RoadVitals

2008 Ford Taurus Fuel system Problems

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

Data refreshed

Fuel system 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.
8
Latest Sep 18, 2019
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.
5%
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.
1
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 fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 8 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 fuel system

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

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
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
ElectricalFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 6, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FUEL, PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT, AND THROTTLE CONTROL TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE WHEN ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE FAILED TO PROVIDE THE ACCURATE READING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID
10958984
Incident
Feb 6, 2017
Mileage
135,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 27, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FUEL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AFTER IT WAS REFUELED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE OBSERVED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT ASSEMBLY FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,252. UPDATED 02/18/16*LJ; 4/27/18 *JB *TR

NHTSA ID
10807190
Incident
Dec 20, 2007
Mileage
59,252 mi
Driver assistanceFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 28, 2015

PURCHASED VEHICLE IN FEB 2010. DRIVEN TO TAKE CHILDREN TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND BACK HOME APPROX TOTAL MILEAGE ROUND TRIP DAILY IS 6 MILES AT MOST. FIRST INSTANCE HAPPENED WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND SLOWING DOWN BY PRESSING THE BRAKE BUT THE MOTOR ACCELERATED RPMS INSTEAD AS IF I WERE PRESSING THE GAS. LASTED FEW SECONDS AND BEGAN DOING AS IT SHOULD. NEXT INSTANT HAPPENED COUPLE MONTHS LATER WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE TO STOP AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM TAKING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. TRIED TO STOP IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I REACHED THE HOUSE AND THE MOTOR ACCELERATED INSTEAD AND HAD TO TURN THE SWITCH OFF TO MAKE IT STOP MAKING THE ACCELERATION NOISE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITH EACH TIME A LITTLE MORE INTENSE. MOST RECENTLY, WHILE TAKING MY SON TO A TRAVELBALL TOURNAMENT I SLOWED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND IT BRIEFLY REVVED THE MOTOR. WHEN I TRIED TO START GOING AGAIN IT TOOK A SECOND FOR THE CAR TO ACTUALLY GO, THEN BEGAN RUNNING NORMAL. FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST ALL ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN THE MOTOR BEGAN ACCELERATING BUT CAR SLOWING DOWN AS IF IT HAD BEEN KNOCKED OUT OF GEAR. THE DIFFERENCE WAS IT WAS STILL IN GEAR AND PRESSING THE BRAKE DID NOTHING AND STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. MANAGED TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND STOPPED THEN IT JUST STARTED DRIVING NORMAL AGAIN. PROCEEDED TO DRIVE TO DESTINATION AND SLOWED TO TURN RIGHT AT INTERSECTION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN CAR DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. THAT WAS A MONTH AGO AND HAS NOT DONE IT SINCE.

NHTSA ID
10786667
Incident
Sep 18, 2015
Mileage
150,000 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
Fuel system
Filed Oct 10, 2012

ON 8/28/12 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY. ON 8/29/12 I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO SYOSSET FORD OF HUNTINGTON ("SYOSSET")FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF THE MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO ON. SYOSSET DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL SENDER ATTACHED ABOVE THE TAURUS' FUEL TANK. SYOSSET EFFECT A REPAIR BY REPLACING THE FUEL SENDER AND CHARGED ME $411.38(BEFORE SALES TAX). ON 9/4/12 I SMELLED GASOLINE FUMES IN THE DRIVER/PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO SYOSSET WHO EFFECTED A REPAIR OF THE LEAKING FUEL SENDER. ON 9/27/12, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN, I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK AGAIN TO SYOSSET ON 9/28/12. SYOSSET DIAGNOSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AS CAUSED BY THE MALFUNCTIONING FUEL SENDER AND POSSIBLY OTHER COMPONENTS. THEY COULD NOT EFFECT A REPAIR ON 9/28/12 BECAUSE THEY ID NOT HAVE PARTS OR PERSONNEL TO EFFECT THE REPAIR AND SCHEDULED ME TO BRING THE CAR BACK ON 10/10/12, WHILE ASSURING ME IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. ON 10/10/12 I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO SYOSSET, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS OUT AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I BELIEVE THE FUEL SENDER IS A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT THAT POSES A SERIOUS DANGER TO THE PUBLIC. FORD HAD TO RECALL ITS 2012 ESCAPES FOR FUEL LINE DEFECTS, I BELIEVE THIS DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDER IS AS DANGEROUS AS THE ESCAPE'S DEFECTIVE FUEL LINES.

NHTSA ID
10480401
Incident
Aug 28, 2012
Mileage
61,792 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Aug 6, 2012

ON WED. AUG, 1, 2012, I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ON MY 2008 FORD TAURUS SPED UP BY ITSELF. I THOUGHT THE CRUISE BUTTON CAME ON BY ITSELF OR THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS STUCK ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO GOING REAL FAST, (BUT IT WASN'T) I HIT THE BRAKE, MOVED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND PUT THE CAR IN LOW THEN NEUTRAL THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF. IT HAPPENED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER, ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2012 AND I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY AGAIN. SCARED ME TO DEATH, AND IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, I AM TAKING IT IN TO A FORD DEALER FOR REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10469288
Incident
Aug 1, 2012
Mileage
12,010 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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .