FaultScore

1988 Ford Taurus steering problems

27 of the 462 complaints about the 1988 Ford Taurus are about the steering — 6% of everything reported for this model year.

F

27

Complaints

4

Crashes

6

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Steering 5 18.5%
Hose, Piping, AND Connections 5 18.5%
Hydraulic Power Assist System 4 14.8%
Steering Wheel/Handle BAR 4 14.8%
Linkages 3 11.1%
Pump 3 11.1%
TIE ROD Assembly 1 3.7%
ARM 1 3.7%
Rack 1 3.7%

Steering across every Ford Taurus year

1987 23 1.6%
1988 27 1.9%
1989 59 4.2%
1990 57 4.1%
1991 83 5.9%
1992 60 4.3%
1993 65 4.6%
1994 34 2.4%
1995 40 2.8%
1996 114 8.1%
1997 61 4.3%
1998 42 3.0%
1999 115 8.2%
2000 29 2.1%
2001 24 1.7%
2002 18 1.3%
2003 12 0.9%
2004 13 0.9%
2008 36 2.6%
2010 41 2.9%
2011 25 1.8%
2012 16 1.1%
2013 296 21.1%
2014 65 4.6%
2015 50 3.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

SAN Francisco, CA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

I HAVE SERVICE RECORDS DOCUMENTING ALL FAILURES AND I SEE FROM NUMEROUS WEBSITES THAT OTHER TAURUS CUSTOMERS ARE FURIOUS AT MANY PROBLEMS OF THIS CAR. ADVERTISING BY FORD SEEMS ALMOST FRAUDULENT AND BASED ON NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REPORTED TO THEM I BELIEVE THIS CONSTITUTES DELIBERATE FRAUD. THOSE OF US WHO HAVE INTEGRITY HAVEN'T PASSED OUR LEMON CARS ON TO OTHER POOR IGNORANT SOULS BUT THE ENTIRE OWNERSHIP PERIOD OF THIS FORD TAURUS HAS CAUSED ME TO SUFFER SEVERE DEPRESSION AND STRESS AND HAS CAUSED INJURY ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS. I'M AT THE POINT OF JUST DONATING THE CAR TO CHARITY FOR PARTS BUT I INTEND TO BECOME VOCIFEROUSLY INVOLVED IN LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD. NO WONDER THE TAURUS IS NO LONGER THE BEST SELLING CAR IN AMERICA. BUT I THINK IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET FORD FOR THIS. THEIR BEHAVIOR IS UNACCEPTABLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #708365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jamaica, NY

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING HOSE ARE TO CLOSE TO ENGINE MANIFOLD THREE TIMES THEY MELTED CAUSING FLUID TO BE LOST AND STEERING FAILURE ONE TIME A HOSE BROKE CAUSING A FIRE THE HARNESS HAD TO BE REPAIRED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF FLUID STARVATION THE HOSE WERE PLACED AWAY FROM MANIFOLD AFTER GREAT EXPENSE SOME ONE COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED ARE KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS

NHTSA complaint #707702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cheaspeake, VA Fire

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

A FIRE STARTED WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO LEAKAGE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #834843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Detroit, MI Crash

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A POLE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint #834204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Addison, TX Fire

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKED FLUID RESULTING IN FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #513803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Osceola, IA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLIPPING SINCE OWNING VEHICLE. ALSO FUEL PUMP FAILED TWICE, AND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED ONCE. *AKE

NHTSA complaint #523481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wichita, KS Crash 3 injured

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL AT 60 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR NO REASON, CAUSING OWNER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #816415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNK, 00 Fire

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

FLUID LEAK IN ONE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE, POWER STEERING HOSES, CAUSING FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #511110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Farmingvil, NY Fire

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING LINE ROUTED OVER CATALYTIC CONVERTER, POSING RISK OF FIRE IF HEAT FROM CONVERTER EFFECTS RUBBER LINE.

NHTSA complaint #513622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brownsboro, AL

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

FAILURE OF THE STEERING COLUMN, THE HIGH PRESSURE LINE IS LEAKING FLUID, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE LINE .

NHTSA complaint #806334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Atlanta, GA

STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM

REPLACED ENGINE MOUNTS, ALSO REPLACED REAR SPRINGS AND RUSTED FRONT SPINDLES.

NHTSA complaint #510499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Springfield, MO Fire

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

PARKED VEHICLE AND STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE AND TOTALED CAR.

NHTSA complaint #801346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mitchelleville, SC

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

DISTORTED STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN.

NHTSA complaint #800101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Belmont, CA Fire

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. POWER STEERING RETURN LINE WAS LEAKING AND STARTED FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #986697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodstock, GA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED THREE TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #484952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manorville, NY

STEERING

SOMETHING FAILED IN STEERING MECHANISM WHILE DRY STEERING, RESULTING IN VIBRATION WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED/HELD, FEELS AS IF CAR DOES NOT HAVE POWER STEERING.

NHTSA complaint #482676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ellicott C, MD

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

TIE ROD ENDS FAILED SIX TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #601396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ellicott C, MD

STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK

POWER STEERING RACK FAILED TWICE. (SECOND VEHICLE ON 504046) *DSH

NHTSA complaint #601396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dedham, MA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #487690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST. Paul, MN

STEERING

THE STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE TURNING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA complaint #973919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL Crash 1 injured

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT LANE INTO A ROAD DIVIDER, POSSIBLE DUE TO DEFECT IN STEERING MECHANISM. TT

NHTSA complaint #971796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chester, NH

STEERING

THE SUBFRAME MOUNTING BOLTS PULLED OUT AND CAUSED THE CAR TO LOSS STEERING WHILE DRIVING. TT RECALL 93V106, HOWEVER CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE IT WAS TOO OLD. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #969649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Metuchen, NJ

STEERING:LINKAGES

WHILE DRIVING TIE ROD BROKE, LOSS CONTROL OF CAR. TT

NHTSA complaint #963902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Cruz, CA Crash

STEERING

STEERING LOCKUP WHILE DRIVING SPEED 10MPH,IMPACT 12:00 POSITION. TT

NHTSA complaint #962526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phoenix, AZ

STEERING:LINKAGES

TIE RODS RUSTED, HAD THEM REPLACED. TT

NHTSA complaint #962489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Moorestowns, NJ

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

TWO POWER STEERING LINES RUN PARALLEL; ONE LINE HAS A FITTING WHICH RUBS AGASINST OTHER LINE, CAUSING STEERING FLUID TO LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #961804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pine Grove, CA

STEERING:LINKAGES

TIE RODS/DRAG LINKS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #480899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1988 Ford Taurus problems

← Full 1988 Ford Taurus report