2008 Ford Taurus X Steering Problems

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD STRAIGHT, OUR CAR MADE A POP SOUND AND SUDDENLY LURCHED AND STEERING WAS IMPAIRED. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FOUND THE ENGINE CRADLE/FRONT SUB FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH INTERNALLY CAUSING THE SWAY BAR TO BREAK AWAY AND IT HAD PERFORATED AROUND THE MOUNT FOR THE CONTROL ARM. WE WERE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THE CONTROL ARM DIDN'T COMPLETELY DROP OUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. FAILURE IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE FORD ESCAPE SUBFRAME RECALL. DEALER TECHNICIAN SAID HE HAS REPLACED A LOT OF THESE ENGINE CRADLES IN THE TAURUS X'S FOR THE SAME FAILURE (SOME WORSE THAN OURS, COMPLETELY RUSTED IN HALF ETC.). LACK OF SUFFICIENT PAINT INSIDE OF THE CRADLES CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THERE ARE ACCIDENTS REPORTED FOR THIS CONCERN. I HAVE REQUESTED THE ENGINE CRADLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP AFTER IT IS REMOVED FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE.

NHTSA ID

11389333

Incident

Jan 19, 2021

Mileage

100,274 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON CITY STREETS WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. CAR BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN, EVEN USING ALL MY STRENGTH. I COULD NOT HAVE REACTED TO ANY OBSTACLE THAT SUDDENLY PRESENTED ITSELF, AND I COULD HARDLY MAKE TURNS, EVEN AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

11145308

Incident

Oct 27, 2018

Mileage

136,000 mi

STEER HARD RIGHT AND LEFT AT SLOW SPEED IN CITY DRIVING. AT FIRST IT STEERS HARD THEN SMOOTH AND YOU CAN OVER STEER . THE STEERING RACK HAS BEEN REPLACED & STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED AS WELL. HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM.GETTING WORSE

NHTSA ID

11081594

Incident

Feb 13, 2017

Mileage

125,000 mi

2008 FORD TAURUS X 135000 MILES VEHICLE STARTED BEING DIFFICULT TO TURN EITHER WAY. MY WIFE AND 4 KIDS WERE ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. ALL FLUID LEVELS WERE GOOD. CHANGED OUT THE RACK AND PINION AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. IT OCCURS MOSTLY AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT ALSO OCCURS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE ISSUE BECAUSE THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS ONLINE OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. WE OBVIOUSLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO STEER TO DRIVE AND ALSO QUICKLY AVOID ANY HAZARDS ON THE ROAD AND WE CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11002007

Incident

Jun 24, 2017

Mileage

13,500 mi

POWER STEERING HAS NOW FAILED TWICE ONCE IN 2012 AND NOW IN 2017. COMPLETE RACK & PINION WAS REPLACED IN 2012 WITH 34800 MILES, 2ND FAILURE IS NOW 1/22/2017 AT 108000 MILES. NOW REPLACING STEERING RACK AND RETURN LINE. 1ST CASE EXITING HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH COULD NOT TURN WHEEL OR TURN RIGHT. COULD ONLY MAKE LEFT TURNS. 2ND CASE LEAKING FLUID AND MAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN. 1ST WAS VERY SCARY, THOUGHT WE WOULD CRASHING EXITING EXPRESS WAY. CALL FORD CS AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING DUE TO 4 YEARS BUT LESS THAN 360000 MILES. 2ND WAS LESS SCARY BUT DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND TOOK 5 DAYS TO GET SERVICE BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, TO FAR TO DRIVE TO A FORD DEALER. NOT VERY HAPPY WITH THIS HAPPENING TWICE AND VERY EXPENSIVE OVER $3000 OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10947831

Incident

Jan 23, 2017

Mileage

34,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A HOSE WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN PREMATURELY DETERIORATING WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ID

10894824

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

Mileage

57,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL ALWAYS BEEN LIKE I NEEDED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND BALANCING BUT THEN GOT TIRES CHECKED OUT OK THEN STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD TO TURN TO THE LEFT AND FOUND OUT THE RACK AND PINION VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING HOME AND TRIED TO TURN LEFT AND ALMOST BROKE MY WRIST

NHTSA ID

10872293

Incident

May 26, 2016

2008 FORD TAURUS X. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING LOCKING UP. *SMD CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AT TIMES, WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC OR PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING PUMP AND RACK AND PINION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10694541

