RoadVitals

2008 Ford Taurus X Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Jul 17, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 153 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Ford Taurus X submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed Jul 17, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH IN TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP. THE FAILURE BEGAN ON APPROXIMATELY JULY 3, 2019 AND WAS OCCURRING DAILY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 202,000.

NHTSA ID
11232869
Incident
Jul 17, 2019
Mileage
202,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes
Filed Apr 1, 2019
Crash reported

WHEN DRIVING MY CAR I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN 2 WRECKS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO STOP QUICKLY THE CAR DOES NOT STOP THE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO ROLL. I HAD A FRONT END COLLISION AND MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35-40 MPH. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM JD BYRIDER.THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS CAR HAS DONE THIS MEANING STOPPING BUT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME. I HAD MY KIDS AND GRANDKIDS IN THE CAR ON EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED AND I FILL IF I CONTINUE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH THESE PROBLEMS SOMETHING SERIOUS IS GOING TO HAPPPEN NEXT TIME.

NHTSA ID
11192860
Incident
Dec 27, 2018
Mileage
92,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 8, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, IT INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER IN NEUTRAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT NO DIAGNOSTIC FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND AND THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FORD LINCOLN OF COOKEVILLE (1600 INTERSTATE DR., COOKEVILLE, TN 38501, (931) 284-4509), BUT NO DIAGNOSTIC FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND. THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, BUT THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ID
11078209
Incident
Feb 3, 2018
Mileage
94,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed May 16, 2016
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE REVVED TO AN EXCESSIVE RPM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ID
10865105
Incident
May 15, 2016
Mileage
155,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 5, 2014

PULLING OUT OF GRAVEL PARKING LOT/DRIVEWAY THE BRAKES HAVE LOCKED UP AND THE PEDAL IS VERY HARD. GOES AWAY FAIRLY FAST AND DRIVES OK. HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES UP TO NOW. COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREA. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFO ON POSSIBLE REASONS FOR THIS??? *TR

NHTSA ID
10596496
Incident
Oct 16, 2013
Mileage
30,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 11, 2013

T THIS LOW MILEAGE. MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM WOULD THINK THE REAR BRAKES WORE OUT NOT REALIZING THAT THE FAILED CALIPERS CAUSED THE PROBLEM.FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS. THIS IS MY AND MY EXTENDED FAMILIES LAST FORD PRODUCT BECAUSE OF FORD'S LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10543061
Incident
Jul 15, 2013
Mileage
29,129 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceFuel system
Filed Aug 22, 2013

THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE ABLE TO BE APPLIED SIMULTANEOUSLY CAUSING NEAR ACCIDENTS. THE CAUSE SEEMS TO BE BECAUSE OF THE CLOSENESS OF THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS BOTH HORIZONTALLY AND VERTICALLY. SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE, THIS SITUATION HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTED PEDALS WHICH BRINGS THE PEDALS TOO CLOSE IN PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER CAUSING THESE NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THE FOOT UNINTENTIONALLY IS ABLE TO APPLY PRESSURE TO BOTH BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS.THIS SITUATION I BELIEVE IS CAUSED THROUGH THE ENGINEERING OF THE VEHICLE AND THE COST TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE BORN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10536673
Incident
Jul 5, 2013
Mileage
29,500 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Aug 12, 2012

ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHEN EITHER PULLING OUT FROM GRAVEL OR WET PAVEMENT THE ESC WILL APPLY THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THE CAR IS IN NO WAY SKIDDING OR OTHERWISE OUT OF CONTROL IN ANY WAY. IT PRESENTS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN. AS WE PULLED OUT ONTO THE MAIN ROAD THE CARS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED WHILE WE WERE TRYING TO DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD. WE HAD TO TRY TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC COMING UP BEHIND US. THE ESC LIGHT FLASHES DURING THESE EPISODES. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL FORD DEALER TWICE AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE BRAKES COME ON AFTER THE TURN HAS BEEN MADE AND THE CAR IS NOW STRAIGHT AND STEADY. EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IT WAS AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10470304
Incident
May 23, 2009
Mileage
9,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 28, 2010

2008 FORD TAURUS X (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE FREESTYLE) WITH PREMATURE REAR BRAKE WEAR. MY VEHICLE NEEDS COMPLETE REAR BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR REPLACEMENT AT JUST 25000 MILES, AT MY EXPENSE. FORD CUSTOMER CARE DENYING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE, EVEN WITH SO MANY OWNER REPORTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. THERE IS CLEARLY SOME SORT OF DESIGN OR ENGINEERING FLAW WITH THE REAR BRAKES ON THESE VEHICLES, AND FORD MUST BE COMPELLED TO ISSUE A RECALL OR AT THE VERY LEAST AGREE TO COVER REAR BRAKE REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10345866
Incident
Jul 28, 2010
Mileage
25,100 mi
Body & structureBrakesPowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Jun 26, 2010

THE TRANSMISSION OF OUR 2008 FORD TAURUS X (49K MILES) WENT INTO FAIL-SAFE MODE ON 6/21/2010 AND WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO TEAM FORD. THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL WORKING INTERMITTENTLY SO WE ASKED THAT THIS PROBLEM ALSO BE FIXED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THEIR SHOP. THE SERVICE MANAGE SAID THAT THEY WERE BACKED UP ON THE TRANSMISSION (8 OF THEM - NOT GOOD) AND WOULD BE A WHILE SO THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PARKING BRAKE FIRST. THE NEXT DAY, 6/22/2010, I RECEIVED A CALL TELLING ME THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RAISED UP ON THE RACK TO INSPECT THE REAR END, THE SERVICE TECH NOTED THAT THERE WAS UNEVEN WEAR ON THE PASS. SIDE REAR TIRE AND THEN NOTICED THAT THE BRACKET ON THE SUBFRAME ATTACHING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS BROKEN (A CRACK THAT HAD PULLED APART). I WAS INFORMED THAT OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE BROKEN SUB-FRAME AND BRACKET, A $2500 PART, WHILE MY POSITION IS THAT THIS IS COVERED AS IT IS A "LINK". I THEN WENT AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION IN THE CRACK. WE HAVE ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 10 MONTHS AS WE BOUGHT IT USED FROM GUADIN FORD WHEN IT HAD JUST 37,560 MILES ON IT ON 8/6/2009. IT WAS ALSO A FORD CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE. THERE IS NO WAY THAT MUCH CORROSION COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO WEAKEN THE BRACKET IN UNDER 10 MONTHS, FAIL PARTIALLY, AND HAVE THE TIRE NOTICEABLE WEAR UNEVENLY. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT THIS "DAMAGE" WAS FROM "MIS-USE" OF THE VEHICLE. FUNNY THING IS, THE BRACKET WAS THE ONLY "DAMAGE". NOT EVEN SCRATCHES OR SCRAPES, OR, AT THE VERY LEAST, A FLAT TIRE OR WHEEL DAMAGE FROM A MAJOR IMPACT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NECESSARY TO BREAK A HIGH STRENGTH SUSPENSION PART. IT HAD TO BE DEFECTIVE AND NOBODY EITHER CAUGHT IT OR ADMITTED CATCHING IT. THERE ARE MORE SPOTS OF CORROSION ON THIS PART WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS EITHER DEFECTIVE RUSTPROOFING OR COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE TYPE OF STEEL USED TO MANUFACTURE THIS PART. *TR

NHTSA ID
10340219
Incident
Jun 21, 2010
Mileage
49,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 18, 2010

REAR BRAKES WEAR OUT TO SOON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10320602
Incident
Mar 14, 2010
Mileage
24,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Oct 6, 2009

FAILURE OF VEHICLE TO STOP. TWO INCIDENTS - 10/25/08 & 7/13/09. TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNS RED, AND I TRIED TO BRAKE AND CAR DOES NOT STOP, ENGINE REMAINS AT TRAFFIC SPEED AND ROARS. SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND STILL NO RESPONSE AND THEN TURN CAR OFF AND ON. BACK TO NORMAL AND PROCEED TO SAFELY GET OFF ROAD AND CALL FORD SERVICE. FIRST TIME CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AN THEY REPLACED CANCEL SWITCH ON BRAKE. 2ND TIME NO CRUISE CONTROL AND HAD JUST LEFT ONE LIGHT AND ANOTHER TURNS RED. FORD CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY DROVE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE AND RETURNED WITH BLACK BOX TO RECORD INCIDENT. 2 WEEKS LATER I RECEIVE A CALL THAT ON A HUNCH THEY ORDERED A NEW THROTTLE BODY AND REPLACED IT 8/8. NO ONE FEELS SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I AM AFRAID IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND THIS TIME I WILL NOT BE THE FIRST CAR TO APPROACH A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR SOMEONE WILL PULL IN FRONT OF ME AND I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY LOCAL FORD SAID THERE HAVE BEEN NO SIMILAR INCIDENTS. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ON LINE AND THEY HAVE ONLY REPLIED THAT SOMEONE WILL FORWARD IT TO THE PROPER DEPARTMENT AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHO RETAINS REPAIR RECORDS. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP DOES NOT HAVE ANY ANSWERS AND WOULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNLESS THEY HAD TO. WHICH SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE LEAVES ME NO OPTION. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY SIMILAR INCIDENTS. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. *TR

NHTSA ID
10286425
Incident
Jul 13, 2009
Mileage
6,922 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 14, 2008

DANGEROUS DESIGN OF RELATION OF BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR (GAS) PEDAL. THE GAS PEDAL IS LOCATED WITHIN APPROXIMATELY/4 OF AN INCH OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. AND THE GAS PEDAL IS ON A 15DEG.ANGLE FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM LEANING TOWARDS THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED THERE IS INSUFFICIENT SPACE TO AVOID THE GAS PEDAL CAUSING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING AT THE SAME TIME. STOPPING IS DANGEROUS!!!! I CALLED THE FACTORY AND TOLD THEM ABOUT IT AND ASKED IF IT COULD PROVIDE MORE SPACE BETWEEN GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS TOLD NO BECAUSE IS WAS A DESIGN FEATURE AND MUST REMAIN SO OR LOOSE THE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. NO CRASH OR INJURY YET BUT CLOSE SHAVES HAVE OCCURRED. I FEEL ON EDGE WHEN EVER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT BEHIND ANOTHER CAR AFRAID MY CAR JUMPING INTO THE ONE IN FRONT OF ME. ENTERING A BUSY INTERSECTION AFRAID THE CAR WILL NOT STOP BECAUSE THE GAS IS APPLIED WHEN THE BRAKE IS ALSO APPLIED. THE CAR IS A 2008 MODEL AND COSTLY FOR MY POCKET-BOOK AND CANNOT SUSTAIN DAMAGE DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN THAT COULD BE CORRECT VERY SIMPLY BY THE MANUFACTURER BY PROVIDING MORE SPACE BETWEEN PEDALS. I INVESTED MUCH OF MY SAVINGS AND NOT TO HAVE TO AN AUTOMOBILE THAT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND ENDANGER OTHER PEOPLE. I WAS A VICTIM OF ANOTHER INCIDENT BUT I AM SPEAKING UP NOW TO GET A DANGEROUS SITUATION CORRECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10251768
Incident
Aug 1, 2008
Mileage
5,000 mi
BrakesInterior & seats
Filed Sep 9, 2008

ENCOUNTER IN NORMAL DRIVING WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE MOVING YOUR FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR TO THE BRAKE PEDAL YOUR FOOT SEEMS TO CATCH BOTH MAKING THE CAR DIFFICULT TO STOP(ENGINE RUNS FASTER WHILE BRAKING TILL YOU REALIZE YOUR FOOT IS IN CONTACT WITH BOTH PEDALS, HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK WITH MULTIPLE DRIVERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10241436
Incident
Sep 8, 2008
Mileage
100 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .