FaultScore

1988 Ford Taurus transmission problems

42 of the 462 complaints about the 1988 Ford Taurus are about the transmission — 9% of everything reported for this model year.

B

42

Complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 27 64.3%
Manual Transmission 4 9.5%
Cooling Unit AND Lines 3 7.1%
Power Train 2 4.8%
Axle Assembly 2 4.8%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 1 2.4%
Driveshaft 1 2.4%
Axle Shaft 1 2.4%
Differential Unit 1 2.4%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Ford Taurus year

1986 23 0.8%
1987 29 1.0%
1988 42 1.4%
1989 57 1.9%
1990 46 1.5%
1991 280 9.3%
1992 115 3.8%
1993 183 6.1%
1994 291 9.7%
1995 418 13.9%
1996 190 6.3%
1997 228 7.6%
1998 71 2.4%
1999 98 3.3%
2000 104 3.4%
2001 61 2.0%
2002 39 1.3%
2003 319 10.6%
2004 74 2.5%
2005 124 4.1%
2006 33 1.1%
2007 18 0.6%
2008 44 1.5%
2010 36 1.2%
2011 18 0.6%
2013 44 1.5%
2014 12 0.4%
2015 18 0.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Auburn, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S FUEL LINE. *MR CONSUMER WAITING FOR SETTLEMENT ON REPAIRS MADE ON FUEL PUMP, ENGINE MOUNTS, POWER BRAKE BOOSTER, MASTER CYLINDER, AIR CONDITIONER, MANIFOLD, TIRES, AND TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10073942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boulder, CO

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #743742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Auburn, PA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

MECHANIC STATED THAT BAD MOTORS MOUNTS OR BAD CYLINDER IN THE TRANSMISSION CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHUDDER THEN LUNGE FORWARD WHEN DECELERATING THEN ACCELERATING SUCH AS IN A TURN.

NHTSA complaint #784937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plant City, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONTACTED FORD VIA WEBSITE WITH NO FEEDBACK AND CONTACTED LOCAL FORD DEALER WITH NEGATIVE FEEDBACK. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY.

NHTSA complaint #725188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Prescott, AZ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

KNOWN FAILURE OF ORIGINAL COMPONENT AT LOWER THAN NORMAL LIFE EXPECTANCY.

NHTSA complaint #722478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodhaven, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #717374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hermitage, TN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THIS TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT TWICE IN A 6 MONTH SPAN/I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS TRANSMISSION WAS NOT RIGHT WHEN IT COME OUT OF THE FORD PLANT ,RATHER THAN FIX IT BEFORE IT GOT TO THE SHOWROOM,THEY PUT OUT A SERVICE MEMO TO HAVE IT FIXED AFTER IT TORE UP SOMETHING TO DO WITH A FLUID COOLING PROBLEM OUR CAR HAS HIGH MILEAGE ON IT BUT ANYONE WHO HAS ONE HAS HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #716224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lynchburg, VA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

PLANETARY GEAR LOCATED IN TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE, DAMAGING TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #846469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sonoma, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE AND REPLACED. YH (FIRST FAILED JULY, 1995- 67048 AND THE SECOND FAILED JULY,1996- 110512)

NHTSA complaint #527251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Francisco, CA Crash

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

LEMON SINCE THE DAY I GOT IT. FORD WON'T HONOR HERTZ RESALES. AT 31K ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION BLEW; MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, LIST OF DEFECTS WOULD BE TWO PAGES LONG--SOME MAY STEM FROM SEVERE CORROSION ON UNDERSIDE BUT CAR WAS ONLY ON EAST COAST FOR 1 YEAR. FORD NONRESPONSIVE.

NHTSA complaint #708363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newberry, FL

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

FORD TAURUS - HISTORY OF MULTIPLE FAILURES EVEN ON THIS INDIVIDUAL VEHICLE. AXLE FAILED TWICE, CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED TWICE (DIFFERENT UNITS), FRONT DRIVE AXLE SUFFERED COMPLETE FAILURE, PLASTIC RADIATOR FATIGUED AT MOUNTING POINT AND CRACKED. I WANTED TO ADD THIS INFO FOR YOUR HISTORICAL RECORDS.

NHTSA complaint #707166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newberry, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FORD TAURUS - HISTORY OF MULTIPLE FAILURES EVEN ON THIS INDIVIDUAL VEHICLE. AXLE FAILED TWICE, CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED TWICE (DIFFERENT UNITS), FRONT DRIVE AXLE SUFFERED COMPLETE FAILURE, PLASTIC RADIATOR FATIGUED AT MOUNTING POINT AND CRACKED. I WANTED TO ADD THIS INFO FOR YOUR HISTORICAL RECORDS.

