1987 Ford TAURUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
130 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
66,673 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 130 complaints (13.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 15 | 11.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 10.0% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 8.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 7.7% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 6.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 3.8% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 18 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 10 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 10 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 9 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 6 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 5 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 18; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 10; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 10; Electrical System:Ignition: 9; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 6; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 125 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 56 |
| 1996 | 42 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 14 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
1995: 56; 1996: 42; 2000: 7; 2001: 14; 2002: 4; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 11 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 486046 · 1995-05-15 (May 15, 1995)
POWER STEERING RACK FAILED, CAUSING PUMP TO FAIL AND FLUID TO LEAK CONTINUOUSLY. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 486092 · 1995-05-18 (May 18, 1995)
REPLACED LEAKING STEERING RACK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070753 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
FAILURE OF IGNITION SWITCH AND PLUG ASSEMBLY DUE TO OVERHEATING. SWITCH MELTED AND SO DID PLUG ASSEMBLY. THIS SAME REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY DONE AT APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT APPOXIMATELY 87,000 MILES, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THIS REPAIR HAD BEEN DONE PREVIOUS TO THAT TIME AS WELL. THIS IS A CHRONIC FAILURE. ANY TSB'S OR RECALLS ON THIS MATTER? RELATED PROBLEM: EXCESSIVE CURRENT DRAW ON ALTERNATOR OUTPUT WIRE TO STARTER SOLENOID (BATTERY) CAUSING WIRE TO RUN HOT (WITH ALTERNATOR TURNING). THIS HAS RESULTED I…
Owner-reported narrative. 156,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070753 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504006 · 1996-05-05 (May 5, 1996)
WIRING HARNESS MELTED, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORTS. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504006 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139691 · 2005-10-14 (October 14, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE 1987 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON EXPERIENCED A VERY VIOLENT ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE RACED. THE CONTACT THEN PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR SKIDDED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, AND BEGAN GOING FASTER. THE HAND BRAKE WAS PULLED. THE BRAKE WAS PULLED SO HARD THAT SOMETHING BROKE AND STARTED LEAKING. THE CONTACT PULLED IT OUT OF DRIVE AND PUT IT INTO PARK, AND THE CAR WAS STILL GOING. THE CONTACT MADE IT TO A GAS STATION AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STALL THE CAR. THE CAR WAS LEFT…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139691 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 557245 · 2000-11-13 (November 13, 2000)
IGNITION MODULE FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 557245 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013858 · 2003-04-02 (April 2, 2003)
I WAS DRIVING AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIP AND THEN WENT OUT AND NOW CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 50,198 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480039 · 1995-01-23 (January 23, 1995)
PREMATURE WEAR OF TORQUE CONVERTER DUE TO DESIGN, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO STICK IN GEAR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481532 · 1995-03-07 (March 7, 1995)
BRAKE ROTORS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE RIGHT/LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 489164 · 1995-01-28 (January 28, 1995)
GAS TANK RUPTURED, CAUSING FIRE/INJURIES/DEATH. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 489889 · 1995-05-03 (May 3, 1995)
ENGINE STUMBLES/HESITATES WHEN FUEL TANK IS 1/4 FULL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489889 at NHTSA ↗