Owners filed 175 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. It has been recalled 1 time.
When it fails
06569165,691 milesMedian miles at failure
162 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 30,000–40,000 miles.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Steering
31
0
0
0
Power Train
23
0
0
0
Vehicle Speed Control
18
3
0
0
Air Bags
14
11
0
11
Engine
13
1
1
0
Electrical System
8
1
2
0
Service Brakes
7
2
0
0
Unknown or Other
5
0
1
0
Engine and Engine Cooling
5
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4
0
0
0
1 safety recall
Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Frontal16V247000
Filed Apr 26, 2016695 vehiclesFord Motor Company
Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk. An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 30, 2026142,000 milesNY
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt had failed to unbuckle and was previously repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously rear-ended on several occasions, and the air bags did not deploy. The contact had sustained severe back injuries that had become permanent. The contact had received medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was able to be driven from the scene on each occasion. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH, the vehicle experienced sudden and unintended acceleration. The contact depressed the brake pedal, and the vehicle responded as intended. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.
Air BagsCrash
Filed Dec 10, 2023MO
My son was in an accident to where the whole front end was smashed and neither airbag deployed
Power Train
Filed Nov 16, 202385,367 milesTX
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a turn, the vehicle became inoperable. The contact shifted into park and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated while reversing, she heard an abnormal sound. The check engine and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle had been diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the failure was due to the power train not being connected to the solenoids. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,367.
Suspension › Subframe/Mounting Bracket
Filed Oct 18, 202236,000 milesFL
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for an inspection, the dealer advised him to stop driving the vehicle due to corrosion of the subframe, caliper, steering arm, brakes, and a hole in the catalytic converter. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 2, 2022170,000 milesNC
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled however, she was able to pull over and stop the vehicle. The contact stated that she noticed that the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the engine temperature gauge was indicating that the engine was overheating. The contact observed that white smoke was coming out from under the hood. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to her residence. An independent mechanic went to the residence to diagnose the vehicle. The independent mechanic determined that the head gasket had blown and the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
Unknown or OtherFire
Filed Apr 16, 2022IN
Only regular maintenence < drove to desination and parked car and car set on fire , at first it was smoking so we called the fire department and by the time they got there the flames were 10 ft high and the whole front was burnt and melted my car ia junk now , before this all gauges worked jst fine and nothing un-ordinary stuff going on
Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody Shields
Filed Jul 9, 2021IL
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the subframe was completely rusted through. The vehicle was towed and diagnosed but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.
Suspension
Filed Mar 25, 2021110,000 milesMI
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWAYED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Power Train
Filed Oct 16, 2020157,087 milesTX
THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YRS BUT WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT MY CAR SUDDENLY WENT FORWARD. IT DIDN'T GO.TO FAR. MAYBE A FT OR 2 BUT WAS ENOUGH TO SCARE ME. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. IT WILL ALSO GET STUCK IN GEARS AND LOSE POWER ON THE ROAD. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AS OF NOW. ONE LIGHT DID COME ON TODAY WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT AND WITHOUT NOTICE MY CAR WOULD NOT GO. IT WAS THE POWER THROTTLE/TRANSMISSION LIGHT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND IT DROVE FINE ALL THE WAY HOME. IT DID JERK ONCE. THE GEAR SHIFTING AND LOSS OF POWER HAPPENS WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.
Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 16, 2020ME
THE CAR LOOSES POWER. THE RPM GO UP BUT SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T MOVE. DASH SHOWS DASHES. WHEN YOU STOP AND CUT THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON IT SLAMS INTO GEAR. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES THE CAR DRIVES FINE
Engine
Filed Jun 30, 202080,000 milesLA
I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WITH A TRUCK CLOSE BEHIND, WHEN IT JUST DIED. I HAD NO POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH THINKING I WAS GOING TO BE HIT BY THE TRUCK BEHIND ME. I WAS IN A CURVE, AND THANKFULLY THERE WAS A STORE. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE CAR IN, AND SOMEHOW I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP. I HAD NO WARNING, NO LIGHT CAME ON AND MY SON CAME TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. HE SAID IT WAS OVERHEATING. WE HAD IT TOWED HOME AND WHEN HE CHECKED IT THE OIL WAS CREAMY , WHITISH. HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. WE RESEARCHED IT, AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CYCLONE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THE WATER PUMP FAILING, WHICH IS INSIDE THE ENGINE ALONG WITH THE TIMING CHAIN!!! I WAS SHOCKED! WATER PUMPS GO BAD, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT. WHY WOULD ANY COMPANY PUT A WATER PUMP INSIDE THE MOTOR?!?! I NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT IF I HAD KNOWN BECAUSE IT IS JUST WRONG. THEN I FOUND OUT FORD HAD BEEN USING THAT ENGINE FOR OVER 10 YEARS, EVEN WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND I WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES AND DEATHS HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!!!! WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE PUT IN, I'M 63 AND DISABLED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. WITH ALL THE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURES DUE TO THIS, I AM SHOCKED THAT FORD HAS NOT HELPED US OUT. THEY MUST HAVE A LOT OF LAWSUITS. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN, I AM SICK ABOUT IT.
