NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1988 Ford Taurus. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
ABS, ROTORS ON FRONT DISC BRAKE SEPARATE FROM THE HUB, BRAKE WERE INSPECTED AT AUTHORIZED STATION ON JAN 10,1995. TT
SEAT BELT CAUGHT IN DOOR LOCK, MAKING THE DOOR IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN. *DSH
WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
PLASTIC PIECE INSIDE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE. TT
THE DRIVERS SEATBELT BUCKLE THE PLASTIC CAME OFF AND IS BROKEN. TT *SLC
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER THE HEATER MOTOR/UNDER THE DASH, SAW SMOKE, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
TIE RODS/DRAG LINKS FAILED.
TIE ROD ENDS FAILED. *AK
RADIATOR HOSE LEAKS ANTI-FREEZE.
IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT START, DUE TO A SMALL FIRE IN THE WIRING BUNDLE AND INGNITION SWITCH. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 82,000 MILES, AT FIRST TRANSMISSION SLIPPED THEN VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED, NP FORWARD/REVERSE GEARS. *AK
EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF IGNITION SWITCH, WILL NOT START ALL ELECTRICAL ITEMS. TT
POWER SEAT SWITCH WIRING SHORTED OUT, RESULTING IN A FIRE PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS, OWNER DISCONNECTED PASSENGERS SEAT DUE TO SMOKE/FIRE (91V-036). *AK
TWO POWER STEERING LINES RUN PARALLEL; ONE LINE HAS A FITTING WHICH RUBS AGASINST OTHER LINE, CAUSING STEERING FLUID TO LEAK. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. *AK
REPLACED TIE RODS. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH OVERHEATED, MELTING PLASTIC PARTS OF COMPONENT, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO START CAR. *DSH
REAR SUB-FRAME MOUNTS FAILED PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS (93V-106). *AK
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE FELL APART/UNBUCKLED. *SKD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED.
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING SMOKE TO COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK
CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT DISENGAGE. TT
AFTER PARKING THE CAR NOITICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM IGNITION AREA, WENT IN THE HOUSE, CAME OUT A THE CAR WAS ON FIRE, DAMAGING ANOTHER CAR AND HOUSE. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE WIRING HARNESS, CAUSING THE WIRING TO MELT. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AT ABOUT HALF BRIGHTNESS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVER TURNS VEHICLE OFF, DRAINING BATTERY.
RECALL #92S61 DONE, PROBLEM STILL EXIST, MOTOR MOUNTS BAD AND SHOULD BE REPLACE, RESULTING IN ENGINE JUMPS WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED.
FUEL LINE LEAK RESULTED IN FIRE.
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO BURN. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN MORE DETAILS. *AK
TIE RODS FAILED PREMATURELY. *AK
CAR HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATED. REPLACED ONCE IN EARLY 1990'S. PROBLEM REAPPEARED ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO. REPAIR SHOP CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. RECALL IN CALIFORNIA SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO ENTIRE COUNTRY.
EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FIRE IN DASH. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK
POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED TWICE. *SD
SOMETHING FAILED IN STEERING MECHANISM WHILE DRY STEERING, RESULTING IN VIBRATION WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED/HELD, FEELS AS IF CAR DOES NOT HAVE POWER STEERING. *DH
SEAT BELT NOT SECURED W/BOLTS AT FACTORY, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO FAIL DURING AN ACCDIENT, RESULTING IN INJURY. *SKD
HYDRAULIC MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL. *DSH
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *AK
THE FUEL INDICATOR GAUGE DOES NOT READ PROPERLY.
VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHEN ACCELERATING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, REPLACE OXYGEN SENSOR/FAN CONTROL/INJECTORS. TT
ABS BRAKES FAILED 6 TIMES ( OTHER VEHICLE ON 601093). TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE EXCESSIVELY. THE FAILURE WOULD RESET ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 10/10/12 *CN UPDATED 1/23/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED AT STOPS, WITH BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED A SMALL UNUSUAL ENGINE HUM BEGINS. THEN, IT INCREASES RAPIDLY AND LOUDLY. THE BRAKES SEEM TO SINK TO THE FLOOR. UPDATED 02/11/2013 *JS
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, BURNING WIRING HARNESS. *DH
TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED DUE TO ORIGINAL PART NOT BEING DESIGNED WITH LUBE FITTINGS. *DH
THE IGNITION SWITCH DID NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT WAS HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE TURNED ON, AND WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED, THE DASH LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PLAY WITH THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION TO GET THE DASH LIGHTS TO COME ON. *PH *JB *CB
SEAT BRACKET HAS BROKEN THREE TIMES, SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. TT
TIE RODS RUSTED, HAD THEM REPLACED. TT
PLASTIC PIECE INSIDE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE. TT
THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULDN'T CONNECT CONSUMER ALREADY HAD THE ENGINE REBUILT. TT
HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED SEVEN TIMES. VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. *AK