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1987 Ford TaurusProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 255 owner complaints about the 1987 Ford Taurus, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 8 safety recalls.

57
CarFlaw IndexSolid year24% below the Taurus median · #20 of 34 years by complaints
Safety recalls8Free fix at dealersOwner complaints25573 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem69Electrical system

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 27, 2011. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1987 Ford Taurus has problems

255 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
Electrical system6930
Engine and engine cooling4012
Structure341
Power train291
Seat belts233
Steering213
Fuel system, gasoline205
Service brakes, hydraulic185
Vehicle speed control154
9 other systems545

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

8 recalls

1987 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 →

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

1987 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
26 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1987 Ford Taurus, and the recalls they led to.

  1. ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODSDP95004 · closed Aug 30, 1995
    No recall
  2. STALLINGEA88032 · closed Jan 12, 1990
    No recall
  3. FRONT SEAT BRACKETEA89023 · closed May 22, 1990
    No recall
  4. POWER SEAT MALFUNC/FIREEA90005 · closed Mar 12, 1991
    Led to recall 91V-036
  5. SAFETY BELT FAILUREEA90006 · closed Feb 28, 1991
    No recall
  6. THROTTLE STICKINGEA90042 · closed Dec 31, 1991
    No recall
  7. BRAKE DISC HUB SEPARATIONSEA90045 · closed Sep 12, 1991
    Led to recall 91V-134
  8. STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATIONEA91042 · closed May 21, 1992
    Led to recall 92V-065
  9. SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAILEA92040 · closed Jun 30, 1993
    Led to recall 93V-106
  10. BROKEN TIE RODSEA94008 · closed Feb 27, 1995
    No recall
  11. HIGH BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTPE88014 · closed May 26, 1988
    No recall
  12. HEAD REST DROPSPE89006 · closed Jun 26, 1989
    No recall
  13. FRONT SEAT BRACKETPE89007 · closed May 25, 1989
    No recall
  14. EXHAUST GAS INTRUSIONPE89091 · closed Jul 13, 1989
    No recall
  15. PWR SEAT MALFUNC - FIREPE89125 · closed Oct 31, 1989
    No recall
  16. SAFETY BELT FAILUREPE89126 · closed Oct 31, 1989
    No recall
  17. SPEED CONTROL FAILUREPE90019 · closed Mar 27, 1990
    No recall
  18. THROTTLE STICKINGPE90066 · closed Aug 31, 1990
    No recall
  19. BRAKE DISC HUB FAILUREPE90071 · closed Jun 28, 1990
    No recall
  20. DOOR HANDLES BREAKAGEPE91036 · closed May 22, 1991
    No recall
  21. STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATIONPE91108 · closed Oct 28, 1991
    No recall
  22. FIRES IN IGNITION SWITCHPE91128 · closed Jan 27, 1992
    No recall
  23. SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAILPE92056 · closed Nov 30, 1992
    No recall
  24. BROKEN TIE RODSPE93058 · closed Feb 16, 1994
    No recall
  25. POLYCAST ROAD WHEEL CRACKSPE93100 · closed Jun 30, 1994
    No recall
  26. REAR LOWER SUBFRAME ASSEMBLYRQ97009 · closed Feb 16, 1999
    Led to recall 93V-106
In owners' words

What Taurus owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE SHUTSDOWN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE FUEL LINE INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, VARIOUS ELECTRICAL COMPONETS INCLUDING THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS REPLACED. *MJ
Complaint 8010914 · Jun 3, 2002
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING UNDERNEATH DASH AROUND IGNITION. VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER. HAD TOWED. REPLACED LINKS IN IGNITION. PROBLEM RECURRED AGAIN. DEALER CONTACTED
Complaint 8009102 · May 3, 2002
IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS HAS MELTED. *AK CONSUMER STATES SIGNAL LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING, HEATER FAN WOULD ALSO FAIL, CONSUMER COULD SMELL BURNING OR MELTING PLASTIC WHEN THE FAN WAS TURNED ON TO ANY SETTING, CONSUMER TRACED PROBLEM TO WIRING HARNESS THAT PLUS INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE…
Complaint 985590 · Jun 13, 1996

Own a 1987 Taurus?

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