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1986 Ford TaurusProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 101 owner complaints about the 1986 Ford Taurus, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 8 safety recalls.

81
CarFlaw IndexOne of the best years77% below the Taurus median · #28 of 34 years by complaints
Safety recalls8Free fix at dealersOwner complaints10110 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem22Engine and engine cooling

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 6, 2008. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1986 Ford Taurus has problems

101 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling220
Power train190
Electrical system186
Structure170
Steering91
Seat belts81
Service brakes, hydraulic70
Suspension70
Visibility60
8 other systems200

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

8 recalls

1986 Ford Taurus recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Structure: frame and members

Recall 98V-323 · Dec 16, 1998 · 2,697,000 vehicles

Risk. IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Structure: frame and members

Recall 93V-106 · Jun 23, 1993 · 1,610,000 vehicles

Risk. 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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Wheels

Recall 92V-065 · May 11, 1992 · 654,000 vehicles

Risk. 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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Disc: rotor

Recall 91V-134 · Aug 6, 1991 · 325,000 vehicles

Risk. SEVERELY CORRODED ROTORS MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE NEARTHE INNER EDGES OF THE BRAKE DISCS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS,HIGHER THAN NORMAL PEDAL…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 4 more recalls
–no report yet

Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 87V-139 · Sep 4, 1987 · 3,600,000 vehicles

Risk. COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Windshield wiper/washer: motor

Recall 87V-017 · Feb 19, 1987 · 28,000 vehicles

Risk. GLASS COULD FRACTURE WHILE STATION WAGON IS BEING DRIVENOR PARKED, CREATING A RISK OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS OR SUDDEN DISTRACTION TO THEDRIVER.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Column locking: anti-theft device

Recall 85V-172 · Dec 26, 1985 · 4,500 vehicles

Risk. IF THE CAR IS LEFT UNATTENDED WITH THE KEY REMOVED AND THE IGNITION SWITCH NOT IN LOCK POSITION, THE CAR CAN BE EASILY STOLEN.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Best & worst years

1986 vs. every other Taurus year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Taurus median. How we score

'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
22 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1986 Ford Taurus, and the recalls they led to.

  1. STALLINGEA88032 · closed Jan 12, 1990
    No recall
  2. FRONT SEAT BRACKETEA89023 · closed May 22, 1990
    No recall
  3. SAFETY BELT FAILUREEA90006 · closed Feb 28, 1991
    No recall
  4. THROTTLE STICKINGEA90042 · closed Dec 31, 1991
    No recall
  5. BRAKE DISC HUB SEPARATIONSEA90045 · closed Sep 12, 1991
    Led to recall 91V-134
  6. STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATIONEA91042 · closed May 21, 1992
    Led to recall 92V-065
  7. SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAILEA92040 · closed Jun 30, 1993
    Led to recall 93V-106
  8. STEERING BINDINGPE87030 · closed Aug 24, 1987
    No recall
  9. HIGH BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTPE88014 · closed May 26, 1988
    No recall
  10. HEAD REST DROPSPE89006 · closed Jun 26, 1989
    No recall
  11. FRONT SEAT BRACKETPE89007 · closed May 25, 1989
    No recall
  12. EXHAUST GAS INTRUSIONPE89091 · closed Jul 13, 1989
    No recall
  13. SAFETY BELT FAILUREPE89126 · closed Oct 31, 1989
    No recall
  14. SPEED CONTROL FAILUREPE90019 · closed Mar 27, 1990
    No recall
  15. THROTTLE STICKINGPE90066 · closed Aug 31, 1990
    No recall
  16. BRAKE DISC HUB FAILUREPE90071 · closed Jun 28, 1990
    No recall
  17. DOOR HANDLES BREAKAGEPE91036 · closed May 22, 1991
    No recall
  18. STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATIONPE91108 · closed Oct 28, 1991
    No recall
  19. FIRES IN IGNITION SWITCHPE91128 · closed Jan 27, 1992
    No recall
  20. SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAILPE92056 · closed Nov 30, 1992
    No recall
  21. POLYCAST ROAD WHEEL CRACKSPE93100 · closed Jun 30, 1994
    No recall
  22. REAR LOWER SUBFRAME ASSEMBLYRQ97009 · closed Feb 16, 1999
    Led to recall 93V-106
In owners' words

What Taurus owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WHEN VEHICLE GETS WARM IT WILL SHUT OFF WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A LIGHT OR WHEN STOPPING. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD STALL SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CAUSE WAS NOT FOUND BY THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT THE DANGER OF THE VEHICLE STALLING WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC. *YH
Complaint 877109 · Dec 28, 2000
VEHICLE WILL STALL SUDDENLY. VEHICLE WILL NOT GO OVER 35 MPH AND AT THE SAME TIME THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL GO HIGH, AND BRAKES DO NOT HAVE FULL POWER.*AK
Complaint 873182 · Oct 17, 2000
THE ENGINE MOUNTS ARE LOOSE AT EACH 4 CORNERS. WOULD MAKE CLUNKING NOISES. WOULD STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WOULD SHAKE WHEN ACCELERATING. BEEN TO MECHANIC FOR PROBLEMS. *AK
Complaint 850634 · Nov 15, 1999

Own a 1986 Taurus?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.