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1988 Ford TaurusProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 333 owner complaints about the 1988 Ford Taurus, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 5 safety recalls.

53
CarFlaw IndexSolid year10% below the Taurus median · #19 of 34 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Free fix at dealersOwner complaints33371 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage128kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 4, 2012. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1988 Ford Taurus has problems

333 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 system9430
Engine and engine cooling678
Structure510
Power train372
Seat belts334
Steering2610
Service brakes, hydraulic223
Vehicle speed control163
Fuel system, gasoline153
9 other systems5511

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

5 recalls

1988 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 1 more recall
–no report yet

Seats

Recall 91V-036 · Mar 4, 1991 · 278,000 vehicles

Risk. 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…

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

1988 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
23 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1988 Ford Taurus, and the recalls they led to.

  1. ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODSDP95004 · closed Aug 30, 1995
    No recall
  2. POWER SEAT MALFUNC/FIREEA90005 · closed Mar 12, 1991
    Led to recall 91V-036
  3. THROTTLE STICKINGEA90042 · closed Dec 31, 1991
    No recall
  4. BRAKE DISC HUB SEPARATIONSEA90045 · closed Sep 12, 1991
    Led to recall 91V-134
  5. STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATIONEA91042 · closed May 21, 1992
    Led to recall 92V-065
  6. SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAILEA92040 · closed Jun 30, 1993
    Led to recall 93V-106
  7. BROKEN TIE RODSEA94008 · closed Feb 27, 1995
    No recall
  8. HEAD REST DROPSPE89006 · closed Jun 26, 1989
    No recall
  9. PWR SEAT MALFUNC - FIREPE89125 · closed Oct 31, 1989
    No recall
  10. SPEED CONTROL FAILUREPE90019 · closed Mar 27, 1990
    No recall
  11. THROTTLE STICKINGPE90066 · closed Aug 31, 1990
    No recall
  12. BRAKE DISC HUB FAILUREPE90071 · closed Jun 28, 1990
    No recall
  13. DOOR HANDLES BREAKAGEPE91036 · closed May 22, 1991
    No recall
  14. STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATIONPE91108 · closed Oct 28, 1991
    No recall
  15. FIRES IN IGNITION SWITCHPE91128 · closed Jan 27, 1992
    No recall
  16. ENGINE MOUNT FAILUREPE92014 · closed Jun 25, 1992
    No recall
  17. POWER STEERING LEAKS/FIRESPE92044 · closed Aug 31, 1992
    No recall
  18. SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAILPE92056 · closed Nov 30, 1992
    No recall
  19. BROKEN TIE RODSPE93058 · closed Feb 16, 1994
    No recall
  20. UNDERBODY FUEL LINE FAILSPE93065 · closed Nov 30, 1993
    No recall
  21. STEERING LCK-UP/IMPEDIMENTPE93099 · closed Mar 28, 1994
    No recall
  22. POLYCAST ROAD WHEEL CRACKSPE93100 · closed Jun 30, 1994
    No recall
  23. 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.

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FUEL LINE PROBLEM. *AK THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE IDLE, MILEAGE PER HOUR, THE A/C, THICKNESS IN THE FUEL, AND THE IGNITION. (REFER TO: ODI# 10073942) *SC THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB
Complaint 10063192 · May 11, 2004
THE IGNITION SWITCH DID NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT WAS HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE TURNED ON, AND WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED, THE DASH LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PLAY WITH THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION TO GET THE DASH LIGHTS TO COME ON. *PH *JB *CB
Complaint 10029521 · Jul 2, 2003
WHEN I TRY TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS HARD TO TURN ON THEN WHEN IT IS TURNED ON THE DASH DOESN'T LIGHT UP, AND THE WHOLE CAR IS DIGITAL. I HAVE TO PLAY WITH THE SWITCH AND TRY AND TURN THE KEY A LITTLE BACKWARDS TO GET THE DASH TO LIGHT UP. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST A…
Complaint 10018563 · May 12, 2003 · 79,000 miles

Own a 1988 Taurus?

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