IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 114,000.
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 →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
210–25K
4325–50K
2150–75K
3475–100K
32100–150K
11150K+
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
What owners actually said
175 reportsUPDATE ON TRANSMISSION FLUID LOSS OF 10/27/11. TRANSMISSION OIL LOSS UNBEKNOWN TO ME UNTILL THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL IT'S NORMAL FUNCTION. THE CAUSE WAS A LEAK IN THE TRANS COOLER COMBO UNIT. THE FLUID ACCUMULATED AT THE BASE OF THE RADIATOR. WHILE IT WAS ON THE LIFT I REQUESTED A CHECK OF THE SURPINTINE BELT BECAUSE IT…
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UPDATE ON TRANSMISSION FLUID LOSS OF 10/27/11. TRANSMISSION OIL LOSS UNBEKNOWN TO ME UNTILL THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL IT'S NORMAL FUNCTION. THE CAUSE WAS A LEAK IN THE TRANS COOLER COMBO UNIT. THE FLUID ACCUMULATED AT THE BASE OF THE RADIATOR. WHILE IT WAS ON THE LIFT I REQUESTED A CHECK OF THE SURPINTINE BELT BECAUSE IT WAS SQUEELING. THEY MADE THE DICOVERY THAT THE BELT WAS COVERED WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. ALL THIS TIME, WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANS. OIL WAS BEING SPRAYED OVER THE BELT CAUSING IT TO SLIP OVER THE PULLEYS OF THE POWER STEERING, AC UNIT PUMP AND OTHER EQUIPMENT BEING DRIVEN BY THIS BELT.THINGS COULD HAVE TURNED OUT VERY BADLY FOR ME AND MY PASSENGERS, BECAUSE OF AN OIL SOAKED SURPINTINE BELT, NOT TO MENTION THE FIRE HAZARD. MY COST WAS $750.00. HOW DO I GO ABOUT RECOVERING THAT COST. 78 YEARS OLD. LET OTHER PEOPLE KNOW OF A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH TRANS. FLUID LEAKAGE. AND YET I LOVE MY TAURUS. *TT
ON INSPECTION: FOUND LEAKINGTRANSMISSION FLUID FROMCOOLER COMBO ACCUMULATING AT BASE OF RADIATOR COVER. LOST CLOSAE TO THREE QUARTS OF FLUID BEFORE I GOT ANY WARNING OFTHE LOSS BY IRREGULAR SHIFTING. NO DASHBOARD INDICATOR THAT FLUID WAS LOW. A FIRE HAZARD.WAS THERE ANY DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION?. THE DEALER COST FOR REPAIR AN…
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ON INSPECTION: FOUND LEAKINGTRANSMISSION FLUID FROMCOOLER COMBO ACCUMULATING AT BASE OF RADIATOR COVER. LOST CLOSAE TO THREE QUARTS OF FLUID BEFORE I GOT ANY WARNING OFTHE LOSS BY IRREGULAR SHIFTING. NO DASHBOARD INDICATOR THAT FLUID WAS LOW. A FIRE HAZARD.WAS THERE ANY DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION?. THE DEALER COST FOR REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT $700.00. SINCE WHEN DOES ONE HAVE TO REMOVE MOST OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR TO GET TO THE RADIATOR SECTION.? *TT
IT BEGAN WITH ONLY THE WRENCH LIGHT GOING ON AND THE RPM WOULD GO UP AND THE CAR WOULD LURCH FORWARD. I WOULD RESET IT WITH A CODE CHECKER AND I WOULD NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM AND THE LIGHT WOULD EVENTUALLY RETURN. IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO CHANGE THE AIR FILTER, THE AIR FILTER WAS CHANGED AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR APP…
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IT BEGAN WITH ONLY THE WRENCH LIGHT GOING ON AND THE RPM WOULD GO UP AND THE CAR WOULD LURCH FORWARD. I WOULD RESET IT WITH A CODE CHECKER AND I WOULD NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM AND THE LIGHT WOULD EVENTUALLY RETURN. IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO CHANGE THE AIR FILTER, THE AIR FILTER WAS CHANGED AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS. NOW NOT ONLY MY WRENCH LIGHT BUT MY ENGINE LIGHT ALSO GOES ON AND IT RETURNS EVERY DAY AFTER RESETTING IT. AFTER I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THE PROBLEMS SEEMS TO APPEAR IN OTHER FORD MODELS. I AM VERY SURPRISED THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND EVENTUALLY SOMEONE WILL GET HURT OR KILLED BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *KB
2008 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER STATES STEERING GEAR RACK AND PINION LOCKED UP. *TGW
WHILE DRIVING HOME SUNDAY EVENING ON 10/02/20011, STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND FELT LIKE IT MIGHT LOCK UP. DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME WITH PARTIAL STEERING ASSIST. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALER THE NEXT MORNING. THEY SAID THE STEERING GEAR FAILED. COST TO REPAIR $985.00 PLUS TAX. *TR
