IllustrationAFTER COMING TO A LIGHT AT AN INCLINE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND ALLOWED THE CAR TO START TO ROLL BACKWARDS INSTEAD OF GAS BEING APPLIED AND GOING FORWARD. VEHICLE NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK
1990 Ford Taurus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 Ford Taurus do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 318.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Taurus 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
Limited mileage data: 11 of 381 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 78 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
29 crash reports23 fire reports18 injury reports
What owners actually said
381 reportsTHERE IS A NOISE DUE TO ENGINE MOUNTS COMING LOOSE. DEALER SAID ENGINE MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM
I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL SERVICE TO REPLACE THE "SUB-FRAME REAR PLATE NUT". WHILE FIXING THE RECALL MATTER, THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE FRONT AND REAR ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BAD, AND THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF MOVEMENT IN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, SOMETIMES RESULTING IN A "CLUNKING" NOISE BEING HEARD WHEN SH…
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I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL SERVICE TO REPLACE THE "SUB-FRAME REAR PLATE NUT". WHILE FIXING THE RECALL MATTER, THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE FRONT AND REAR ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BAD, AND THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF MOVEMENT IN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, SOMETIMES RESULTING IN A "CLUNKING" NOISE BEING HEARD WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE OR PARK. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE MOUNTS SHOULD BE REPLACED AND WOULD COST ME $343.70. A FEW YEARS AGO, I HAD NOTICED THE MOVEMENT IN THE ENGINE WHEN THE CAR WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK OR REVERSE, AND HAD ASKED MY LOCAL GARAGE MECHANIC ABOUT IT. HE TOLD ME THE MOUNTS ON THE TAURUS WERE NOTORIOUSLY BAD, BUT MY PARTICULAR CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY A FORD RECALL. I DID NOT PURSUE REPLACING THE MOUNTS AT THAT TIME. HOWEVER, NOW THAT THIS RECALL NOTICE ON THE FRAME CAME OUT, I HAVE LOOKED AT MATERIAL AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET, AND SEE THAT THERE WAS A GENERAL RECALLFOR ENGINE MOUNT DETERIORATION ON THIS CAR IN MARCH 92. (92M77) I DO NOT THINK I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF THAT RECALL. SINCE I DRIVE MY 3 KIDS AROUND IN THIS CAR, I TRY TO KEEP IT AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE AND DETERIORATING ENGINE MOUNTS IS A RECALL NOTICE I WOULD HAVE PURUSED. IN ANY EVENT, I CALLED THE DEALER (CENTURY FORD IN ROCKVILLE, MD) TODAY ASKING ABOUT THE ENGINE MOUNT DETERIORATION RECALL AND WHETHER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT AND REAR ENGINE MOUNTS SHOULD ALSO BE TAKEN CARE OF AT NO COST TO ME. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PARAMETERS OF THAT RECALL WERE IN EFFECT ONLY FOR 60,000 MILES OR 6 YEARS. THEY SAID MY CURRENT MILEAGE, ABOUT 69,000, PUTS MY CAR OUTSIDE THAT LIMIT AND THEREFORE FORD WOULD NOT PAY THEM TO DO THAT WORK. (I.E. I MUST PAY.) I HAVE SINCE CALLED FORD AND ASKED THEM ABOUT THIS SITUATION AND THEY JUST SAID THEY'D DO NOTHING. I THINK THE DETERIORATION OF THE ENGINE MOUNTS SOUNDS LIKE A WELL-KNOWN (TO FORD, ANYWAY) PROBLEM ON THIS CAR AND SEEMS STRUCTURALLY TO BE INTRINSICALLY RELATED TO THIS OTHER RECALL ON THE SUB FRAME, AND POSSIBLY CAUSED BY IT.