Incident

Dec 29, 2014

WHEN TURNING FROM EITHER A PARKED OR STOPPED POSITION THE STEERING FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS STUCK IN WHATEVER DIRECTION I AM STEERING AND I HAVE TO HELP THE STEERING GO BACK INTO A STRAIGHT POSITION THIS I FEEL IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I NOT ONLY DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BACK AND FORTH TO WORK I ALSO HAVE CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN IT AS WELL. NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND FIXED AT THE MANUFACTURERS EXPENSE IF NOT AND THERE IS AN ACCIDENT THAT RESULTS IN A FATALITY THERE IS A HUGE LAWSUIT COMING YOUR WAY FORD

NHTSA ID

10783057

Incident

Oct 16, 2015

Mileage

161,000 mi

EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT "SHUDDER" IN STEERING SYSTEM WHEN CORNERING AND/OR MANEUVERING INTO PARKING SPACES; THIS CONDITION PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE AND FINALLY, THERE WAS A SUDDEN TOTAL LOSS OF POWER ASSIST TO THE STEERING SYSTEM ALMOST RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NOTICED LARGE PUDDLE OF ATF/POWER STEERING FLUID UNDER VEHICLE WHEN PARKED. UPON INSPECTION, DISCOVERED THAT POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY AND THE STEERING RACK HOUSING HAD LEAKING SEAL WHERE MAIN STEERING SHAFT ENTERED HOUSING LEADING TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE STEERING RACK CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE (SEE: NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10468922; DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 08/02/2012; DATE OF INCIDENT: 07/30/2012; COMPONENT(S): STEERING). BROUGHT VEHICLE IN TO FORD DEALER (BRONDES FORD, MAUMEE, OH) FOR SERVICE. ENTIRE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AGAIN AT A COST EXCEEDING $1,000. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE FOR STEERING RACK DUE TO THE NUMBERS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA SITE ALONE DUE TO THE VERY NATURE OF THIS FAILURE - ANYTHING STEERING/SUSPENSION/BRAKE-RELATED SHOULD BE SUBJECT FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION FOR RECALL. FT

NHTSA ID

10759790

Incident

Aug 14, 2015

Mileage

116,804 mi

AS I WAS OUT RUNNING ERRANDS AND BACKING IN TO PARK MY 2008 FORD TAURUS X, IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE STEERING WAS VERY STIFF AND REQUIRED A GOOD BIT OF EFFORT. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING IN THE CAR FOR EVALUATION. FORD DETERMINED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN (RACK & PINION) AS WELL AS THE POWER STEERING PUMP & RESERVOIR. PRIOR TO THE INITIAL COMPLETE POWER STEERING FAILURE IN DECEMBER OF 2014, I HAD COMPLAINED TO FORD NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT THE STEERING AND HAD HAD THE RACK & PINION UNIT & POWER STEERING PUMPS REPLACED (AT 100268 MILES) IN FEBRUARY OF 2013! IN DECEMBER 2014 THEY QUOTED AN ASTRONOMICAL PRICE TO AGAIN REPAIR MY CAR, AT WHICH POINT, I TOOK IT ELSEWHERE AND ORDERED THE PARTS ON-LINE. FAST FORWARD 6-MONTHS LATER (JUNE 8, 2015) AND MY STEERING HAS AGAIN FAILED WITH THE SAME ISSUE - POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE PARTS ARE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THE REPAIR SHOP HAS REPLACED THE PUMP - WHICH THEY STATED WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL, BUT MY STEERING IS STILL NOT FUNCTIONING. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'M MAKING THIS REPAIR, CLEARLY IT'S A SYMPTOM AND NOT THE REAL ISSUE. WHEN IS FORD GOING TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM?!

