RoadVitals

2008 Ford Taurus Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
175
Latest Jan 30, 2026
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
26
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
1
Reports on file since Nov 13, 2007

What this page shows

Our database holds 175 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Ford Taurus. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 175 · page 1 of 7

AirbagsDriver assistanceSeat belts
Filed Jan 30, 2026
Crash reported1 injury reported

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt had failed to unbuckle and was previously repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously rear-ended on several occasions, and the air bags did not deploy. The contact had sustained severe back injuries that had become permanent. The contact had received medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was able to be driven from the scene on each occasion. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH, the vehicle experienced sudden and unintended acceleration. The contact depressed the brake pedal, and the vehicle responded as intended. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.

NHTSA ID
11714414
Incident
Nov 30, 2025
Mileage
142,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Dec 10, 2023
Crash reported

My son was in an accident to where the whole front end was smashed and neither airbag deployed

NHTSA ID
11559353
Incident
Dec 9, 2023
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 16, 2023

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a turn, the vehicle became inoperable. The contact shifted into park and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated while reversing, she heard an abnormal sound. The check engine and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle had been diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the failure was due to the power train not being connected to the solenoids. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,367.

NHTSA ID
11555476
Incident
Oct 29, 2023
Mileage
85,367 mi
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
Engine
Filed Sep 2, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled however, she was able to pull over and stop the vehicle. The contact stated that she noticed that the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the engine temperature gauge was indicating that the engine was overheating. The contact observed that white smoke was coming out from under the hood. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to her residence. An independent mechanic went to the residence to diagnose the vehicle. The independent mechanic determined that the head gasket had blown and the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA ID
11482680
Incident
Mar 6, 2022
Mileage
170,000 mi
Filed Apr 16, 2022
Fire reported

only regular maintenence < drove to desination and parked car and car set on fire , at first it was smoking so we called the fire department and by the time they got there the flames were 10 ft high and the whole front was burnt and melted my car ia junk now , before this all gauges worked jst fine and nothing un-ordinary stuff going on

NHTSA ID
11461029
Incident
Apr 11, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Jul 9, 2021

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the subframe was completely rusted through. The vehicle was towed and diagnosed but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

NHTSA ID
11424072
Incident
Jun 6, 2020
Suspension
Filed Mar 25, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWAYED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
11404900
Incident
Feb 2, 2021
Mileage
110,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 16, 2020

THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YRS BUT WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT MY CAR SUDDENLY WENT FORWARD. IT DIDN'T GO.TO FAR. MAYBE A FT OR 2 BUT WAS ENOUGH TO SCARE ME. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. IT WILL ALSO GET STUCK IN GEARS AND LOSE POWER ON THE ROAD. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AS OF NOW. ONE LIGHT DID COME ON TODAY WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT AND WITHOUT NOTICE MY CAR WOULD NOT GO. IT WAS THE POWER THROTTLE/TRANSMISSION LIGHT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND IT DROVE FINE ALL THE WAY HOME. IT DID JERK ONCE. THE GEAR SHIFTING AND LOSS OF POWER HAPPENS WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID
11364758
Incident
Oct 16, 2020
Mileage
157,087 mi
Filed Jul 16, 2020

THE CAR LOOSES POWER. THE RPM GO UP BUT SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T MOVE. DASH SHOWS DASHES. WHEN YOU STOP AND CUT THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON IT SLAMS INTO GEAR. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES THE CAR DRIVES FINE

NHTSA ID
11339837
Incident
May 13, 2020
Engine
Filed Jun 30, 2020

I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WITH A TRUCK CLOSE BEHIND, WHEN IT JUST DIED. I HAD NO POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH THINKING I WAS GOING TO BE HIT BY THE TRUCK BEHIND ME. I WAS IN A CURVE, AND THANKFULLY THERE WAS A STORE. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE CAR IN, AND SOMEHOW I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP. I HAD NO WARNING, NO LIGHT CAME ON AND MY SON CAME TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. HE SAID IT WAS OVERHEATING. WE HAD IT TOWED HOME AND WHEN HE CHECKED IT THE OIL WAS CREAMY , WHITISH. HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. WE RESEARCHED IT, AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CYCLONE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THE WATER PUMP FAILING, WHICH IS INSIDE THE ENGINE ALONG WITH THE TIMING CHAIN!!! I WAS SHOCKED! WATER PUMPS GO BAD, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT. WHY WOULD ANY COMPANY PUT A WATER PUMP INSIDE THE MOTOR?!?! I NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT IF I HAD KNOWN BECAUSE IT IS JUST WRONG. THEN I FOUND OUT FORD HAD BEEN USING THAT ENGINE FOR OVER 10 YEARS, EVEN WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND I WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES AND DEATHS HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!!!! WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE PUT IN, I'M 63 AND DISABLED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. WITH ALL THE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURES DUE TO THIS, I AM SHOCKED THAT FORD HAS NOT HELPED US OUT. THEY MUST HAVE A LOT OF LAWSUITS. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN, I AM SICK ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ID
11331838
Incident
Jul 12, 2019
Mileage
80,000 mi
Filed May 30, 2020

