ford Taurus problems
0 safety recalls. 175 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. SAME TRANSMISSION IS USED IN CHEVROLET AND SATURN VEHICLES AND HAS BEEN RECALLED BY GM.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, I HAVE A VERY HARD TIME. I AM OVER 6', AND WEIGH 230 LBS. MY WIFE IS SMALLER, AND SHE HAS ONE HECK OF A TIME TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER READING PROBLEMS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD, I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. IT IS NOT SAFE.…
LEFT TURN FROM A STOP, OUT OF SUBDIVISION ENTRANCE. WHILE TURNING, STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO GET VEHICLE OF THE ROAD. BEFORE TOTALLY OFF THE ROAD, STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. STARTED BACK INTO TRAFFIC AND IMMEDIATELY SEIZED AGAIN BRIEFLY,…
WE PURCHASED A 2008 FORD TAURUS LIMITED AWD NEW FOUR YEARS AGO. WE HAVE HAD FOUR (4) SEPERATE TIMES WHEN THE TRANSAXLE WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. CAR WILL BE IN DRIVE, BUT VEHICLE WILL BARELY MOVE. VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO IS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM,…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2008 Ford Taurus reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 175 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Ford Taurus is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
What's the most common problem on the 2008 Ford Taurus?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 40 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Ford Taurus has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2008 Ford Taurus?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 175 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.