IllustrationFORD CLAIMS NOTHING WRONG WITH 3.8 L HEAD GASKETS AND IT IS OK TO SELL JUNK! *AK
1991 Ford Taurus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Taurus years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Ford Taurus are substantially higher than 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: 16 of 649 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.
- Power Train. Review the 260 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 116 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 76 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
43 crash reports21 fire reports18 injury reports
What owners actually said
649 reportsFORD KNOWS THIS TO BE A PRODUCT FAILURE ON THEIR 3.8L ENGINES....THEY ARE REFUNDING 93/94/95 MODELS FOR GASKET REPLACEMENT AND OR TOTAL ENGINE REPAIRS. BECAUSE THIS IS A RETIRED PERSON THAT PUT FEW MILES ON THE CAR ANNUALLY THE EST. GASKET FAILURE FORD SAYS AT 65,000 MILES WAS NOT REACHED UNTIL NOW. BUT THE CAR HAD KNOWN PRODU…
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FORD KNOWS THIS TO BE A PRODUCT FAILURE ON THEIR 3.8L ENGINES....THEY ARE REFUNDING 93/94/95 MODELS FOR GASKET REPLACEMENT AND OR TOTAL ENGINE REPAIRS. BECAUSE THIS IS A RETIRED PERSON THAT PUT FEW MILES ON THE CAR ANNUALLY THE EST. GASKET FAILURE FORD SAYS AT 65,000 MILES WAS NOT REACHED UNTIL NOW. BUT THE CAR HAD KNOWN PRODUCT FAILURE ! *AK
ON MY 3.8L ENGINE, WHICH FORD HAS HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, WHICH I BELIEVE LED TO BOTH MY ENGINE FREEZING UP AND A RAPID BREAKDOWN OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, ENDING IN A REPAIR BILL CLOSE TO $1,800.
CAR WAS PARKED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE POWER STEERING HOSE THAT CAUSED SMOKE TO COME INTO THE CAR. CONSUMER CLIMBED UNDER THE CAR WHILE SOMEONE ELSE TURNED THE WHEEL AND A FLAMES SPARKED, CAUSING A FIRE. CAR WAS TOTALLED. *AK *ML
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, INNER TIE ROD END FRACTURED AT THE ATTACHMENT POINT OF BALL JOINT TO TIE ROD, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND RUPTURE OF FUEL LINE RESULTING IN A MASSIVE FUEL LEAK. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AND REPAIRED. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *ML
REAR SHOCK TOWER HOUSING ASSEMBLY IS RUSTED ON SEAM, WHERE THE TOP PLATE IS MOUNTED TO THE HOUSING. OWNER NOTICED THIS WHEN LOOKING IN THE TRUNK OF VEHICLE. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO FORD MOTOR CO. BECAUSE THE RUST HAD NOT DAMAGED THE SPOT WELDS, THE HOUSING ASSEMBLY WAS STILL STRUCTURALLY SOUND. DEALER TOLD OWNER TO SAND OUT T…
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REAR SHOCK TOWER HOUSING ASSEMBLY IS RUSTED ON SEAM, WHERE THE TOP PLATE IS MOUNTED TO THE HOUSING. OWNER NOTICED THIS WHEN LOOKING IN THE TRUNK OF VEHICLE. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO FORD MOTOR CO. BECAUSE THE RUST HAD NOT DAMAGED THE SPOT WELDS, THE HOUSING ASSEMBLY WAS STILL STRUCTURALLY SOUND. DEALER TOLD OWNER TO SAND OUT THE RUST AND SPRAY WITH RUST TREATMENT. *AK *ML
I PULLED INTO TRAFFIC AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T HOLD SECOND GEAR--IT WOULDN'T GO INTO ANY OTHER GEAR EITHER. IF I TAKE OFF IN MANUAL LOW--ACCELERATE AND DROP IT INTO DRIVE IT WILL GO USUALLY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT IN 1996 AND THIS HAPPENED AGAIN IN 1998. I HAVEN'T BEEN FINANCIALLY ABLE TO GET IT FIXED AGAIN. I LE…
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I PULLED INTO TRAFFIC AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T HOLD SECOND GEAR--IT WOULDN'T GO INTO ANY OTHER GEAR EITHER. IF I TAKE OFF IN MANUAL LOW--ACCELERATE AND DROP IT INTO DRIVE IT WILL GO USUALLY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT IN 1996 AND THIS HAPPENED AGAIN IN 1998. I HAVEN'T BEEN FINANCIALLY ABLE TO GET IT FIXED AGAIN. I LEARNED OF A RECALL THEY HAD ON THIS TRANSMISSION--CAN I GET IT FIXED? IT IS DEFINITELY DANGEROUS. *AK
TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER WERE CHANGED AT 25000 AND 45000 MILES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING IN WARM WEATHER WITH TEMPARATURES ABOVE 75 DEGREES, CONSUMER WOULD REMOVE FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND APPLY TO THE GAS PEDAL, HOWEVER VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE UNLESS THE GAS PEDAL WAS PUSHED HARD, DEALER THOUGHT THE PROBLEM TO BE A FAULTY SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP, AFTER REPLACING THESE THE PROBLEM DI…
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WHILE DRIVING IN WARM WEATHER WITH TEMPARATURES ABOVE 75 DEGREES, CONSUMER WOULD REMOVE FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND APPLY TO THE GAS PEDAL, HOWEVER VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE UNLESS THE GAS PEDAL WAS PUSHED HARD, DEALER THOUGHT THE PROBLEM TO BE A FAULTY SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP, AFTER REPLACING THESE THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY, A DEALER DROVE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT COME UP COMPLETELY BACK TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE, CONSUMER HAS TO KEEP HER LEFT TOE UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS UP. *SLC
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 25 OR MORE MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
Official recalls
498V323000 · 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.
97V025000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Feb 26, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WATER CAN ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT COULD FREEZE WITHIN A LOW AREA OF THE CABLE ROUTING WHEN EXPOSED TO A LONG TERM COLD SOAK AT TEMPERATURES AT LEAST SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED USING THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.
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.
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
14SQ98008 · Audio System Fires
Opened May 4, 1998 · Closed May 8, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.
DP96014 · 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.
EA96024 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened Sep 30, 1996 · Closed Apr 15, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
PE96033 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened May 2, 1996 · Closed Sep 30, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.
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
PE93070 · Failure Of Wheel Studs
Opened Jul 27, 1993 · Closed Nov 22, 1993
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
EA91042 · Storage Compar Suffocation
Opened Oct 28, 1991 · Closed May 21, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
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DP91013 · ANTI-LOCK Brakes
Opened Sep 24, 1991 · Closed Jan 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES
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