1989 FORD TAURUS — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 552 complaints · 7 recalls
Most-reported system: SEAT BELTS (132 complaints · 23.9%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 16
  • Fires 83
  • Injuries 20
  • Deaths 1
Compare with 1988 →
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 SEAT BELTS appears in 132 of 552 owner complaints (23.9%) in this vehicle snapshot. SEAT BELTS: 132 complaints, 23.9% of reports SEAT BELTS 132 · 23.9% · 1 crash reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 99 complaints, 17.9% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 99 · 17.9% · 1 crash reports 41 fire reports ENGINE: 72 complaints, 13.0% of reports ENGINE 72 · 13.0% · 1 crash reports 21 fire reports STRUCTURE: 62 complaints, 11.2% of reports STRUCTURE 62 · 11.2% POWER TRAIN: 41 complaints, 7.4% of reports POWER TRAIN 41 · 7.4% · 2 crash reports STEERING: 32 complaints, 5.8% of reports STEERING 32 · 5.8% · 2 crash reports 9 fire reports SERVICE BRAKES: 21 complaints, 3.8% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 21 · 3.8% · 2 crash reports FUEL SYSTEM: 20 complaints, 3.6% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 20 · 3.6% · 8 fire reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 16 complaints, 2.9% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 16 · 2.9% · 4 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 473 complaints, 85.7% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 473 · 85.7% · 10 crash reports 77 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)
SEAT BELTS 132 23.9% 1 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 99 17.9% 1 crashes · 41 fires
ENGINE 72 13.0% 1 crashes · 21 fires
STRUCTURE 62 11.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 41 7.4% 2 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 32 5.8% 2 crashes · 9 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 21 3.8% 2 crashes · 0 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 20 3.6% 0 crashes · 8 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 16 2.9% 4 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 473 85.7% 10 crashes · 77 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: 20 owner reports 20 1995-Q2: 25 owner reports 25 1995-Q3: 22 owner reports 22 1995-Q4: 19 owner reports 19 1996-Q1: 25 owner reports 25 1996-Q2: 46 owner reports 46 1996-Q3: 32 owner reports 32 1996-Q4: 29 owner reports 29 1997-Q1: 17 owner reports 17 1997-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 1997-Q3: 22 owner reports 22 1997-Q4: 28 owner reports 28 1998-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 1998-Q2: 46 owner reports 46 1998-Q3: 28 owner reports 28 1998-Q4: 16 owner reports 16 1999-Q1: 28 owner reports 28 1999-Q2: 23 owner reports 23 1999-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 1999-Q4: 15 owner reports 15 2000-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2000-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2000-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2000-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2001-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2001-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2001-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2002-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2002-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2002-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2002-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2003-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Mar 1990 Jan 2017 Recall campaign 91V036000 ◆ Recall campaign 91V036000 Recall campaign 91V134000 ◆ Recall campaign 91V134000 Recall campaign 92V065000 ◆ Recall campaign 92V065000 Recall campaign 92V113000 ◆ Recall campaign 92V113000 Recall campaign 94E036000 ◆ Recall campaign 94E036000 Recall campaign 97I003000 ◆ Recall campaign 97I003000 Recall campaign 98V323000 ◆ Recall campaign 98V323000 Investigation PE90066 ● Investigation PE90066 Investigation PE90071 ● Investigation PE90071 Investigation EA90042 ● Investigation EA90042 Investigation EA90045 ● Investigation EA90045 Investigation EA91011 ● Investigation EA91011 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 DP95004 ● Investigation DP95004
  • Campaign 97I003000 was reported 987 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 98V323000 was reported 1,391 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 20
1995-Q2 Owner reports 25
1995-Q3 Owner reports 22
1995-Q4 Owner reports 19
1996-Q1 Owner reports 25
1996-Q2 Owner reports 46
1996-Q3 Owner reports 32
1996-Q4 Owner reports 29
1997-Q1 Owner reports 17
1997-Q2 Owner reports 4
1997-Q3 Owner reports 22
1997-Q4 Owner reports 28
1998-Q1 Owner reports 8
1998-Q2 Owner reports 46
1998-Q3 Owner reports 28
1998-Q4 Owner reports 16
1999-Q1 Owner reports 28
1999-Q2 Owner reports 23
1999-Q3 Owner reports 13
1999-Q4 Owner reports 15
2000-Q1 Owner reports 6
2000-Q2 Owner reports 11
2000-Q3 Owner reports 7
2000-Q4 Owner reports 12
2001-Q1 Owner reports 6
2001-Q2 Owner reports 4
2001-Q3 Owner reports 7
2002-Q1 Owner reports 4
2002-Q2 Owner reports 3
2002-Q3 Owner reports 3
2002-Q4 Owner reports 1
2003-Q1 Owner reports 2
2003-Q2 Owner reports 2
2003-Q3 Owner reports 4
2003-Q4 Owner reports 1
2004-Q1 Owner reports 1
2004-Q2 Owner reports 1
2004-Q3 Owner reports 2
2004-Q4 Owner reports 1
2005-Q1 Owner reports 1
2006-Q3 Owner reports 1
2007-Q3 Owner reports 1
2010-Q1 Owner reports 2
2010-Q2 Owner reports 1
2010-Q3 Owner reports 1
2017-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 91V036000
Recall campaign 1 91V134000
Recall campaign 1 92V065000
Recall campaign 1 92V113000
Recall campaign 1 94E036000
Recall campaign 1 97I003000
Recall campaign 1 98V323000
Defect investigation 1 PE90066
Defect investigation 1 PE90071
Defect investigation 1 EA90042
Defect investigation 1 EA90045
Defect investigation 1 EA91011
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 DP95004
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (7)

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 92V113000

    Report date
    Component:
    SEAT BELTS
    Consequence:
    AN INSUFFICIENTLY LATCHED OR UNLATCHED SAFETY BELTINCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO SEAT OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT. IF THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT UNLATCH, IT WILL NOT ALLOW THEOCCUPANT TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
    Remedy:
    FORD WILL REPLACE THE RIGID MOUNTED SAFETY BELT BUCKLES WITH END RELEASE SAFETY BELT BUCKLES DESIGNED TO PREVENT LATCH PROBLEMS.
    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 97I003000

    Report date
    Component:
    SEAT BELTS
    Consequence:
    IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THE OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, FOR 12 YEARS AND UNLIMITED MILEAGE.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. 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 552 complaints · page 1 of 23

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