FaultScore

1987 Ford Taurus electrical problems

82 of the 355 complaints about the 1987 Ford Taurus are about the electrical system — 23% of everything reported for this model year.

F

82

Complaints

0

Crashes

33

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Switch 30 36.6%
Ignition 17 20.7%
Front Underhood 11 13.4%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 7 8.5%
12V/24V/48V Battery 3 3.7%
Module 3 3.7%
Starter Assembly 3 3.7%
Interior/Under Dash 2 2.4%
Electrical System 2 2.4%
Horn 1 1.2%

Electrical System across every Ford Taurus year

1986 20 1.2%
1987 82 4.8%
1988 112 6.6%
1989 135 7.9%
1990 45 2.6%
1991 54 3.2%
1992 76 4.5%
1993 178 10.5%
1994 94 5.5%
1995 104 6.1%
1996 59 3.5%
1997 67 3.9%
1998 35 2.1%
1999 61 3.6%
2000 66 3.9%
2001 38 2.2%
2002 42 2.5%
2003 100 5.9%
2004 26 1.5%
2005 29 1.7%
2006 26 1.5%
2007 31 1.8%
2008 13 0.8%
2010 19 1.1%
2011 48 2.8%
2012 15 0.9%
2013 57 3.3%
2014 29 1.7%
2015 31 1.8%
2017 11 0.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

LAS Vegas, NV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

THE VEHICLE STALLS OCCASIONALLY WHEN ON WARM TRIPS LONGER THAN A MILE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED THE IGNITION SYSTEM COMPONENT, TFI-IV MODULE KNOWING THAT IT COULD FAIL WHEN THE VEHICLE OVERHEATS.

NHTSA complaint #566557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Imperial, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #8010914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alton, IL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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

NHTSA complaint #8009102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Banos, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TFI MODULE WENT OUT AND COST ME A LOT OF MONEY AND TOWING SERVICE AND RUINED MY BIRTHDAY PARTY AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET ALL MY MONEY BACK I PAID THE FORD DEALERSHIP HERE IN LOS BANOS WHERE THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE BE CAUSE I WAS A WOMEN AND THEY NEW ALL THE TIME THERE WAS A BAD TFI MODULE RECALL THEY SAID THE JUDGE WAS OUT OF THEIR JURIDICTION.

NHTSA complaint #755865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Farmington Hills, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, AND IGNITION MODULE HAD FAILED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #895289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cooper Landing, AL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF A MALL IN A PARKING LOT. CONSUMER DIDN'T TURN VEHICLE ON, AND THERE WERE FLAMES AND SPARKS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. VEHICLE BURNED DOWN TO THE GROUND.

NHTSA complaint #887824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Danos, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER'S SHOP, AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK AFTER SEVERAL REPAIRS, THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT ON INTERNET THE TFI MODULE ON FORD TAURUS WAS ON RECALL. THE DEALER HAD NEVER TOLD THE CONSUMER ABOUT THE RECALL AND THE CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE COURT JUDGE HAD NO RIGHT TO RECALL THESE CARS.

NHTSA complaint #885178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rodchester, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL . *AK THE CAUSE WAS FOUND TO BE THE IGNITION MODULE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #876625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manalapan, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION MODULE FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #557245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntington Beach, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

OVER A PERIOD OF TIME VEHICLE WAS STALLING. A MECHANIC COULD NEVER FIND A CAUSE UNTIL VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT TO BE IGNITION MODULE. PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED.

NHTSA complaint #872877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Spartanburg, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

VEHICLE FAILS TO START WHEN IGNITION IS ENGAGED. ITS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. BEEN TO DEALER, 3 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC COULD BE A COMPUTER GROUND WIRE. COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #847838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pearisburg, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR BURNED OUT WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #840514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Macon, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

CRUISE CONTROL WOULD ENGAGE ON ITS OWN & PICK UP SPEED. FOOT NOT ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL. PROBLEM GETTING WORSE. HORN KEEPS BLASTING WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED OR HIT. DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. ALSO, FRONT END FELL WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT TIME. HAD STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN A BLUNK NOISE WAS HEARD. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & PARTS WERE BEING ORDERED.

NHTSA complaint #836849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tampa, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

TWO ALTERNATOR FIRES.

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

Bridgeport, CT Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, AND STATED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STARTING PROPERLY THE PREVIOUS DAY WHEN CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE FIRE WAS UNDER THE HOOD, AND HAD TOTALLY BURNED UP UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #824789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Capital Heights, MD Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

CONSUMER HAD JUST GOTTEN OUT OF VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WIRES BURNED UP COMPLETELY AND WERE THE CAUSE OF FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #834713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Abington, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THICK FILM IGNITION DEVICE.

NHTSA complaint #523386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Detroit, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE WIRING IS OVERHEATING AND IS CREATING A FOUL SMELL IN MY CAR AND THE PLUG FOR THE WIRE IS MELTING. WORRIED THAT THIS FAILURE WILL CAUSE A FIRE IN THE DRIVERS COMPARTMENT. PROBLEM STARTS WHEN THE HEATER BLOWER IS BEING USED. SAFEGUARD NEEDS TO BE PUT IN PLACE TO ASSURE DRIVERS THAT THEY WILL NOT GO UP IN FLAMES. I ALSO OWN A 89 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON AND IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED ASAP.

NHTSA complaint #702166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sacramento, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

VARIOUS INLINK FUSES FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #542858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Olando, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN CONSUMERS DRIVEWAY. REASON UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME, CONSUMER WILL ATTACH A COPY OF FIRE DEPT REPORT. *AK

NHTSA complaint #831333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marion, MA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION SWITCH. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM KEPT GOING OUT, SO WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THEIR VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, THEY DIAGNOSED THAT WIRES FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH MELTED, AND MADE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BLOW A FUSE, RESULTING IN A FIRE. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #830583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Unknown, UN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #522406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

CONSUMER EXPRIENCING PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION SWITCH. THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED TWO TIMES. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR FOR THIS PROBLEM UNLESS THERE IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT CONCERNING THIS MATTER. DEALER NOTIFIED AND WILL NOT REPAIR WITHOUT COST TO THE CONSUMER.

NHTSA complaint #824965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grantham, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

ENGINE WILL CRANK BUT NOT START DUE TO NO SPARK IN PLUG WIRES.

NHTSA complaint #536697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Hartford, CT Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

HAD NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL. PARKED VEHICLE & CALLED DEALER. NOT ON RECALL. HAD VEHICLE CHECKED & WAS TOLD IGNITION WIRES HAD STARTED MELTING. HAD IT REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #822505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #524900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Walkertown, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION (TFI MODULE) FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #524938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ruskville, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY. WHEN THE MOTOR IS RUNNING DRIVER HAS IGNITION SWITCH FORWARD TO MAKE THE TURN SIGNALS AND THE BACK UP LIGHTS WORK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #818902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LAS Vegas, NV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ENGINE FAILURE; ALSO REPLACED TRANSMISSION/STEERING RACK/ALTERNATOR/POWER LOCKS.

NHTSA complaint #513686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Benton, KY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, GOT IN AND PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURNED THE KEY TO START THE VEHICLE, HEARD A NOISE. THEN STARTED SEEING SMOKE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT THE FIRE HAD STARTED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH COMPARTMENT, AND HAD BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS.

NHTSA complaint #817122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1987 Ford Taurus problems

← Full 1987 Ford Taurus report