NHTSA ID

10725772

Incident

Dec 8, 2014

Mileage

114,412 mi

WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A NINETY DEGREE TURN RIGHT OR LEFT INTO A PARKING SPACE OR PULLING OUT WHILE MAKING A TURN, I LOSE POWER STEERING AND ONLY HAVE MANUAL STEERING. I ALMOST HIT A CAR OR THE CORNER OF THE ROAD/BUILDING AS USING ALL MY STRENGTH, I CANNOT MAKE A SHARP TURN. I HAVE TO BACK UP AND MAKE WIDE TURNS. I AM NOT DRIVING THIS CAR MUCH AS AFRAID I WILL LOSE STEERING AT A HIGHER SPEED. IT HAS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT TO PARK AT SLOW SPEEDS AS I COMPLETELY LOSE THE POWER ASSISTED POWER STEERING AND I HAVE TROUBLE STEERING IN MANUAL MODE--CAN BARELY TURN THE WHEEL USING ALL MY STRENGTH AT 1 MILE PER HOUR. I LEARNED THAT FORD HAS RECALLED THOUSANDS OF CARS FOR THIS RECENTLY AND ONLINE BLOGS SHOW THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POWER STEERING FOR THIS MODEL.

NHTSA ID

10724575

Incident

May 26, 2015

Mileage

84,600 mi

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES AN HOUR I LOST MY POWER STEERING. MY VEHICLE STEERS VERY HARD AND IS EXTREMELY HARD WHILE TRYING TO PARK CAR. RIGHT TURNS ARE HARDER THAN LEFT TURNS. THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO MANEUVER AROUND SHARP TURNS AND CORNERS. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS A BAD RACK AND PINION (STEERING GEAR) AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD CONCERN.

NHTSA ID

10722884

Incident

May 21, 2015

Mileage

121,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON A SECONDARY ROAD THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. AFTER GETTING THE CAR OFF THE ROAD I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND CHECKED THE POWER STEERING BELTS AND FLUID. BOTH WERE FINE. WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE STEERING SEEMED TO BE WORKING PROPERLY AGAIN SO I DROVE HOME. THE STEERING WORKED FINE UNTIL ABOUT A BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE WHEN IT FAILED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10694679

Incident

Mar 15, 2015

Mileage

125,000 mi

THE STEERING EFFORT BECAME VERY GREAT IN MAKING TURNING RIGHT FROM A STANDSTILL. IT REQUIRES INTENSE EFFORT WHEN MOVING FROM A PARKED AREA. STEERING IS EFFECTED TO A DEGREE WHEN AT TRAVEL SPEED BUT LESS SO IN STRAIGHT OPERATION. ALL RIGHT TURNING IS EFFECTED AND REQUIRES TREMENDOUS EFFORT. THE SAME EFFECT IN EITHER FORWARD OR REVERSE MOTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662499

Incident

Nov 7, 2013

Mileage

71,750 mi

IT SLOWLY GOT DIFFICULT TO STEER AND GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE *TR

NHTSA ID

10640206

Incident

Sep 3, 2014

Mileage

13,149 mi

DRIVING THE CAR, AND LOST THE ABILITY TO TURN THE CAR LEFT. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND DISCOVERED THE RACK AND PINION DEAR FAILED INTERNALLY. SOMEHOW A GASKET BECAME INTERTWINED WITHIN STEERING COLUMN. REPAIRS TOTALED $860.91. *TR

NHTSA ID

10588761

Incident

Apr 16, 2014

Mileage

72,739 mi

WHILE BACKING AND TURNING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT SPEEDS AT OR NEAR 1 MPH I NOTICED THE STEERING WAS TIGHT - AS IF THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKED. AFTER PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND PROCEEDING APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE (SPEED LIMIT LESS THAN 25 MPH) TO A STOP SIGN, I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE LEFT TURN FROM A STOPPED POSITION (HAD TO BACK UP AND TRY AGAIN - FORTUNATELY NO OTHER CARS IN INTERSECTION). MOMENTS LATER, STILL AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH OR LESS, THE STEERING BECAME HYPERSENSITIVE WHILE GOING AROUND A BEND IN THE ROAD, CAUSING ME TO NOT ONLY ENTER THE OPPOSITE LANE, BUT TO ALMOST DO A 360 DEGREE TURN (AND OFF THE PAVEMENT). I WENT HOME AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP. FIRST, A FAILED STEERING RACK WAS DIAGNOSED, THEN A LOWER STEERING ROD JOINT FAILURE (NOT SURE IF ONLY THE LATTER OR BOTH SINCE THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP). FORTUNATELY, NEITHER I NOR ANYONE ELSE WAS INJURED - BUT THE CAR WAS NOT CONTROLLABLE. ALSO FORTUNATELY I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (4TH TIME I NEEDED IT, BUT FIRST SAFETY ISSUE). I READ OTHERS HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES SO I AM REPORTING IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10578962