THE POWER STEERING HAS APPARENTLY WENT OUT IN THE CAR. IT IS DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT, USUALLY AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT RECENTLY IT IS ALSO FAILING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. JUST BOUGHT THE CAR LAST YEAR, WARRANTY JUST RAN OUT AT 34,000 MILES. DEALER ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
DRIVING 2 LANE ROAD HEADING EAST, SAW A CAR ON THE OUR RIGHT TRYING TO COME OUT OF DRIVE, KEPT GOING BACK AND FORTH FINALLY GAVE UP, BY THE TIME WE TURNED TO LOOK STRAIGHT A TRUCK HAD STOPPED WITH HIS DIRECTIONALS WANTING TO GO LEFT INTO HIS DRIVE, WE HIT HIM. SEAT BELTS WERE ON, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY..HUSBAND DRIVING…
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DRIVING 2 LANE ROAD HEADING EAST, SAW A CAR ON THE OUR RIGHT TRYING TO COME OUT OF DRIVE, KEPT GOING BACK AND FORTH FINALLY GAVE UP, BY THE TIME WE TURNED TO LOOK STRAIGHT A TRUCK HAD STOPPED WITH HIS DIRECTIONALS WANTING TO GO LEFT INTO HIS DRIVE, WE HIT HIM. SEAT BELTS WERE ON, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY..HUSBAND DRIVING, GOT A WARNING FROM POLICE, FAILURE TO STOP PROPERLY. WE WERE SORE FROM IMPACT DUE TO SEAT BELTS BUT THE TRUCK DRIVING WENT TO HOSPITAL FOR A CHECK-UP, WE DIDN'T. CAR WAS TOTALED BY THE AUTO BODY SHOP... *TR
2008 FORD TAURUS. STEERING FAILURE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE A RACK AND PINION FAILURE. *JB
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY 2008 FORD TAURUS SEL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DROPPED OUT OF GEAR WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING SLOWLY AWAY FROM A STOP AND THEN SLAMMED INTO GEAR. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED I WAS LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY. IT DROPPED OUT OF GEAR AT ABOUT 5 MPH AND MADE A GROWLING NOISE. I STOPPED THE CAR, THINKING SOMEHOW T…
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ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY 2008 FORD TAURUS SEL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DROPPED OUT OF GEAR WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING SLOWLY AWAY FROM A STOP AND THEN SLAMMED INTO GEAR. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED I WAS LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY. IT DROPPED OUT OF GEAR AT ABOUT 5 MPH AND MADE A GROWLING NOISE. I STOPPED THE CAR, THINKING SOMEHOW THE SHIFT LEVER WASN'T IN THE RIGHT POSITION, I PUT IT IN GEAR AND THE TRANSMISSION SLAMMED INTO FIRST. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, SO I JUST SHIFTED IT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. WHEN I STARTED IT AGAIN EVERYTHING WORKED FINE. ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF LATER I HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENT. I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND I HAD REACHED A SPEED OF 5-15 MPH WHEN THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY GEAR, THEN IT SLAMMED INTO GEAR FOR A MOMENT, WENT A FEW FEET, THEN DROPPED OUT AGAIN, THEN SLAMMED INTO GEAR AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE CURB IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF. FORTUNATELY NO TRAFFIC WAS COMING. I STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN AND HAD NO FURTHER TROUBLE, BUT THIS TIME I TOOK IT INTO THE FORD DEALER WHERE I HAD BOUGHT IT NEW. THEY CHECKED IT OUT KEEPING IT TWO DAYS BUT SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR THE SOFTWARE CONTROLLING IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO MEMORY ACCESS TO THE TRANSMISSION SO THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND OUT OR VERIFY THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I WAS CHECKING OUT RECALLS AND SERVICE BULLETINS ON IT TODAY AND I FOUND THAT OTHER OWNERS REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. IF I HAD BEEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND MY TRANSMISSION FAILED THE WAY IT DID, THERE COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. *KB
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