Ford · Taurus · 1987
9
Recalls
259
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 1987 Ford Taurus has 9 recalls and 259 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: electrical system (57 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated May 4, 2026
The 1987 Ford Taurus page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is an older model year, the complaint history often reflects a longer ownership window and multiple maintenance stages. That makes pattern-reading more useful than a one-number comparison against a much newer vehicle. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is electrical system with 57 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
THE ARC WELDS ON THE SWAY BAR BRACKET, WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE STRUT RESERVE TUBE, DID NOT FUSE PROPERLY.
Remedy Status
MONROE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STRUT FREE OF CHARGE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TAURUS AND SABLES BUILT FROM 10-14-85 THROUGH 8-19-88, AND LINCOLN CONTINENTALS BUILT FROM 11-4-87 THROUGH 9-30-88 (EXCEPT 1989 - 1991 2.5L TAURUS AND 1989 - 1992 SHO). THE AFFECTED CARS WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, AND WISCONSIN. THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, MAY BECOME DETACHED DUE TO CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT RETAINING PLATE. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
Remedy Status
INSTALL A CORROSION-RESISTANT REINFORCING PLATE AND A NEW BOLT ON BOTH REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS. THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED BY RECALL 98V-323.
CHILDREN CAN ACCIDENTALLY LOCK THEMSELVES IN THE FOOTWELL AREA OF THE REAR-FACING THIRD SEAT, OR IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT IN STATION WAGONS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL THIRD SEAT. ONCE THE COMPARTMENT IS CLOSED IT CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE.
Remedy Status
REPLACE THE SELF-LATCHING ASSEMBLY CURRENTLY USED IN THE REAR STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITH A LATCH ASSEMBLY THAT CAN ONLY BE CLOSED WITH A KEY.
FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.
Remedy Status
REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Remedy Status
INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
ROAD SALT INDUCED EROSION OF THE WIPER MOTOR CONDUCTOR STRIPS COULD CAUSE LOCALIZED THERMAL STRESS WITHIN THE GLASS.
Remedy Status
APPLY SEALANT TO CONDUCTOR STRIPS AND PROTECTIVE TAPE TO LOWER BACKLITES.
LEFT AND/OR RIGHT REAR SPINDLE ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF SPINDLE STEM SEPARATES, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy Status
REPLACE REAR SPINDLE.
STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLIES CONTAIN LOWER SHAFTS OF INSUFFICIENT LENGTH FOR PROPER ATTACHMENT TO THE SHAFT INSULATOR FLANGE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SHAFT COULD SEPARATE, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy Status
REPLACE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY, AS NECESSARY.
TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE CARS THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL 93V-106 SHOULD BE RECALLED DUE TO THE SAME FAILURE PHENOMENON, AND TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS REMEDY FAILURE ISSUE
ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS
There is no summary currently available
1987 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER STATES SUB FRAME BOTH LEFT SIDE AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRONT END BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER HIS MODEL YEAR HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED. FORD MOTOR CO. STATED THEY WOULD ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILI...
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DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE 1987 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON EXPERIENCED A VERY VIOLENT ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE RACED. THE CONTACT THEN PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR SKIDDED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, AND BEGAN GOING FASTER. THE HAND ...
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DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECT AND FAILURE OF THE SEAT BELT OF MY 1987 FORD TAURUS, I WENT HEAD FIRST INTO THE WINDSHIELD, MY KNEES HIT THE DASHBOARD, AND I SUFFERED INJURIES. IT WOULD BE A SIMPLE FIX FOR FORD TO CORRECT THE KNOWN DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOTHING TO PR...
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FAILURE OF IGNITION SWITCH AND PLUG ASSEMBLY DUE TO OVERHEATING. SWITCH MELTED AND SO DID PLUG ASSEMBLY. THIS SAME REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY DONE AT APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT APPOXIMATELY 87,000 MILES, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THIS REPAIR HAD BEEN DONE ...
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I AM DRIVING AND MY CAR STOPS RUNNING. IT JUST DIES, I PUT IT IN PARK AND IT STARTS AGAIN. THIS IS DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.*JB
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, AND IGNITION MODULE HAD FAILED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
SEAT BELTS CAME APART AND FAILED TO RESTRAIN DRIVER AND PASSENGERS SIDE.
AFTER DRIVING FOR A MILE, PARKED VEHICLE AND MINUTES LATER FOUND OUT THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. DEALER NOR FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD DETERMINE WHAT WAS THE CAUSE FIRE.*AK POSSIBLE EINGINE FAILURE. *SLC
VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF A MALL IN A PARKING LOT. CONSUMER DIDN'T TURN VEHICLE ON, AND THERE WERE FLAMES AND SPARKS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. VEHICLE BURNED DOWN TO THE GROUND. *AK
WHEN FOOT IS PUT ON GAS PEDAL ENGINE RISES UP. DLR SAID IT NEEDED MOTOR MOUNTS.*AK
Showing 10 recent complaints from 259 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 1987 Ford models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 1987 Ford Taurus has 9 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 259 owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Ford Taurus.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 1987 Ford Taurus.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 1987 Ford Taurus are electrical system (57 reports), structure (28 reports), engine and engine cooling (24 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 9 recalls on record for the 1987 Ford Taurus. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.