Incident

Apr 7, 2014

Mileage

60,200 mi

WAS DRIVING ALONG PARKWAY DRIVE AND TRY TO TURN INTO A SIDE STREET AND AFTER MAKING THAT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL GOT VERY TIGHT I FIRST TAUGHT THAT MY RACK AND PINION WENT BAD BUT THERE IS NO SIGN OF LEAK OR DAMAGE TO ANY PARTS IF IT WAS ONE SIDE I WOULD HAVE THINK I LOOK OVER SOME THING AND MISS SOME THING BUT IT IS HARD TO STEER BOTH SIDES AT ANY SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10560289

Incident

Oct 14, 2013

Mileage

113,000 mi

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN I LOST ALL POWER STEERING. TURNING THE WHEEL MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND ON THE DRIVE TO THE MECHANIC'S GARAGE SOME POWER CAME BACK, BUT IT WAS MUCH EASIER TO TURN LEFT THAN RIGHT. MY MECHANIC REPORTED THAT HE FOUND A TSB FROM FORD ON THIS ISSUE DETAILING THE EXACT PROBLEM I HAD AND HOW TO FIX IT (REPLACE RACK AND PINION UNIT, REPLACE STEERING PUMP, POWER STEERING FLUID EXCHANGE - COST APPROX. $1600) FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551080

Incident

Nov 5, 2013

Mileage

64,262 mi

SCANNED SYSTEM NO CODES. CHECK P/S PUMP PRESSURE OUTPUT. FOUND A VALVE IN RACK THAT WAS STUCK IN ONE DIRECTION AND NOT ALLOWING PRESSURE THE OTHER WAY. REPLACED P/S RACK AND THEN RESET ALIGNMENT. TEST DROVE TO VERIFY OPERATION. VEHICLE WOULD TURN LEFT NORMAL, BUT DIFFICULT TO THE RIGHT AT SLOW SPEEDS. NO P/S FLUID LOSS. KNOWN ISSUE FOUND ONLINE WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10521485

Incident

Jun 7, 2013

Mileage

99,699 mi

2008 FORD TAURUS X -- POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AT LOW SPEEDS AND THEN WOULD RE-ENGAGE WITHOUT NOTICE CREATING SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL FOR SWERVING DUE TO UNAVOIDABLE OVER-CORRECTION. THE VEHICLE IS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT ALL TURNING IS DIFFICULT. THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED AT SUBSTANTIAL COST. STEERING RACK FAILURE APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN 2008 FORD TAURUS X VEHICLES, WHICH CREATES A SUBSTANTIAL SAFETY RISK FOR THE PUBLIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10519932

Incident

May 27, 2013

Mileage

77,000 mi

CAR SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE LEFT ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER STATES STEERING RACK FAILED AND REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10500948

Incident

Feb 28, 2013

Mileage

58,000 mi

CAR HAS A TENDANCY TO DRIFT RIGHT OR LEFT WHILE TRAVELING. MORE PRONUNCED DRIFT WHILE STOPPING. EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. DEALER INSPECTION INDICATES GEARS IN GEAR BOX ARE LOOSE AND GEAR BOX NEEDS REPLACING AND VEHICLE NEEDS ALIGNMENT. SECOND SET OF FRONT TIRES ARE WORN DOWN TO WEAR BAR AFTER ONLY 13,000 MILES. COST FOR GEAR BOX REPLACEMENT AND FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT IS $900. DEALER STATED NO RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS FOR STEERING/GEAR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10496078

Incident

Feb 1, 2013

Mileage

38,475 mi

THE FORD TAURUS X SEL FWD WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2009. WE HAVE NOTICED STEERING NOISE SINCE 85K MILES APPROXIMATELY. RECENTLY THE CAR HAS STOPPED DRIVING WITH POWER STEERING REGULARLY AT LOW SPEEDS. SOMETIMES AT HIGHER SPEEDS IT WILL NOW ALSO DROP OUT AND THEN RESUME, MAKING DRIVING EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS YOU ARE STEERING HARD WITH TWO HANDS WHEN SUDDENLY POWER STEERING CUTS BACK IN AND YOU SWERVE AS THE WHEEL IMMEDIATELY BEGINS TO RESPOND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10479206

Incident

Oct 4, 2010

Mileage

82,000 mi