RoadVitals

2008 Ford Taurus 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.
15
Latest Oct 18, 2022
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 175 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.
3
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 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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

BrakesEngineSuspension
Filed Oct 18, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for an inspection, the dealer advised him to stop driving the vehicle due to corrosion of the subframe, caliper, steering arm, brakes, and a hole in the catalytic converter. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

NHTSA ID
11489738
Incident
Oct 13, 2022
Mileage
36,000 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 11, 2019

TRANSMISSION CLUNKS INTO EACH GEAR WHEN DRIVING SLOW. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED TO MOVE SHIFTER FROM PARK, THERE IS AN ALARM THAT IS FAIRLY LOUD COMING FROM THE DASH. THE BRAKES SEEM TO WORK WELL AND I HAVE MAINTAINED MY OWN VEHICLES, SO THERE IS NO REASON THIS SHOULD BE WRONG WITH THE CAR. IT HAS VERY LOW MILES FOR THE YEAR AND HAS MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR MONTHS, GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.

NHTSA ID
11185889
Incident
Mar 11, 2019
Mileage
123,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 6, 2018
Crash reported

CAR WOULD SUDDENLY JOLT FORWARD EVEN THOUGH I WAS SECURELY STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. SOMETIMES, IT FELT LIKE IT JOLTED FORWARD AS MUCH AS 4 FEET - EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE AT ALL TIMES. (I TRIED TURNING OFF THE A/C TO SEE IF THERE WAS A POWER SURGE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. A/C ON OR OFF MADE NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL.) THIS WOULD HAPPEN SO OFTEN, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO STOP MORE THAN A CAR LENGTH AWAY FROM ALL INTERSECTIONS OR OTHER VEHICLES ALREADY STOPPED SO I WOULD NOT HIT THEM WHEN THE CAR JOLTED. IT BECAME AN EXPECTED EVENT . BRAKES WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO HOLD THE CAR BACK FROM THESE SUDDEN JOLTS - UNFORTUNATELY. COMING HOME ONE NIGHT, CAR STARTED ACCELERATING BEYOND THE AMOUNT I WAS PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN IT SUDDENLY LOST POWER EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOW TRYING TO ACCELERATE. NEW DASH LIGHTS - WRENCH, AIRBAG, AND GAS ALL CAME ON. MILEAGE DISPLAY DISAPPEARED AND, INSTEAD, CAR SHOWED THAT CAR WAS EMPTY OF GAS (I HAD FILLED THE TANK NIGHT BEFORE AND WAS SHOWING "FULL" PRIOR TO THIS SUDDEN CHANGE WITH VEHICLE.) BARELY MADE IT HOME AND CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE ENOUGH TO GO UP THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE OF DRIVEWAY APRON. REPAIR WAS MADE TO TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR. LESS THAN A WEEK LATER, I AM NOTICING THE SAME SUDDEN POWER SURGE/SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. I TRY TO CONVINCE MYSELF THAT IT'S JUST BECAUSE I WAS SO SCARED DRIVING HOME THAT NIGHT. LESS THAN A MONTH, THE CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING AND I AM HAVING IT TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP. FROM COMPLAINTS I'VE SEEN ON INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THIS SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL. I BELIEVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE. THE OLDER WOMAN I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM WAS TOLD SHE WAS AT FAULT FOR AN ACCIDENT THAT I NOW BELIEVE WAS COMPLETELY THIS PROBLEM! SHE WAS BEEN TOLD SHE IS NOT ALLOWED TO DRIVE (WHICH IS WHY SHE SOLD ME HER CAR) AND IT IS THE FAULT OF THE CAR!!!!!

NHTSA ID
11109868
Incident
May 30, 2018
Mileage
49,456 mi
Body & structureBrakesEngine+2 more
Filed Jan 30, 2018

2008 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE POWER FOLDING EXTERIOR WINDOW SWITCH ISSUES. CONSUMER HAS PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE WITH 2 DIFFERENT VEHICLES WITH DIFFERENT ISSUES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED ACCORDING THE VEHICLE'S DESCRIPTION THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE HAD A POWER FOLDING EXTERIOR MIRRORS, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH THIS FEATURE. THE ENGINE KNOCKS AND SHIFTS HARD ON TAKE OFF AND SLOW DOWN. THE BREAK BOOSTER SQUEAKS WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FUEL INDICATOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. LASTLY, DURING LONG PERIODS OF RAIN THE CEILING LIGHTS LEAK ONTO THE CONSOLE. *JS

NHTSA ID
10838420
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 9, 2016

IN MARCH 2016 MY VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS. WHEN MAKING A TURN, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPONTANEOUSLY GRABS INTERMITTENTLY. THIS DISABLES THE VEHICLE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES, AS IT HAPPENS AS I'M HEADING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO THE VALLEY FORD DEALERSHIP HERE IN KALISPELL, MONTANA 3 TIMES IN AN EFFORT TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN RIGHT AFTER IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE BRAKES. SO I PAID $1070 TO HAVE THE BRAKES AND ROTTERS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THEM 2 MORE TIMES AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ONGOING PROBLEM. I AM SEEKING YOUR HELP IN RESOLUTION IN THIS MATTER. THIS HAS OCCURRED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES.

