Transmission slips into neutral while driving. Same transmission is used in Chevrolet and Saturn vehicles and has been recalled by gm.
2008 Ford Taurus powertrain problems
moderate 40 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
40
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 40 powertrain complaints filed for the 2008 Ford Taurus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 40 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 12 model years of Ford Taurus in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2008 Ford Taurus has widespread powertrain issues including unintended acceleration, transmission slipping out of gear, harsh shifts, fluid leaks, and sensor failures that dealers often cannot diagnose or repair. Multiple owners report dangerous loss of power and control on highways; Ford has not issued recalls despite documented technical service bulletins addressing these problems.
Owners of the 2008 Ford Taurus report consistent powertrain failures that dealerships struggle to diagnose. Unintended acceleration is frequent—vehicles lurch forward 1–4 feet at complete stops despite firm brake pressure, with one owner stopping a car-length away from intersections to avoid collisions. Accelerator pedals stick during highway driving, causing uncontrollable acceleration; brakes are largely ineffective until drivers shift to neutral.
Transmission problems are equally serious. Vehicles spontaneously drop out of drive into neutral or fail to engage at all, leaving drivers coasting helplessly. Output speed sensors (P720 code) fail internally, and replacements provide no lasting fix. Harsh, violent downshifts occur especially below 20°F, with transmission impacts severe enough to affect steering control. Dealers report they cannot access transmission fault codes or replicate the issues, even when owners return multiple times.
Transmission fluid leaks from cracked coolers, saturating serpentine belts and creating fire hazards. Dashboard warning lights illuminate erratically—wrench symbols, check engine lights, and fuel warnings come on together, sometimes freezing speedometers at zero. Shift levers become stiff or fail to select gears properly, with indicator plates popping off.
Ford TSBs 07-21-11 and 08-26-13 document these exact symptoms, yet Ford told one owner their vehicle's VIN was not on recall lists. One service advisor stated harsh cold starts are "normal."
Same Ford Taurus powertrain reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended Acceleration / Engine Surge While Stopped
Vehicle accelerates suddenly while stationary at traffic lights or stop signs, with brake applied. Jerks forward 1–4 feet despite firm brake pressure. Braking insufficient to restrain the vehicle.
When: At complete stops, traffic lights, stop signs; varies from early ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Car lurches or jolts forward without driver input; Occurs while brake firmly applied; A/C on or off makes no difference; Multiple occurrences expected during ownership
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission speed sensor replaced in one case; no permanent fix confirmed. One dealership could find no problem.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford TSBs 07-21-11 and 08-26-13 apply to similar symptoms; Ford told one owner their VIN was not on recall list despite TSB applicability.
Stuck or Uncontrollable Accelerator Pedal
Accelerator pedal sticks or becomes unresponsive during driving, causing uncontrollable acceleration. Brakes have little effect. Condition releases after prolonged pressure or shifts to neutral.
When: Highway speeds, passing maneuvers, various driving conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal appears stuck; Uncontrollable acceleration at high rate; Brakes largely ineffective; Condition resolves after shifting to neutral or pressing pedal repeatedly
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle pedal assembly replaced; no confirmation of permanent resolution. Dealerships reported unable to find problems on inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response documented; dealership indicated no problem found.
Transmission Slips Out of Gear or Loses Drive
Transmission spontaneously shifts out of drive into neutral while moving or idling, or fails to engage when shifted into drive. Vehicle coasts and loses forward propulsion without warning or input from driver.
When: While accelerating from stops, idling at lights, parking lots, various speeds; some instances at cold startup (below 20°F)
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission drops out of gear with no driver input; Vehicle fails to move when shifted into drive; Clunking or growling noise when re-engaging; Harsh downshift impacts on cold starts; Slipping sensation between gears
Codes mentioned: P720 (Output Speed Sensor Circuit Malfunction)
Repairs/costs cited: Output speed sensor replaced in several cases; transmission speed sensor replacement attempted; valve body replaced for cold-start issues. Dealers unable to replicate in many instances and reported no fault codes available for diagnosis.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford TSBs 07-21-11 and 08-26-13 documented; Ford told one owner their VIN not on list. One dealer stated harsh cold-start downshift is 'normal.' Transmission is GM/Ford joint development; Buick owners report similar unrepairable issues.
Harsh Transmission Shifts and Jerking
Transmission shifts violently or jerks during acceleration, downshifting, or gear engagement. Impacts can be severe enough to affect steering control and vehicle safety.
When: During acceleration from stops, highway driving, downshifts, cold weather (below 20°F)
Symptoms owners cite: Hard jerks during acceleration; Violent jerking at highway speeds; Harsh 2-1 downshift impacts; Transmission feels delayed before moving; Steering becomes difficult during events
Repairs/costs cited: Valve body replaced in one case; did not resolve issue. Multiple dealer attempts unable to diagnose or fix.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford service tech stated harsh cold-start issue is 'normal.' No other manufacturer responses documented.
Transmission Fluid Leaks
Transmission fluid leaks from cooler combo unit or A/C condenser crack, accumulating at radiator base. Fluid sprays onto serpentine belt causing slippage of alternator, power steering, and A/C pulleys. Fire hazard and loss of power steering assist risk.
When: At unknown mileage; discovered during maintenance or after fluid loss symptoms
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission fluid pooling at radiator base; Loss of up to 3 quarts undetected initially; Serpentine belt soaked and slipping; Loss of power steering assist; Overheating risk to accessories
Repairs/costs cited: Cooler combo unit and A/C condenser replacement; repairs cost $700–$750. Extensive front-end disassembly required for access.
Transmission Speed/Output Sensor Failure
Speed sensor or output speed sensor malfunction inside transmission causes loss of gear engagement, power loss, and dashboard warning illumination. Sensor is internal, non-user-serviceable component.
When: Various mileages; 31k, 50k, 56k, 93k, 180k miles reported
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power while driving; Wrench light and check engine light illuminate; Speedometer resets to zero or reads inaccurately; Transmission struggles to shift; All dashboard panel lights illuminate
Codes mentioned: P720 (Output Speed Sensor Circuit Malfunction)
Repairs/costs cited: Output speed sensor or transmission speed sensor replaced; costs not specified in most cases. One dealer stated no memory access to transmission fault codes exists.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford declined financial aid request, citing design as non-recall issue. Ford initially unaware per owner reports.
Engine Surge and RPM Control Loss
Engine RPMs rev up unexpectedly, especially during braking or at stops, as if accelerator is pressed when it is not. RPMs remain elevated and fail to return to idle without manual intervention (shifting to neutral).
When: At stops, stop signs, while braking; various times during ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Motor revs when brake applied; RPMs spike to 5,000 or higher without accelerator input; Engine will not return to idle automatically; Loud rev noises at stops; Powertrain warning light may illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs described in narratives; one case involved transmission speed sensor replacement without permanent resolution.
Shift Lever/Selector Mechanism Failure
Gear shift plate and shift lever become difficult to operate or shift out of park. PRNDL indicator plate pops off due to bunching of rubber mat underneath, obscuring gear position.
When: Develops over time with use
Symptoms owners cite: Difficult to shift out of park; Rubber mat under shift plate bunches up; Metal PRNDL gear indicator plate pops off; Driver unable to identify gear position; Problem affects multiple Ford/Mercury models
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs described; hazard reported but not addressed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford customer service acted unaware of issue despite owner reports of prior complaints.
Transmission Noise and Humming at Idle
Loud humming or clunking noise emanates from transmission while vehicle is idling in park, occurring consistently (95% of the time in one report).
When: At idle in park
Symptoms owners cite: Loud humming noise from transmission; Clunking sounds when shifting gears; Noise present nearly all the time
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to replicate or diagnose.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford notified but no assistance provided.
Synthesized from 40 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
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, so we are sent home without any "fix." latest event occurred on 12/17/2012. Dealer's response: "customer states vehicle…
My 2008 taurus sel felt like it was slipping between gears when pulling out of a parking lot. 100 yards later, on an uphill street, the car would barely move and roll backwards when I let off the brake. I was blocking traffic so I had to rev the engine at max RPM to barely make it out of traffic and onto the shoulder. When I started the engine, there was a loud clunk coming from the transmission.…
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…
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a turn, the vehicle became inoperable. The contact shifted into park and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated while reversing, she heard an abnormal sound. The check engine and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle had been diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2008 Ford Taurus?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2008 Ford Taurus?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 40 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 39 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 36,000 and 114,000 miles, with the median around 85,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 36,000; a quarter make it past 114,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Ford/Taurus.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.