RoadVitals

1986 Ford Taurus Transmission Problems

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

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
19
Latest Jul 30, 2002
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.
19%
of 101 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.
0
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 the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1986 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 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 transmission

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

Transmission
Filed Jul 30, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
566962
Incident
May 18, 2002
Transmission
Filed Jul 12, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
708512
Incident
Dec 1, 1996
EngineSuspensionTransmission
Filed Apr 21, 1999

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

NHTSA ID
836968
Incident
Jul 12, 1998
Transmission
Filed Jan 28, 1999

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE IS CUTTING OFF/STALLING AND VIBRATING. VEHICLE WON'T GO OVER 20 MPH AND THERE IS A KICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
834210
Incident
Mar 12, 1998
Transmission
Filed Jan 28, 1999

VEHICLE HAS NO SECOND GEAR, AND SLIPS AND JERKS INTO FIRST GEAR ALOT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
834172
Transmission
Filed Mar 3, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
531664
Incident
Jan 1, 1990
Transmission
Filed Aug 9, 1997

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURES. IN BOTH CASES, A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS USED AS A REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ID
522585
Incident
Jan 1, 1991
Transmission
Filed Jul 10, 1997

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
518126
Incident
May 26, 1997
Transmission
Filed May 27, 1997

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON ANY EXISTING BULLETIN REGARDING FORD TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID
519032
Incident
May 26, 1997
Body & structureDriver assistanceEngine+2 more
Filed Mar 4, 1997

RIGHT REAR DOOR MOLDING LOOSE.

NHTSA ID
514048
Incident
Feb 24, 1987
EnginePowertrain (other)Suspension+1 more
Filed Feb 4, 1997

ODOMETER FRAUD.

NHTSA ID
514397
Incident
Feb 4, 1997
Transmission
Filed Nov 1, 1996

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ID
601887
Incident
Oct 22, 1996
Heating & air conditioningDriver assistanceEngine+4 more
Filed Oct 21, 1996

STEERING AXLE CRACKED.

NHTSA ID
510333
Incident
Oct 21, 1996
BrakesElectricalEngine+4 more
Filed Aug 23, 1996

HORN INOPERATIVE.(1ST VEHICLE ON 601640)

NHTSA ID
506736
Incident
Jul 26, 1996
BrakesEngineSuspension+2 more
Filed Aug 12, 1996

SHOCKS FAILED.

NHTSA ID
507301
Incident
May 8, 1996
EngineTransmission
Filed Jan 27, 1996

MOTOR MOUNT FAILED. *DSH

NHTSA ID
502317
Incident
Jan 27, 1996
Transmission
Filed Aug 22, 1995

VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF GEAR AND SOMETIMES GEARS MAKE A THUMPING SOUND CHANGING. TT

NHTSA ID
970837
Incident
Aug 22, 1995
Transmission
Filed Jul 21, 1995

AUTO TRAN: WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION JUMPS FROM DRIVE TO 1ST OR 2ND, OR DIE COMPLETELY; NO WARNING; NEARLY CAUSED REAREND ACCIDENT. TT

NHTSA ID
969223
Incident
Apr 25, 1993
Transmission
Filed Apr 14, 1995

KEYS WILL COME OUT OF IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. TT

NHTSA ID
963795
Incident
Apr 13, 1995

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 .