There are 19 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 1987 Ford Taurusin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT. *AK
I WAS DRIVING AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIP AND THEN WENT OUT AND NOW CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING,TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DIE. CONSUMER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. CURRENTLY,WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE IS JUMPING. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION, AND VEHICLE CUTS OFF AND STALLS. *AK.
THIS TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT ALMOST EVERY YEAR LIKE CLOCK WORK SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 92, AND THE PERSON WHO SOLD IT TO ME, THE ORIGINAL OWNER SOLD IT TO ME BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION JUST QUITS WORKING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, THIS LAST TIME I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE CAR MOVED A COUPLE OF FEET INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND QUIT MOVING, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO BE HIT BY AN APPROACHING VEHICLE, IT THEN ENGAGED AND I WENT A COUPLE OF BLOCKS AND IT WENT OUT COMPLETELY ALMOST CAUSING ME TO BE REAR ENDED. THE TIME BEFORE THIS IT WENT OUT ON THE FREEWAY WHILE I WAS IN THE NUMBER 3 LANE ALMOST GETTING ME KILLED BY NUMEROUS VEHICLES. EVERYONE I TALK TO WHO HAS A TAURUS TELLS ME THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WHICH HAS COST ME APPROXIAMETLY $7000.00 DOLLARS TO DATE. PLEASE HELP ME IN HOW TO PURSUE THIS.
EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION STALLING WHILE STOPPING. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE FOOT OF ACCELERATOR IN ORDER TO GET THE TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR. THIS CONDITION OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL TRANSMISSION FAILS TO OPERATE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COAST. *AK
PLANETARY GEAR FAILURE DUE TO INADEQUATE LUBRICATION. *SD
TORQUE CONVERTER/PISTONS CLUTCH BEARINGS REPLACED DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *SKD
MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE BAD ON BOTH MY CARS COSTING ME A FEE OF $2600.00. THE DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT BECAUSE YOU GUYS DID NOT PUT A DAM IN THEM THEY OVERHEAT AND AND THINGS START TO BREAK.
PREMATURE WEAR OF TORQUE CONVERTER DUE TO DESIGN, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO STICK IN GEAR. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED/JERKS, AND CONSUMER LOST POWER. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP TO HAVE SOME PARTS TO THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
PURCHASE CAR USED CAR IS ON THE SECOND TRANSMISSION AND CAR OVERHEATED . TT
PURCHASE CAR USED AT 34,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED . TT
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
THE TRANSMISSION TRANSAXLE NEED TO BE REPLACED,THE TIMING CHAIN NEED TO REPLACE .
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING IS VERY HARD TO STEER AND THE VEHICLE IS STUCK IN LOW GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MOVE SLOWLY AT 8 MPH AND LOSE ALL POWER/VEHICLE DIED. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026