U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Ford TAURUS X problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

153 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

60,660 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 137 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 41 of 153 complaints (26.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	48	31.4%
Braking behavior	36	23.5%
Transmission and shifting	34	22.2%
Engine operation	9	5.9%
Electrical and battery issues	5	3.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering

Power Train

Vehicle Speed Control

Structure:Body

Electrical System

Unknown Or Other

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Service Brakes

Steering: 41; Power Train: 33; Vehicle Speed Control: 26; Structure:Body: 11; Electrical System: 10; Unknown Or Other: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Service Brakes: 7

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 28; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 27; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 22; 150,000 and above: 13

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (28). 16 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2025

2007: 1; 2008: 8; 2009: 7; 2010: 20; 2011: 17; 2012: 15; 2013: 16; 2014: 17; 2015: 14; 2016: 10; 2017: 6; 2018: 5; 2019: 6; 2020: 5; 2021: 4; 2022: 1; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 48 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 36 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 34 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10254037 · 2009-01-06 (January 6, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS RELEASED. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WANTS TO RETURN IT TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20.

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10254037 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10269940 · 2009-05-26 (May 26, 2009)

I HAVE A 2008 FORD TAURUS X WITH APPROX 8000 MILES AS OF THIS WRITING. APPROX. ONE MONTH AGO, I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY NARROW 2 LANE ROAD AND MY ENGINE FAILED. I NOTICED BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AND BRAKES WERE DIFFICULT TO APPLY. I PULLED TO THE SIDE AND STARTED THE CAR. IT STARTED RIGHT UP. THIS PAST WEEK, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE SAME ROAD. THIS TIME I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND STARTED IT, THEN PUT IT IN DRIVE. I AM AFRAID OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE NOW DUE TO THE POTENTIAL DANGER. I TAKE MY GRAND…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10269940 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10215650 · 2008-01-22 (January 22, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER IS LOCATED DIRECTLY TO THE LEFT OF THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN HE ATTEMPTS TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE PARKING BRAKE, IT IS EASY TO ACCIDENTALLY PRESS THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER. AS A RESULT, THE HOOD OPENS. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 7,428. UPDATED 03-18-08 *BF UPDATED 03/18/08 *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 7,428 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215650 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10215751 · 2008-01-23 (January 23, 2008)

THE NEW FORD TAURUS X (FRONT WHEEL DRIVE) VEHICLE ROLLS BACK WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO MOVE IT TO THE ACCELERATOR WHEN ON AN INCLINE. IT WILL KEEP ROLLING AS FAR AS YOU LET IT GO. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN TO ANYONE OWNING ONE. I AM NOT USE TO DRIVING WITH TWO FEET AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO. THIS VEHICLE IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WHEN SOME CHILD RUNS BEHIND A CAR AND THE CAR ROLLS BACK AND HITS THEM. WE WERE TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP IT IS BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION FORD PUT IN IT. I HAVE WRITTEN THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215751 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10290565 · 2009-11-02 (November 2, 2009)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWN-SHIFT PROPERLY. THIS CONDITION CAUSES HER TO INCREASE HER STOPPING DISTANCES. ON ONE OCCASION THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO A HIGHER GEAR, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR INSPECTION. SINCE THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, NOR LOCATE ANY ERROR CODES, THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. UPDATED 11/10/09. *LJ UPDATED 11/10/09

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290565 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10304134 · 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

EVERY TAURUSX AND OTHER MODELS USING SAME STEERING RACKS,LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT LOW ENGINE SPEED SOMETIMES LEFT OR RIGHT OR BOTH, NO WARNING. FORD HAS A SB ON IT IF UNDER WARRANTY THEY PAY OUT OWNER PAYS SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO GET OFF PAYING TO REPAIR A DEFECT. IT CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 100,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10304134 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10374153 · 2010-12-28 (December 28, 2010)

MY CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AND STALLED IN TRAFFIC. MY MECHANIC HAD IT FOR TWO WEEKS AND TESTED REPEATEDLY AND COULD NOT FIND A REASON AND COULD NOT MAKE THE EVENT REOCCUR. I DRIVE IN A RURAL AREA WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.

Owner-reported narrative. 45,215 miles reported. Look up ODI 10374153 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10447240 · 2012-02-09 (February 9, 2012)

THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER AND STALLED IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE OF THE INTERSTATE. SEVERAL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF THE INTERSTATE. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A STANDARD COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND INFORMED US THAT THE COMPUTER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A REASON FOR THIS COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. WE CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTO…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,506 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447240 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10563965 · 2014-02-12 (February 12, 2014)

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED AND TURNED OFF FOR AT LEAST 4 HOURS. A FIRE WAS REPORTED TO MY SON WHO BORROWED IT FOR WORK. HE USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER UNTIL THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THE FD DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND PUT OUT THE REMAINING FIRE. IN THEIR REPORT STATED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL AND STARTED UNDER THE FRONT DASH. THE MIDDLE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASH IS COMPLETE DESTROYED AND MELTED. LOCAL FORD DEALER, BYERLY FORD ESTIMATED $4600 OF DAMAGE. ALSO STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS TOO INTENSE AND CAUSE SO MUCH HEAT DAMAGE THAT …

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10563965 at NHTSA ↗