I DON'T KNOW THE KEYLESS ENTRY CODE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11326590
Incident
May 1, 2020
Mileage
149,220 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 14, 2020

THE CAR LOOSES POWER. THE RPM GO UP BUT SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T MOVE. DASH SHOWS DASHES. WHEN YOU STOP AND CUT THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON IT SLAMS INTO GEAR. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES THE CAR DRIVES FINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11321126
Incident
Apr 12, 2020
Mileage
153,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 31, 2020

2008 TAURUS, BOUGHT NEW 11/7/7, 33 MILES. 11/12/13 REPAIR ' 31,682 MILES ' RACK AND PINION STEERING STARTED TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. REPLACED FOR $889.82, NOT UNDER WARRANTY; FORD COVERED NONE OF THE COST. 1/2/20 REPAIR ' 65,691 MILES ' RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED AGAIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER A 30-MILE DRIVE. REPLACED FOR $954.87 PLUS TAX. FORD COVERED NONE OF THE COST.

NHTSA ID
11306326
Incident
Jan 2, 2020
Mileage
65,691 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 18, 2019

WHEN DRIVING ON MAIN ROAD MITCHELL ST. IN DOWNTOWN CADILLAC, THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHED AND STARTED ON SINCE. A FEW NIGHTS AFTER, WHEN STARTING THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT COME ON UNTIL MINUTES AFTER THE CAR STARTED. NOW, IT WILL STAY LIGHT FROM WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING G UNTIL SHUT OFF.

NHTSA ID
11256404
Incident
Aug 26, 2019
Mileage
118,500 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 18, 2019

ON 5/20/19 I FILLED UP MY FUEL TANK AND WHEN I RETURNED HOME I SMELLED GASOLINE. I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK ON TO THE GROUND. I IMMEDIATELY PUT DOWN ABSORBENT, PARKED THE VEHICLE ON A FLAT SURFACE OF MY DRIVEWAY AND PLACED A LARGE CATCH PAN UNDER THE VEHICLE WHERE THE FUEL WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE HAD PASSED EMISSIONS ABOUT 2 OR 3 MONTHS PRIOR THAT INCLUDES A TEST ON THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE AMOUNT THAT LEAKED OUT WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF OF A LITER IN TOTAL THEN STOPPED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS EVER COME ON AND THE FUEL LEAK ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I FILL THE TANK UNTIL THE GAS PUMP STOPS, I HAVEN'T FILLED THE TANK FULL AGAIN UNTIL YESTERDAY 9/17/19 WHEN I FILLED THE TANK FULL. AFTER THE FIRST LEAK WAS NOTICED I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC THAT PUT THE CAR ON A LIFT AND DROPPED THE FUEL TANK PRESSURIZED IT AND COULD NOT FIND OUT WHERE THE FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM. HE INSTALLED A NEW SENDING UNIT AND FUEL PUMP GASKETS AND REINSTALLED THE FUEL TANK, FILLED THE TANK FULL AND NO LEAK WAS NOTICED. TO BE SAFE AND EASE MY MIND I DIDN'T FILL THE TANK FULL UNTIL YESTERDAY 9/17/19 WHEN I NOTED THE LEAK AGAIN. THE MECHANIC SAID HE DIDN'T NOTICE ANY PREMATURE WEAR ON THE FUEL TANK OR ANY OF THE COMPONENTS WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO HIM. I SPOKE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TODAY AND HE SAID IT COULD POSSIBLY BE A FAULTY EMISSIONS VALVE THAT IS LOCATED ON TOP OF THE TANK. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON 9/20/19 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT AGAIN. I AM CHECKING HERE TO SEE IF OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND IF A RECALL WAS EVER AVAILABLE AND IF NOT TOO ADD THIS TO COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ID
11256317
Incident
Sep 17, 2019
Mileage
161,356 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 6, 2019
Crash reported3 injuries reported

MY 79 YEAR OLD FATHER-IN-LAW WAS IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT YESTERDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2019. HE WAS AT A STOP SIGN IN THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH OHIO. UPON TAKING OFF FROM A STOP HE WAS HIT NOT BY ONE CAR BUT TWO CARS. MY FATHER IN LAW HAS HAD THIS CAR SINCE 2009 AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF IT. THEY ONLY HAVE THIS CAR. ANYWAY WHEN HE HIT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, NONE. HE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL SO HARD THAT WE THOUGHT HE WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK.

NHTSA ID
11253542
Incident
Sep 4, 2019
Mileage
87,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 1, 2019
Crash reported3 injuries reported

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND STRUCK A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT AT 20 MPH AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED

NHTSA ID
11193241
Incident
Mar 26, 2019
Mileage
150,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 27, 2019

I CHECK YEARLY FOR RECALLS ON ALL MY VEHICLES. IN 2016 I FOUND A RECALL ON THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG. I NOTIFIED GUSTAFSON FORD IN KEWANEE IL 61443 WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE . I PULLED UP THE RECALL ON MY PHONE AND SHOWED THEM THE RECALL. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM FORD REGARDING THIS SO UNTIL THEY DO THEY CAN NOT FIX IT. EVEN THOUGH CAN SEE FORD CLEARLY STATES A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. AT THAT TIME MY CAR WAS 8/9YRS OLD. I'VE ASKED THEM A FEW TIMES SINCE THEN AND GOT THE SAME ANSWER FROM THEM NOW 2019 AND STILL THE RECALL I BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION IIN 2016 IS STILL NOT FIXED.I ALSO DID NOT RECEIVE A LETTER FROM FORD INFORMING ME OF THE RECALL. WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET THIS FIXED ? I TRAVEL FOR MY JOB THROUGH OUT ILLINOIS AND IOWA A MINIMUM OF 800 MLS PER MONTH . WAS THE RECALL SENT TO GUSTAFSON FORD KEWANEE IL 61443? IF SO WHY DID THEY TELL ME THEY DON'T HAVE IT AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNTIL FORD SENDS THEM THIS NOTICE? PLEASE HELP!! THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NO ONE WANTS TO FIX. IF I'M HIT DRIVING 75MPH ON THE INTERSTATE I COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED ! THEN WHO WOULD TAKE CARE OF MY 3 CHILDREN AND 77YR OLD GRANDMOTHER? IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT THIS WAS BROUGHT TO GUSTAFSON FORD ATTENTION IN 2016 AND NOW 2019 STILL THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG IS STILL IN MY CAR. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO TO FIX THIS RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

NHTSA ID
11191952
Incident
Aug 10, 2016
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
Body & structure
Filed Feb 17, 2019

ENGINE CRADLE ROTTING, MECHANICS SAID IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE MAKE AND MODEL

NHTSA ID
11180586
Incident
Jan 23, 2019
Mileage
112,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jan 27, 2019

APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AFTER TURNING ON THE NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM THE SEATBELT BEGAN TO TIGHTEN ON MY SON, THE DRIVER OF THE CAR. HE PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND TRIED TO LOOSEN THE SEATBELT BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL; THE CAR TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO TRY AND RESET THE SEATBELT BUT ALL ATTEMPTS FAILED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT WAS PERMANENTLY LOCKED.

NHTSA ID
11172418
Incident
Jan 27, 2019
Mileage
27,300 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 5, 2018

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY CAR STARTED TO IDLE HIGH AND SPEED GAINED WITHOUT ME DOING IT. I TRIED TO PUSH ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW CAR DOWN BUT BRAKE WOULD NOT WORK, I GOT OFF FREEWAY AND PUSHING AS HARD AS I COULD ON THE BRAKE THE CAR SLOWED SOMEWHAT., THERE WAS A HILL WHICH CAUSED ME TO AGAIN GAIN SPEED AND I PUT CAR IN PARK AND TO STOPPED. I TOWED TO AUTO REPAIR AND WHEN COMPUTER TEST WAS RAN NO CODES CAME UP.

NHTSA ID
11149497
Incident
Nov 5, 2018
Mileage
101,265 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 27, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING SHAFT WITHOUT WARNING. RON LEWIS FORD BEAVER FALLS (201 7TH AVE, BEAVER FALLS, PA 15010, (724) 843-1000) WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ID
11122664
Incident
Apr 1, 2018
Mileage
108,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 26, 2018
Crash reported

CAR ACCIDENT AND BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY

NHTSA ID
11113998
Incident
Jul 24, 2018
Mileage
75,000 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.

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