NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1989 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
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTON IS STUCK IN DOWN POSITION; WILL NOT RELEASE; EXCESSIVE EFFORT; SOMETIMES WILL HOLD, OTHER TIMES COMES RIGHT BACK OUT. TT
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, SOME SORT OF LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE, PE92-044. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN DRIVING YOU CAN TAKE THE KEY OUT THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL RUNNING. *AK
WHILE DRIVING UP SLIGHT INCLINE, ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK TO FLOOR; EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO RELEASE; ENGINE SURGED FROM 35 MPH TO HIGH SPEED. TT
A WELD IN THE CROSS MEMBER IN THE FRONT OF THE FRAME FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE TO DROP. TT
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 24 HOURS AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE ACCORDING TO THE FIRE REPORT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING SMOKE TO COME OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. *DSH
CRACKED ENGINE CYLINDER HEADS, ALSO BENT RODS. *AW
SPARE TIRE EXPLODED TEARING WHEEL WELL COVER/DAMAGING ELECTRICAL WIRING TO FUEL PUMP, RESULTING IN VEHICLE STALLING. *SKD
SMOKE CAME FROM THE DASH BOARD AREA, REPLACE THE KEY SWITCH. *AK
SEAT BELT BUCKLES PLASTIC COVERS CRACKED/PRIOR TO RECALL(92V113). *SD
SEAT BELT BUCKLE RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO LACK OF DEALER NOTIFICATION. (92V-113) *AW
RIGHT SIDE ROTOR BROKE BECAUSE OF RUST. TT
REAR LIFT IS MALFUNCTIONING. TT
GAS PEDAL STUCK WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ACCELERATION. TT
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE: FAILURE OF POWER STEERING LINE LEAKED FLUID ONTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER; DRIVER NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERHOOD BEFORE FIRE. TT
THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT ON TOP FROM BOLT CAME LOOSE, IT MAKE NOISE. TT
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT IT CAUGHT FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. *AK
SEAT BELT BUCKLE DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE/RELEASE. (92V113000) *DSH
IN HOT WEATHER BLACK GREASE/OIL/RUBBER COMES FROM THE LEFT HAND SIDE ABOVE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. LEAKS ONTO THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND THE CARPET BY THE BRAKE PEDAL. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK.ET.
RED RELEASE BUTTON STICKS WILL NOT LATCH METAL TONGUE. *AK
4 POLYCAST WHEELS BROKE. *SKD
RIGHT FRONT INNER TIE ROD PRESSURE PIN BACKED OFF ALLOWING THE NUT TO COMPLETELY UNSCREW; LOSS CONTROL OF FRONT WHEELS; SPEED 2 MPH; NO WARNING. TT
UPON REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 10 MPH, DRIVERS SHOULDER BELT DIDN'T RESTRAIN RESULTING IN STERNUM/CHEST BREAKAGE, DRIVER DIED TT
STEERING RACK REPLACED.
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE, UNABLE TO LATCH THE SEATBELT. TT
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 76K MILES. STARTED JERKING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WAS SLIPPING GROWING WORSE, DESTROYING GEARS. TT
THE TWO SEAT BELT TONGUE BROKES AWAY FROM THE STRAP, CAUSING THE SEAT BELTS TO BE INOPERABLE. TT
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO STAY SECURED TWICE PRIOR TO RECALL, RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO VEHICLE MANUFACTURING DATE (92V-113). *SD
WHEN VEHICLE IN ANY GEAR, TAKE KEY OUT IGNITION (AT TRANSMISSION). TT
STEERING WHEEL DID NOT RETURN AFTER TURNING TO THE RIGHT DUE TO CRACKED RACK IN RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY. *AK
RIGHT FRONT MOTOR MOUNT BROKE, CAUSING NOISE WHEN MOVING IN FIRST GEAR. *SKD
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO BURN OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED.
BRAKE ROTOR ASSEMBLY FRACTURED, VEHICLE PULLED TO SIDE, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE PRIOR TO RECALL, RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED (91V-134). *AK
DRIVER SIDE LAP/SHOULDER BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY. TT
POWER STEERING LINE DISCONNECTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH
STEERING LOCKED UP DUE TO RACK AND PINION FAILURE.
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED. *DH
TIRE ROD FAILED. *SD
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE. *AK CONSUMER STATED A PUFF OF SMOKE FROM STEERING COLUMN AND ENGINE WOULD NOT START AGAIN THERE WAS JUST A CLICKING NOISE IGNITION SWITCH, PLUG AND RADIATOR FAN HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALSO HAD TO GET A NEW STARTER SOLENOID.*JB
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS CAUSING FIRE. TRANSMISSION DROPPED AND CONTINUES TO SLIP AFTER REPAIR.
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY CLOSED, IT RELEASES. TT
FUEL LINE LEAK RESULTED IN ENGINE FIRE. *DSH
LEFT FRONT OUTER TIE ROD FAILED, RIGHT FRONT FAILED AT 85,700 MILES.
GEARS SHIFT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAIL. TT
ENGINE PERFORMS SLUGGISHLY/SPEED DROPS/ACCELERATOR HAS TO BE RELEASED AND PRESSED AGAIN TO REGAIN SPEED. *AK
SEAT BELT LATCHES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (92V-113). *AK
WHENEVER VEHICLE IS DRIVEN & IS WARMED, VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT FOR NO REASON. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK
FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WILL NOT LATCH. TT