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2008 Ford Taurus

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Ford Taurus do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 318.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

162 reports with mileage · 13 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports7 fire reports9 injury reports

Steering complaints

35 reports
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65,691 miles · Jan 31, 2020
Steering

2008 TAURUS, BOUGHT NEW 11/7/7, 33 MILES. 11/12/13 REPAIR ' 31,682 MILES ' RACK AND PINION STEERING STARTED TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. REPLACED FOR $889.82, NOT UNDER WARRANTY; FORD COVERED NONE OF THE COST. 1/2/20 REPAIR ' 65,691 MILES ' RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED AGAIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER A 30-MILE DRIVE. REPLACED FOR $…

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2008 TAURUS, BOUGHT NEW 11/7/7, 33 MILES. 11/12/13 REPAIR ' 31,682 MILES ' RACK AND PINION STEERING STARTED TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. REPLACED FOR $889.82, NOT UNDER WARRANTY; FORD COVERED NONE OF THE COST. 1/2/20 REPAIR ' 65,691 MILES ' RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED AGAIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER A 30-MILE DRIVE. REPLACED FOR $954.87 PLUS TAX. FORD COVERED NONE OF THE COST.

NHTSA ODI #11306326

108,000 miles · Aug 27, 2018
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING SHAFT WITHOUT WARNING. RON LEWIS FORD BEAVER FALLS (201 7TH AVE, BEAVER FALLS, PA 15010, (724) 843-1000) WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING SHAFT WITHOUT WARNING. RON LEWIS FORD BEAVER FALLS (201 7TH AVE, BEAVER FALLS, PA 15010, (724) 843-1000) WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ODI #11122664

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2017
Steering

POWER STEERING WENT WHILE DRIVING IN WET ICY CONDITIONS. SEEMS TO GO IN AND OUT NOW, USUALLY OUT. CHECKED FLUID LEVELS AND THEY ARE FINE. SEEMS TO WORK MAKING LEFT TURNS WITH ENGINE AT HIGHER RPMS. EVERYTHING I'M READING POINTS TO THE RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE. THIS IS A HEAVY CAR AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITHOUT POWER …

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POWER STEERING WENT WHILE DRIVING IN WET ICY CONDITIONS. SEEMS TO GO IN AND OUT NOW, USUALLY OUT. CHECKED FLUID LEVELS AND THEY ARE FINE. SEEMS TO WORK MAKING LEFT TURNS WITH ENGINE AT HIGHER RPMS. EVERYTHING I'M READING POINTS TO THE RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE. THIS IS A HEAVY CAR AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITHOUT POWER STEERING.1 REPAIR COST RANGE BETWEEN $800 AND $1,300.

NHTSA ODI #10945270

139,102 miles · Dec 29, 2016
Steering

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, I HAVE A VERY HARD TIME. I AM OVER 6', AND WEIGH 230 LBS. MY WIFE IS SMALLER, AND SHE HAS ONE HECK OF A TIME TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER READING PROBLEMS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD, I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. IT IS NOT SAFE. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS IN ORDER FOR FORD TO TAKE CAR…

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THERE ARE TIMES WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, I HAVE A VERY HARD TIME. I AM OVER 6', AND WEIGH 230 LBS. MY WIFE IS SMALLER, AND SHE HAS ONE HECK OF A TIME TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER READING PROBLEMS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD, I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. IT IS NOT SAFE. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS IN ORDER FOR FORD TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM, NOT THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10938501

87,000 miles · Sep 11, 2016
Steering

CAR HAS AROUND 87,000 MILES. WHILE LEAVING THE DRIVEWAY THE WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN, AS IF THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THE STEERING IS ON AND OFF WITH THE POWER STEERING. TOOK IT TO PRIVATE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200. REALLY SUCKS BECAUSE WE JUST BOUGHT THE CAR ABOUT …

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CAR HAS AROUND 87,000 MILES. WHILE LEAVING THE DRIVEWAY THE WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN, AS IF THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THE STEERING IS ON AND OFF WITH THE POWER STEERING. TOOK IT TO PRIVATE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200. REALLY SUCKS BECAUSE WE JUST BOUGHT THE CAR ABOUT 1000 MILES AGO. AFTER LOOKING ON LINE I FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL?

NHTSA ODI #10905629

149,000 miles · Sep 3, 2016
Steering

AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS, THE STEERING WENT OUT WHILE TRING TO EXIT A DRIVEWAY. WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO MY WARRANTY DRIVETIME WOULD REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. AFTER CALLING IN TO WORK ON E OCCASIONS AND WAITING ABOUT 4 TO 6 HOURS ON EACH VISIT, JUST TO BE TOLD THAT ITS MY RACK AND PINION WHICH DRIVE TIME DOES NOT…

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AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS, THE STEERING WENT OUT WHILE TRING TO EXIT A DRIVEWAY. WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO MY WARRANTY DRIVETIME WOULD REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. AFTER CALLING IN TO WORK ON E OCCASIONS AND WAITING ABOUT 4 TO 6 HOURS ON EACH VISIT, JUST TO BE TOLD THAT ITS MY RACK AND PINION WHICH DRIVE TIME DOES NOT COVER. IM NOT SURE WHY THEY WOULDNT COVER THE COMPLETE STEERING SYSTEM. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WILL COST ME 1000...5 MONTHS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #10903408

100,000 miles · Nov 3, 2015
Steering

DRIVING IN CITY WHEN POWER STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO MOVE, DROVE STRAIGHT TO DEALER LEFT IT THERE UNTIL DIAGNOSES AND REPAIR COULD BE DONE. DETERMINED THAT IT WAS POWER STEERING GEAR AND PUMP WERE BAD. NO WARNING SIGN WHEN GAVE OUT, HAVE OLDER CHEVY THAT GAVE NOTICEABLE WARNING WHEN THINGS ARE GOING OUT.

NHTSA ODI #10788060

54,000 miles · May 19, 2015
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. UPON BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE AND THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT AND RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEARS NEEDED TO BE REP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. UPON BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE AND THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT AND RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEARS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 7/21/15*CN UPDATED 9/22/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10717276

23,401 miles · Dec 29, 2014
Steering

LEFT TURN FROM A STOP, OUT OF SUBDIVISION ENTRANCE. WHILE TURNING, STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO GET VEHICLE OF THE ROAD. BEFORE TOTALLY OFF THE ROAD, STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. STARTED BACK INTO TRAFFIC AND IMMEDIATELY SEIZED AGAIN BRIEFLY, RETURNING TO NORMAL. THIS WAS ALSO ACCOMPANIED BY A GRINDI…

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LEFT TURN FROM A STOP, OUT OF SUBDIVISION ENTRANCE. WHILE TURNING, STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO GET VEHICLE OF THE ROAD. BEFORE TOTALLY OFF THE ROAD, STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. STARTED BACK INTO TRAFFIC AND IMMEDIATELY SEIZED AGAIN BRIEFLY, RETURNING TO NORMAL. THIS WAS ALSO ACCOMPANIED BY A GRINDING NOISE. IMMEDIATELY RETURNED HOME. THANKFULLY IT WAS A SUNDAY AND TRAFFIC WASN'T HEAVY, AS THIS HAPPENED ON A WELL TRAVELED HIGHWAY THROUGH OUR TOWN. I HAD ONE OF MY CHILDREN WITH ME. MECHANIC WAS CALLED, VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO SHOP YET. THIS ISSUE IS THE MOST FILED COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE, AND AN ABSOLUTE SAFETY ISSUE!!!! WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL??? THE FOLLOWING WAS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THIS SITE: "WHAT IS A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT? THE UNITED STATES CODE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY (TITLE 49, CHAPTER 301) DEFINES MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY AS 'THE PERFORMANCE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE OR MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT IN A WAY THAT PROTECTS THE PUBLIC AGAINST UNREASONABLE RISK OF ACCIDENTS OCCURRING BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OR PERFORMANCE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND AGAINST UNREASONABLE RISK OF DEATH OR INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT, AND INCLUDES NONOPERATIONAL SAFETY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE.' A DEFECT INCLUDES ANY DEFECT IN PERFORMANCE, CONSTRUCTION, A COMPONENT, OR MATERIAL OF A MOTOR VEHICLE OR MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT.' GENERALLY, A SAFETY DEFECT IS DEFINED AS A PROBLEM THAT EXISTS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE OR ITEM OF MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT THAT: POSES AN RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY, AND MAY EXIST IN A GROUP OF VEHICLES OF THE SAME DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE, OR ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT OF THE SAME TYPE AND MANUFACTURE." STEERING ISSUES DON'T POSE A RISK TO VEHICLE SAFETY? ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS DON'T SHOW A PROBLEM MAY EXIST IN A GROUP OF VEHICLES OF THE SAME DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE? IN ADDITION, THIS FAILURE SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THERE ARE LOW MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668735

133,000 miles · Dec 15, 2014
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

NHTSA ODI #10664346

Official recalls

1

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

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