NHTSA ID
10894479
Incident
Jul 28, 2016
Mileage
109,000 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Nov 3, 2015

BROUGHT CAR INTO THREE DIFFERENT DEALER TO DIAGNOSE WHY ALL DASH LIGHTS WERE COMING ON AND OFF. EACH TIME THE PCM WAS WIPED CLEAN AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE UNSURE. THE LAST TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR IN WAS FOR A POSSIBLE BAD SPEEDOMETER READING AS WAS PULLED OVER FOR GOING 70 IN A 55 AS WHICH SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 55. BROUGHT IN FOR BOTH CONCERNS AND DETERMINED THAT THE ABS MODULE WAS BAD AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS BAD ALSO. SPEEDOMETER BEING OFF IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ALL AND SHOULD HAVE NO REASON TO GO OUT. NO TELLING HOW LONG SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN OUT, BUT THE ABS MODULE STARTED PROBLEMS AROUND 90,000MI.

NHTSA ID
10788068
Incident
Sep 10, 2015
Mileage
133,000 mi
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Sep 28, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES ENGAGED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID
10778003
Incident
Jun 1, 2013
Mileage
80,000 mi
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Sep 28, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES ENGAGED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID
10778001
Incident
Jun 1, 2013
Mileage
80,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceFuel system
Filed Mar 10, 2014
Crash reported

MADE LEFT TURN ONTO MAJOR STREET. THERE WAS TRAFFIC SO EVERYTHING WAS SLOW. AS SOON AS I GOT ONTO THE STREET, THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND STARTED TO MOVE FASTER THAN I WANTED AND I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR SHOT FORWARD AND I HIT THE VEHICLE IN FROM OF ME. THIS WAS NOT DRIVER ERROR. IT WAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION.. IT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. LUCKILY, NO INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568172
Incident
Mar 7, 2014
Mileage
93,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Aug 13, 2013
Crash reported

CAR WAS IN A PARKING LOT. I PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND VERY LIGHTLY APPLIED GAS PEDAL AND VEHICLE SHOT BACK AT A TREMENDOUS RATE OF S PEED WHICH I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY HITTING A LOW CEMENT WALL. IF ANYONE HAD BEEN BEHIND ME THEY WOULD BE INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10535126
Incident
Jul 31, 2013
Mileage
23,353 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 5, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AFTER HEARING A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT THE CALIPERS WOULD NOT CLOSE AND THE PISTONS WOULD NOT COMPRESS THE BRAKES SHOES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED HER THAT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE BRAKES AND THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER ASSISTANCE OFFERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,320.

NHTSA ID
10374806
Incident
Dec 23, 2010
Mileage
19,320 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Oct 8, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING IN REVERSE 2 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 12/30/10*LJ UPDATED 01/04/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. UPDATED 01/10/11 THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS HAVE QUESTIONABLE. UPDATED 04/06/11

NHTSA ID
10359636
Incident
Sep 16, 2010
Mileage
15,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 11, 2010

I PURCHASE A NEW 2008 FORD TAURUS JULY 2009.. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE THE STEERING WHEEL BEGIN TO VIBRATE. THE CAR HAD ONLY 2328 MILES ..FOUND EXCESSIVE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR RUNOUT. RESURFACED BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS . EIGHT MONTHS LATER BACK AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. RESURFACED THE SAME ROTORS AGAIN. THESE ROTOR MUST HAVE A DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10330001
Incident
Sep 9, 2009
Mileage
2,328 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 23, 2010

MY 2008 FORD TAURUS HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES . I HAVE REPLACED THE PADS TWICE. THE LAST TIME WAS ON 4/21/10. THAT WAS WHEN I NOTICED THAT IT WAS SMOKING AFTER I DROVE FROM WORK. WHICH IS 17 MILES FROM MY HOUSE. A EMPLOYEE AT AUTO STORE ASKED ME IF USED THE PARKING BRAKE OFTEN . I SAID YES HE TOLD ME TO STOP. THE BRAKE PROBLEM STOPPED ALSO. THE BRAKES WERE ONLY GOING BAD ON ONE SIDE. THE BACK RIGHT. I COULD SMELL THEM BURNING AND I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. NOW I AM WAITING TO SEE IF HAPPENS AGAIN I FEEL LIKE THE PARKING BRAKE WAS THE PROBLEM. BUT WHY I DO NOT KNOW . *TR

NHTSA ID
10327216
Incident
Apr 21, 2010
Mileage
45,323 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 16, 2009

2008 FORD TAURUS WITH 20250 MILES HAS EXCESSIVE BRAKE DRAG, CAUSING DEEP GROVES WORN INTO THE ROTORS. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES THEY MAKE A GRINDING NOISE AND THEY ARE RUBBING AS I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD, THUS THE CALIPERS ARE NOT RELEASING ALL THE WAY. IT IS OBVIOUS THE ROTORS ARE TOO SOFT. AT 16500 I COMPLAINED TO SZOTT FORD IN HOLLY MICHIGAN AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME 139.00 TO TURN ONE ROTOR! I ASKED IF THE BRAKE PADS WERE WORN THEY SAID NO, I HAD DIRT IN THE CALIPERS? NOW THREE OF MY ROTORS ARE WORN. I KNOW THIS WAS A PROBLEM ON THE FORD 500. WHY IS THIS NOT COVERED? *TR

NHTSA ID
10258754
Incident
Feb 16, 2009
Mileage
20,000 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 .