FUEL INJECTION- CAR STALLS, WON'T ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. WIPERS- STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD, VISIBILITY HAMPERED. WHEELS- MAKING A SQUEEKING NOISE, WHEN INSPECTED FOUND LARGE CRACKS. OWNERS MANUAL WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE CAR. MOTOR MOUNTS KEEP BREAKING. SPARE WHEEL/TIRE THAT CAME WITH VEHICLE WAS RUSTED, PARTS OF THE JA…
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FUEL INJECTION- CAR STALLS, WON'T ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. WIPERS- STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD, VISIBILITY HAMPERED. WHEELS- MAKING A SQUEEKING NOISE, WHEN INSPECTED FOUND LARGE CRACKS. OWNERS MANUAL WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE CAR. MOTOR MOUNTS KEEP BREAKING. SPARE WHEEL/TIRE THAT CAME WITH VEHICLE WAS RUSTED, PARTS OF THE JACK MISSING. POWER STEERING FLUID PUMP WAS CRACKED/LEAKING, HAD TO BE REPLACED. AIRCONDITIONER COMPRESSOR DID NOT WORK, BELT CONNECTED TO THE ALTERNATOR WOULD NOT MOVE, SO CAR WOULD NOT START. BRAKE CYLINDER LEAKING FLUID ONTO BRAKES. HOOD WILL NOT STAY UP.
SUB FRAME MOUNT ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED. FOR PAST FEW WEEKS I NOTICED INCREASING NOISES/CLUNKING NOISES FROM DRIVER'S SIDE UNDERNEATH MY FEET. THIS WEEK THE STEERING BECAME VERY "STIFF" WITH LEFT HAND TURNS. I WAS INFORMED TODAY BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM CAME FROM A BROKEN SUB FRAME MOUNT. HE ADVICED ME TO TAKE THE …
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SUB FRAME MOUNT ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED. FOR PAST FEW WEEKS I NOTICED INCREASING NOISES/CLUNKING NOISES FROM DRIVER'S SIDE UNDERNEATH MY FEET. THIS WEEK THE STEERING BECAME VERY "STIFF" WITH LEFT HAND TURNS. I WAS INFORMED TODAY BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM CAME FROM A BROKEN SUB FRAME MOUNT. HE ADVICED ME TO TAKE THE CAR IMMEDIATLY TO A FORD DEALER WHICH I AM DOING. THANK YOU
GEARS WILL NOT SHIFT ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION CABLE HAS DETERIORATED. DEALER SAID PARTS WERE NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE BOLT CAME OUT OF THE SUBFRAME, AND CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. ALSO, STEERING WENT OUT. *AK
THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS GONE OUT BECAUSE OF THE COMPRESSOR. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
HEATER CORE FAILED CAUSING SMOKE. MJS
Official recalls
698V323000 · Structure:frame And Members
Dec 16, 1998
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 & remedy
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.
92V113000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Aug 17, 1992
THE RIGID MOUNTED SAFETY BELT BUCKLES ARE DEFECTIVE IN THREE WAYS. FIRST, A FASTENED SAFETY BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT UNLATCH WHEN THE RELEASE BUTTON IS DEPRESSED. THIS RESULTS FROM INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE BUCKLE EJECTOR FINGER AND THE BUCKLE TONGUE WINDOW. THE SECOND DEFECT IS THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY NOT LATCH. THE THIRD POSSIBLE DEFECT IS THAT THE TONGUE MAY BE RETAINED BY THE BUCKLE, BUT IT MAY NOT BE LATCHED SUFFICIENTLY TO PROVIDE OCCUPANT PROTECTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN INSUFFICIENTLY LATCHED OR UNLATCHED SAFETY BELTINCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO SEAT OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT. IF THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT UNLATCH, IT WILL NOT ALLOW THEOCCUPANT TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
Remedy: FORD WILL REPLACE THE RIGID MOUNTED SAFETY BELT BUCKLES WITH END RELEASE SAFETY BELT BUCKLES DESIGNED TO PREVENT LATCH PROBLEMS.
92V065000 · Wheels
May 11, 1992
CHILDREN CAN ACCIDENTALLY LOCK THEMSELVES IN THE FOOTWELL AREA OF THE REAR-FACING THIRD SEAT, OR IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT IN STATION WAGONS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL THIRD SEAT. ONCE THE COMPARTMENT IS CLOSED IT CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THERE IS A DANGER OF AIR DEPRIVATION, HYPERTHERMIA,AND/OR PANIC RESPONSE TO A CHILD WHO HAS LOCKED HIMSELF OR HERSELF INTO THECOMPARTMENT, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ASPHYXIATION.
Remedy: REPLACE THE SELF-LATCHING ASSEMBLY CURRENTLY USED IN THE REAR STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITH A LATCH ASSEMBLY THAT CAN ONLY BE CLOSED WITH A KEY.
91V134000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor
Aug 6, 1991
FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEVERELY CORRODED ROTORS MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE NEARTHE INNER EDGES OF THE BRAKE DISCS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS,HIGHER THAN NORMAL PEDAL EFFORTS, LOUD GRINDING NOISES, AND MODERATE PULLS WHENTHE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS MAY INCREASE MINIMUMSTOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
90V159000 · Wheels:hubcap/cover
Aug 28, 1990
WHEELS MAY CONTAIN CRACKS THAT COULD PROPOGATE IN RAISED PORTION OF WHEEL CENTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNDER SEVERE DUTY, THIS COULD RESULT IN EVENTUALSEPARATION OF WHEEL RIM FROM CENTER WITH LOSS OF CONTROL AND POSSIBLY ACOLLISION.
Remedy: REPLACE WHEELS WITH WHEELS OF A REVISED DESIGN.
89V171000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Oct 13, 1989
AN INCORRECT TRANSISTOR MAY CAUSE AUTOLAMP SYSTEM LIGHT SENSOR MODULE MALFUNCTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: HEADLAMPS COULD TURN OFF WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN ORREMAIN ON AFTER VEHICLE IS PARKED. LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHTCOULD BE HAZARDOUS TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER TRAFIFIC.
Remedy: REPLACE LIGHT SENSOR MODULES.
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
15DP96014 · Defective Air Bag Crash Sensor
Opened Nov 14, 1996 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
CFAS SENT A FOLLOW-UP LETTER ON DECEMBER 12, 1996, TO CHANGE THE INTENT OF THE PETITION TO AIRBAG AGGRESSIVITY AND DEPLOYMENT VARIABILITY.NHTSA RECEIVED THE LETTER ON 12/12/96; ACCORDINGLY, THE PETITION DUE DAY WAS CHANGED TO APRIL 12, 1997.CFAS PETITIONED THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR AND/OR DEPLOYMENT SYSTEMS FOR THE 1991-92 CHEVROLET CORSICA/BERETTA, 1990-92 FORD TAURUS, AND 1994-96 CHRYSLER MINIVANS ARE DEFECTIVE.CFAS ALLEGE THAT INFORMATION ON LOW SPEED CRASHES HERE OCCUPANTS HAVE SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES SUGGESTS [THAT THE ABOVE VEHICLES] HAVE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR AND/OR DEPLOYMENT SYSTEMS.
DP95004 · Alleged Defective Tie Rods
Opened Aug 8, 1995 · Closed Aug 30, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS
EA94008 · Broken Tie Rods
Opened Feb 16, 1994 · Closed Feb 27, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE93100 · Polycast Road Wheel Cracks
Opened Dec 2, 1993 · Closed Jun 30, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE93065 · Underbody Fuel Line Fails
Opened Jul 15, 1993 · Closed Nov 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE93058 · Broken Tie Rods
Opened Jun 15, 1993 · Closed Feb 16, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
EA92040 · SUB-FRM/UNIBODY Absor.fail
Opened Nov 30, 1992 · Closed Jun 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Structure
There is no summary currently available
Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE92044 · Power Steering Leaks/fires
Opened Apr 27, 1992 · Closed Aug 31, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE92014 · Engine Mount Failure
Opened Feb 4, 1992 · Closed Jun 25, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
EA91042 · Storage Compar Suffocation
Opened Oct 28, 1991 · Closed May 21, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
===
PE91108 · Storage Compar Suffocation
Opened Aug 1, 1991 · Closed Oct 28, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
EA91011 · Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Dec 18, 1990 · Closed Aug 13, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
EA90045 · Brake Disc Hub Separations
Opened Sep 28, 1990 · Closed Sep 12, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
===
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
===
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
===
PE90113 · Safety Belt Buckle Locking
Opened Aug 20, 1990 · Closed Dec 18, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
PE90104 · Wheel Separation
Opened Aug 2, 1990 · Closed Aug 30, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels:hubcap/cover
There is no summary currently available