There are 4 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 1988 Ford Taurusin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. CONSUMER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE POLICE IN POUND. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK,
HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY ADJUSTED THE HEADLIGHTS, AND THEY STILL DO NOT WORK. *AK
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT GETS SO HOT THAT IT MELTED THE MOUNTING BRACKETS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE HEADLIGHT LENS IN THIS YEAR VEHICLE FROSTS INSIDE THE LENS HOUSING AND BLOCKS ILLUMINATION OF THE ROAD AHEAD. PEOPLE ARE DRIVING THIS MODEL WITHOUT REPLACING THEM DUE TO THE UNACCEPTABLE HIGH PRICE PLACED ON THEM DUE TO THE LACK OF AVAILABILITY AND THE FACT THAT THEY MUST BE REPLACED. PEOPLE, BECAUSE OF THE PRICE, ARE NOT REPLACING THEM AND THIS MAKES THE CAR AN ACCIDENT LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO HAPPEN.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026