NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1988 Ford Taurus. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE (1ST VEHICLE ON #501120). *TT
DRIVER SEATBELT BUCKLE CASING FAILED, ALLOWING THE BUCKLE TO FALL OFF. TT
REAR OF SUBFRAME SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE DUE TO CORROSION, MAKING STEERING DIFFICULT PRIOR TO RECALL. *DSH
WATER PUMP BROKE. *SD
RECALL RELATED 93V106000, IN FOR REPAIR, WHILE DRIVING SUBFRAME MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE WHILE DRIVING , AFTER REPAIR. TT CONSUMER STATES WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING THE STEERING JUST WENT DEAD.*JB
THE FRAME IS SEPARATING AND RUSTING NOW THE CAR WILL NOT STEER RIGHT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRES IN THE IGNITION TO BURN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
SHORT CIRCUIT IN WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD CAUSED FIRE. *DH
BOTH CORNERS OF SUBFRAME DROPPED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. ( RECALL 93V106)*SD
THE STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE TURNING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
FLUID LEAK IN ONE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE, POWER STEERING HOSES, CAUSING FIRE.
POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKED FLUID RESULTING IN FIRE.
DRIVER SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCKUP ON REAREND COLLISION. TT
WHILE DRIVEN JUST EXITING HIGHWAY, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
SEAT BELT BUCKLE; FAILURE ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, BUCKLE IS DETACHED FROM THE BELT. *AK
BRAKES FADED WHILE SITTING AT STOP LIGHTS, REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. TT
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT LANE INTO A ROAD DIVIDER, POSSIBLE DUE TO DEFECT IN STEERING MECHANISM. TT
SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAME APART/SEPARATED FROM BELT STRAP. *DSH
THE REAR SUB FRAME MOUNT RUSTED AND FELL OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
THE MOTOR MOUNT FELL OFF DUE TO RUST. TT
UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN AND WAS PARKING SAW UNDER HOOD SMOKE, ELECTRICAL SHORT AROUND WIRING AROUND THE AIR CONDITIONER PARTS BURNED. TT
PROBLEM WITH SEATBELT.
THE SUBFRAME MOUNTING BOLTS PULLED OUT AND CAUSED THE CAR TO LOSS STEERING WHILE DRIVING. TT RECALL 93V106, HOWEVER CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE IT WAS TOO OLD. *SLC
TRANSMISSION'S TRANSAXLE FAILED. *SD
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE, UNABLE TO LATCH THE SEAT BELT. TT
ENGINE FIRE. *DH
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FELL APART WITH NO WARNING WHILE IN USE. TT
WAS DRVING HOME & NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT PICKING UP SPEED. APPLIED MORE PRESSURE TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL & STILL NOTHING HAPPENED. THERE WAS NO WARNING FOR LACK OF SPEED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT EVEN SHIFT. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED. *AK
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED THREE TIMES. *DH
THE DRIVERS AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELTS DO NOT LATCH. TT
FRONT DRIVERS SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. WAS TOLD BY MANUFACTURER RECALL 91S28 PERFORMED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO BURN. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH WIRES BURNT DUE TO SHORT PRIOR TO RECALL. *SD
SUBFRAME BOLTS/MOUNTS FAILED BECAUSE OF CORROSION. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE. *SKD
DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT CAME APART WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO BUCKLE IT. TT
DRIVERS INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BREAKS OFF DUE TO METAL FATIGUE BROKE AT POINT OF CONNECTION TO DOOR TRAPPING THE DRIVER.DEALER HAS EXTRA SUPPLY /CONSTANT FAILURES.
VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN, HIT WINDSHIELD. TT
DROVE DAUGHTER TO STORE, WAITING FOR PARKING SPACE, SECURITY OFFICER INFORMED DRIVER THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE PASSENGER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING TIE ROD BROKE, LOSS CONTROL OF CAR. TT
ON THREE DIFFERENT OCASSIONS IN 91', 93', AND 95' THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. TT
VEHICLES COMPOSITE ROTORS SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING AND WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP.RESIDES IN MARYLAND NOT INCLUDED. TT
STEERING LOCKUP WHILE DRIVING SPEED 10MPH,IMPACT 12:00 POSITION. TT
ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD/GASKET FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL, ALSO WHITE SMOKE AND ANTI-FREEZE CAME OUT OF EXHAUST PIPE. *AK
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE FELL OFF WHILE BEING FASTEN. TT
A/C LEAKS FREON.
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT GOT CAUGHT IN DOOR HINGES, PREVENTING DRIVER TO GET OUT OF CAR; DOOR ONLY OPENED ABOUT 4 INCHES. TT
IGNITION CAUGHT FIRE UPON STARTING VEHICLE, CAUSING INJURY. *SKD
VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED AND THEN WENT INTO AN UNCONTROLABLE SPIN, ONCE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. TT