2008 Ford TAURUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
175 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
65,406 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 162 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 175 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 43 | 24.6% |
| Braking behavior | 39 | 22.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 38 | 21.7% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 7.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 2.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 35 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 32 |
| Steering | 31 |
| Engine | 20 |
| Air Bags | 14 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
Power Train: 35; Vehicle Speed Control: 32; Steering: 31; Engine: 20; Air Bags: 14; Electrical System: 13; Service Brakes: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 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 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 43 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 34 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 32 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 43; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 34; 100,000 to 149,999: 32; 150,000 and above: 11
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (43). 13 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 20 |
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2007: 1; 2008: 8; 2009: 3; 2010: 13; 2011: 20; 2012: 18; 2013: 16; 2014: 20; 2015: 21; 2016: 14; 2017: 7; 2018: 12; 2019: 8; 2020: 6; 2021: 2; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 43 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 38 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 10295253 · 2009-12-10 (December 10, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR CAMBER WAS MISALIGNED; WHICH CAUSED UNUSUAL TREAD WEAR ON THE REAR TIRES. THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REMEDIED BECAUSE IT WAS CAUSED BY THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10330001 · 2010-05-11 (May 11, 2010)
I PURCHASE A NEW 2008 FORD TAURUS JULY 2009.. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE THE STEERING WHEEL BEGIN TO VIBRATE. THE CAR HAD ONLY 2328 MILES ..FOUND EXCESSIVE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR RUNOUT. RESURFACED BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS . EIGHT MONTHS LATER BACK AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. RESURFACED THE SAME ROTORS AGAIN. THESE ROTOR MUST HAVE A DEFECT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,328 miles reported. Look up ODI 10330001 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10208801 · 2007-11-13 (November 13, 2007)
I BOUGHT A 2008 FORD TAURUS IN SEP 2008. OVER THE LAST THREE WEEKS, I HAVE HAD THREE INCIDENCES OF ENGINE SURGE WHILE STOPPED AND THE BRAKES APPLIED. THE FIRST TWO INCIDENCES OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR WAS COLD, SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING MY HOUSE. THE SURGE TODAY OCCURRED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS HOT. THE ENGINE SURGES TO ABOUT 2000 RPM, NO ACCELERATOR INVOLVED. I HAVE NOT SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER YET BUT WILL TAKE THE CAR IN FOR CHECK TOMORROW MORNING. THIS IS A HEADS UP FOR ANYONE ELSE HAVING THE NEW FORD ENGINE AND POSSIBLY EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. FO…
Owner-reported narrative. 490 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10229836 · 2008-06-03 (June 3, 2008)
THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED IN A RENTED 2008 FORD TAURUS. I LEFT A RESTAURANT, DROVE A VERY SHORT DISTANCE TO MY HOTEL, PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, BEGAN APPLYING THE BRAKE AND THE ENGINE SURGED UNCONTROLLABLY. NO MATTER HOW I BRAKED, I COULD NOT STOP IT. IT TORE OUT A SMALL TREE AND LODGED INTO THE WALL OF THE HOTEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229836 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240327 · 2008-08-30 (August 30, 2008)
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2008 LIMITED TAURUS HAD 24000 MILES AND CURRENTLY HAS 26,000. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING IN PARK A LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMES FROM THE TRANSMISSION ABOUT 95% OF THE TIME, BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. BUT THE CAR STILL DOES IT. FORD HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240327 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10292877 · 2009-11-19 (November 19, 2009)
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, MY 2008 FORD TAURUS' TRANSMISSION SLAMMED, THEN ALL THE PANEL LIGHTS LIT UP AND THE SPEEDOMETER RESET TO ZERO, STAYING THAT WAY UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. BECAUSE I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE OF TRAFFIC, ON INTERSTATE 75, IN ATLANTA, I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE TO THE FAR LEFT OR RIGHT. THOUGH IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 4:30 IN THE MORNING ON A WORKDAY, THE TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND FAST. I WAS AFRAID THAT THE CAR WOULD STOP RIGHT THERE BUT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK BECAUSE I DID NOT DO ANY SUDDEN BRAKING OR SPEED SHIFTING. I KEP…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,603 miles reported. Look up ODI 10292877 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10319687 · 2010-03-15 (March 15, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10480401 · 2012-10-10 (October 10, 2012)
ON 8/28/12 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY. ON 8/29/12 I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO SYOSSET FORD OF HUNTINGTON ("SYOSSET")FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF THE MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO ON. SYOSSET DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL SENDER ATTACHED ABOVE THE TAURUS' FUEL TANK. SYOSSET EFFECT A REPAIR BY REPLACING THE FUEL SENDER AND CHARGED ME $411.38(BEFORE SALES TAX). ON 9/4/12 I SMELLED GASOLINE FUMES IN THE DRIVER/PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO SYOSSET W…
Owner-reported narrative. 61,792 miles reported. Look up ODI 10480401 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10807190 · 2015-11-27 (November 27, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FUEL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AFTER IT WAS REFUELED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE OBSERVED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT ASSEMBLY FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,252. UPDATED 02/18/16*LJ; 4/27/18 *JB *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 59,252 miles reported. Look up ODI 10807190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10597914 · 2014-06-12 (June 12, 2014)
I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME FROM DROPPING OFF MY SON AT SCHOOL WHEN I FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO FAINT I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR IN TIME WHEN I PASSED OUT WHILE DRIVING , I HIT AN ELECTRICAL POST HEAD ON MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND I SUFFERED HEAD TRAUMA AND BRUISING ON MY FACE ARMS AND CHEST. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10597914 at NHTSA ↗