Unknown or Other
Filed May 30, 2020149,220 milesGA
I DON'T KNOW THE KEYLESS ENTRY CODE. *TR
Electrical System
Filed Apr 14, 2020153,000 milesSC
THE CAR LOOSES POWER. THE RPM GO UP BUT SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T MOVE. DASH SHOWS DASHES. WHEN YOU STOP AND CUT THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON IT SLAMS INTO GEAR. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES THE CAR DRIVES FINE. *TR
Steering
Filed Jan 31, 202065,691 milesMN
2008 TAURUS, BOUGHT NEW 11/7/7, 33 MILES. 11/12/13 REPAIR ' 31,682 MILES ' RACK AND PINION STEERING STARTED TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. REPLACED FOR $889.82, NOT UNDER WARRANTY; FORD COVERED NONE OF THE COST. 1/2/20 REPAIR ' 65,691 MILES ' RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED AGAIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER A 30-MILE DRIVE. REPLACED FOR $954.87 PLUS TAX. FORD COVERED NONE OF THE COST.
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Sep 18, 2019161,356 milesCT
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.
Air Bags
Filed Sep 18, 2019118,500 milesMI
WHEN DRIVING ON MAIN ROAD MITCHELL ST. IN DOWNTOWN CADILLAC, THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHED AND STARTED ON SINCE. A FEW NIGHTS AFTER, WHEN STARTING THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT COME ON UNTIL MINUTES AFTER THE CAR STARTED. NOW, IT WILL STAY LIGHT FROM WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING G UNTIL SHUT OFF.
Air BagsCrash3 injured
Filed Sep 6, 201987,000 milesKY
MY 79 YEAR OLD FATHER-IN-LAW WAS IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT YESTERDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2019. HE WAS AT A STOP SIGN IN THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH OHIO. UPON TAKING OFF FROM A STOP HE WAS HIT NOT BY ONE CAR BUT TWO CARS. MY FATHER IN LAW HAS HAD THIS CAR SINCE 2009 AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF IT. THEY ONLY HAVE THIS CAR. ANYWAY WHEN HE HIT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, NONE. HE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL SO HARD THAT WE THOUGHT HE WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK.
Air BagsCrash3 injured
Filed Apr 1, 2019150,000 milesTX
THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND STRUCK A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT AT 20 MPH AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED
Air Bags
Filed Mar 27, 2019IL
I CHECK YEARLY FOR RECALLS ON ALL MY VEHICLES. IN 2016 I FOUND A RECALL ON THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG. I NOTIFIED GUSTAFSON FORD IN KEWANEE IL 61443 WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE . I PULLED UP THE RECALL ON MY PHONE AND SHOWED THEM THE RECALL. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM FORD REGARDING THIS SO UNTIL THEY DO THEY CAN NOT FIX IT. EVEN THOUGH CAN SEE FORD CLEARLY STATES A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. AT THAT TIME MY CAR WAS 8/9YRS OLD. I'VE ASKED THEM A FEW TIMES SINCE THEN AND GOT THE SAME ANSWER FROM THEM NOW 2019 AND STILL THE RECALL I BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION IIN 2016 IS STILL NOT FIXED.I ALSO DID NOT RECEIVE A LETTER FROM FORD INFORMING ME OF THE RECALL. WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET THIS FIXED ? I TRAVEL FOR MY JOB THROUGH OUT ILLINOIS AND IOWA A MINIMUM OF 800 MLS PER MONTH . WAS THE RECALL SENT TO GUSTAFSON FORD KEWANEE IL 61443? IF SO WHY DID THEY TELL ME THEY DON'T HAVE IT AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNTIL FORD SENDS THEM THIS NOTICE? PLEASE HELP!! THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NO ONE WANTS TO FIX. IF I'M HIT DRIVING 75MPH ON THE INTERSTATE I COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED ! THEN WHO WOULD TAKE CARE OF MY 3 CHILDREN AND 77YR OLD GRANDMOTHER? IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT THIS WAS BROUGHT TO GUSTAFSON FORD ATTENTION IN 2016 AND NOW 2019 STILL THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG IS STILL IN MY CAR. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO TO FIX THIS RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Service Brakes
Filed Mar 11, 2019123,000 milesFL
TRANSMISSION CLUNKS INTO EACH GEAR WHEN DRIVING SLOW. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED TO MOVE SHIFTER FROM PARK, THERE IS AN ALARM THAT IS FAIRLY LOUD COMING FROM THE DASH. THE BRAKES SEEM TO WORK WELL AND I HAVE MAINTAINED MY OWN VEHICLES, SO THERE IS NO REASON THIS SHOULD BE WRONG WITH THE CAR. IT HAS VERY LOW MILES FOR THE YEAR AND HAS MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR MONTHS, GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Apr 26, 2016. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.