREASE. THEN THEY DECIDED TO ASK US IF WE WANTED OUR VAN BACK. THAT WAS VERY RUDE. WE HAD JUST CLEANED THOSE SEATS. NOW WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2008 FORD TAURUS X. WE HAD TO CALL THE POLICE AND OUR AUTO INSURANCE TO HELP US OUT. WE FILED AN INSURANCE CLAIM TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED AND WE HAD TO TAKE A TAXI TO WORK.
THE FORD TAURUS X HAS 57,945 MILES ON IT. TWO TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THE DASH SHOWED ALL ZEROS AND THE CAR LOST POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR EXHIBITED SLOW ACCELERATION AND UNUSUAL SHIFTING. I TOOK IT AND HAD THE OBD CODE READ. THE CODE INDICATED THAT IT WAS A SPEED SENSO…
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THE FORD TAURUS X HAS 57,945 MILES ON IT. TWO TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THE DASH SHOWED ALL ZEROS AND THE CAR LOST POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR EXHIBITED SLOW ACCELERATION AND UNUSUAL SHIFTING. I TOOK IT AND HAD THE OBD CODE READ. THE CODE INDICATED THAT IT WAS A SPEED SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION (P720). THE CODE WAS RESET AND THE CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING DRIVEN. IT HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A TWO-WEEK PERIOD. I OWN TWO 2008 FORD TAURUS AND IT HAPPENED ON THE SAME DAY TO BOTH OF THEM. I WILL BE FILING INCIDENT INFORMATION ON THE OTHER VEHICLE TOO.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COILS ON CYLINDERS 3 AND 5 HAD MELTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COILS ON CYLINDERS 3 AND 5 HAD MELTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COILS ON CYLINDERS 3 AND 5 HAD MELTED YET AGAIN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
I WAS TAKING MY SON TO PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR A STROKE HE HAD. THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I HAD TO FIND A PLACE PULL OVER AND COAST TO A STOP. AFTER SITTING FOR A FEW MINUTES, I STARTED THE CAR AND WE WENT ON WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. HOWEVER, OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, IT HAS SHUT OFF ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC SEVERAL TI…
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I WAS TAKING MY SON TO PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR A STROKE HE HAD. THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I HAD TO FIND A PLACE PULL OVER AND COAST TO A STOP. AFTER SITTING FOR A FEW MINUTES, I STARTED THE CAR AND WE WENT ON WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. HOWEVER, OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, IT HAS SHUT OFF ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC SEVERAL TIMES. NO ONE COULD FIND THE ANSWER UNTIL RECENTLY. WE REPLACED A CENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION AND HOPE THAT FIXES IT. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED ON THE OCCASIONS THAT THE CAR SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. WE RECENTLY LEARNED THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. OUR TRANSMISSION DATE IS SEPTEMBER 2007, WHICH IS IN THE TIME FRAME FORD SAYS THEY KNEW THE PROBLEM EXISTED. I THINK FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR IT CAUSED US. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE COMPUTER, SIX COILS, AND THE SPARK PLUGS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE COMPUTER, SIX COILS, AND THE SPARK PLUGS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,620.
Official recalls
116V247000 · Air Bags:frontal
Apr 26, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking
Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve
ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO
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