1988 Ford TAURUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
192 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
110,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 36 of 192 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 27 | 14.1% |
| Steering behavior | 24 | 12.5% |
| Braking behavior | 16 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 4.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.6% |
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 | 36 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 19 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 16 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 16 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 15 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 36; Electrical System:Ignition: 19; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 16; Structure:Frame And Members: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 15; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 8
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 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 3
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 185 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 | 65 |
| 1996 | 74 |
| 2000 | 25 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
1995: 65; 1996: 74; 2000: 25; 2001: 10; 2002: 7; 2003: 4; 2004: 3; 2006: 2; 2012: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 16 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 10000629 · 2002-12-29 (December 29, 2002)
SUBJECT VEHICLE: 1988 FORD TAURUS, VIN NO. [XXX] THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEAT SWITCH WIRING INSULATION BECOME ABRADED,OR PUNCTURED, AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OCCURRED THAT RESULT IN A FIRE IN THE SEAT CUSHION MATERIAL. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED IN THE SERVICE DEPT. OF TEXAN FORD, INC., 20777 KATY FREEWAY, KATY, TX 77450, PHONE [phone removed]. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE SERVICE TECH WORKING ON THE CAR. THE FIRE APPEARED TO BE CAUSED BY THE POWER SEAT SWITCH WIRING ROUTED OVER RATHER THAN UNDER THE FRONT…
Owner-reported narrative. 199,134 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504509 · 1996-05-14 (May 14, 1996)
IGNITION SWITCH/WIRING MELTED PRIOR TO RECALL. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482676 · 1995-04-03 (April 3, 1995)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484952 · 1995-08-11 (August 11, 1995)
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED THREE TIMES. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063192 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FUEL LINE PROBLEM. *AK THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE IDLE, MILEAGE PER HOUR, THE A/C, THICKNESS IN THE FUEL, AND THE IGNITION. (REFER TO: ODI# 10073942) *SC THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073942 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S FUEL LINE. *MR CONSUMER WAITING FOR SETTLEMENT ON REPAIRS MADE ON FUEL PUMP, ENGINE MOUNTS, POWER BRAKE BOOSTER, MASTER CYLINDER, AIR CONDITIONER, MANIFOLD, TIRES, AND TRANSMISSION. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10073942 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 485483 · 1995-06-20 (June 20, 1995)
TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485483 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007000 · 2000-10-13 (October 13, 2000)
INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE ENGINE WOULD ACT AS IF IT WERE RUNNING OUT OF GAS, ENGINE WOULD QUIT. AND THEN CAME BACK WITHOUT WARNING. ENGINE DID NOT NEED TO BE RESTARTED RIGHT AWAY BUT WOULD CUT OUT AS DESCRIBED AND THIS CONDITION WOULD CLEAR ON IT'S OWN. EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE WOULD SKIP AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING AND DID STALL. WOULDN'T START AND RUN WITHOUT INCIDENT. DEALER DIAGNOSIS WAS TO REPLACE THE DISTRIBUTOR AND ELECTRONIC IGNITION MODULE EVEN THOUGH THEY RECOMMENDED NOT REPLACING STATING THAT THEY WERE NOT SURE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 176,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 485784 · 1995-07-04 (July 4, 1995)
ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD/GASKET FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL, ALSO WHITE SMOKE AND ANTI-FREEZE CAME OUT OF EXHAUST PIPE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485784 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8007460 · 2002-04-11 (April 11, 2002)
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. ENGINE PULLED AWAY FROM MAIN FRAME DUE TO DEFECTIVE BOLTS. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING BOOT HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SUB FRAME FAILURE, OTHER PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE INCLUDE: TFI MODULE, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BLOWER MOTOR WAS OVERHEATING, FUEL PUMP FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8007460 at NHTSA ↗