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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

What owners actually said

175 reports
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

19,000 miles · Nov 28, 2016
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 19,000. UPDATED 01/27/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED BOTH REAR COIL RINGS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT PER DEALER. REPAIRED UPDATED 7/10/18*JB *TR

NHTSA ODI #10928179

165,000 miles · Nov 5, 2016
Engine

I HAVE SEEN MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE. THE WRENCH SYMBOL LIGHTS UP ON DASH WHEN DRIVING AND ENGINE REVS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL, LOW GAS MILEAGE SYMBOL LIGHTS UP AND INSTEAD OF SAYING HOW MANY GALLONS UNTIL EMPTY, THERE ARE JUST 3 DOTS ( ---). I PULL OVER, TURN CAR OFF AND PUTTING IT IN PARK OR ANY GEAR, IT…

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I HAVE SEEN MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE. THE WRENCH SYMBOL LIGHTS UP ON DASH WHEN DRIVING AND ENGINE REVS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL, LOW GAS MILEAGE SYMBOL LIGHTS UP AND INSTEAD OF SAYING HOW MANY GALLONS UNTIL EMPTY, THERE ARE JUST 3 DOTS ( ---). I PULL OVER, TURN CAR OFF AND PUTTING IT IN PARK OR ANY GEAR, IT JERKS AND IS LOUD. IT SEEMS AS IF EVERYTHING ON THE CAR IS JUST SHUTTING DOWN, YET STILL WORKING. THE WRENCH SYMBOL HAPPENS MORE OFTEN, AND ALL THE OTHER SYMBOLS ARE ONLY SOMETIMES. I JUST SPENT $1000 ON THE TRANSMISSION GETTING REPAIRED SO IT SHOULDNT BE THAT. IT ALSO SAYS " TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR FAULT" WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE CAR IS VERY JERKY AND JERKS FORWARD. DOESNT SEEM VERY SAFE. AFTER PULLING OVER AND TURNING THE CAR OFF, IT SEEMS OK IF I LET IT SIT FOR 10 MINUTES OR SO. SOMETIMES, NOT ALL THE TIME THOUGH. I NEVER KNOW.

NHTSA ODI #10924444

117,426 miles · Oct 6, 2016
Power Train

THE WRENCH SYMBOL AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER BEING PARKED OVERNIGHT. THE SHIFT IN THE TRANSMISSION IS ROUGH AND JERKY IN MOTION. IT DID THIS WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED AND WE HAD THE CODE CLEARED AND HAD A RECALL ON THE EMISSION OR PCM FIXED BY FORD. NOW THE LIGHTS ARE BACK ON AND THE SHIFTING IS AS I SAID EARLIER R…

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THE WRENCH SYMBOL AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER BEING PARKED OVERNIGHT. THE SHIFT IN THE TRANSMISSION IS ROUGH AND JERKY IN MOTION. IT DID THIS WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED AND WE HAD THE CODE CLEARED AND HAD A RECALL ON THE EMISSION OR PCM FIXED BY FORD. NOW THE LIGHTS ARE BACK ON AND THE SHIFTING IS AS I SAID EARLIER ROUGH AND JERKY.

NHTSA ODI #10914256

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

70,000 miles · Aug 11, 2016
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY DOWNSHIFT AND SHIFT ROUGHLY. ALSO, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY DOWNSHIFT AND SHIFT ROUGHLY. ALSO, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10895147

109,000 miles · Aug 9, 2016
Power TrainService Brakes

IN MARCH 2016 MY VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS. WHEN MAKING A TURN, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPONTANEOUSLY GRABS INTERMITTENTLY. THIS DISABLES THE VEHICLE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES, AS IT HAPPENS AS I'M HEADING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO THE VALLEY FORD DEALERSHIP HERE…

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IN MARCH 2016 MY VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS. WHEN MAKING A TURN, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPONTANEOUSLY GRABS INTERMITTENTLY. THIS DISABLES THE VEHICLE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES, AS IT HAPPENS AS I'M HEADING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO THE VALLEY FORD DEALERSHIP HERE IN KALISPELL, MONTANA 3 TIMES IN AN EFFORT TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN RIGHT AFTER IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE BRAKES. SO I PAID $1070 TO HAVE THE BRAKES AND ROTTERS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THEM 2 MORE TIMES AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ONGOING PROBLEM. I AM SEEKING YOUR HELP IN RESOLUTION IN THIS MATTER. THIS HAS OCCURRED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #10894479

80,000 miles · Jun 15, 2016
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR ISSUE: CAR WOULD GET STUCK IN HIGH GEAR LOSING POWER AT SLOW SPEEDS. ATTEMPTS TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE OR PARK WOULD CAUSE A LARGE CLUNK. SPEEDOMETER WOULD ALSO FLUCTUATE UNCONTROLLABLY DURING THIS TIME. DIAGNOSTIC CODES SHOWED FAILED OUTPUT SENSOR AND I HAD IT REPLACED. FUNCTION OF TRANSMISSION AFTER…

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TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR ISSUE: CAR WOULD GET STUCK IN HIGH GEAR LOSING POWER AT SLOW SPEEDS. ATTEMPTS TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE OR PARK WOULD CAUSE A LARGE CLUNK. SPEEDOMETER WOULD ALSO FLUCTUATE UNCONTROLLABLY DURING THIS TIME. DIAGNOSTIC CODES SHOWED FAILED OUTPUT SENSOR AND I HAD IT REPLACED. FUNCTION OF TRANSMISSION AFTER SENSOR REPLACEMENT IS STILL ROUGH. THE SAFETY ISSUE CAUSED BY THIS CAUSED ME TO LOSE FORWARD POWER SEVERAL TIMES WHILE IN TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING SEVERAL ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ODI #10874466

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