IllustrationLESS THAN 80K MILES, THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION ACTS LIKE IT LOST FIRST GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP NOW TELLS ME THAT THIS LESS THAN 5 YEAR OLD CAR NEEDS A COMPLETELY NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $5,000. I UNDERSTAND THROUGH ONLINE FORUMS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS FAIRLY COMMON. UNBELIEVABLE THAT FORD ISN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. *TR
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 reportsI WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN I LOST ALL POWER STEERING. TURNING THE WHEEL MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND ON THE DRIVE TO THE MECHANIC'S GARAGE SOME POWER CAME BACK, BUT IT WAS MUCH EASIER TO TURN LEFT THAN RIGHT. MY MECHANIC REPORTED THAT HE FOUND A TSB FROM FORD ON THIS ISSUE DETAILING THE EXACT PROBLEM I HAD AND HOW T…
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I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN I LOST ALL POWER STEERING. TURNING THE WHEEL MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND ON THE DRIVE TO THE MECHANIC'S GARAGE SOME POWER CAME BACK, BUT IT WAS MUCH EASIER TO TURN LEFT THAN RIGHT. MY MECHANIC REPORTED THAT HE FOUND A TSB FROM FORD ON THIS ISSUE DETAILING THE EXACT PROBLEM I HAD AND HOW TO FIX IT (REPLACE RACK AND PINION UNIT, REPLACE STEERING PUMP, POWER STEERING FLUID EXCHANGE - COST APPROX. $1600) FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR
T THIS LOW MILEAGE. MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM WOULD THINK THE REAR BRAKES WORE OUT NOT REALIZING THAT THE FAILED CALIPERS CAUSED THE PROBLEM.FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS. THIS IS MY AND MY EXTENDED FAMILIES LAST FORD PRODUCT BECAUSE OF FORD'S LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE ABLE TO BE APPLIED SIMULTANEOUSLY CAUSING NEAR ACCIDENTS. THE CAUSE SEEMS TO BE BECAUSE OF THE CLOSENESS OF THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS BOTH HORIZONTALLY AND VERTICALLY. SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE, THIS SITUATION HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTED PEDALS …
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THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE ABLE TO BE APPLIED SIMULTANEOUSLY CAUSING NEAR ACCIDENTS. THE CAUSE SEEMS TO BE BECAUSE OF THE CLOSENESS OF THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS BOTH HORIZONTALLY AND VERTICALLY. SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE, THIS SITUATION HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTED PEDALS WHICH BRINGS THE PEDALS TOO CLOSE IN PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER CAUSING THESE NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THE FOOT UNINTENTIONALLY IS ABLE TO APPLY PRESSURE TO BOTH BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS.THIS SITUATION I BELIEVE IS CAUSED THROUGH THE ENGINEERING OF THE VEHICLE AND THE COST TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE BORN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TR
THE PAINT IS BUBBLING ON THE HOOD AND IS FLAKING AWAY, I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID ALTHOUGH THE PAINT IS WARRANTIED, THE METAL OF THE HOOD NEEDS TO BECOME PERFORATED BEFORE THEY WILL HONOR THE WARRANTY. THIS IS EVEN PUT IN FORD'S OWNER'S MANUAL AS SUCH. THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSE TO STAND B…
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THE PAINT IS BUBBLING ON THE HOOD AND IS FLAKING AWAY, I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID ALTHOUGH THE PAINT IS WARRANTIED, THE METAL OF THE HOOD NEEDS TO BECOME PERFORATED BEFORE THEY WILL HONOR THE WARRANTY. THIS IS EVEN PUT IN FORD'S OWNER'S MANUAL AS SUCH. THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSE TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT YEARS, MAKES, AND MODELS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE PEOPLE BLOGGING ABOUT IT ON THE WEBSITE:HTTP://WWW.LEMONLAW.COM/WORDPRESS/MORE-PROBLEMS-FOR-FORD-PAINT-DEFECTS-IN-2000-2005-MODELS. ALSO, IN SOME NEW YEARS AS WELL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,560. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY FORD STARTED TO "SLIP" AT 48,000 MILES. NEARLY CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS I NEEDED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE TRANSMISSION JUST "STUCK" - STEPPED ON GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENED. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WITH THESE TRANSMISSION IN THE FORD. THREE MORE TIMES AFTER THAT I HAD SIMILAR SITUATION. TRIED TO PULL…
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THE TRANSMISSION IN MY FORD STARTED TO "SLIP" AT 48,000 MILES. NEARLY CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS I NEEDED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE TRANSMISSION JUST "STUCK" - STEPPED ON GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENED. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WITH THESE TRANSMISSION IN THE FORD. THREE MORE TIMES AFTER THAT I HAD SIMILAR SITUATION. TRIED TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND THERE WAS NO FIRST OR SECOND GEAR. THIRD TIME THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED OPERATING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD - NO ABILITY TO MOVE AT ALL. FORD, EVEN WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, WOULD NOT FIX THE ISSUE. CONTINUED TO SAY IT WAS A "CODE ISSUE." UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THEN IT BECAME A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. VERY UNSAFE. VERY CONCERNING. *TR
SCANNED SYSTEM NO CODES. CHECK P/S PUMP PRESSURE OUTPUT. FOUND A VALVE IN RACK THAT WAS STUCK IN ONE DIRECTION AND NOT ALLOWING PRESSURE THE OTHER WAY. REPLACED P/S RACK AND THEN RESET ALIGNMENT. TEST DROVE TO VERIFY OPERATION. VEHICLE WOULD TURN LEFT NORMAL, BUT DIFFICULT TO THE RIGHT AT SLOW SPEEDS. NO P/S FLUID LOSS. K…
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SCANNED SYSTEM NO CODES. CHECK P/S PUMP PRESSURE OUTPUT. FOUND A VALVE IN RACK THAT WAS STUCK IN ONE DIRECTION AND NOT ALLOWING PRESSURE THE OTHER WAY. REPLACED P/S RACK AND THEN RESET ALIGNMENT. TEST DROVE TO VERIFY OPERATION. VEHICLE WOULD TURN LEFT NORMAL, BUT DIFFICULT TO THE RIGHT AT SLOW SPEEDS. NO P/S FLUID LOSS. KNOWN ISSUE FOUND ONLINE WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. *TR
2008 FORD TAURUS X -- POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AT LOW SPEEDS AND THEN WOULD RE-ENGAGE WITHOUT NOTICE CREATING SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL FOR SWERVING DUE TO UNAVOIDABLE OVER-CORRECTION. THE VEHICLE IS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT ALL TURNING IS DIFFICULT. THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED AT SUBSTANTIAL C…
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2008 FORD TAURUS X -- POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AT LOW SPEEDS AND THEN WOULD RE-ENGAGE WITHOUT NOTICE CREATING SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL FOR SWERVING DUE TO UNAVOIDABLE OVER-CORRECTION. THE VEHICLE IS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT ALL TURNING IS DIFFICULT. THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED AT SUBSTANTIAL COST. STEERING RACK FAILURE APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN 2008 FORD TAURUS X VEHICLES, WHICH CREATES A SUBSTANTIAL SAFETY RISK FOR THE PUBLIC. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE CROSSOVER BEAM HAD CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE CROSSOVER BEAM HAD CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
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