1986 Ford Taurus Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Ford Taurus, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine2216.2%
- Transmission1914.0%
- Body & structure1712.5%
- Electrical1511.0%
- Interior & seats128.8%
- Seat belts96.6%
- Steering96.6%
- Brakes85.9%
- Suspension75.1%
- Visibility64.4%
- Driver assistance53.7%
- Powertrain (other)32.2%
- Fuel system21.5%
- Heating & air conditioning10.7%
- Tires & wheels10.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY DIES WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP. I READ SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEING A POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION ITEM BUT HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT SINCE THEN. *AK
THERE WAS A RECALL I WAS TOLD ON THE 1984 & 1985 THE BOLTS BROKE, BUT NO RECALL ON 1986. *AK
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. NAR 07/02/2003. *MR THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY INTENTIONALLY SOLD DEFECTIVE VEHICLES TO CUSTOMERS. THE DEFECT IS THE TRANSMISSION, ACCORDING TO THE BULLETIN #94-24-7 THEY KNEW THAT DEFECTS EXISTED IN THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES 1986-95 FORD TAURUS, 1993-95 TAURUS SHO, 1986-95 MERCURY SABLE, 1988-94 CONTINENTAL AND 1995 WINDSTAR LIGHT TRUCK. THE CONSUMER HAS WRITTEN TO FORD EXPLAINING WHAT WAS FOUND AND TO DATE NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE STATEMENTS CONTAINED. *CB *JB
NO SUMMARY
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER INQUIRING INFORMATION CONCERNING THE SUBFRAME BODY MOUNTS RECALL AND THE ROTOR SEPARATION RECALL ON THE 1986 FORD TAURUS.*MR *NM
SUBFRAME REAR PLATE NUT FAILED PRIOR TO RECAL NOTICE (98S36). NLM
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE ALTERNATOR FAILED CAUSING THE BATTERY TO BE DRAINED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE REPEATEDLY BACKFIRED ALMOST CAUSING A FIRE. TS
INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITHIN 20 MINUTES OR MORE. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER AND INDEPENDENT REPAIRS SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING STOPPED AND TURNED CAR OFF. ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER, CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, FIRE WAS UNDER THE DASH, AND IT BURNED THE VISOR AND CARPET. *AK
BUCKET SEAT KEPT FALLING OFF. *AK
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN INSTALLING A CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE REAR SEAT THE LAP BELTS DO NOT HOLD TIGHT. I HAVE CONTACTED VARIOUS DEALERS AS WELL AS FORD IN MICHIGAN, AND ALL THAT WAS SAID TO USE IS A LOCKING CLIP,THAT DOES NOT HOLD THAT TYPE OF BELT TIGHT. WE ARE ALSO INSTALLING THE TETHER SYSTEM IN OUR OWN VEHICLE AS THE DEALERSHIPS LOCALLY HAVE NEVER DONE THEM AND WANT TOO MUCH MONEY TO EXPERIMENT ON TYRING TO INSTALL ONE. WE WILL HAVE AN INFANT AND A 3 YEAR OLD IN THE REAR SEAT AND WE WANT THEM TO BE IN CORRCTLY BUT NO ONE HAS ONY ANSWERS.
THE MALE PART OF SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE SNAPPED OFF THE STRAP. ALSO ONE OF THE BRACKETS ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THAT HOLDS THE BACK PART OF THE SEAT,BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAME. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROLBEM. THE PROBLEMS HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR PASSENGER DOOR MAKES POPPING NOISES WHEN OPENING. *ET
SUBFRAME REAR PLATE NUT FAILED PRIOR TO RECAL NOTICE (98S36). NLM
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER INQUIRING INFORMATION CONCERNING THE SUBFRAME BODY MOUNTS RECALL AND THE ROTOR SEPARATION RECALL ON THE 1986 FORD TAURUS.*MR *NM
WHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH FRONT LEFT MECHANISM WHICH HOLDS BRAKE SYSTEM FELL INSIDE THE WHEEL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR PASSENGER DOOR MAKES POPPING NOISES WHEN OPENING. *ET
TRANSMISSION GEARS WOULD STICK. THE MOTOR WOULD LIFT IN THE AIR. WOULD HEAR LOUD NOISES WHENEVER TURNING STEERING WHEEL. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP & WAS INFORMED MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BAD & WERE ABOUT TO FALL OFF. THEY WOULD NEED REPLACING. ALSO INFORMED THE STABILIZER SWAY BAR WAS GOING BAD. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR WINDOW SHATTERED DURING RAIN STORM. SUPPOSEDLY CORRECTED BY CAMPAIGN NUMBER 87V017000 AND FOR RECALL 87S25.
RIGHT REAR DOOR MOLDING LOOSE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE HAS OVERHEATED SINCE CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE NEW. ALSO, VEHICLE JUMPS FORWARD WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML
RIGHT REAR DOOR MOLDING LOOSE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
ODOMETER FRAUD.
STEERING AXLE CRACKED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY
EEC SWITCH THAT CONTROLS FUEL PUMP/FAN CUTS OFF WHEN TEMPERATURE IS ABOUT 80 DEGREES OR HOTTER; OPEN HOOD, LET SWITCH COOL OFF, WILL OPERATE FOR A FEW BLOCKS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
STEERING AXLE CRACKED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TIRE SIDE WALL RUPTURED CAUSING FLAT TIRE, TIRE FAILED TWO TIME PRIOR TO RECALL REPLACEMENT. THE REPLACEMENT TIRE SIDE WALL FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .