1988 FORD TAURUS — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 332 complaints · 6 recalls
Most-reported system: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (88 complaints · 26.5%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 13
  • Fires 51
  • Injuries 8
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 1987 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution ELECTRICAL SYSTEM appears in 88 of 332 owner complaints (26.5%) in this vehicle snapshot. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 88 complaints, 26.5% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 88 · 26.5% · 28 fire reports ENGINE: 47 complaints, 14.2% of reports ENGINE 47 · 14.2% · 1 crash reports 6 fire reports STRUCTURE: 46 complaints, 13.9% of reports STRUCTURE 46 · 13.9% SEAT BELTS: 31 complaints, 9.3% of reports SEAT BELTS 31 · 9.3% · 3 crash reports POWER TRAIN: 27 complaints, 8.1% of reports POWER TRAIN 27 · 8.1% STEERING: 20 complaints, 6.0% of reports STEERING 20 · 6.0% · 4 crash reports 5 fire reports SERVICE BRAKES: 12 complaints, 3.6% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 12 · 3.6% · 2 crash reports FUEL SYSTEM: 10 complaints, 3.0% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 10 · 3.0% · 4 fire reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 10 complaints, 3.0% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10 · 3.0% · 1 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 281 complaints, 84.6% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 281 · 84.6% · 6 crash reports 49 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 88 26.5% 0 crashes · 28 fires
ENGINE 47 14.2% 1 crashes · 6 fires
STRUCTURE 46 13.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SEAT BELTS 31 9.3% 3 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 27 8.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 20 6.0% 4 crashes · 5 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 12 3.6% 2 crashes · 0 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 10 3.0% 0 crashes · 4 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10 3.0% 1 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 281 84.6% 6 crashes · 49 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 1995; the first recall shown was reported in Mar 1991. 1995-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 1995-Q2: 22 owner reports 22 1995-Q3: 19 owner reports 19 1995-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 1996-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 1996-Q2: 44 owner reports 44 1996-Q3: 23 owner reports 23 1996-Q4: 20 owner reports 20 1997-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 1997-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 1997-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 1997-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 1998-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 1998-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 1998-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 1998-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 1999-Q1: 32 owner reports 32 1999-Q2: 20 owner reports 20 1999-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 1999-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2000-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2000-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2000-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2000-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2001-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2001-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2001-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2002-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2002-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2004-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 1988 Apr 2012 Recall campaign 91V036000 ◆ Recall campaign 91V036000 Recall campaign 91V134000 ◆ Recall campaign 91V134000 Recall campaign 92V065000 ◆ Recall campaign 92V065000 Recall campaign 93V106000 ◆ Recall campaign 93V106000 Recall campaign 94E036000 ◆ Recall campaign 94E036000 Recall campaign 98V323000 ◆ Recall campaign 98V323000 Investigation PE89006 ● Investigation PE89006 Investigation PE89125 ● Investigation PE89125 Investigation EA90005 ● Investigation EA90005 Investigation PE90019 ● Investigation PE90019 Investigation PE90066 ● Investigation PE90066 Investigation PE90071 ● Investigation PE90071 Investigation EA90042 ● Investigation EA90042 Investigation EA90045 ● Investigation EA90045 Investigation PE91036 ● Investigation PE91036 Investigation PE91108 ● Investigation PE91108 Investigation PE91128 ● Investigation PE91128 Investigation EA91042 ● Investigation EA91042 Investigation PE92014 ● Investigation PE92014 Investigation PE92044 ● Investigation PE92044 Investigation PE92056 ● Investigation PE92056 Investigation EA92040 ● Investigation EA92040 Investigation PE93058 ● Investigation PE93058 Investigation PE93065 ● Investigation PE93065 Investigation PE93099 ● Investigation PE93099 Investigation PE93100 ● Investigation PE93100 Investigation EA94008 ● Investigation EA94008 Investigation DP95004 ● Investigation DP95004 Investigation RQ97009 ● Investigation RQ97009
  • Campaign 98V323000 was reported 1,293 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1995-Q1 Owner reports 15
1995-Q2 Owner reports 22
1995-Q3 Owner reports 19
1995-Q4 Owner reports 10
1996-Q1 Owner reports 12
1996-Q2 Owner reports 44
1996-Q3 Owner reports 23
1996-Q4 Owner reports 20
1997-Q1 Owner reports 4
1997-Q2 Owner reports 7
1997-Q3 Owner reports 5
1997-Q4 Owner reports 7
1998-Q1 Owner reports 6
1998-Q2 Owner reports 8
1998-Q3 Owner reports 5
1998-Q4 Owner reports 5
1999-Q1 Owner reports 32
1999-Q2 Owner reports 20
1999-Q3 Owner reports 10
1999-Q4 Owner reports 5
2000-Q1 Owner reports 5
2000-Q2 Owner reports 3
2000-Q3 Owner reports 4
2000-Q4 Owner reports 13
2001-Q1 Owner reports 4
2001-Q2 Owner reports 5
2001-Q3 Owner reports 1
2002-Q1 Owner reports 3
2002-Q2 Owner reports 1
2002-Q3 Owner reports 2
2002-Q4 Owner reports 1
2003-Q2 Owner reports 1
2003-Q3 Owner reports 3
2004-Q2 Owner reports 2
2004-Q3 Owner reports 1
2006-Q2 Owner reports 2
2012-Q1 Owner reports 1
2012-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 91V036000
Recall campaign 1 91V134000
Recall campaign 1 92V065000
Recall campaign 1 93V106000
Recall campaign 1 94E036000
Recall campaign 1 98V323000
Defect investigation 1 PE89006
Defect investigation 1 PE89125
Defect investigation 1 EA90005
Defect investigation 1 PE90019
Defect investigation 1 PE90066
Defect investigation 1 PE90071
Defect investigation 1 EA90042
Defect investigation 1 EA90045
Defect investigation 1 PE91036
Defect investigation 1 PE91108
Defect investigation 1 PE91128
Defect investigation 1 EA91042
Defect investigation 1 PE92014
Defect investigation 1 PE92044
Defect investigation 1 PE92056
Defect investigation 1 EA92040
Defect investigation 1 PE93058
Defect investigation 1 PE93065
Defect investigation 1 PE93099
Defect investigation 1 PE93100
Defect investigation 1 EA94008
Defect investigation 1 DP95004
Defect investigation 1 RQ97009
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (6)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 91V036000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    POWER SEAT SWITCH WIRING INSULATION MAY BECOME ABRADED,OR PUNCTURED, AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD OCCUR THAT COULD RESULT IN A FIREIN THE SEAT CUSHION MATERIAL.
    Remedy:
    REVISE ROUTING OF POWER SEAT WIRING TO PREVENT DAMAGE FROM SEAT CUSHION SPRING CONTACT.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 91V134000

