IllustrationCAR 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
280–25K
2525–50K
2750–75K
2275–100K
22100–150K
13150K+
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
What owners actually said
153 reportsA FUEL SENSOR FAILED RECENTLY FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 3 YEARS. EACH TIME THERE WAS MORE THAN HALF A TANK OF GASOLINE ONBOARD. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STOP COMPLETELY WHILE ON A FREEWAY TRAVELING AT 55 MPH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH IN TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP. THE FAILURE BEGAN ON APPROXIMATELY JULY 3, 2019 AND WAS OCCURRING DAILY. THE VEHICLE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH IN TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP. THE FAILURE BEGAN ON APPROXIMATELY JULY 3, 2019 AND WAS OCCURRING DAILY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 202,000.
WHEN DRIVING MY CAR I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN 2 WRECKS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO STOP QUICKLY THE CAR DOES NOT STOP THE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO ROLL. I HAD A FRONT END COLLISION AND MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35-40 MPH. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM JD BYRIDER.THIS IS NOT THE FIR…
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WHEN DRIVING MY CAR I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN 2 WRECKS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO STOP QUICKLY THE CAR DOES NOT STOP THE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO ROLL. I HAD A FRONT END COLLISION AND MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35-40 MPH. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM JD BYRIDER.THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS CAR HAS DONE THIS MEANING STOPPING BUT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME. I HAD MY KIDS AND GRANDKIDS IN THE CAR ON EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED AND I FILL IF I CONTINUE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH THESE PROBLEMS SOMETHING SERIOUS IS GOING TO HAPPPEN NEXT TIME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER FOR THE WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH IMPAIRED HIS VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
WHEN VEHICLE GETS BETWEEN 40-45 MPH, WILL NOT GEAR UP PROPERLY AND WILL NOT RUN CORRECTLY. ONLY DOES THIS INTERMITTENTLY, AND YOU HAVE TO STOP THE CAR, UNHOOK BATTERY CABLE, GIVE IT A MINUTE, HOOK IT BACK UP AND IT WILL RUN FINE UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT DOES IT- WHICH COULD BE DAYS, WEEKS, EVEN MONTHS.
WHEN PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN AND APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF STOPPING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. THE CAR WAS IN STRAIGHT FORWARD MOTION ON A STREET PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE APPLIED, AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. WE WERE ABLE TO G…
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WHEN PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN AND APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF STOPPING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. THE CAR WAS IN STRAIGHT FORWARD MOTION ON A STREET PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE APPLIED, AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. WE WERE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AND IMMEDIATELY TURN TO THE RIGHT AND AVOIDED ANY ACCIDENT.
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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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 NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED SIMILAR INCIDENT REPORTED ON THE INTERNET.*JB
I WAS DRIVING HOME ON CITY STREETS WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. CAR BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN, EVEN USING ALL MY STRENGTH. I COULD NOT HAVE REACTED TO ANY OBSTACLE THAT SUDDENLY PRESENTED ITSELF, AND I COULD HARDLY MAKE TURNS, EVEN AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
STEER HARD RIGHT AND LEFT AT SLOW SPEED IN CITY DRIVING. AT FIRST IT STEERS HARD THEN SMOOTH AND YOU CAN OVER STEER . THE STEERING RACK HAS BEEN REPLACED & STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED AS WELL. HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM.GETTING WORSE
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