2008 Ford Taurus X

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

153Owner complaints

Model-year median: 82

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2008 Ford Taurus X

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 153 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Steering: 42 reports
Power Train: 41 reports
Vehicle Speed Control: 26 reports
Structure: 15 reports
Electrical System: 10 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

16V247000 — Air Bags:frontal

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

153

2008 11

2009

Compare all Taurus X years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Steering

42 Power Train

41 Vehicle Speed Control

26 Structure

15 Electrical System

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

0–25K

25–50K

50–75K

75–100K

100–150K

150K+

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.

4 crash reports4 fire reports2 injury reports

Seats complaints

4 reports

Clear category filter

80,000 miles · Dec 3, 2018

Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MIDDLE ROW SEATS COULD NOT BE FOLDED DOWN IN ORDER TO LET THE THIRD ROW OCCUPANTS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HINES FORD (12610 FORD DR, FISHERS, IN) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT N…

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NHTSA ODI #11155563

260,000 miles · Oct 30, 2015

Seats

LEFT REAR PASSENGER SEAT BACK(2/3RDS BENCH) WILL NOT RELEASE. THE RESULT OF THIS IS LOSS OF ABILITY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM 3RD ROW SEATING. CAN ONLY EXIT FROM THE SMALLER 1/3RD BENCH SEAT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF REDUCED ABILITY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE OR TO BE RESCUED FROM 3RD ROW SEATING AR…

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NHTSA ODI #10787268

28,374 miles · Dec 12, 2013

Seats

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THE DRIVER'S SIDE OUTBOARD SEAT PIVOT (5F9Z*7460593*BA) FAILED CAUSING THE 2ND ROW SEAT FOLD DOWN/RELEASE TO BE INOPERABLE. THE PART WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ON 22 SEP 2010. ON 19 MAY 2011 THE SEAT AGAIN BECAME INOPERABLE AND WAS REPAIRED. METHOD OF REPAIR WAS NOT LISTED ON THE SERVICE ORDER. ON 10 DEC 2013 THE SEAT PIVOT FAILED AGAIN. I DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN SO THE SEAT MECHANISM HAS NOT BE ABUSED. THE FOLD DOWN FEATURE OF THE SEAT TO INCREASE THE FLAT CARGO SPACE HAS PROBABLY ONLY BEEN USED SIX TIMES SINCE THE 22 SEP 2010 REPAIR. THE THIRD ROW SEATS ARE USED INFREQUENTLY. AN INTERNET SEARCH FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART NUMBER REVEALED THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM (ALSO ON THE DRIVERS SIDE). MY CONCERN IS THAT PASSENGERS IN THE THIRD ROW SEAT MIGHT BECOME TRAPPED DURING AN ACCIDENT IF THE RIGHT FOLD DOWN SEAT IS OBSTRUCTED BY COLLISION DAMAGE. FORD ISSUED A TSB (A LETTER, NOT A RECALL) ON THIS PART NUMBER BUT I WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A COPY OF IT. THE PART WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED WITH A REDESIGNED AND/OR STRENGTHENED PIVOT. ONE FORD HELP SITE REPORTED THAT THE LATCH COULD POSSIBLY BE RELEASED BY PULLING ON THE RELEASE HANDLE WHILE BANGING ON THE SEAT BACK FOR 5 MINUTES. I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BENEFICIAL IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555857

1,000 miles · Dec 17, 2007

SeatsFire

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUSE HEAT SENSOR FAILED AND SPONTANEOUSLY CAUSED THE SEAT TO CATCH FIRE. ALL OF THE COMPONENTS THAT OPERATE THE SEAT HEATER FAILED. THERE WAS A HOLE THE SIZE OF A FIST THAT BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY STATED THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE SEAT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT IF THE CONTACT WANTED ANOTHER VEHICLE, IT WOULD HAVE TO CATCH FIRE TWO MORE TIMES TO QUALIFY FOR THE LEMON LAW. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HIMSELF. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. HIS WIFE WAS PROTECTED FROM THE FLAMES BY HER COAT AND A SEAT PILLOW. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 1,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10212086

Recall campaigns

16V247000 · 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 ↗

Defect investigations

PE08060 · 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

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.