NHTSA complaint #707166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Monrovia, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES REPLACED HOWEVER ERROR IN REPAIR CAUSED CONTAMINATION WHICH RESULTED IN HARD SHIFTING. MJS

NHTSA complaint #544020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newtown, CT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #544952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #544360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Penn YAN, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

IS THERE ANY RE-CALL OR HELP FROM FORD ON THE TRANSMISSION. NO FORWARD GEAR!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #703639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY City, MI

POWER TRAIN

CAR WAS TOWED TO TRANSMISSION BUSINESS, AND THE SERVICE PERSONEL COMMENTED THAT THIS WAS TYPICAL FOR A FORD TAURUS THAT JUST TURNED OVER 100,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE MADE IT TO 115,000. WHEN I ASKED HOW MUCH THIS WOULD COST, THE GAVE ME THE PRICE AND TOLD ME THAT FORD JUST GAVE THEM A BULLETIN WHICH WOULD INSTALL A TRANSMISSION IN A TAURUS AND SABLE (BOTH HAVE THE SAME ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION) THAT WOULD LAST FOR 2 YEARS! THEY COULD ONLY WARRANT THIS TRANSMISSION FOR TWO YEARS! AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION BUSINESSES, THEY ALL SAID IT WAS TYPICAL FOR A FORD TAURUS, JUST OVER 100,000 MILES TO NEED A TRANSMISSION. WHAT A RIP-OFF.

NHTSA complaint #540529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY City, MI

POWER TRAIN

CAR WAS TOWED TO TRANSMISSION BUSINESS, AND THE SERVICE PERSONEL COMMENTED THAT THIS WAS TYPICAL FOR A FORD TAURUS THAT JUST TURNED OVER 100,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE MADE IT TO 115,000. WHEN I ASKED HOW MUCH THIS WOULD COST, THE GAVE ME THE PRICE AND TOLD ME THAT FORD JUST GAVE THEM A BULLETIN WHICH WOULD INSTALL A TRANSMISSION IN A TAURUS AND SABLE (BOTH HAVE THE SAME ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION) THAT WOULD LAST FOR 2 YEARS! THEY COULD ONLY WARRANT THIS TRANSMISSION FOR TWO YEARS! AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION BUSINESSES, THEY ALL SAID IT WAS TYPICAL FOR A FORD TAURUS, JUST OVER 100,000 MILES TO NEED A TRANSMISSION. WHAT A RIP-OFF.

NHTSA complaint #540529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY City, MI

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CAR WAS TOWED TO TRANSMISSION BUSINESS, AND THE SERVICE PERSONEL COMMENTED THAT THIS WAS TYPICAL FOR A FORD TAURUS THAT JUST TURNED OVER 100,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE MADE IT TO 115,000. WHEN I ASKED HOW MUCH THIS WOULD COST, THE GAVE ME THE PRICE AND TOLD ME THAT FORD JUST GAVE THEM A BULLETIN WHICH WOULD INSTALL A TRANSMISSION IN A TAURUS AND SABLE (BOTH HAVE THE SAME ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION) THAT WOULD LAST FOR 2 YEARS! THEY COULD ONLY WARRANT THIS TRANSMISSION FOR TWO YEARS! AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION BUSINESSES, THEY ALL SAID IT WAS TYPICAL FOR A FORD TAURUS, JUST OVER 100,000 MILES TO NEED A TRANSMISSION. WHAT A RIP-OFF.

NHTSA complaint #540529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Springfiel, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #543704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Philadelphia, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE THREE OR FOUR TIMES, AND VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR REPAIRS. WHEN DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER CAN HEAR KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. ALSO, WHENEVER GOING INTO ANOTHER GEAR, THERE IS A PROBLEM AND VEHICLE STALLS. CONSUMER JUST GOT A TUNE UP.

NHTSA complaint #834757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clearfield, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE HAS TO RUN FOR A WHILE BEFORE THE REVERSE WILL RESPOND, AND ON AN INCLINE THE VEHICLE DRAGS UP THE HILL, IT GET JUST ENOUGH POWER TO DO THAT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #834173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Philadelphia, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. ALSO, CAN HEAR KNOCKING NOISE COMING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #834218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Meadview, AZ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE BECOMES DISCONNECTED FROM THE RADIATOR/ENGINE STALLS AT REDUCED RPM

NHTSA complaint #702237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Osceola, IA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

Staten Island, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #509849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bronx, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #511316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUN Valley, NV

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

PLASTIC GOVERNOR GEAR IN TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. (SECOND VEHICLE ON 503868)

NHTSA complaint #601574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Princeton Junction, NJ Fire

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAUGHT ON FIRE, ALSO REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND TRANSMISSION PAN/LINES.

NHTSA complaint #802189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Granite Fall, WA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

PURCHASED CAR USED, AS IS THE TRANSMISSION THE FRONT PLANETARY UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED . PLEASE DESCRIBE .

NHTSA complaint #801477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1988 Ford Taurus problems

← Full 1988 Ford Taurus report