    Report date
    Component:
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
    Consequence:
    SEVERELY CORRODED ROTORS MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE NEARTHE INNER EDGES OF THE BRAKE DISCS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS,HIGHER THAN NORMAL PEDAL EFFORTS, LOUD GRINDING NOISES, AND MODERATE PULLS WHENTHE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS MAY INCREASE MINIMUMSTOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
    Remedy:
    REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 92V065000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    THERE IS A DANGER OF AIR DEPRIVATION, HYPERTHERMIA,AND/OR PANIC RESPONSE TO A CHILD WHO HAS LOCKED HIMSELF OR HERSELF INTO THECOMPARTMENT, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ASPHYXIATION.
    Remedy:
    REPLACE THE SELF-LATCHING ASSEMBLY CURRENTLY USED IN THE REAR STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITH A LATCH ASSEMBLY THAT CAN ONLY BE CLOSED WITH A KEY.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 93V106000

    Report date
    Component:
    STRUCTURE
    Consequence:
    IF ONE OF THE REAR CORNERS DROPS, ONLY MINOR INDICATIONS OF A MALFUNCTION SUCH AS A CLUNKING NOISE OR SLIGHT CHANGE IN STEERING WHEEL ALIGNMENT ARE NOTICEABLE. HOWEVER, IF BOTH REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME DROP, STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT VEHICLE CONTROL AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
    Remedy:
    INSTALL A CORROSION-RESISTANT REINFORCING PLATE AND A NEW BOLT ON BOTH REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS. THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED BY RECALL 98V-323.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 94E036000

    Report date
    Component:
    SUSPENSION
    Consequence:
    OVER TIME, A PORTION OF THE BRACKET CAN TEAR AWAY FROM THE STRUT, FALLING INTO AND PUNCTURING THE TIRE OR CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
    Remedy:
    MONROE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STRUT FREE OF CHARGE.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 98V323000

    Report date
    Component:
    STRUCTURE
    Consequence:
    IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 332 complaints · page 1 of 14

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources