Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

1990 vs 1991 FORD TAURUS

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 431 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▲ 70.0% more reports in the equal exposure window

1990 376 complaints 1991 639 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 1990 share 1991 share Share change
POWER TRAIN 7.5% 35.1% ▲ 27.6 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 15.4% 8.3% ▼ 7.1 pts smaller share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9.8% 5.0% ▼ 4.8 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES 3.7% 7.8% ▲ 4.1 pts larger share
SEAT BELTS 5.1% 1.4% ▼ 3.6 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6.4% 3.1% ▼ 3.3 pts smaller share
ENGINE 15.2% 12.1% ▼ 3.1 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 4.0% 1.6% ▼ 2.4 pts smaller share
AIR BAGS 9.3% 7.2% ▼ 2.1 pts smaller share
STEERING 10.4% 8.3% ▼ 2.1 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM 2.1% 0.8% ▼ 1.4 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 2.9% 2.0% ▼ 0.9 pts smaller share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1.1% 0.3% ▼ 0.8 pts smaller share
TIRES 0.8% 1.3% ▲ 0.5 pts larger share
WHEELS 1.9% 1.6% ▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
PARKING BRAKE 0.3% 0.2% ▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 76.1% 81.4% ▲ 5.3 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

1990 8

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SEAT BELTS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION, and WHEELS

1991 5

Campaign components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STRUCTURE, and SUSPENSION

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
23 → 21
◆ Injuries
25 → 23