FaultScore

1987 Ford Taurus brake problems

20 of the 355 complaints about the 1987 Ford Taurus are about the braking system — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 53,000 miles.

F

20

Complaints

5

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Rotor 6 30.0%
Foundation Components 5 25.0%
Master Cylinder 2 10.0%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 1 5.0%
Disc 1 5.0%
Caliper 1 5.0%
Wheel Cylinders 1 5.0%
Drum 1 5.0%
Parking Brake 1 5.0%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1 5.0%

Brakes across every Ford Taurus year

1987 20 1.4%
1988 27 1.9%
1989 39 2.7%
1990 31 2.1%
1991 86 5.9%
1992 102 7.0%
1993 138 9.5%
1994 69 4.7%
1995 99 6.8%
1996 85 5.8%
1997 78 5.4%
1998 93 6.4%
1999 117 8.0%
2000 120 8.2%
2001 99 6.8%
2002 48 3.3%
2003 44 3.0%
2004 26 1.8%
2005 36 2.5%
2006 27 1.9%
2008 15 1.0%
2010 34 2.3%
2011 13 0.9%
2014 10 0.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 53,000 miles Studio City, CA

PARKING BRAKE

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE 1987 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON EXPERIENCED A VERY VIOLENT ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE RACED. THE CONTACT THEN PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR SKIDDED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, AND BEGAN GOING FASTER. THE HAND BRAKE WAS PULLED. THE BRAKE WAS PULLED SO HARD THAT SOMETHING BROKE AND STARTED LEAKING. THE CONTACT PULLED IT OUT OF DRIVE AND PUT IT INTO PARK, AND THE CAR WAS STILL GOING. THE CONTACT MADE IT TO A GAS STATION AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STALL THE CAR. THE CAR WAS LEFT AT THE GAS STATION AND LEFT FOR SOMEONE TO BRING THE CAR HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT HE WOULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT MAY TAKE OFF WITH HIM. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULD DO A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE. THE CONTACT CAN NOT AFFORD TO HAVE ALL THE TESTING DONE . FORD HAS BEEN CALLED, BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY FREE REMEDY TO OFFER. THE DRIVER WAS EXTREMELY SCARED AND HAS SUFFERED HEART PROBLEMS SINCE THE INCIDENT.*AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 -

NHTSA complaint #10139691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Springfield, MA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE BRAKES WOULD FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE AFTER BEING APPLIED. WHEN WAITING AT STOP LIGHT & WOULD START TO GO, VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT FOR NO REASON. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY WORK WHEN IN USE. WOULD CAUSE POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER AT TIME OF NEED.

NHTSA complaint #847312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tampa, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES FAILED, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #544568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mifflinville, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM

BRAKES WON'T ADJUST AND ALMOST WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON.WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY WON'T STOP VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #834237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milwaukee, WI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #520656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milwaukee, WI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #517703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milwaukee, WI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #518988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Northport, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

WHILE DRIVING ON NORMAL ROAD CONDTIONS THE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND A NOISE WAS HEARD LIKE AIR BEING RELEASED. VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT. PUT CAR INTO LOW GEAR TO STOP. MECHANIC STATED THAT MASTER CYLINDER FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #809083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Simsbury, CT

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS

WHEEL CYLINDER LOCKS UP, CAUSING BRAKES FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #512379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Corona, NY Crash 2 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

PRIOR TO RECALL, RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR CRACKED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO RIGHT, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #502010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntington, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

FRONT/REAR BRAKES FIXED TWICE WITHIN 3000 MILES. *DSH

NHTSA complaint #487780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flushing, NY Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

BRAKE ROTORS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (91V-134), CAUSING VEHICLE TO VEER TO ONE SIDE/LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #482325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flushing, NY Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

BRAKE ROTORS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE RIGHT/LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #481532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Warren, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP AND FROZE AND DID NOT WORK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA complaint #970571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flushing, NY Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

ROTOR FAILED, PULLING VEHICLE TO ONE SIDE, CAUSING ACCIDENT PRIOR TO RECALL. (91S36)

NHTSA complaint #482708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West College, IN Crash 4 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

THE STEERING , BRAKES, AND SEAT BELTS ALL FAILED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND INJURY TO OCCUPANTS. TT

NHTSA complaint #967201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

RIO Rancho, NM

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

BRAKES LOCKED UP DUE TO DEFECTIVE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS AND ROTORS. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT. TT

NHTSA complaint #966114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

RIO Rancho, NM

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

BRAKES LOCKED UP DUE TO DEFECTIVE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS AND ROTORS. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT. TT

NHTSA complaint #966114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arlington, VA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

RUSTERFRON BRAKE ROTORS, CAUSINGVEHICLE TO SHIMMY WHEN BRAKING.

NHTSA complaint #966101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vicksburg, MS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

THE PLUG ON MASTER CYLINDER IS GLUED AND WHEN GLUE DISINTEGRATES THERE ARE NO BRAKES PRESENT. TT

NHTSA complaint #962591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1987 Ford Taurus problems

← Full 1987 Ford Taurus report