There are 50 owner-reported engine complaints for the 1991 Ford Taurusin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP A JERKING MOTION WAS PRODUCED. AS A RESULT, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. DEALER STATED MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED. A RECALL 98V323000 WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HOME, HE TURNED A CORNER AND HEARD A SNAP. THEN, HOOD STARTED TO MOVE UP AND DOWN VIOLENTLY. CONSUMER MANAGED TO BRING VEHICLE HOME AND PARKED IT. THIS HAPPENED TODAY, AND HAS NOT YET HAD TIME TO GET A MECHANIC TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.*AK
THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED AND THEN SHUT OFF. *JB THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT SHIFT. *CB *JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WOULD STALL FOR NO REASON.*AK *YH
VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT START . CONSUMER HAD A FRIEND PUT A FUEL PUMP IN, AND VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND THEY PUT A MULTI FUNCTION RELAY SWITCH IN, AND VEHICLE STARTED. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT UPON RECEIVING VEHICLE INERTIA SWITCH POPPED OUT. THIS BUTTON STOPPED FUEL SUPPLY FROM GOING THROUGHT CAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
3.8L ENGINE IS NOTORIOUS FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURE/FORD DENIES ANY PROBLEMS WITH 3.8L ENGINES.*AK
VEHICLE BEGAN TO LEAK ANTI-FREEZE INTO MANIFOLD CAUSING VEHICLE TO SMOKE VEHICLE HAS A 3.8 LITER ENGINE.*AK
AFTER SHIFTING GEARS COULD FEEL A CLUMP ON VEHICLE. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP WHERE THEY FOUND THAT FRONT AND REAR MOTOR MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE RUBBER HAD GONE BAD IN ENGINE MOUNTS. *SLC
CAR STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER REPLACED PLUG WIRES, CAP & ROTOR, FUEL & AIR FILTERS, AND FUEL PUMP. TYPICALLY DOESN'T PRESENT COMPUTER FAILURE CODES. QUITS AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IN CITY TRAFFIC, WHEN COLD OR WARM. SOMETIMES RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY, OFTEN WON'T START FOR HOURS, OR UNTIL NEXT DAY. DEALER IS OUT OF SUGGESTIONS, AND I'M AT WIT'S END. VEHICLE UNSAFE/UNUSABLE IN THIS CONDITION. *AK
FRONT MOTOR MOUNT HAS BROKEN TWICE HAVEN'T SEEN A RECALL ABOUT THIS YET IS THERE ONE THAT I HAVE OVER LOOKED PLZ CONTACT ME TO LET ME KNOW OF THE RECALL THAT MY CARS HAS I CALLED ONCE BEFORE N I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD NO RECALLS ON MY CAR YET I HAVE RECENTLY PRINTED OUT 6-7 THAT EFECT MY CAR. *AK
NO SUMMARY
THE 3.8 LITER FORD ENGINE IS FOR PREMATURE HEADGASKET FAILURE. I CONTACTED FORD IN WRITING ASKING TO BE REIMBURSED BUT THAT WAS REJECTED. *AK
FORD KNOWS THIS TO BE A PRODUCT FAILURE ON THEIR 3.8L ENGINES....THEY ARE REFUNDING 93/94/95 MODELS FOR GASKET REPLACEMENT AND OR TOTAL ENGINE REPAIRS. BECAUSE THIS IS A RETIRED PERSON THAT PUT FEW MILES ON THE CAR ANNUALLY THE EST. GASKET FAILURE FORD SAYS AT 65,000 MILES WAS NOT REACHED UNTIL NOW. BUT THE CAR HAD KNOWN PRODUCT FAILURE ! *AK
FORD CLAIMS NOTHING WRONG WITH 3.8 L HEAD GASKETS AND IT IS OK TO SELL JUNK! *AK
TOLD BY FORD MECHANICS THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8 (ALSO IN OTHER MODELS) FROM 1991 ON..FORD ONLY COVERED 1994-95 TAURUS . FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANY INFO ON THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE WITH THE 3.8 NO WOULD THEY GIVE ME A PHONE NUMBER TO APPEAL BASED ON INFORMATION I UNDERSTOOD TO BE TRUE AND FAIR FROM TWO OTHER FORD DEALERSHIPS
IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO REV UP TO A HIGH SPEED, BREAKING FRONT MOTOR MOUNT, HITTING INSIDE OF HOOD AND DENTING IT. *AK
ON MY 3.8L ENGINE, WHICH FORD HAS HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, WHICH I BELIEVE LED TO BOTH MY ENGINE FREEZING UP AND A RAPID BREAKDOWN OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, ENDING IN A REPAIR BILL CLOSE TO $1,800.
OEM 3.8 LITER V6 ENGINE FAILED, REQUIRING INSTALLTION OF RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINE AT COST OF $3608.47. *JB
WHILE DRIVING TO AIRPORT STOPPED AT LIGHT, STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
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